Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Alan Jarrett (Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance). 

The record of the meeting held on 5 July 2011 was agreed and signed by the Leader as correct.  

Councillor Filmer declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 (Appointment to the Bus Lane Adjudication Service Joint Committee) because he was the responsible Portfolio Holder for bus lane adjudication.

Background:

This report provided details of the publication draft version of the Core Strategy and associated documents relating to the Local Development Framework consisting of:

• A schedule of formal responses to the ‘Pre-Publication Draft’
• An updated Local Development Scheme
• An updated Statement of Community Involvement
• An Interim Diversity Impact Assessment
• A Sustainability Appraisal of the Core Strategy
• A preliminary Habitats Regulations Assessment of the Core Strategy.

The Council was required to prepare and keep under review a Local Development Framework in accordance with the provisions of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The Core Strategy established the overall development quantities and broad locations for development over a period of at least 15 years. This version of the Core Strategy was the penultimate draft version and was subject to a statutory 6 week public consultation.

Attachments 1-7, as referenced within the covering report, had been circulated to Cabinet Members separately.

Reasons:

To comply with the requirements of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004 (as amended) and ensure that there is an up to date spatial planning framework for the area.

Background:

This report provided details of a Draft Development Brief for development at the Ministry of Defence site at Lodge Hill, Chattenden. It was noted that Policy CS33 of the Publication Draft Core Strategy made a strategic allocation of an area of land at Lodge Hill. This was allocated for a new settlement to include up to 5,000 dwellings, at least 43,000m² employment floorspace, at least 5,000m² retail floorspace together with supporting infrastructure, community facilities and open space.

The site was a strategically important site for regeneration and growth in Medway. It would meet a significant portion of the area’s housing need, including family housing, and had significant potential for higher value employment uses that would contribute to meeting the aims of the Council’s Economic Development Strategy. The Draft Development Brief would be subject to a six week period of public consultation from 30 August 2011-10 October 2011.

The draft Development Brief, and its appendices, as referenced within the covering report, had been circulated to Cabinet Members (and Ward Members) separately.

Reasons:

A Development Brief for Lodge Hill will provide greater certainty for future developers and the local community and will assist in securing Medway’s regeneration and growth.

Background:

This report provided details of a proposal to locate the Child Development Services (CDC) for disabled children on part of the Temple site, Strood. The report set out the history of the service following its emergency relocation to a number of community locations  across Medway in January 2009. It was noted that the NHS Medway Board (PCT) had considered a number of possible sites as potential locations including the former Temple School site, Strood, Canada House, Gillingham and Lordswood Healthy Living Centre, Chatham. Each of the locations were independently evaluated by Medway Community Estates and the NHS Medway Board agreed that the Temple site was the most realistic site to develop an integrated centre for disabled children.

The report provided the key findings from the feasibility study for the Temple site together with the risk management implications.

An exempt appendix set out the detailed financial implications and the Child Development Service feasibility study undertaken by Medway Community Estates.

Reasons:

There are considerable long-term benefits to disabled children in Medway in having an integrated Child Development Service (CDC) service on one site. There is no initial capital investment required by the council to release the property to Medway PCT. Leasing part of the site to the CDC does not limit the other options to use the rest of the site. Leasing part of the site to the CDC will provide an annual rental income to the council, which can be used to offset some of the current costs of maintaining the retained element of the site.

Background:

This report provided details to seek approval to proceed to public consultation on the proposal to make prescribed alterations to Bradfields Community Special School by way of an expansion of the upper and lower age limits, an addition to the Special Educational Needs categories and an increase in the number of pupils. The report set out the background to the school noting that the sixth form of Bradfields would relocate from its current base of Brompton Academy to the former Ridge Meadow site from September 2011.

The proposals included the alteration of the age range to 3-25, to increase the categories provided for to include Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) and to increase the number of pupils who can attend the school by up to 40.

The report set out the timetable for the statutory consultation process.

Reasons:

The Council is required to consult on the proposals in accordance with the School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007.

Note: This is a matter for the Leader to decide.  

Background:

This report provided details of a proposal to join the Bus Lane Adjudication Service Joint Committee (BLASJC) and to appoint a representative to the BLASJC on behalf of the Committee. This would enable the Council to issue Penalty Charge Notices (PCNs) to any unauthorised vehicles that are recorded in a bus lane. It was noted that enforcement was due to start at the new Strood Riverside link which would use Medway’s first fixed Auto Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera to capture contraventions.

It was noted that in accordance with legislation and the Council’s Constitution (Article 10), the decision requested was a matter for the Leader of the Council to decide given that the authority to establish joint arrangements in respect of executive functions (i.e. the making of arrangements for bus lane adjudicators) was devolved to the Leader.

Reasons:

This will enable Medway Council to commence enforcement of bus lanes, via the issuance of penalty charge notices to support the implementation of the new Strood Riverside bus-link as well as the forthcoming opening of the dynamic bus station in Chatham.

Background:

This report gave details of the forecast outturn for the 2011/2012 financial year projected based on actual income and expenditure to June 2011 (the end of the first quarter).

It was noted that on 24 February 2011 the Council had set a General Fund net budget requirement of £184.959m for 2011/2012 (Medway Council £184.619m and Parish Councils £0.341m). Council Tax had been frozen at 2010/2011 levels.

This was the first quarterly report and it indicated, after management action, the outturn forecast for 2011/2012 stood at a £4m overspend.

The Cabinet accepted this report as urgent to enable it to receive and consider the first quarter budget monitoring information at the earliest opportunity.

Reasons:

Cabinet has the responsibility to ensure effective budgetary control to contain expenditure within the approved limits set by Council. Where a budget overspend is forecast, Cabinet supported by the corporate management team must identify measures to remove any excess expenditure.

Background:

This report gave details of the capital monitoring position for the period to June 2011 (the end of the first quarter), with a forecast outturn for 2011/2012 and future years. The approved capital programme for 2011/2012 and future years was £107.7m, consisting of £53.6m in respect of brought forward schemes and £54.1m in respect of new approvals.

The report commented on the delivery of the capital programme and updated Members on a number of issues. The current forecast showed that £78m of the programme was forecast for spend during 2011/2012.

The Cabinet accepted this report as urgent to enable it to receive and consider the first quarter budget monitoring information at the earliest opportunity.

Reasons:

Cabinet has the responsibility to ensure effective budgetary control to contain expenditure within the approved limits set by Council.

This report presented details of the Council’s performance for the first quarter of 2011/2012. In particular, it included performance against indicators and actions agreed in the Council Plan 2011/2012.

It was noted that of the 47 key measures that could be reported this quarter 32 (68%) had achieved or outperformed the annual target and a further 4 (9%) were below target but within acceptable variance limits. 11 (23%) key measures were below the annual target. Additionally, there were 7 performance measures which were not rated as they were “data only” and 10 that could not be reported this quarter but had been included for Cabinet information.

The Cabinet accepted this report as urgent to enable it to receive and consider the latest performance information at the earliest opportunity.

Reasons:

Full and accurate performance reporting to elected Members is consistent with best practice, and allows them to review the council’s performance.

Background:

This report presented information on vacancies that officers had requested approval to commence recruitment for, following the process agreed by Cabinet on 7 January 2003 (decision number 9/2003).

Appendix 1 to the report provided details of the posts.

Reasons:

The posts presented to Cabinet will support the efficient running of the Council. 

Background:

This report sought permission to commence the batched procurement of building works at Abbey Court School in Rainham, Elaine Primary School n Strood and Twydall Primary School in Gillingham. 

It was noted that the costs of the Abbey Court project would be met from the SEN Programme, the Elaine project from the Basic Need Programme and the Twydall project from the Primary Capital Programme.

The report considered the options available and recommended procurement via a below EU Threshold Select List. An exempt appendix set out details of the whole life costings and budget for the projects.

It was noted that the Strategic Procurement Board had considered and recommended this report to Cabinet on 6 July 2011.

An exempt appendix provided the detailed finance and whole-life costings information for the building projects.

Reasons:

The projects will support the delivery of the required improvements to Abbey Court, Elaine and Twydall Schools, within the required timeframes and budgets.