Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The record of the meeting held on 27 November 2012 was agreed and signed by the Leader as correct.

There were none. 

Background:

This report provided details of the Medway Youth Justice Plan 2012-2014, which had been developed following discussions with partner agencies and also reflected the requirements of the Youth Offending Team (YOT) Improvement Plan.

The Youth Justice Plan, which was revised on an annual basis and formed part of the Council’s policy framework, set out the aims and objectives for 2012/2014 in relation to working with young people who offend or who were at risk of offending. In accordance with the provisions of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 the Plan set out how youth justice services would be provided and funded and how the YOT was to be composed and funded, how it was to operate and what functions it was to carry out.

The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 11 December 2012 and its views were set out in an addendum report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form had been undertaken on the draft plan which indicated that a full impact assessment was not necessary.

Reasons:

To provide a plan which sets out the aims and objectives in relation to working with young people who offend or who are at risk of offending.

Background:

This report provided details of the Statement of Gambling Policy (Gambling Act 2005). This Policy set out the principles which the Local Authority applied in exercising its licensing functions under the Gambling Act 2005. The licensing objectives were:

• Preventing gambling from being a source of crime or disorder, being associated with crime or disorder or being used to support crime;
• Ensuring that gambling was conducted in a fair and open way;
• Protecting children and other vulnerable persons from being harmed or exploited by gambling.

The report set out a summary of the proposed amendments to the Policy and the views of the Licensing and Safety Committee and Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which had considered the report on 21 November 2012 and 6 December 2012 respectively.

In relation to the comments made at the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Customer Contact advised that he would be meeting with the Gambling Commission in the New Year and would also engage other political parties and Medway’s three Members of Parliament as to the proliferation of Fixed Odds Betting Terminals.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form had been undertaken on the draft Policy which indicated it was not necessary to proceed to a full assessment.

Reasons:

The proposed Gambling Policy sets out how the Council will regulate licensable activities as required by the Gambling Act 2005.

Background:

This report provided details of the in-depth review of supported accommodation undertaken by a short life Task Group which reached the following conclusions on the issue of supported accommodation:

• There was a need for legislation to be tightened in relation to housing benefit and exempt accommodation;
• Additional assistance would be helpful in the housing benefit section to address the high volume of claims, to continue the robust challenge to high rents and the vigorous challenge to any future Tribunal cases;
• Outcomes based commissioning was the way forward in terms of quality of provision in relation to housing related support along with a greater understanding of the need in this area.

The Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 13 December 2012 and its views were set out in an addendum report.

Background:

This report provided details of a draft localised council tax support (CTS) scheme as required under the Local Government Finance Act 2012, following the abolition of council tax benefit (CTB) under the Welfare Reform Act 2012.

The requirements of the revision to CTB were reported to Cabinet on 4 September 2012 (decision number 147/2012) and the contents of a consultation on proposals for an eight week period were agreed (decision number 148/2012).

The Cabinet considered the results of the consultation exercise on 27 November 2012 and asked officers to draw up a local council tax support scheme based upon the preferred scheme that was part of the consultation (decision number 189/2012).

The report set out the main provisions of the Scheme, which had been issued to Cabinet Members in Supplementary Agenda No.2.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix A to the report. The assessment identified a number of potential adverse impacts together with some mitigating factors being incorporated into the scheme.

Reasons:

The scheme balances the need for supporting those currently in receipt of council tax benefit and the ability of the Council to fund the scheme within the current budgetary constraints. 

The scheme has been drawn up in accordance with Cabinet’s recommendation on 27 November 2012, which was reflective of the fact that the majority of respondents to the consultation were in agreement with the principles of the scheme.

CIPFA have confirmed that the scheme meets the aims and recommendations of Cabinet.

Background:

This report provided details of the mid year review of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy. This had been prepared in compliance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management and covered the following:

• An economic update for the first six months of 2012/13;
• A review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy;
• A review of the Council’s investment portfolio for 2012/13;
• A review of the Council’s borrowing strategy for 2012/13;
• A review of any debt rescheduling undertaken during 2012/13; and
• A review of compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2012/13.

It was noted that the council needed to formally adopt CIPFA’s Code of Practice 2011 and a copy was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the report on 6 December 2012 and its views were set out in the report.

Reasons:

The Treasury Management Strategy requires that Cabinet and Council receives and considers a mid year review of treasury management strategy and performance.

Background:

This report provided details of the Annual Review of the Housing Strategy. The Strategy aimed to reflect policies and priorities at national, regional and local level. It helped deliver the strategic housing priorities for Medway and set the direction for housing in Medway until 2014. The Strategy was designed around three aims (Bridging the Gap, Early Prevention and Health and Housing) with seven outcomes, as set out in the report.

It was noted that there had been significant progress against the priority actions. A total of 15 actions had been completed and the majority were on target to be delivered by 2014. A detailed report of progress against the Strategy Action Plan was set out.

The Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 13 December 2012 and its comments were set out in an addendum report.

Reasons:

The Housing Strategy and its Action Plan sets the strategic direction for Housing Services in Medway, contributing to the Council’s core values and strategic priorities and giving context for the attraction and investment of resources. 

Background:

This report provided details of a Draft Tenancy Strategy as required under s150 of the Localism Act 2011.

The Draft Tenancy Strategy set out the objectives to be taken into consideration by individual Registered Providers of social housing as they made decisions about their own tenancy policies. It provided an overview of how the Council would address the issues of rent, tenure reform, and changes to the housing register. The key aims of the Medway Council Tenancy Strategy were:

·        To set out clear expectations for Registered Providers and other social landlords operating in Medway;

·        To make the best use of the Council’s housing stock and wider social housing stock in the area;

·        To prevent homelessness and enable housing to be offered to those in the greatest need;

·        To offer tenancies which were in the interest of the individual household;

·        To create and maintain sustainable communities.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form had been undertaken on the draft Policy that indicated it had not been necessary to proceed a full assessment.

The Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 13 December 2012 and its views were set out in an addendum report. It was also noted that consultation had been undertaken with a diverse range of partners and stakeholders, with feedback received having been taken into account in the subsequent development of the Strategy.

Reasons:

Approval of the Tenancy Strategy will fulfil the provisions of Section 150 of the Localism Act 2011, which requires local authorities to prepare and publish a Tenancy Strategy.

Background:

This report provided details of the eighth Annual Monitoring Report which analysed progress against a range of indicators associated with the adopted development plan and the emerging Local Development Framework, in accordance with s35 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The report highlighted the main findings of this year’s report including that Medway was out performing many other areas on a number of measures and, as a consequence, was avoiding the worst effects of the continuing economic downturn.

The Medway Annual Monitoring Report 2012 (Volume 1) was circulated to Cabinet Members in Supplementary Agenda No.1. During the discussion of this item the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Culture undertook to clarify the stewardship reported within the ‘CS6 Preservation and Enhancement of Natural Assets’ section of the monitoring report.

Reasons:

To enable continued monitoring of the development plan to be made available to the local community and others. 

Background:

This report provided details of proposals on how the Council intended to safeguard the future of the airport, incorporating a modern airport facility with improved heritage and community facilities.

The report stated that facilities at the airport were nearing the end of their economic lives and it was generally accepted that for the airport to remain open in the medium/long term, investment was needed to make it sustainable.

The options for the future of the airport were set out in the report. It was also noted that a masterplan will be prepared for the site that would set out a clear framework for the reconfiguration of the aviation facilities, as well as the basis for redeveloping surplus and adjoining land for employment related uses.

Reasons:

To safeguard the long-term future sustainability of the airport, to secure the improvement of the airport to provide a modern facility with improved public access and heritage offer and to release additional employment land, whilst meeting the Council’s legal and fiduciary duties. 

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, with details of five further posts tabled at the meeting.

Reasons:

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

Background:

This report sought permission to commence the procurement of activities and services related to the Strand Water Sports Centre at Gillingham. This would initially involve inviting expressions of interest from external providers to deliver this service for the period of the project 2013 – 2018 and to become an active partner in the development of the Strand area in North Gillingham.

This report had been approved for submission to the Cabinet after review and discussion by Children and Adults Directorate Management Team on 25 May 2012 and the Procurement Board on 28 November 2012.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form (attached at Appendix 2 to the report) had been undertaken which indicated that a full impact assessment was not necessary.

An exempt appendix contained key information in respect of finance and whole life costings and information relating to individuals.

Reasons:

On the basis that these recommendations have been approved by Children and Adults Departmental Management Team, Corporate Management Team and the Procurement Board. 

The decisions support the Medway Strategic Priority of ‘Children and young people having the best start in life in Medway’.

Background:

This report provided details of the Final Business Case (FBC) for the expansion of the buildings at Wainscott Primary School to accommodate two forms of entry following consideration at the Procurement Board on 28 November 2012, along with the associated contract documents, and sought Cabinet approval to finalise the formal contract with BAM Construction Limited, within the funding available and identified in the body of the report.

An exempt appendix set out the FBC together with the funding sources and life-cycle costings.

Reasons:

The use of theEFA National Framework for the procurement of the Design and Build Contractor is the best option to allow delivery of the new school buildings within the desired timeframes and is the procurement route approved within the Outline Business Case.