Agenda and minutes

There were none.  

The record of the meeting held on 30 October 2012 was agreed and signed by the Leader as correct. 

There were none.

Background:

This report detailed the outcome of the consultation for the delivery of a local Council Tax Support scheme and sought Members’ approval to draw up a scheme, which would then be presented to Cabinet on 18 December 2012 for consideration and referral to Council.

It was noted that as part of the Spending Review 2010 the Government made a policy commitment to localise support for council tax by 2013/14 accompanied by a declared intention to reduce expenditure by 10%. The implications of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 and Local Government Finance Act 2012 were set out in the report, which included the requirement for the Council to establish a scheme for the financial year beginning 1 April 2013.

The Cabinet had agreed on the contents of consultation on 4 September 2012. Consultation had then taken place from 10 September 2012 to 4 November 2012 on both the preferred scheme (attached at Appendix A to the report) and other additional options that had been identified and considered as part of the process of developing a scheme (attached at Appendix B to the report). It was reported that in total 557 survey questionnaires were completed either by phone, on paper or the web and a further 92 letters from individuals and 2 from organisations responding to the survey were received.

The report summarised the outcome of the consultation process, with further details provided within the appendices to the report.

The report also gave details of the announcement by the Department for Communities and Local Government on 18 October 2012 that an additional £100m would be made available for one year to support local authorities in developing council tax support schemes. Details of qualifications for this grant was given and it was noted that acceptance of the transitional grant and a cap on the benefit reduction of 8.5% would cost the Council a net £1.4 million.

It was also reported that a full Diversity Impact Assessment would be completed and submitted with the proposed scheme to Cabinet on 18 December.

Reasons:

The majority of respondents to the consultation were in agreement with the principles of the scheme.

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.

Report to follow. 

Background:

This report presented the Council’s draft revenue budget for 2013/2014.  In accordance with the Constitution, Cabinet was required to develop initial budget proposals approximately three months before finalising the budget and setting council tax levels at the end of February 2013.

The draft budget was based on the principles contained in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2013/2016 approved by Cabinet in October 2012 and reflected the formula grant assumptions for 2013/2014 announced as part of the consultation on the Resource Review this year.

It was reported that the initial budget proposals showed a current forecast budget gap of £11.950 million, which was significantly greater than predicted in the Medium Term Financial Plan. The report set out details of the recent funding announcements; this included the £2 million lost revenue from Council Tax associated with the ‘freeze’ announcement, the additional £2 million lost in delivering additional resources for 2 year olds through the Dedicated Schools Grant and the £7 million top-slice of formula grant for Local Authority Central Spend Equivalent Grant (LACSEG).

It was noted that the Council would not know the definitive position in regard to Government support until the final settlement in January 2013, although the provisional settlement due in late December would provide greater certainty.

Budget proposals incorporating pressures were set out within the report and accompanying appendices. In relation to the capital budget proposals for 2013/2014 it was noted that, at this stage, it had been assumed that future investment would be restricted to the existing approved Capital Programme, supplemented by the Council’s expectations in relation to Government grant.

The report also set out details of the main factors and assumptions that would form the basis of the 2013/2014 Housing Revenue Account budget.

It was noted that Diversity Impact Assessments would be undertaken and reported to Members as part of the budget and service planning process as the impact of the financial settlement on Council services became clearer.

The Cabinet accepted this report as urgent to facilitate the budget consultation process in accordance wit the timescales in the Constitution.

Reasons:

It is the responsibility of Cabinet to develop draft budget proposals for consideration by overview and scrutiny committees.  These draft proposals are the first stage of the budget consultation process leading to further discussion by Cabinet on 12 February 2013 and formal council tax setting on 21 February 2013.

Background:

This report presented the Annual Public Health Report of the Director of Public Health for 2011/12.

This year’s report focused on health protection, the branch of public health concerned with protecting the public from communicable diseases and other environmental threats. The first section covered communicable diseases including childhood infections, sexually transmitted infections and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The second dealt with the prevention of communicable disease through immunisation. The final section covered environmental threats to health, which had the potential to worsen health inequalities such as poor air quality, noise and poor housing.

The report included recommendations to Medway Council and its partners within the new public health system:

·                    To improve immunisation rates particularly for Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) and seasonal flu,

·                    To promote uptake of chlamydia screening in sexually active 15-24 year olds,

·                    That Medway Council in developing its vision and strategy for public health considers how it can ensure that public health benefits are realised across the breadth of the Council’s responsibilities.

It was noted that from April 2013 Medway Council would have new responsibilities for ensuring that plans were in place to protect the health of the population.

It was noted that the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report on 9 October 2012 and details of the Committee’s comments were set out in section 3 of the report.

Reasons:

This year's Annual Public Health Report focuses on health protection and the Cabinet acknowledged its role in considering how the Council, with partners, can work within the new public health system.

Background:

This report outlined the development of the Medway Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy in line with the requirements of the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy aimed to improve the health and wellbeing of the population in Medway and was directly informed by the enhanced Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) 2012. The strategy incorporated five strategic themes:

1.      Give every child a good start

2.      Enable our older population to live independently and well

3.      Prevent early death and increase years of healthy life

4.      Improve physical and mental health and wellbeing

5.      Reduce health inequalities

The report explained that consultation on themes and the development of priority actions to deliver on these themes was carried out. This included an online consultation and a stakeholder event. The outcome was reviewed by the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board on 31July 2012 and strategic themes confirmed.  A list of priority actions drawn from the JSNA and the consultation process were considered and scored under each theme using appropriate criteria. One priority action was agreed under each theme as a focus for action for 2013/14.

It was noted that the Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board on 11 September 2012 and Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 9 October 2012 had considered the Strategy. Their comments were set out in the report.

Members were advised that the monitoring and outcomes framework was being further developed and officers were working on developing robust delivery plans for the identified priority actions. An all Member Briefing on the new public health role of the Council had also been arranged and meetings were being held to ensure the themes identified in the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy were reflected in all the Council’s work.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening form was attached as Appendix 6 to the strategy. It was noted that this had it found it was not necessary to undertake a full impact assessment.

Reasons:

The strategy sets out the health and wellbeing issues for the community based on evidence from the Medway Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, what can be done to address them and what outcomes are intended to be achieved. The decision also discharges the statutory duty through the Health and Wellbeing Board to prepare and adopt a Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Background:

This report updated Members on work undertaken since January 2012 in making improvements to domestic abuse services within Medway and on the way forward for this service.

It was noted that reducing domestic abuse and minimising its impact on families and children was a priority for Medway’s Community Safety Partnership and Medway Safeguarding Children’s Board (part of the Children’s Trust arrangements). There was also a multi-agency commitment to the Kent and Medway Domestic Abuse Strategy 2010 – 2013.

Cabinet had considered a report on 29 November 2011 containing an action plan for taking forward areas that were highlighted by the domestic advice review as being of high priority. This action plan had been reviewed and refined, with progress being tracked through the subgroup, which is accountable to the Community Safety Partnership. A copy of the updated plan was attached as Appendix One.

Reasons:

To ensure that domestic abuse and the consequent issues it raises are given a clear focus within Medway and that the Cabinet can be assured that progress is being made.

Background:

This report set out a proposal to declare 139A Palmerston Road, Chatham surplus, so that it could be disposed of for best consideration.

It was noted that the Council owned the freehold of the site, as shown on the plan attached to the report. The Lodge had been occupied until recently by a service tenant who was accommodated at the Lodge for the betterment of duties carried out at the cemetery.  Now that the tenant had vacated the Lodge, it had become surplus to Council requirements as the duties undertaken at the cemetery were no longer required.

It was reported that the property could either be retained or sold. If sold a capital receipt would be obtained, which the Council could use towards funding service priorities/reducing debt and the disposal would also hopefully result in further investment in the Medway area. If the property was retained it was likely to remain empty, as the cost of bringing the property up to a standard so that it could be let as a council house was considered to be prohibitive when compared to the rental income.

Reasons:

To reduce revenue costs, realise a capital receipt and gain investment in the Medway area.

Background:

This report proposed to re-establish a Chatham Regeneration Board to ensure the Council was in a position to effectively progress regeneration in Chatham.

It was noted that in 2011 the Cabinet had agreed to subsume the Chatham Board, together with the Medway Regeneration Advisory Group and Strood Regeneration Cabinet Advisory Group, into a new Medway Regeneration Community & Culture Advisory Group. Since then however circumstances had substantially changed; this included the recruitment of a Strategic Regeneration Project Manager, meetings with representatives from the agency who control the Pentagon Shopping Centre and various funding streams which have enabled a series of projects to be progressed.

In these changed circumstances it was recommended that a renewed Chatham Regeneration Board be established with a remit to oversee regeneration in Chatham.

A revised Appendix 1 was tabled at the meeting. This set out the membership by designations rather than by individually named Members.

Reasons:

A Chatham Regeneration Board will provide improved coordination and oversee progress of regeneration in Chatham.

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 reviewed the progress of the Highways Minor Workscontract currently undertaken by VolkerHighways.

This contract, which had been awarded in 2007, provided Medway with the majority of highway maintenance services required, including: winter service, emergency call outs, responsive maintenance, along with some planned maintenance and highway scheme implementation.

Permission was sought to extend this contract for one year (from 1 August 2016 to 31 July 2017) on the basis that this contract had provisions to extend, had fulfilled requirements in accordance with the service specification and associated contract terms and conditions and because no major issues had been identified which caused concern.

It was noted that this Procurement Gateway 5 report has been approved for submission to the Cabinet after review and discussion at the Regeneration, Community and Culture Directorate Management Team meeting on 4 October 2012 and the Procurement Board on 31 October 2012.

An exempt appendix contained key information in respect of finance and whole-life costings.

Reasons:

Medway is contractually obliged to consider the performance of the Highways Minor Works Contractor annually and to consider awarding a yearly extension after each completed year of service delivery.

Background:

This report sought permission to amend the Collection Services and Street Cleansing Service contract currently being delivered and awarded to Veolia Environmental Services. This was to facilitate an increase in the frequency of recycling and organics kerbside collections from fortnightly to weekly. Further information relating to permissions was detailed within the report.

It was noted that proposed changes in service delivery were subject to funding from the Department of Communities and Local Government’s  ‘Weekly Collection Support Fund’. This challenge fund had been established by Government to encourage local authorities to retain or reinstate weekly rubbish collections. Medway Council had submitted a bid for both revenue and capital funding proposing an increase in both recycling and organics collections to weekly in line with black sack refuse collections.

An addendum report advised that, since the publication of the agenda, the Department for Communities and Local Government had confirmed that the bid had been successful subject to the terms and conditions. The Council would therefore receive funding totalling £14,029,901 over three years for the weekly collections services.

It was reported that this Procurement Gateway 5 report had been approved for submission to Cabinet after review and discussion at Regeneration, Community and Culture Directorate Management Team meeting on 25 October and the Strategic Procurement Board on 31 October 2012.

The Portfolio Holder and officers were thanked for their efforts in securing the funds.

An exempt appendix contained key information in respect of finance and whole-life costings.

Reasons:

The decisions are provided on the basis that this enhanced service will

• put the customer at the centre  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Background:

This exempt report contained commercially sensitive and legally privileged information in respect of litigation.

Reasons:

As set out in the report.