Agenda and minutes

There were none.

The record of the meeting held on 4 April 2017 was agreed and signed by the Leader of the Council as a correct record.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other interests

Councillor Gulvin declared an interest in agenda item 5 (Transformation of Early Help Services) because he is a Local Authority Governor at Oaklands School which has a children’s centre attached to the school.

Councillor Turpin declared an interest in agenda item 5 (Transformation of Early Help Services) because his wife has set up a support group for children and toddlers with disabilities which receives occasional non-financial support from the Council and NHS.  

Background:

The report provided details of a petition received and referred to the Cabinet for consideration.  The petition entitled ‘Petition for the Council to provide shelter and food for homeless people’ was referred to the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13 April 2017. The comments of the Committee were set out in paragraph 3.6 of the report including details of the Committee’s decision to refer the petition to Cabinet for consideration.

The report set out Director’s comments in response to the comments raised by the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as set out in paragraphs 3.7-3.12 of the report.

Reasons:

This petition has been referred to the Cabinet in accordance with Overview & Scrutiny’s powers as set out in the Petitions Scheme.

Background:

The report provided details of transformation plans for Early Help services, including Children’s Centres, through the establishment of integrated hub buildings in each of the existing four Children’s Services areas to target resources and improve the impact of support for children and families.

The report provided details of three options for consideration, with Option C stated as the preferred option, details of which were set out in section 4 of the report. Cabinet Members instructed officers to ensure that the consultation materials should communicate the reasons for the proposed changes and prospective benefits in an accessible way with a view to maximizing constructive engagement in the process by a wide range of stakeholders. In particular, the Cabinet stated its intention to carefully review the locations and synergies of the proposed four integrated hubs in the light of feedback from consultation.

It was noted that a Diversity Impact Assessment would accompany the report on the outcomes of the consultation for Cabinet on 8 August 2017. It was also noted that the outcomes of consultation would be reported to the Children and Young People Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1 August 2017.

Reasons:

Compliance with statutory duties, whilst setting a balanced budget with very reduced resources requires consideration of how to reorganise services within available means.

Background:

The report provided an update on the future delivery model for Integrated Youth Support Services (IYSS), including the proposal to bring delivery of the statutory element of the Information, Advice and Guidance service (including the September Guarantee) in-house following the expiry of the current contract with Medway Youth Trust on 31 August 2017.

The report provided details of the basis for the recommendation to bring the service in-house from 1 September 2017, as set out in section 3 of the report.

Reasons:

A more coherent service for young people and greater efficiencies will be achieved by bringing the Information, Advice and Guidance (IAG) service in-house.

Background:

The report provided an overview of the final report of the in-depth Dementia Task Group review on ‘How far Medway has gone in developing a Dementia Friendly Community?’

It was noted that the recommendations aimed to complement the wide variety of work already being undertaken by the Council and partners to implement the Council’s Dementia Strategy. The review had a particular focus on how Medway Council and its partners could lead by example to help make Medway a Dementia Friendly Community. This included services that the Council directly controls and those, which while not directly under the control of the Council, it could influence through partnership working.

The report provided details of the comments of the Health and Wellbeing Board (14 March 2017), the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee (16 March 2017) and the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee (28 March 2017).

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) was included at Appendix 1 to the report.

Reasons:

The recommendations set out in the Dementia Task Group report aim to complement the Medway Dementia Strategy and to support Medway in becoming a Dementia Friendly Community.

Background:

The report provided details of a need to declare a new Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) at Four Elms Hill and to seek approval from Cabinet to undertake a six-week consultation with statutory consultees and members of the public in line with the Environment Act 1995 prior to the formal declaration of the AQMA.

The report stated that the detailed assessment was completed in November 2016 which confirmed the need to declare the AQMA at Four Elms Hill. The detailed assessment was set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

The report noted that the outcomes of the consultation would be reported to the Regeneration, Culture and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 17 August 2017 and Cabinet on 5 September 2017.

A Diversity Impact Assessment was included at Appendix 4 to the report.

Reasons:

Medway has a statutory duty under the Environment Act 1995 to declare an AQMA where the air quality objectives are not being met.

Consultation would also provide Medway with some protection against potential infraction fines being passed down to the local authority by Central Government.

Background:

This report provided details of the six monthly review of the Council’s Corporate Business Risk Register and asked Cabinet to consider amendments to the Register as set out in Appendix A to the report.

The report set out the comments of the Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee (13 April 2017), as set out in paragraph 5 of the report, together with the Director of Children and Adults Services comments in response to the key issues raised at the Committee in respect of children’s social care, the shape of local government in Kent, changes to the Risk Register Framework, and adult social care transformation targets.

Reasons:

The establishment of a corporate framework for risk management is recommended by CIPFA and SOLACE and will complement and support the work already being carried out within each directorate to manage risks.

Background:

The report provided details of proposals to dispose of the council-owned site at Marlborough Road/High Street, Gillingham on the best terms reasonably obtainable.

The report stated that the site had not been used since October 2008 and the buildings on it were derelict with the site not being required for council use. In addition, the report noted that the site was within the Brompton Lines Conservation Area Appraisal (2006), and a Planning Statement had been produced (Appendix 2 to the report) to advise prospective purchasers of the main planning considerations relating to the site.

Reasons:

In order to reduce management costs, facilitate development and obtain a capital receipt.

Background:

The 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).

Details of the posts were set out within Appendix 1 to the report, and one post which was tabled at the meeting.

An addendum report was tabled at the meeting which provided details of an additional post.

Reasons:

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