Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Filmer. 

The record of the meeting held on 19 October 2010 was agreed and signed by the Leader as correct.  

There were none.  

This report provided details of the proposed bid for City Status for Medway as part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2012. The report referred to the loss of Rochester’s city status in 1998 and that Medway had previously bid for city status in 2000 and 2002.

The report set out Medway’s case for city status together with the benefits of city status and the associated costs of the bid. It was noted that the award of city status was entirely at the discretion of the Queen and there was no formulaic criteria for this process.

Reasons:

City status would be a fitting accolade to crown Medway’s Year of Celebrations in 2012.  There is very little downside to making a bid, and much potentially to be gained.  Once the competition is announced, a failure to bid could be interpreted as having low aspirations for Medway.

This report provided details of the mid year review of the Council’s Treasury Management strategy and performance. This included an overview of the global economy and UK economy together with an analysis of the Council’s performance in light of the economic position and it was noted that the Council’s Strategy was still fit for purpose and that, overall, the Council’s finance and interest budgets would break even for 2010/2011.

The Business Support Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered this report on 4 November 2010 and its views were set out in addendum report.

Reasons:

The Treasury Management Strategy requires that Cabinet receives and considers a mid year review of treasury management strategy and performance.

This report provided details of the Council’s proposal for a new petitions scheme in line with the provisions of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009. It was noted that the Act required Local Authorities’ petition schemes to meet some minimum standards to ensure minimum entitlements which all citizens could expect including a duty to provide a facility for electronic petitions (e-petitions).

It was noted that the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) had announced in September 2010 that the statutory guidance on petitions scheme had been withdrawn, however, it was necessary to adopt a scheme which fulfilled the minimum requirements of the Act.

Reasons:

The Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 places a statutory duty on Local Authorities to adopt a scheme for handling petitions and to set in place a facility for e-petitioning. The proposed petitions scheme will be included within the Council’s Constitution.

This report provided details of the outcome of consultation on the Council’s proposal to change the designation of Rivermead School from a maintained special school with a designation as a hospital school to a community special school by means of a prescribed alteration. The report set out the background to the proposed change and provided details of the consultation process, noting that there had been 63 responses to the consultation (61 supported the proposal whilst two were opposed).

The Children and Adults Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the outcome of consultation on 20 October 2010 and its comments were set out in paragraph 9 of the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) screening form had been completed and was set out in appendix 2 to the report.

Reasons:

Redesignating Rivermead to a community special school will: secure the future viability of the school in the eventuality that the PCT make a decision to remove the hospital schoolroom facility; enable the school to organise its curriculum so that it is able to plan for the particular needs of the children it provides for and to ensure that adequate expertise and resource is available; give parents the opportunity to name Rivermead as a preference for their child’s education where appropriate and; provide an opportunity for cost saving by enabling pupils to be educated within Medway rather than being placed in expensive provision out of area.

This report provided details of the outcome of consultation on altering the age range of Walderslade Primary School, Dargets Road, Walderslade, with effect from 2011, to admit children aged 3 years. The report set out the consultation process noting that a total of 33 responses had been received (28 were in support of proposals whilst 5 were opposed).

It was noted that a Diversity Impact Assessment (DIA) had been completed in October 2005, which concluded that, as a universal service, available to all, the development of foundation stage provision at schools would not disproportionately affect one part of the community. A refresh of the DIA screening concurred with this position.

Reasons:

The establishment of a Foundation Stage unit at Walderslade Primary School would be consistent with the Council’s duty to secure an education place for all three and four year olds whose parents want one. As the admissions authority for community schools, the Council is responsible for determining whether to make a change to the published age range of the schools. The Council, with the support of the governing body and the headteacher of the school, consider that the change in age range to permit the admission of children from the age of 3 years will be an effective means of raising standards of attainment at the school and improving life chances of children in the area.

This report provided details of a proposal to declare 78 Woodlands Road, Gillingham (Cemetery Lodge and Mess Room), surplus to enable its disposal at best consideration. The report stated that the property was now vacant and that it was no longer Council policy to re-let lodges to service tenants when they became vacant.

Reasons:

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

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 and included supporting Portfolio Holder comments.

 Reasons:

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

This report provided details of the proposed improvements to the Medway Tunnel’s control system through a variation to the existing contract with Vital Technology. The original contract with Vital Technology (for the replacement of the Medway Tunnel Electronic Control System) had been awarded by Cabinet in November 2009 and the report set out the improvements that would arise from the variation to the contract including a tunnel radio system, a vehicle and incident detection system and various alterations and improvements to the control rooms and offices.

The Procurement Board considered this report on 20 October 2010 and its comments were set out in paragraph 9 of the report.

Reasons:

To upgrade the tunnel systems as quickly and economically as possible and with the minimum disruption to traffic.

This report provided details with performance information of the Highways Minor Works Contractor (VolkerHighways) for August 2009-July 2010 together with a recommendation to award a one year extension to the contract in accordance with the conditions of the contract.

The Procurement Board considered this report on 20 October 2010 and its comments were set out in paragraph 9 of the report.  

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.

This report presented the Outline Business Case (OBC) for Brompton Academy for Cabinet approval and onward submission to Partnerships for Schools (PfS) to secure funding. The outline business case document outlined the options appraisal, cost estimates, affordability assessment and procurement strategy for Brompton Academy. An executive summary of the OBC was set out in Appendix A to the report. The full Outline Business Case, including appendices and associated documents, had been sent separately to Members as an exempt document.

The report also provided details of a number of ancillary issues. These included a number of third party issues on the Brompton site, proposals for the relocation of tenants to the former Temple school site, and proposals for the relocation of Bradfields post-16 further education centre for pupils with special educational needs.