Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dr. D. W. P. Booth JP, Mrs. J. Dyer M.B.E., R. Hollingworth and R. D. Smith  

No declarations of interest were received.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 5th November 2008 were submitted.

RESOLVED  that the minutes be approved as a correct record.

(a)       To receive and note the minutes

(b)       To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes

The minutes of the meeting of the Overview Board held on 4th November 2008 were submitted.

RESOLVED  that the minutes be noted.

(a)       To receive and note the minutes

(b)       To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes

The minutes of the meeting of the Performance Management Board held on 18th November 2008 were submitted.

RESOLVED  that the minutes be noted.

The minutes of the meeting of the Bromsgrove Local Strategic Partnership held on 2nd October 2008 were submitted.

RESOLVED  that the minutes be noted and that it be requested that in future, the minutes clearly distinguish between the members of the Board and attendees.

The Cabinet considered a report containing a detailed response to the Regional Spatial Strategy (RSS) – Phase 2 Revision preferred option. At the invitation of the Chairman, members of the Local Development Framework Working Party participated in the debate on this matter. Following discussion it was

RECOMMENDED   that the Council’s response to the RSS Phase 2 Revision preferred option be as set out in Appendix 1 to the report, including the specific representation on the issues set out below. It is understood that elements of this response concur with the views of Redditch Borough Council.   

(a)      that this Council objects to the level of Redditch related housing and employment growth to be provided within Bromsgrove and /or Stratford, in locations adjacent to Redditch town, when alternative more strategically viable sites within the District are available;

(b)      that this Council objects to the designation of Redditch as a Settlement of Significant Development, particularly in relation to the future implications for this growth within Bromsgrove’s Green Belt;

(c)        that this Council is concerned that the low housing allocation for Bromsgrove District up to 2026 will not allow the District to address its well documented affordable housing needs and those of the increasingly elderly population;

(d)       that in response to (c) above and on the basis of the attached supporting documentation (Appendix 1), this Council requests a higher housing allocation of up to 4000 housing units for Bromsgrove District, to be located in suitable sustainable locations to be determined by the Council through the Spatial Planning Process;

(e)       that this Council is concerned that if the RSS does allocate housing and employment land to the periphery of Redditch town, the RSS should as far as possible clearly determine the exact requirements to be developed in the Bromsgrove, Redditch and Stratford Districts.       

The Cabinet considered a report setting out the Council’s response to the study prepared by Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners commissioned by the Government Office for the West Midlands. The study was in response to concerns expressed by Baroness Andrews that the submitted preferred option Regional Spatial Strategy did not deliver the required amounts of housing as reported by the National Housing and Planning Advice Unit.

RECOMMENDED   that the Council’s response to the study be as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Head of Financial Services gave a presentation on the current position in relation to the Medium Term Financial Plan 2009/2010 and the Capital Programme 2009/2010 – 2011/2012. The Head of Financial Services also referred to recommendations made at the recent joint meeting of the Overview Board and Scrutiny Board. These would be considered as part of the report and discussions on the Medium Term Financial Plan at the Cabinet meeting on 7th January 2009.

It was reported that officers were still considering the Capital Programme in view of the potential financial impact of borrowing to fund the Programme in the future.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the current position in relation to the Medium Term Financial Plan be noted; and

(b)       that officers be requested to review further the position in relation to the Capital Programme, with the aim of reducing the proposed programme to include only  those projects which are considered as unavoidable to enable services to be delivered.   

The Cabinet considered the Council’s Tax Base Calculation for the financial year 2009/2010.

RESOLVED  that in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the Council’s Tax Base for 2009/2010, assuming a collection rate of 99 per cent be calculated at £36,290.23 for the area as a whole, with individual Parishes as shown at Appendix 1 of the report. 

Consideration was given to a proposed Street Cleansing Policy. It was intended that the Policy would help to clarify the services provided and would provide easily accessible information to the Council’s customers and stakeholders. 

RESOLVED  that the Street Cleansing Policy as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

The Cabinet considered an integrated report on the Council’s performance and financial position at 30th September 2008. Following discussion it was

RESOLVED:

(a)       that it be noted that 44% of Performance Indicators for which data was available were improving or stable;

(b)       that it be noted that 82% of Performance Indicators for which data was available were achieving their year to date target;

(c)        that it be noted that 92% of Performance Indicators for which data was available were predicted to meet their target at year end;

(d)       that the successes and areas for concern as set out in 4.4 of the report be noted.     

Consideration was given to the Improvement Plan Exception Report for September 2008, together with the corrective action being taken. Following discussion it was

RESOLVED:

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

(b)       that it be noted that for the 134 actions highlighted within the plan for October, 73.9 percent of the plan was on target (green), 6 percent was one month behind (amber) and 11.9 percent was over one month behind (red). 8.2 percent of actions had been reprogrammed with approval.  

Consideration was given to a report on the introduction of a policy and process to enable the Council to deal effectively with unreasonable and persistent complainants. It was reported that this would assist staff to understand what was required and what options were available. Following discussion it was

RESOLVED  that the Unreasonable and Persistent Complainants Policy as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

(The Chairman agreed to the consideration of this item as a matter of urgency as a decision was required prior to the next meeting of the Cabinet to enable the additional day of free car parking to take place during the Christmas period.)

The Head of Street Scene and Community reported that following the recent reduction in VAT to 15 percent it would be impractical and financially unviable to amend the car parking charges to reflect this until the end of the financial year. It was therefore suggested that in order to provide some recompense to the community, car parking charges be suspended for an additional day on Saturday, 6th December 2008. The loss of income would be approximately equal to the amount gained from the VAT changes.

RESOLVED:

(a)       that an additional day’s “free parking” be approved to take effect on Saturday, 6th December 2008 and that this be publicised as appropriate; and

(b)       that in view of the urgency of the matter and to enable the proposal to be brought into effect, the Cabinet’s decision be not subject to the Council’s call-in procedure as set out in the Scrutiny Procedure Rules.      

RESOLVED  that under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972,as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the item of business the subject of the following minute on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, as amended, the relevant paragraph of that part being as set out below and that it is in the public interest to do so:-

                        Minute No                               Paragraph     

                           119/08                                        4

Consideration was given to a report on the future management of the Council’s leisure centres. Following discussion it was

RESOLVED:

(a)       that the reasons for the transfer of the Council’s leisure centres to Wychavon Leisure Trust not proceeding be noted;

(b)       that the service review undertaken to deliver the savings identified in the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 and the  additional savings in 2011/2012, together with the alternative proposals for the delivery of the service with effect from February 2009 be approved;

(c)        that it be noted that discussions are being held with Sport England and Haybridge School with a view to securing the transfer of Haybridge Sports Centre to a third party provider and that authority be delegated to the Executive Director Partnerships and Projects and the Head of Financial Services to complete the transfer of services in line with the requirements of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

RECOMMENDED   that the Capital Programme 2008/2009 be amended to include the sum of £139,000, to be met from capital receipts to fund the costs associated with the purchase and installation of the Fitness Suite equipment.