Agenda and decisions

Cabinet - Tuesday, 3 April 2007

Items
No.	Item
1.	Recruitment Freeze View the background to item 1. View the decision for item 1. Decision: 93/2007 The Cabinet agreed to unfreeze the following posts, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, to enable Directors to commence the recruitment process: Business Support: a) Trainee CIPFA Accountant Finance Support b) Finance Assistant Control Team c) Senior Accountant - Directorate Support d) Accounting Technicians - Directorate Support X 2. Regeneration and Development: e) Finance Assistant f) Transport Procurement Unit Co-ordinator g) Transport Inspector/Surveyor h) Customer Contact Assistant.
2.	Revenue Budget Monitoring View the background to item 2. View the decision for item 2. Decision: 88/2007 The Cabinet noted the current forecast overspend of £743,000, based on January returns, but also the likelihood of further significant movement to this position during the closedown process, with a firm commitment to still achieving break-even to budget.
3.	Gender Equality Scheme View the background to item 3. View the decision for item 3. Decision: 85/2007 The Cabinet authorised the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services, to consider the detailed action plan and outcome of consultation on outline priorities and amend the gender equality scheme as appropriate for final publication.
4.	Primary School Admissions Arrangements for September 2008 View the background to item 4. View the decision for item 4. Decision: 84/2007 The Cabinet approved the Primary Admission Arrangements, as set out in the appendices to the report incorporating the changes set out in paragraph 4 to the report.
5.	Acceptance of Tender for School Capital Project: Greenacre School, Walderslade View the background to item 5. View the decision for item 5. Decision: 91/2007 The Cabinet agreed that the acceptance of the most advantageous tender to construct a new sports hall at Greenacre School, Walderslade, be delegated to the Assistant Director of Legal, Contracts and Property Services within the budget provision of £950,000.
6.	Loan to the Sunlight Development Trust View the background to item 6. View the decision for item 6. Decision: 86/2007 The Cabinet agreed that the Council makes a loan of £50,000 to the Sunlight Development Trust to assist them in achieving their business objectives. 87/2007 The Cabinet agreed that the loan be unsecured, at no interest, repayable over 5 years in equal instalments.
7.	Medway Innovation Centre - Phase 2 View the background to item 7. View the decision for item 7. Decision: 80/2007 The Cabinet noted the progress achieved in establishing the Phase 1 innovation centre. 81/2007 The Cabinet instructed officers to reopen negotiations with St. Modwen's (who were the second preferred developers) given that negotiations with the current preferred developer could not be satisfactorily concluded. 82/2007 The Cabinet authorised the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Development and Economic Growth, to grant a development agreement and lease for the Phase 2 site to St. Modwen's if satisfactory terms can be agreed. 83/2007 Subject to agreement with St. Modwen's not being reached: (i) In relation to construction of the Phase 2 facility, the Cabinet approved the council entering into a design and build contract (option 2) with a suitable construction company either though the South East Centre of Excellence (SECE) route or through an Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) tender and delegated authority to the Chief Executive to review the suitability of the SECE Framework, to proceed with a procurement through SECE if satisfactory and appropriate, or otherwise to proceed with a separate tender in accordance with Contract Rules and to award the contract. (ii) In relation to the management of the Phase 2 facility, the Cabinet approved the council entering into a lease of not more than 7 years (option 3) and/or a management and services contract of the same length with a suitable operating company and delegated authority to the Chief Executive to award the contract at Gateway 3, Contract Award. (iii) The Cabinet recommended to Full Council to approve the Prudential borrowing requirement and the required cashflow cover from council reserves for the project to proceed and to add the scheme to the Capital Programme.
8.	Release/Variation of Restrictve Covenant, Shorts Way/Mercury Close, Borstal View the background to item 8. View the decision for item 8. Decision: 92/2007 The Cabinet agreed to delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to negotiate and complete the release/variation of the restrictive covenant on the land between Shorts Way and Mercury Close, Borstal at best consideration.
9.	Capital Budget Monitoring View the background to item 9. View the decision for item 9. Decision: 89/2007 The Cabinet noted that spend and commitments on the approved programme since 1 April 2006 to date amounted to approximately £55,030 million and that the forecast spend during 2006/2007 amounted to £77,944 million. 90/2007 The Cabinet formally authorised expenditure against the approved capital programme for 2007/2008 and future years.