Agenda and decisions

The Cabinet agreed that, in accordance with paragraph 3 of the Contracting Out (Functions of Local Authorities: Income-Related Benefits) Order 2002, Medway Council authorised Canterbury City Council to make decisions on new Council Tax Benefit applications received following a county-wide benefits take-up campaign, with effect from 1 April 2004 for 12 months.

The Cabinet agreed to accept the tender return from Messrs Lakehouse Contracts Ltd on the terms set out in the report for completion between April 2004 and July 2004.

The Cabinet approved the admission arrangements and co-ordinating scheme for secondary schools as set out in Appendices 1 and 2.
The Cabinet approved the admission arrangements and co-ordinating scheme for primary community and voluntary schools as set out in Appendices 3 and 4, which included an alteration to the current admissions policy to allow the admission of all children at the start of each school year in September, only in those schools meeting agreed criteria concerning the delivery of the Foundation Stage of Learning.
The Cabinet approved the procedure for the establishment of foundation stage education places for 3 year olds as set out at paragraph 6.2 of the report subject to the following additional conditions: -a. The council should develop a strategy for targeting capital funding for nursery provision to schools in deprived areas of Medway where additional places will result in more equality of provision;
b. Schools should be encouraged to consider working in partnership with existing providers to run school based provision;c. Schools with nursery provision should have safe drop off points;d. Nursery provision should not adversely impact upon the quality of accommodation provided for statutory school age children.e. When a school is seeking to establish a nursery class a report is submitted to Cabinet for consideration.

The Cabinet noted the contents of the report and agreed to monitor progress against the Council's key priorities, including the Public Service Agreement (PSA).

The Cabinet endorsed the proposal from the Medway Renaissance Partnership not to incorporate the Partnership as a company limited by guarantee.
The Cabinet supported the establishment of a Medway Regeneration Delivery unit as set out in the business plan attached at Appendix 1 to report to the Director of Development and Environment.
The Cabinet endorsed the Director of Development and Environment undertaking recruitment to the unit and/or to incur expert support under contract, up to but not exceeding the value that will be funded by ODPM.