The Executive Cabinet is scheduled to receive a number of reports at its meeting on the 18th of December 2024, including an update on the council's finances and a number of reports relating to adult social care. It will also be asked to make a decision on whether to approve a proposal to relocate the primary provision for Thomas Ashton School to a new permanent site.

Thomas Ashton School

A report has been prepared for the Cabinet, asking them to decide whether to approve a proposal to relocate the primary provision of Thomas Ashton School to the former Hawthorns School site on Lumb Lane in Audenshaw. Thomas Ashton School is a special school for children with Social, Emotional and Mental Health (SEMH) needs. The school currently uses rented classrooms at Discovery Academy in Hyde to teach its Key Stage 1 and 2 pupils. This lease is due to expire in August 2025.

A report submitted to the Cabinet details the results of a statutory consultation on the proposal. It says that 306 responses were received, of which 271 were not in favour. The report says that

Respondents were able to comment on their response. Themes from the concerns of those not in favour listed below:

• Parking concerns around the school site.
• Increase in school traffic.
• Safety concerns from parents of children at Aldwyn Primary School around being in proximity to the SEND children who would occupy the proposed satellite site.
• Concerns around anti-social behaviour from the pupils at the proposed satellite site.
• Concerns around younger children at Aldwyn Primary School being in proximity to older children from Thomas Ashton School.
• Inappropriateness of co-locating a special school for SEMH children next to a mainstream school.
• Concerns around shared entrances and shared space between Aldwyn Primary and the proposed site.

The report goes on to say that of the remaining 35 responses, 29 were in favour, and 6 said that they may be in favour.

Adult Social Care

There are three reports on the agenda that relate to Adult Social Care.

The first seeks approval for a new Adult Social Care Direct Payment Policy. Direct Payments are a way for people assessed as needing social care to arrange and pay for their own support. The new policy would see the council move from making net direct payments, in which the council pays the client the cost of care minus their assessed contribution, to gross direct payments, in which the council pays the client the full cost of their care and then invoices them for their contribution separately. The report says that there are a number of advantages to this approach. For example, it will improve the speed at which clients receive their payments, and bring the council's policy into line with that of other local authorities in the region. The report also says that the directorate has evaluated the costs of any reconfiguration required to the Adults Payment System (Controcc) in order to change from net to gross payments to the service users.

The second seeks approval for the award of six new contracts for the provision of Accommodation Based Services for Adults with a Learning Disability. These contracts are due to commence on the 1st of April 2025. The report says that following a competitive tendering process, the highest-ranking provider for each contract was identified and the council is being asked to approve the award of the contracts to those providers. It recommends awarding five contracts for supported accommodation to Lifeways, Community Integrated Care and Creative Support. It also recommends awarding a single contract for intensive community-based support to Creative Support.

The third report asks the cabinet to approve the award of a contract for the provision of a Staff Rostering and Electronic Social Care Record System. The report says that the new system will cost £83,060.67 per year and recommends awarding the contract to the Access Group. The report says that the system will

support the digitalisation of care records across the in-house services

and quotes People at the Heart of Care, the government's 10-year vision for adult social care, which says that

Technologies can complement and enhance the quality of care delivered by the workforce, while digitisation of care records will ensure care staff and multidisciplinary teams have the information they need to provide holistic, person-centred care in any setting.

The report says that the system will be used by the council's reablement and long term support services. The reablement service provides support for adults in their own home to help them to live independently. It currently employs 120 staff and provides 1,752 hours of support every week. The long term support service provides support for 192 adults across 26 locations. It employs 350 staff and primarily supports people with learning disabilities, autism, physical disabilities and mental health conditions.

Stalybridge Civic Hall

A report has been prepared for the cabinet asking them to make a number of decisions relating to Stalybridge Civic Hall. This follows the completion of work to replace the roof of the building in September of this year. The report says that the council's ambition is to

seek additional activity within the building including the potential for markets, food and drink events, music, theatre, comedy, art and arts/cultural exhibition events

It proposes that the council commission additional internal renovations, improvements to lighting, installation of additional IT infrastructure, refurbishment of WC’s/kitchens and redecoration to create space that can be used more effectively. The report says that the council already has the money to pay for this work.

The report also asks the cabinet to approve the introduction of a pilot programme of activity at the Civic Hall, beginning in the 2025/26 financial year, which would

enable the Council to test demand and operational requirements

and to approve a reduction in user charges to make the hall more affordable for those wishing to hold events there. The report says that

potential operators of an artisan market, music event and tabletop market have indicated that a charge of £325 per day would be attractive and enable a viable event

The report goes on to say that while the current income generated by the Civic Hall does not cover the cost of running the building, the council hopes that the combination of reduced user charges and increased activity will make the building more financially viable.

Finances

The cabinet will receive a report reviewing the council's financial position for the first six months of the 2024/25 financial year. Overall, the report says that the general fund is forecast to overspend by £12,313,000. It says that

Directorates were working on recovery actions to bring the overall position back to balance. The value of recovery plans proposed at M6 total £4,456,000, giving a net variance of £12,313,000. Of the current year agreed budget reductions target of £11,828,000, £8,234,000 was forecast to be delivered in the current year, leaving £3,862,000 forecast not to be delivered.

The report also says that the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) is forecast to be overspent by £16,224,000. This is money given to the council by central government to pay for schools. The report says that

the forecast was due mainly to unprecedented levels of growth on Education, Health and Care plans (EHCPs)

It also details the capital programme, which is money set aside for large building projects. It says that the capital programme is forecast to underspend by £9,097,000 and that

Reprofiling of budgets into future years of £7,089,000 was requested. Following reprofiling there was a projected year-end underspend of £1,428,000, although this was against grants available to support future years’ projects versus lost financing.

The report asks the cabinet to note the general fund and DSG overspends. It also asks them to note the capital programme position. The report also asks the cabinet to approve a number of budget transfers, including £12,366,000 to cover inflation and other cost pressures.

Equality Strategy

The cabinet is scheduled to receive an annual review of the council's Equality Strategy. The report says that the council does not currently have a group dedicated to overseeing equality related work and proposes that a formal corporate equality meeting should be established. It says that this group would

provide governance, guidance and advice on equality-related policy and practice for the organisation

and proposes that it would be made up of senior officers and elected members.

The report is also accompanied by a document detailing a number of projects and initiatives that the council has undertaken over the last twelve months that relate to equality and diversity.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

The cabinet is scheduled to receive a report detailing progress on projects funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. It asks the cabinet to approve the acceptance of £0.863 million in grant funding to be paid to Stamford Park Academy Trust to provide 15 resourced pupil places at Longdendale Academy. It also asks them to approve the reprofiling of £7.089 million in capital spending, and other capital changes of £0.258 million.

Greater Manchester Combined Authority Revenue Funding

The cabinet is scheduled to receive an update on funding received from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Household Support Fund

The cabinet will receive a report detailing how the council intends to spend money received from the government's Household Support Fund. The fund is intended to help people struggling with the cost of living. Tameside has been allocated £2,224,686 to spend over the next six months. The report asks the cabinet to approve the allocation of the money to seven areas:

*  Centrally Administered Vouchers for school holiday provision
*  Direct grants and targeted awards to prevent crisis
*  VCFSE Investment and prevention work
*  Advice Services
*  Essential Household Items
*  Housing Costs
*  Open Application scheme
*  Administration Costs

It says that these areas were chosen because they

were believed to have the maximum reach, meet the HSF guidance and be achievable within the limited time allocation

The report also asks the cabinet to approve the spending of £0.11 million on administration costs to support the delivery of the programme. It says that because it is unclear whether the Household Support Fund will continue to be funded by central government after March 2025, it is important for the council to begin planning how it will continue to support residents currently being helped by the fund once the current funding comes to an end.

Private Finance Initiative Schools

The cabinet will receive a report asking them to approve the conversion of all of the borough's remaining PFI schools to academy status. PFIs are a way of using private sector money to finance public sector building projects. Typically, a private company builds a school and then leases it to the local authority. Academies are schools that are funded directly by central government and are not controlled by the local authority. The report says that clarification has been received from the Department for Education (DfE) about the terms on which the schools can be converted. The report asks the cabinet to approve the conversion of nine schools. It also says that

once the council had finalised the commercial arrangements with the DfE this should allow for an expedient approach for all schools.

Teachers' Pay

The cabinet will receive a report asking them to approve a new model pay policy for teachers in the borough. The policy is based on a draft document provided by the DfE and incorporates changes recommended by the School Teachers’ Review Body (STRB), an independent body that advises the government on teachers' pay. Amongst other things, the STRB has recommended that all teachers receive a 5.5% pay rise. The report asks the cabinet to approve the implementation of the new model policy for centrally employed teaching staff. It also asks them to recommend that the policy is adopted by all community, voluntary controlled and voluntary aided schools in the borough.