Decisions

To use the ESPO framework contract to select a provider for leasing ULEV (Ultra Low Emission Vehicles) cars to LCC staff

The Director of Adults and Health approved the request in line with CPR 3.1.6 for authority to procure a counselling and therapy service for women in Leeds, subject to Schedule 7, Paragraph 27 of the Equality Act 2010.
The Director of Adults and Health approved the award of a contract for five years with the option to extend for up to a further five years to the successful provider(s) following the procurement exercise, at a maximum cost of £1,290,060 for this period (£129,060 per annum).

This significant operation decision is an addendum to the original key decision taken in July 2021 and is to clarify that the request for authority to procure a service for women only is subject to Schedule 7, Paragraph 27 of the Equality Act 2010.

A brief statement of the reasons for the decision -

A request for authority to procure a counselling and therapy service for women is being put forward in this report. The Council already commissions this provision, and has done since 1983. In recent years, the existing provider WCTS has been commissioned to deliver the service via a number of short term interim contracts. A delegated decision was taken in 2019 to test the market in order to ensure the Council is achieving value for money. The commencement of the MSE was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but was eventually undertaken in early 2021. Five MSE responses were received which indicates that there is a potential market locally for this type of provision. PACS colleagues have therefore advised that a full market test through open procurement is now required.

A request to procure a women only service is being put forward subject to Schedule 7, Paragraph 27 of the Equality Act 2010 as a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim (as detailed below):

27 Single-sex services

(1) A person does not contravene section 29, so far as relating to sex discrimination, by providing a service only to persons of one sex if—
(a) any of the conditions in sub-paragraphs (2) to (7) is satisfied, and
(b) the limited provision is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.

(3) The condition is that—(b) the service would be insufficiently effective were it only to be provided jointly.

(5) The condition is that the service is provided at a place which is, or is part of—(b) another establishment for persons requiring special care, supervision or attention.

(6) The condition is that—(a) the service is provided for, or is likely to be used by, two or more persons at the same time, and (b) the circumstances are such that a person of one sex might reasonably object to the of a person of the opposite sex.

The Chief Officer Operations and Active Leeds approved:
a) Moving to 50 weeks a year of swimming lessons for children and adult
programmes.
b) Increasing the monthly cost of swimming lesson by direct debit, removing the need for a Leeds card and providing for the inclusion of public/family swimming in the swimming lesson direct debit membership
c) Changing the age of free swimming from under 5 to under 3 years old for anyone not on the existing swimming lesson programme.

The Chief Officer Operations and Active Leeds has given authority to inject and spend £149,917.20 in 2021/22 supported from prudential borrowing at a cost of £24k per annum over 7 years on gym equipment for Pudsey Leisure Centre.

The Director of Communities, Housing and Environment approved use of Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government’s (MHCLG) Rough Sleeping Initiative grant of £212,250, to Barca-Leeds to employ four Navigators, a trainee Navigator and a Team Leader. Responsibility for implementation of this decision is the Integrated Commissioning Team, Adults and Health.

The Chief Officer, Parks and Countryside agreed with the proposed changes to seasonal bedding displays and city centre floral decorations in response to climate change issues.

The Chief Officer, Financial Services approved the sub-delegation scheme set out at Appendix 1.

Director of City Development has approved terms for the acquisition of property at Kingsdale Court, Leeds.

Director of Housing Communities & Environment has approved expenditure for the acquisition from the Housing Revenue Account and that the property be added to the Council’s social housing stock.

The Chief Officer (Highways & Transportation) approved the recommendation to extend funding for Operation SPARC using an additional £67,000 of funding. This funding is expected to cover the cost of deployments until summer 2022.
b) Operation SPARC will be implemented by West Yorkshire Police, with support from and monitoring by Leeds City Council’s Influencing Travel Behaviour team.

To cancel annual bonfire and firework displays at Bramley Park, East End Park, Middleton Park, Roundhay Park, Springhead Park and Woodhouse Moor due to be held in November 2021.

The Chief Officer for Culture and Economy has :
a) approved Leeds City Council’s match funding contribution of
£62,704 per annum (based on 2021/22 figures) for delivery of the
Leeds component of LEP Growth Service to March 2023. A total
of £125,408 over the period 2021-23. The Council’s match funding
contribution is in kind and comes from its contribution to existing
staff salaries and associated overheads.
b) authorised the signing of a Deed of Variation to the original
funding agreement between WYCA and LCC.

To renew membership for 2021/22 to the Housing Ombudsman Scheme, as the sole provider of this service, at a value of £123,717.16 in accordance with the council’s contract procedure rules 9.5 relating to high value procurements.

The Acting Chief Officer has approved -

To to note the content of this report and is requested to approve the authority to spend against a new replacement litter bin programme and programme and recycling on the go replacement bin programme for the next 10 years.

The Chief Officer financial services is recommended to approve the injection of £450k the capital program funded by prudential borrowing to give an overall programme of £450k across the 10 year period 2021/22 to 2031/32. Repayments to be met by the Cleaner Neighbourhoods Team revenue budget.

That Director of Communities and Environment is requested to :-
• Authorise spend of £400k over the next 10 years for the provision of replacement litter bins.
• Authorise spend of £50k for the provision of replacement recycling on the go bins.

The Director of City Development:

1. Grant Approval to Purchase the properties detailed in the confidential Appendix A at market value as determined by Land & Property to be returned to Council housing stock.

2. Authorise the required expenditure to enable the programme to progress the property acquisition(s) detailed in Confidential Appendix A, giving special consideration to proposed acquisitions with a net cost greater than the defined purchase budget. These acquisitions will be funded from the Council Housing Growth Programme budget, via a combination of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing and Right to Buy receipts.

3. Note that Executive Board granted Authority to Spend for the programme on 24th July 2019.

4. Note that the Chief Officer Housing has approved these acquisitions, confirming they are suitable to be added back into council housing stock.

The Deputy Director, Access & Care Delivery approved the contents of a report regarding a care plan in respect of a person with complex care needs, the individual cost of which is £105,150.96 per annum.
It is considered in the public interest that information contained in the report is exempt from publication as it relates to a vulnerable citizen of the City and the actions being taken to enable that person to live independently in a safe environment.

The Deputy Director, Access & Care Delivery approved the contents of a report regarding a care plan in respect of a person with complex care needs, the individual cost of which is £139,199.13 per annum.
It is considered in the public interest that information contained in the report is exempt from publication as it relates to a vulnerable citizen of the City and the actions being taken to enable that person to live independently in a safe environment.

The Deputy Director, Access & Care Delivery approved the contents of a report regarding a care plan in respect of a person with complex care needs, the individual cost of which is £102,588.72 per annum.
It is considered in the public interest that information contained in the report is exempt from publication as it relates to a vulnerable citizen of the City and the actions being taken to enable that person to live independently in a safe environment.

The Chief Officer Asset Management and Regeneration:

a) Approves entering into an Agreement for Lease as detailed in the report between LCC and CX (Leeds) Limited (part of Rushbond PLC) for the construction of a pavilion building.

b) Approves granting a Ground Lease ending on 27 November 2267 (coterminous with the Corn Exchange lease) between LCC and CX (Leeds) Limited (part of Rushbond PLC) upon satisfactory completion of the pavilion building within the public space.

c) Approves entering into a user agreement as detailed in the report between LCC and CX (Leeds) Limited to facilitate use of the public space by CX (Leeds) Limited for an approved programme of trading and events.

d) Notes that an overview of the terms of the agreements is provided at confidential appendix C.

The Chief Officer Asset Management and Regeneration has given approval to the marketing of 16 – 22 Burley Street on the open market by way of inviting offers. A further approval will be sought to any provisionally agreed transaction.

Approve the injection of £123,429 of s106 contribution into the capital programme
Approve authority to spend and incur expenditure of £123,429 from capital scheme number 33177/BGE/GAR to deliver the works required to allow Garforth Academy to take an additional 25 places in Year 7 from September 2021.
Note that Children’s & Families Good Learning Places Board approved the use of s106 reference 11/02814 to fund the cost of capital works at Garforth Academy

Note that the officer responsible for implementation is the Head of Service Learning Systems in Children’s and Families Directorate.

The Director of City Development:
1. Authorised the required expenditure to enable the programme to progress the property acquisition(s) detailed in Confidential Appendix A. These acquisitions will be funded from the Council Housing Growth Programme budget, via a combination of Housing Revenue Account (HRA) borrowing and Right to Buy receipts.
2. Note that Executive Board granted Authority to Spend for the programme on 24th July 2019.
3. Note that the Chief Officer Housing has approved these acquisitions, confirming they are suitable to be added back into council housing stock.

a) Sanction the requirement to enter into an ‘Early works’ agreement with the LLEP for Henry Boot Construction Ltd to deliver the third package of the ‘Early Works’ programme necessary to meet the critical path programme for renovation and refurbishment of the Buckingham Road Site to create West Oaks School ‘Headingly Learning’. This will take the form of an ‘Early Works’ agreement between the Authority and Leeds D&B One Ltd for the sum of £495,644.53.

b) Approve the expenditure of £495,644.53 from capital scheme number 33177/RCT/000 for the completion of the ‘Early works’ programme at West Oaks ‘Headingley Learning’.

c) Note the programme dates identified in section 39 of this report, in relation to the implementation of this decision, represents the critical for project success and must be adhered to where possible.

d) Note that the officer responsible for implementation is the Head of Service Learning Systems.

The Built Environment Lead Officer accepted the tender supplied by
Leeds Building Services in the sum of £168,695.92 to
carry out Mechanical Works at Quarry Mount Primary School.

The Director of City Development has approved the following in relation to the Covid-19 Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) Allocation:
• To reopen the Council’s Covid-19 Discretionary Grant Fund to new
applications against the grant criteria set out in appendix 1 of the attached
Decision Report.
• To aim to have the Grant Fund open for a period of up to four weeks in
October 2021 to enable grant applicants to apply through an online
application form accessible through the Council’s website.
• To report progress on a regular basis including the number of grant
applications received, those approved and paid to ensure that the Council
maximises the Additional Restrictions Grant allocation from which grants
are made.
• To ensure that where possible (and subject to the level of demand) grant applications are appraised and paid within twelve weeks of receiving all the information required to assess an application.

The Chief Officer Financial Services has approved the request from Labcorp Drug Development for business rates relief at £335,000 over a three year period from FY21/22 and the rates relief be released incrementally over 3 years as follows: 40% in FY 2021/22 (£134,000), 40% in 2022/23 (£134,000) and 20% in 2023/24 (£67,000).

The Director of Communities, Housing and Environment approved the allocation of £220,000 as a grant (payable in instalments) to CGL to employ six Assertive Street Outreach Workers (four already in post and two to be recruited); and a further £4,095 to CGL to provide needs led additional weekend outreach support work for a 9 month period. Responsibility for implementation of this decision is the Integrated Commissioning Team, Adults and Health.