Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 7th March 2007 were submitted.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting be approved and confirmed as a correct record.

There were no matters arising from the Minutes.

The Minutes of the Local Development Framework Working Party held on 28th March 2007 were submitted.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting be noted and the recommendations be approved.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Performance Management Board held on 23rd March 2007 were submitted.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting be noted and the recommendations approved.

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Scrutiny Steering Board held on 6th March 2007 were submitted.

RESOLVED: that the Minutes of the Meeting be noted.

The Cabinet considered recommendations made by the Scrutiny Steering Board based on the report of the Task Group set up to scrutinise issues relating to Car Parking.  The Leader acknowledged the work undertaken by the Task Group and thanked the Chairman of the Task Group for its efforts in undertaking the exercise.  It was recognised that some of the issues had moved on since the report had been compiled.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that in view of the decision made as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan process to ask officers to investigate means by which the sum of £50,000 can be utilised to ensure the Council’s car park facilities may be used to best advantage by disabled persons and all sections of the community, no action be taken at present with regard to removing car parking charges for the disabled.

(b)       that Blue Badge holders be allowed an additional hour of parking over and above the time for which they have paid.

(c)        that in view of the significant financial implications which would result from the removal of charges after 6.00pm and on Sundays, consideration of this matter be deferred until the budget for 2008/09 is being considered.

(d)       that the issue of overnight charging be revisited as part of the  discussion referred to in (f) below on altering the ticket machines so that customers receive the full time for which they have paid.

(e)       that officers be requested to look at ways of encouraging the most efficient and flexible use of the car park facilities.

(f)         that if possible, the ticket machines be adjusted so that customers receive the full time for which they have paid and that the use of mobile telephones to allow “remote payment” be considered further at a later stage.

(g)       that officers be requested to review the system of issuing Concessionary Permits in view of the predicted growth in the elderly population of the District.

(h)        that it be noted that discussions with Bromsgrove School regarding the possible use of their car park have been unsuccessful.

(i)         that officers be requested to look at ways in which the Shopmobility service can be sustained and improved.

The Cabinet considered recommendations made by the Scrutiny Steering Board based on the report of the Task Group set up to scrutinise issues in relation to watercourses.  The Leader thanked the Chairman of the Task Group for the work which had been undertaken as part of the exercise.  As part of the discussion it was acknowledged that whilst the budget bids totalling  £7,500 to cover the costs of recommendations 1 and 2 had been unsuccessful, the enhancement of the Spadesbourne Brook was an important feature of the Town Centre redevelopment and would be considered as part of this project.

RESOLVED: that recommendations 3 to 16 contained within the Watercourses Task Group report be approved, subject to officers producing an Action Plan on how the recommendations could be implemented and built into existing work programmes without impacting on the budget.

Consideration was given to the report which identified the cost and resource implications of implementing the recommendations of the Fly Tipping Task Group.  The recommendations had been approved at the previous meeting of Executive Cabinet subject to this report on the cost and resource implications.  It was confirmed that the proposals could be implemented as part of the work programme for Street Scene and Waste Management and that a further report would be submitted to Cabinet in relation to additional CCTV equipment if this should prove to be required.

RESOLVED: that the contents of the report be noted.

Consideration was given to the report on the updated Capital Strategy for 2007-2010.  It was noted that the Strategy brought together the work undertaken by the Council in recent years on the Community Plan and the Council Plan, which together set out a vision for Bromsgrove for 2007 and beyond.

RECOMMENDED: that the Capital Strategy for 2007-2010 be approved.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report on the updated Improvement Plan Exception Report for January 2007.  It was reported that work would begin shortly on a new version of the Improvement Plan as the vast majority of the actions contained within the existing Plan had been achieved.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the revisions to the Improvement Plan Exception Report  together with the corrective action being undertaken be approved.

(b)       that it be noted that 67.8% of the Improvement Plan is on target, 9% is one month behind, 9% is over one month behind and 14.2% of actions have been rescheduled or suspended with approval.

Consideration was given to a report which set out details of the implementation of a Choice Based Lettings Scheme for social housing which had previously been agreed in principle.

RESOLVED: that the proposals for the implementation of Choice Based Lettings for the allocation of social housing as set out in the report be approved.

Consideration was given to a report which set out the latest position regarding the decommissioning of the three Council owned hostels which provide temporary accommodation for the homeless and are managed under a Service Level Agreement by Bromsgrove District Housing Trust.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the progress made in closing Wythall Hostel be noted.

(b)       that delegated authority be granted to the Corporate Property Officer, the Section 151 officer and the Corporate Director (Services) through the Asset Management Group for the disposal and settlement of the terms of sale of Wythall Hostel.

(c)        that Sidemoor and Rubery Hostels be conveyed to BDHT for nil capital receipt to the Council for re-modelling into self contained units of affordable housing for rent and the revised scheme proposals as set out in sections 5 and 6 of the report be approved.

(d)       that the grant funding to BDHT for the development of self contained flats on the Sidemoor and Rubery sites and for the purchase of “buy backs” as detailed in sections 5 and 6 of the report be approved.

(Note: Councillor Mrs. C. Spencer declared a personal interest in this item as one of the Council’s representatives on the Board of BDHT.)

Consideration was given to the report on the revised version of the District Council’s Emergency Plan.  It was reported that the Plan had been substantially revised in association with advice received from the Worcestershire County Council Emergency Planning Officer and that it now conformed to the expectations of the Civil Contingency Act 2004.  It was also noted that that the Plan would be subject to further revision in July and November each year and that further work would be undertaken on the production of a strategy relating to Business Continuity Management arrangements.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the report be noted and the revised Emergency Plan be approved.

(b)       that Senior Officers be authorised to make expenditure decisions in the event of an emergency, subject to the submission of a report to the Executive Cabinet immediately following the emergency giving details of financial implications for retrospective approval.

Consideration was given to a report which updated Executive Cabinet on the position regarding the Victoria Ground which is currently leased to Bromsgrove Rovers Football Club.

RESOLVED: that the current position with regard to the Victoria Ground, as set out in the report be noted and endorsed.

Consideration was given to a report relating to a Motion agreed by Tewkesbury Borough Council concerning arrangements for sending parcels to British forces and their families who are stationed overseas. Following discussion it was

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the Motion agreed by Tewkesbury Borough Council as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report be supported.

(b)       that the Chief Executive be requested to write to the appropriate Government Minister to express such support.

(c)        that the Chief Executive Officer be requested to forward the letter received from Tewkesbury Borough Council to all Parish Councils within Bromsgrove District to seek their support in writing to the Government Minister.