Agenda and decisions

The Cabinet noted the current forecast overspend of £644,000 and directors' intention to ensure action was taken to maintain spending within budget.

The Cabinet agreed that the feasibility of installing security cameras be considered in all future refurbishments of play areas.
The Cabinet instructed officers to prepare a scheme for the introduction of security cameras in play areas, for consideration with other priorities for the Council, as part of the budget setting process for 2005/6.

The Cabinet agreed to allow MHS to vary the restrictive covenant contained in the transfer of land adjacent to 32 Mallard Way to permit the land to be used for the construction of a pair of semi detached houses as approved under planning permission reference MC/2000/1476 for the consideration set out in the report.

The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services in consultation with the Portfolio Holder Front Line Task Force to:
a) Acquire a lease for suitable premises in Rainham on the best terms reasonably available within 2004/05 and at a level not exceeding that set out for the property referred to in the exempt appendix to the report.
b) Negotiate terms and complete the necessary legal agreements to provide a co-located service for Rainham residents.

The Cabinet agreed to public consultation on the proposal to change the designation of the sixth forms of the following four schools from single sex to mixed: Chapter, Chatham Grammar for Boys, Greenacre and Walderslade Girls.
The Cabinet agreed that if there were material objections raised following the consultation that a report be submitted back to Cabinet, otherwise the Director of Education and Leisure was delegated authority, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Education, to publish the statutory notice for changing the designation of the six forms at Chapter, Chatham Grammar for Boys, Greenacre and Walderslade Girls to mixed.

The Cabinet agreed that the Director of Education and Leisure be authorised to publish a public notice stating the intention to vary the age range of Napier Community Primary School to allow the admission of children aged 3 years with effect from September 2005.
The Cabinet agreed that the Director of Education and Leisure be authorised to initiate public consultation on the variation of the age range of St Mary's Community Primary School to allow the admission of children aged 3 years.

The Cabinet noted that spending on the approved budget amounted to approximately £16m.
The Cabinet noted the proposed use of capital resources available to fund the programme, as referred to in table 2 of the report.
The Cabinet recommended to Council that the proposed amendments to the authority's treasury guidance as set out in section 10 of the report be approved.

The Cabinet noted the current performance against the Council's CSFs as indicated by the first quarter figures for this year.

The Cabinet noted the current proposals for PSA2, which were still in development.

The Cabinet noted the comments made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committees concerning CSF performance and proposals for PSA2, and endorsed the officer responses as detailed in Appendix 4 to the report.

The Cabinet approved the revised Corporate Procurement Strategy (attached at Appendix 1 to the report).

The Cabinet approved the use of the National Procurement Strategy milestones as a means of benchmarking overall performance.

The Cabinet agreed to the IDeA being asked to complete an independent review of progress made by Medway Council on developing its procurement activity.

The Cabinet approved the option of closing Fair View Infant and Fair View Junior schools from 31 August 2005 and opening a new community three form of entry all through primary school and nursery unit on the existing school sites on 1 September 2005. The Cabinet also authorised the publication of statutory notices.

The Cabinet granted delegated authority to the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, in consultation with the Director of Development and Environment, on the best terms reasonably obtainable to:
a) Grant a 25-year Head Lease to Plantlife International of 185ha of Ranscombe Farm.
b) Execute the sale of 44ha of land at Ranscombe Farm to Plantlife International.
c) Take a lease back of the 44ha site and sublet it back to Plantlife.
d) To ring fence the capital receipt (£225,000) received from the sale for re-investment into the Ranscombe Farm Country Park project.

The Cabinet agreed to unfreeze the following posts, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, to enable Directors to commence the recruitment process:
Health and Community Services
a) Support Services Assistant - Gillingham Older People's Team
Finance and Corporate Services
b) Auditor
c) Operations Clerk
d) Personnel Officer
Education and Leisure
e) Delivery Van Driver
f) Planning and Budget Officer (permanent)
Development and Environment
g) Administrative Support (LA21).

Please see Record of Decisions