Decisions

To increase fees and charges across Leisure services for a range of sports and leisure activities provided at Blackburn Leisure Centre, Darwen Leisure Centre and Witton Park Arena from 1 January 2025.

Approve the contract award of the Orbital Bus Service to Vision for a 12-month period with the option to extend for one year and a further year should additional funding become available.

Approve the use of funding to conduct independent audits of all CCTV Surveillance systems.

That the Strategic Director of Environment & Communities implements a Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) under the powers set out in the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014. This is to control anti-social behaviour in Darwen Town Centre and prevent the significant impact of this behaviour upon the local community.

Agree the acceptance of a non-recurrent grant offered by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) of £55,000

To approve the procurement strategy for the provision of a new contract for tree-maintenance services.

On 8 August 2024, the Executive Board of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council gave delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Environment and Communities, in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Public Health, to award the contract for the provision of domestic abuse services following the completion of the procurement process.

The Strategic Director of Environment and Communities in consultation with the Executive Member for Housing and Public Health has agreed to:

·       Approve the awarding and commencement of the new contract for Domestic Abuse Services Lot 1 - Community Based Support, to the successful bidder Blackburn and Darwen District without Abuse (The Wish Centre) in partnership with Humraaz following completion of the procurement exercise which was undertaken through the Council’s e-procurement portal The Chest.

·       Approve the awarding and commencement of the new contract for Domestic Abuse Services Lot 2 - Accommodation Based Support & Floating Support Services, to the successful bidder Blackburn and Darwen District without Abuse (The Wish Centre) in partnership with Humraaz following completion of the procurement exercise which was undertaken through the Council’s e-procurement portal The Chest.

The new contract will be awarded for a three-year duration with an option to extend for a further two years (plus 1 year, plus 1 year) subject to funding still being available and satisfactory performance being evidenced.

That the Chief Executive, after consultation with the Leader of the Council, gives consent to the making of the Lancashire Combined County Authority Regulations 2024

That the proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2025/26, as detailed in Appendix 1 attached to the report, including the proposed Treasury management Indicators be approved.

(1)  That the NNDR rebate and the opportunity to invest the rebate in Blackburn Museum and Art Gallery to support and enhance its National Portfolio Organisation status be noted.

(2)  That a supplementary capital estimate of £445,000 be approved for upgrading of the Museum’s internal galleries and facilities in preparation for a nationally acclaimed exhibition in Autumn 2025, and to create an improved visitor experience funded by way of a Revenue Contribution to Capital (using the NNDR rebate, as described in the report).

Approve the contract award of the Flexibus Service to Travel Assist for a 12 month period with the option to extend for up to a further 2 years should additional funding become available.

Approve the contract award of maintenance of the automatic bollards in Blackburn Town Centre to ESS Systems Ltd.

Approve the contract award of Capital Surfacing Phase 3 Package to Aggregate Industries.

Approve the purchase of 8 x Food Waste Collection Vehicles via Direct Award to Terberg Matec UK through the TPPL HGV & Specialist Vehicles Framework.

That the debts are authorised for write off under delegated powers

In accordance with the Blackburn with Darwen Constitution Section 16,the Strategic Director of Adults & Health approves::

The awarding of the Community Day Care Support Service – Lot 2 (Darwen) contract to Darwen Old People’s Welfare Association.

1. DECISION

To award the contract to the successful contractor who has submitted a tender/bid via The Chest System for the roof replacement to Imperial Mill, Blackburn.

To reduce  the subsidy given by the Council by increasing the Service Charge recovered from traders in Blackburn Market by 7.5% with effect from 1 March 2025

(1)  That a percentage increase in fees be approved for the following services, effective from 1^st April 2025:

·       Residential and nursing care including Intermediate Care Beds, fee increase of 5.79%.

·       Older People and Physical disability Domiciliary Care Framework fee increase of 7.2% from £21.44 to £22.98 per hour.

·       Shared Lives, fee increase of 5% on bandings.

·       Shared Lives daytime support 6.7% from £11.44 to £12.21 per hour.

·       LD Supported Living Providers; fee increase of 7.2% (equivalent to the hourly rate of domiciliary homecare providers) from £21.44 to £22.98 per hour.

·       Direct Payments, Personal Assistant, fee increase of 5% to £12.60 per hour.

·       Direct Payments – it was proposed to revise the existing direct payment agency rates (standard, enhanced and exception) in line with Domiciliary rates proposed above.

(2)  That a fee increase of 7.2% for Supporting People be approved, in line with Domiciliary Care and Supported Living Service providers.  These providers were block contracted by the LA to provide a range of services to support vulnerable people in the Borough and would be subject to full review during 2025/26.

(3)  That the following be approved:

·       The Extra Care schemes that were commissioned on a block contract basis would receive an uplift of 6.12% on the contracted rate.

·       Where 1:1 hours were contracted separately they would remain aligned to the domiciliary care rate of £22.98.

·       The Day Care services that were commissioned on a block contract basis would receive an uplift of 2.2% on the contracted rate.

(4)  That the proposed client charges for 2025/26, as detailed in the appended paper (Appendix A and Appendix 1) be approved.

That the intention to award Tier 4 substance misuse services to eight suppliers over thirteen locations for specialist inpatient residential rehabilitation provision be approved:

·       Acorn Recovery Projects

·       Burton Addiction Centre

·       Holgate House

·       Kaleidoscope Project

·       Littledale Hall

·       Phoenix Futures – Family Service – Adult

·       Phoenix Futures – Glasgow

·       Phoenix Futures – Oakwood

·       Phoenix Futures – Ophelia

·       Phoenix Futures – Wirral

·       The Forward Trust – The Bridges

·       The Forward Trust – Clouds House

·       Thomas

(1)  That the Quarter 3 and cumulative performance against the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan Missions, as listed in Appendix 1 attached to the report, be noted.

(2)  That the steps to be taken to improve delivery against the Corporate Missions in cases where performance was not to the expected level, as outlined in Appendix 2 attached to the report, be noted.

Katherine White, Deputy Director Adult Social Care Bwd, provided the board with an update report of the Better Care Fund and local plans submitted for 2023/25. The report provided an update on the local Better Care Fund (BCF) plans submitted for 2023/25 and an update on the BCF pooled budget for Quarter 2 of 2024/25.

Approval was sought from the board to utilise allocated resources within the BCF for a 1-year extension of the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) contract Keeping Happy, Healthy and Well.

Schemes and services funded via the BCF were focused on a collaborative approach to delivering integrated, person-centred services across health, care, housing and wider public services. The overarching aim of these schemes and services was to support people to remain living well and independently at home, to improve outcomes for people in our neighbourhoods, including those discharged from hospital, and to reduce inequalities.

The report requested the board to note and approve the utilisation of allocated resources within the BCF for a 1-year extension of the VCFSE Keeping Happy, Healthy and Well commission. There was a funding gap of £109,000 for this extension which arose following an in-year increase to the VCFSE contracts which has been actioned on a continuing basis. The increase was not originally planned for as part of the extension and therefore not in the 2024/25 BCF budget for the VCFSE commission.

An account of progress against the 4 x BCF performance metrics at Quarter 2 was included with all metrics on track to meet target. It was important to note that there had been a national mandate for NHS Trusts to move activity from admissions to same day emergency care (SDEC). East Lancashire Hospitals Trust had already made the change and was submitting SDEC activity. This change was reflected in the performance against metric 1 (avoidable admissions) and possibly metric 3 (hospital admissions due to falls). As more NHS Hospital Trusts move to recording activity as per the national mandate, it was expected that targets would be adjusted accordingly.

An overview of BCF reporting requirements and associated governance was provided within the report. So far this financial year, all the statutory planning and reporting requested been met.

RESOLVED – That the Board

a)    Noted the Blackburn with Darwen Better Care Fund (BCF) Plans submitted for 2023/25 in relation to delivery and performance targets.

b)    Noted the BCF Quarter 2 2024/25 delivery and financial position.

c)    Approved the utilisation of non-recurring resources within the BCF to bridge the gap of £109,000 in funding for extending the VCFSE Keeping Happy, Healthy and Well contract by 1-year.