Agenda item

To consider the recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3rd September 2008.

In order to consider the recommendations in this item, Members will need to familiarise themselves with the background papers to the reports that are contained within the Cabinet agenda papers.

Members will also need to have the Cabinet agenda papers available to them at the meeting.

Members of the public can access these papers on-line at www.bromsgrove.gov.uk/meetings, and follow the "Download agendas, reports and minutes" link.

(i)         INTEGRATED FINANCE AND PERFORMANCE REPORT (QUARTER 1)

                     During the debate on this recommendation Councillor P. M. McDonald requested the Leader to consider re-directing the Local Development Framework underspend of £100,000 towards supporting Area Committees. The Leader explained that this was a one-off saving but indicated that he was willing to discuss the issue with Cabinet Members and officers.           

RESOLVED 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.

            (ii)        REVIEW OF THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

RESOLVED:

(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.

(iii)    COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT - SELF ASSESSMENT

The Chairman announced that the recommendations from the Cabinet on this matter had been superseded by a separate report which would be considered later in the meeting at Agenda Item 9.

(iv)   REFUSE COLLECTION AND RECYCLING OPERATION REVIEW

         RESOLVED:

(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.

(v)    COUNCIL PLAN 2009-2012 PART 1

         RESOLVED:

(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 resolution (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 resolution (b) above, a reduction in the number of priorities, as detailed at point 3.5 of the report, be approved. 

(vi)   WORCESTERSHIRE SUSTAINABLE COMMUNITY STRATEGY 2008-       2013

         RESOLVED:

(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 its 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.

(vii)  FREE SWIMMING SCHEME/GRANT 2009/10 AND 2010/11

         With the consent of the meeting the Leader proposed that the recommendations from the Cabinet be altered as follows.

         Recommendation (a) to remain unchanged. Recommendation (b) to be deleted as a result of the Government’s announcement the previous day that free swimming places for the over 60’s could not be ringfenced for Bromsgrove District Council residents only and such places would need to be open to anyone over 60. Recommendation (c) to be amended to refer to paragraph 3.12 not 3.11 of the report. With regard to recommendation (d) (to decline the offer of free swimming places for under 16’s), the Leader reported that, (using his authority under Article 7.6 (b) of the Constitution) having consulted with Leaders of other authorities, he had asked officers to express interest in the free swimming scheme for under 16’s and to explore the matter further and provide more information. He therefore proposed that the Council agree to hold an extraordinary meeting on 13th October 2008 to consider and determine this matter. Recommendations (e) and (f) to remain unchanged.

The revised recommendations, as set out below, were moved by the Leader and seconded by Councillor Mrs. J. M. L. A. Griffiths.  

“(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 agreement be given to limit the availability of free swimming             places and based on the definition contained within 3.12 of the        report;

 (c)       that an extraordinary meeting of the Council be held on 13th October 2008 to determine the Council’s position in responding officially on the provision of free swimming for under 16’s.

 (d)      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

 (e)      that the implementation and management of the Scheme be delegated to the Head of Financial Services and the Deputy Head of Street Scene and Community to ensure that the Scheme is established in order to minimise risk and the Medium Term Financial Plan.”

Councillor P. M. McDonald queried whether the Council would be able to re-consider the capital funding bid as referred to in (d) above at the extraordinary meeting on 13th October 2008 if a decision was made that evening. The Leader agreed that the Council should consider this matter at the meeting on 13th October, whereupon it was  

RESOLVED:

(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 agreement be given to limit the availability of free swimming             places and based on the definition contained within 3.12 of the        report;

(c)        that an extraordinary meeting of the Council be held on 13th October 2008 to determine the Council’s position in responding officially on the provision of free swimming for under 16’s;

(d)       that the Cabinet recommendation that officers be requested not  to put forward a bid for capital funding due to the limited life expectance of its swimming pool stock be considered at the extraordinary meeting of the Council on 13th October 2008; and

(e)       that the implementation and management of the over 60’s Scheme be delegated to the Head of Financial Services and the Deputy    Head of Street Scene and Community to ensure that the Scheme is established in order to minimise risk and the Medium Term Financial Plan.