Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor M. J. A. Webb.

No declarations of interest were received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 30th July 2008 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting of the Scrutiny Steering Board held on 29th July 2008 were submitted.

RESOLVED that the minutes be noted.

The minutes of the meeting of the Performance Management Board held on 19th August 2008 were submitted.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the minutes be noted; and

(b)       that the recommendations contained at Minute No. 33/08 (Minutes - Disabled Facilities Grants) be approved.

The Cabinet considered a report on the Council's performance and financial position as at 30th June 2008 (period 3, quarter 1).  It was noted that the £100,000 underspend mentioned in the strategic planning finance report did, in fact, relate to the underspend in relation to the Local Development Framework - Examination in Public, and that the funding for the Framework could be released back to balances as there was now sufficient budget available to fund the project.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that it be noted that 67% of Performance Indicators for which data was available were Improving or Stable;

(b)       that it be noted that 86% of Performance Indicators for which data was available were achieving their Year to Date target;

(c)        that it be noted that 96% of Performance Indicators for which data was available were predicted to meet their target at year end;

(d)       that the £268,000 predicted outturn revenue spend variance and other financial information be noted; and

(e)       that the corrective actions being taken on both the Council's performance and finances be noted; and

RECOMMENDED that the Council approve a reduction in revenue budget and corresponding return to revenue balances of £100,000 in relation to the funding requirement for the Local Development Framework - Examination in Public. 

Consideration was given to a report which updated Members on the review of the Capital Programme, to ensure the funds were utilised to deliver projects as approved during the Medium Term Financial Plan.

RESOLVED that officers review the Capital Programme with the aim of assessing the requirements of project delivery as part of the review of the Medium Term Financial Plan; and

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that the Council approve the carry forward requests from 2007/08, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report; and

(b)       that the Council approve a reduction to the Capital Programme 2008/09 of £3.935m, as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, to reflect both the savings achieved through procurement efficiencies and the projects which due to the factors detailed in the report would not be delivered during 2008/09.

The Cabinet considered the latest version of the Council's Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) Self Assessment, which it was noted was in draft form and still had some elements to be completed.  An updated draft of this would be referred to the next meeting of the Council. 

Members specifically wished to place on record their thanks to officers for all of their hard work, which meant that the Council was now in a much better position that when it had previously been assessed.   

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that the work in progress draft Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) Self Assessment be noted;

(b)       that it be noted that an updated draft would go forward to the next meeting of the Council for consideration;

(c)        that it be noted that the deadline for submission to the Audit Commission of the final Self Assessment was 26th September 2008; and

(d)       that authority be delegated to the Assistant Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any necessary changes to the final document prior to its submission to the Audit Commission.

Consideration was given to the final updated Improvement Plan Exception Report for June 2008.  As this was the final exception report of 2007-08 many of the actions scheduled throughout the preceding year had already been completed; hence the relatively low number of outturns for June.  As such, the proportions of actions which were behind target or rescheduled were proportionally higher than might otherwise be expected.  A change in the format of the report, to show the month's performance alongside that of the year to date, which had been requested by the Portfolio Holder for Customer Care and Service, was also noted.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the revisions to the Improvement Plan Exception Report and the corrective action being taken be noted;

(b)       that it be noted that this was the final exception report of the 2007-08 Improvement Plan; and

(c)        that it be noted that for the 96 actions highlighted for June within the Plan, 77.0 percent of the Plan was on target [green], 4.2 percent was one month behind [amber] and 6.3 percent was over one month behind [red].  12.5 percent of actions had been rescheduled or suspended with approval.

The Cabinet considered a report on the adoption of the new revision to the model standards for mobile home sites that had been recommended by the Government.  The report also sought Member support for officers to take appropriate enforcement action against site owners where non conformity against existing standards existed, and for officers to raise awareness with owners on the new standards and to allow a reasonable period of notice to conform with the newly introduced changes.

In relation to the recommendation that site owners be given 12 months within which to confirm to the new elements of the Model Standards prior to enforcement action, it was felt that such discretion could not be afforded in the case of Fire Risk Assessments and that this element should be complied with immediately.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the newly revised Model Standards for Permanent Residential Homes Sites, as summarised at Section 4 of the report and detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, be approved for adoption;

(b)       that officers be permitted to take action in accordance with the Council’s Enforcement Policy against site owners who continue to be in breach of existing model standards upon expiry of the originally set 5 year period of notice, subject to an additional 6 months period of grace;

(c)        that officers be permitted to phase in new model conditions (following consultation) where the current site licence conditions are inadequate in serving its purpose and where legislation has been superseded; and

(d)       that site owners be given a period of 12 months to conform to the newly introduced elements of the Model Standards before appropriate enforcement action is implemented, with the exception of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 which must be completed with immediate effect.

Consideration was given to a report which sought approval to change the type of refuse collection vehicle fleet to a standard type of refuse collection vehicle.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that a migration away from the current side arm refuse collection fleet to a standard type of refuse collection vehicle similar to those operated by all other Local Authorities in this country be commenced;

(b)       that this be done on a phased basis commencing with 2 vehicles that will be part funded by the vehicle manufacturer in compensation for losses of bins that have occurred since commencement of the existing operation;

(c)        that it be noted that the negotiations for compensation have progressed and that agreement has now been reached;

(d)       that there be a virement of £63,500 from the capital budget relating to containers which will no longer be required for this purpose, which will be utilised in conjunction with the compensation arrangements to enable the Council to acquire two new vehicles; and

(e)       that approval be given to the wider vehicle replacement programme in accordance with the funding provision agreed within the capital programme, with a further report to be provided on how the capital programme is to be funded.

The Cabinet considered a report on the Council Plan 2009-2012 Part 1 which asked Members to re-confirm the Council's Vision and Council Objections and reduce the number of priorities from five to four.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that the Council's Vision and Council Objectives, as detailed at points 6.1 and 6.3 of Appendix 1 to the report, be reconfirmed;

(b)       that the analysis of the Council's national, regional and local context, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, be noted;

(c)        that based on the context referred to at Recommendation (b) above, the definitions of the Council Objectives detailed at Addendum A to Appendix 1 of the report be agreed; and

(d)       that based on the context referred to at Recommendation (b) above, a reduction in the number of priorities, as detailed at point 3.5 of the report, be approved.                          

Consideration was given to the refreshed Worcestershire Community Strategy 2008-2013.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that the progress to refresh the Worcestershire Sustainable Community Strategy be noted;

(b)       that formal approval be given to the refreshed Worcestershire Sustainable Strategy;

(c)        that it be noted that Worcestershire County Council's Cabinet formally endorsed the Bromsgrove Partnership's Sustainable Community Strategy at it's meeting on 17th July 2008;

(d)       that the action being taken by the District Council to ensure both the District Local Strategic Partnership and Council strategies are aligned to the countywide Sustainable Community Strategy and Local Area Agreement be noted; and

(e)       that it be noted that this alignment is crucial to the Council achieving a good rating under the new Comprehensive Area Assessment (CAA) inspection framework which starts in April 2009.

The Cabinet considered a report on the key findings of the third Customer Panel Survey which took place in May-June 2008.

RESOLVED that the report and its accompanying appendices, including the results for those questions which had been repeated from the previous year's Survey and which tracked the Council's progress since June 2007, be noted.

(The Chairman agreed to the consideration of this item as a matter of urgency as a recommendation on this was required prior to the next meeting of the Council.  It was further noted that the recommendations of the Cabinet would be forwarded to the Department of Culture, Media & Sport by the required deadline of 15th September 2008, and that these would be subject to ratification by the Council at its meeting on 17th September 2008.)

Consideration was given to a report which outlined the Government's Free Swimming Scheme proposals for 2009/10 and 2010/11 and the Council's proposed response to this offer.  The various funding implications of the proposals were noted and it was agreed that Members would review the position based on the Council's priorities after 2011.

RECOMMENDED:

(a)       that officers be requested to implement the Government's Free Swimming Scheme including coaching/instruction sessions for over 60’s for the financial years 2009/10 and 2010/11;

(b)       that the availability of free swimming places for over 60’s be restricted to Bromsgrove District Council residents only;

(c)        that agreement be given to limit the availability of free swimming places and based on the definition contained within 3.11 of the report;

(d)       that officers be requested to decline the offer of free swimming for under 16’s for the reasons contained within the report and not express an interest to the Government;

(e)       that officers be requested to not put forward a bid for capital funding due to the limited life expectance of its swimming pool stock; and

(f)        that the implementation and management of the scheme be delegated to the Head of Service for Finance and the Deputy Head of Street Scene & Community to ensure that the scheme is established in order to minimise risk and the Medium Term Financial Plan.