Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Filmer (Front Line Services). 

The record of the meeting held on 16 December 2014 was agreed and signed by the Leader as correct. 

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

Councillor O’Brien declared interests in agenda items 4 (School Improvement Strategy), 7 (Outcomes of Options Appraisal for the Sufficient Supply of Primary School Places in Strood and Gillingham) and 8 (Outcomes of Consultation for the Proposed Prescribed Alterations at Rivermead Special School) because members of his extended family worked in the educational arena. He advised that he would stay and participate in the consideration and determination of these items.

Councillor Tolhurst declared an interest in agenda item 11 (Medway Queen – refrence from Full Council) as she was a member of the Association of Dunkirk Little Ships.

Background:

This report presented an updated School Improvement Strategy, which outlined the key priorities in Medway and targets for school performance.

The strategy set out an accelerated programme of improvement. It promoted collaborative working across schools, sharing of good practice and collective responsibility for all the children and young people in Medway.  It recognised that the landscape of education was changing rapidly and the role of the local authority had primarily become one that challenged and supported the most vulnerable schools and brokered support for those schools from the stronger schools. It was noted that the Teaching Schools were key players in mapping out professional development pathways and training opportunities, supported by the local authority.

Members were advised that the strategy had been out to consultation with schools and key partners during November 2014, with the responses considered by the School Effectiveness Strategic Board (SEB) on 11 December 2014. It was reported that the consultation had confirmed that the four main priorities should be:

• Leadership, Management and Governance,
• Outstanding Teaching,
• Recruitment and Retention
• OFSTED Readiness (i.e. preparing for and managing the inspection).

A marketing strategy to ‘Get Medway Learning’ underpinned this work, engaging the community in learning. It was noted that there were many examples of good practice in Medway schools and the marketing strategy would celebrate good practice and engage the community and the media in recognising the achievements of Medway’s children and young people.

A Diversity Impact Assessment had been undertaken and was attached at Appendix 2 to the report. This stated that one of the biggest challenges in Medway in terms of diversity and equalities was the gap in achievement between the most disadvantaged and their peers. The assessment included a number of actions to take forward the identified issues.

It was noted that the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the draft strategy on 9 December 2014 (as part of a wider report on the provisional test and examination results for 2014). The Committee had noted the report and details of the discussion were set out in section 6 of the report.

Reasons:

This programme will provide the basis for supporting and challenging schools to achieve improved primary performance and better OFSTED inspection judgements. Whilst the strategy is focused on the primary sector, all schools will benefit from the clarity of vision and actions proposed.

Background:

This report provided Cabinet with details of the provisional Local Government settlement announced by Government on 18 December 2014.

This was the third Local Government Finance Settlement under the new arrangements for business rates that came into place on 1 April 2013.

It was noted that the overall settlement figure, announced as the ‘Settlement Funding Assessment’ (SFA), was some £13.889 million less than the equivalent figure for 2014/2015, which incorporated an adjustment for Local Welfare Provision that was funded by a specific grant of £792,000 in 2014/2015. This was a cut of 14.4% compared to a national figure of 13.9%.

Reasons:

These provisional levels of grant form a fundamental component of the 2015/2016 budget, and their announcement is a further stage in the process of preparing a balanced budget.

Background:

This report explained that as part of the governance arrangements for the Better Care Fund (BCF) a pooled budget was required in accordance with Section 75 of the Health and Social Care Act.

The report introduced some of the issues in order to establish this by March 2015. This included a recommendation in respect of hosting the fund. Guidance issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountability was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.

The draft Heads of Term were attached to the report (Appendix 2) and the recommendation was to delegate authority to officers to produce and finalise the agreement with the Chief Operating Officer of the Medway Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). It was noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board would consider this report on 21 January 2015 and therefore the delegated authority would take account of the views and comments expressed at that meeting.

The report also provided an update of the approval process for the Better Care Fund plan. It was noted that the plan had been resubmitted on 12 December 2014 and feedback from both the Local Government Association and NHS England had been positive. The report summarised the changes to the Better Care Fund plan and advised that a decision on whether it had been approved or not was anticipated mid January 2015.

Reasons:

The pooled fund has to be hosted by one partner and there is an advantage in

the Council hosting.

Delegating authority to the Director of Children and Adults Services with the

Assistant Director, Legal and Corporate Services, allows more time to

establish the pooled fund agreement which has to be operational by 1 April

2015.

Background:

The annual review of the School Organisation Plan 2011-16, presented to Cabinet on 30 September 2014, outlined the areas of emerging need in relation to the supply of school places across Medway. The Cabinet approved an appraisal of the options to provide sufficient additional primary school places in Strood and Gillingham and this report outlined the findings and made recommendations to ensure the Council met its statutory obligation to provide school places.

This report detailed the findings of the options appraisal for the nine different primary schools in Strood and Gillingham approved at the meeting and it was noted that strategic discussions had taken place with the respective schools, dioceses and Trusts; with their views included in section 4 of the report. Wider statutory consultation was required for all approved options and Cabinet was requested to grant authority to commence these at the appropriate times. 

It was noted that a Diversity Impact Assessments (DIA) had not been completed as part of the options appraisal. However, a DIA would be completed and included in any future reports around specific proposals going forward.

The financial implications were set out in the report and it was noted that the proposals would only be delivered through available funding.

Reasons:

By approving the progression of the recommendations  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Background:

This report outlined the outcomes of the informal consultation period on the Council’s proposals to ‘increase pupil numbers’, ‘extend onto an additional site’ and to ‘alter the upper age limit’ at Rivermead Special School, by way of statutory prescribed alterations. The proposals were set out in the report.

On 15 July 2014, the Cabinet agreed to commence consultation on proposals to expand Rivermead Special School and to relocate onto an additional site. The first stage in the statutory process took place over a four-week period between 6 October and 2 November 2014 and the results were set out in sections 4 and 5 of the report. The officer responses to the issues and concerns raised during the consultation period were set out in section 6 of the report. Details of those consulted, the consultation document and a transcript of the public meeting was attached to the report

The Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the consultation responses on 9 December 2014 and it was noted that the committee supported the proposals as set out.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening form was attached at Appendix 4 to the report. This considered how the proposed changes could impact upon various groups and showed that there could potentially be some impact upon certain groups however it showed that any impacts were expected to be positive ones.

Reasons:

Approval to proceed to a period of statutory representation will ensure the Council complies with its duty to follow the full consultation process when proposing changes to school organisation.

Background:

This report provided information on the operation of the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) from April to October 2014, the findings of the strategic assessment and the proposed action plan for 2015/2016.

It was noted that Section 6 of the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 placed obligations on Crime and Disorder Reduction Partnerships, also known as CSPs, to produce a Community Safety Plan to formulate and implement a strategy to reduce crime and disorder, combat substance misuse, and reduce re-offending.

The current Community Safety Plan covered the period 2013 to 2016 and formed part of the Council’s Policy Framework. Adopted in 2013 it identified five priorities:

• Tackle substance and alcohol abuse;
• Tackle anti-social behaviour (ASB) and Envirocrime;
• Reduce re-offending;
• Tackle domestic abuse; and
• Reduce the number of people killed or seriously injured in Road Traffic Collisions.

Performance against these priorities since April 2014 was set out within the Action Plan, appended at Appendix 1 to the report and the key findings of the strategic assessment were noted in the report.

The proposed action plan for the financial year 2015/2016 was set out at Appendix 2 to the report and a briefing note on the scoring matrix used to assess priorities was circulated separately in Supplementary Agenda No.2.

It was noted that a refreshed Diversity Impact Assessment screening form had been completed and was attached at Appendix 3 to the report.This indicated that the Community Safety Plan complied with the requirements of the legislation.

It was also noted that, as part of the development of this report, statutory partners had submitted updates on the Action Plan and also contributed to the Strategic Assessment. Members of the public were consulted through Community Engagement events; the results of which fed into the Strategic Assessment.

The Regeneration, Community and Culture Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered this report on 18 December 2014 and details of the points raised by the Committee were set out in section 6 of the report.

Reasons:

The Community Safety Plan discharges the Council’s statutory requirement to produce a plan for community safety.

Background:

This report presented the Annual Public Health Report (APHR) of the Director of Public Health for 2013/2014, which focused on the health of Medway’s older population and made recommendations for Medway Council and partners.

It was noted that the purpose of the APHR was to inform local stakeholders and the public about the health of Medway’s older people, outline current provision of support and services and make recommendations for the future to reduce health inequalities, promote health and wellbeing of the older population and inform service provision. The 2013/2014 report focused on the following topics:

1.      Social isolation

2.      Falls

3.      Dementia

4.      Housing and older peoples’ health.

It was noted that the 2013/2014 Annual Public Health Report had been circulated separately to Cabinet Members. In addition, it had been considered by the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 11 December 2014 and details of the Committee’s discussion was set out in section 6 of the report. The report would also be presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board on 21 January 2015.

An audit of progress against the Annual Public Health Report for 2012/2013 was included at Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons:

The production of the Annual Public Health Report is a statutory requirement.

Background:

This report followed Full Council’s approval of a motion on 16 October 2014, in which it noted the special contribution made by the Medway Queen Paddle Steamer to the history of the UK and requested that Cabinet receive a report setting out details of any funding streams and other support available to the Medway Queen Preservation Society to:

·              enable the ship to participate in Operation Dynamo in Ramsgate in May 2015, and to

·              help restore the Medway Queen to full operational use in the longer term.

It was noted that Heritage Lottery Funding had been awarded to the Medway Queen Preservation Society. The report also explored the options available to the Council in providing practical support to assist the Medway Queen Preservation Society in securing full operational reuse of the Medway Queen in the longer term. It was noted that the options for longer-term support come at no cost to Medway Council, so were without sustainability consequences.

Reasons:

This represents a full and considered response to Full Council’s request of 16 October 2014.

Background:

This report outlined the achievements and performance of Medway Norse up to the third quarter in its second year of trading. It also detailed its plans for future growth and development.

It was noted that Medway Norse now provided services to the Council in three main areas: facilities management, grounds maintenance and SEN transport. The report gave details of these areas of operation, together with information relating to governance, local business participation, the corporate client function and the projected rebate (£347,039) for the Council in 2014/2015.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee was considering monitoring reports on a quarterly basis and it was noted that the Committee had considered a report and heard from the Operations Director of Medway Norse and Managing Director of Quadron (the grounds maintenance subsidiary of Medway Norse) on 7 October 2014. Details of this discussion were set out in section 4 of the report.

Reasons:

When Cabinet agreed to establish the joint venture company it was also agreed that regular monitoring reports would be provided to Cabinet.

Background:

This report detailed the revenue budget forecasts as at the end of November 2014. The report also highlighted the major financial risks remaining in respect of the 2014/2015 General Fund revenue budget. 

It was noted that the latest round of monitoring returns from budget managers predicted a potential overspend of £2.4 million for non-DSG services, although it was reported that planned management action should reduce this to £2.1 million.  It was reported that whilst this represented a £2.2 million improvement on the position previously reported to Members, it still represented a significant overspend at this stage of the year and directorate management teams would need to continue to identify measures to contain expenditure within the overall budget. Members were advised that the Chief Executive had issued a moratorium notice on 5 December 2014.

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 detailed the capital monitoring forecasts as at the end of November 2014.

The approved capital programme for 2014/15 and future years was £86.8million, representing both brought forward schemes and new approvals. The report consolidated the capital monitoring undertaken by each directorate and this was summarised in the appendix, which detailed the individual schemes and their financial position.

The report asked Cabinet to approve the virement of £1million from the Basic Needs Programme to fund the forecast overspend on the Academies Programme arising from the cost of removing unforeseen asbestos. Cabinet were also asked to commend five additions to the capital programme to Full Council.

During the discussion on this item, it was clarified that the proposed addition of £4,000,000 for Flood Defences along a new river wall at Strood Riverside, would be funded from a successful bid against PWLB project rate borrowing (a special discounted rate of 0.4% below standard PWLB rates) and repaid from a first call on the future capital receipts that the regeneration programme is expected to generate.

Reasons:

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

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.

An additional post was set out in Supplementary Agenda No. 2.

Reasons:

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

Background:

This report sought permission to award a contract to the supplier for Medway Grid for Learning (MGfL) services.

The MGfL was a secure wide area network connecting school local area networks (LAN), enabling schools to access a number of services that they would otherwise need to purchase and manage independently. This consisted of several key services: service support, e-mail, webfiltering and anti-virus.

It was noted that the Cabinet approved the commencement of this procurement at Gateway 1 on 2 September 2014.

An exempt appendix contained key financial analysis and detailed procurement process tender evaluation information.

Reasons:

This decision is the preferred option because it offers significantly reduced lead times to implementation, competition is ensured and it confirms the capability of the successful company. With the urgent requirement to improve standards achieved in our schools, it is imperative that schools have the most up to date and cost effective services. It provides best value for money and the quickest route to implementation.