Agenda and minutes

To approve the record of the Cabinet meeting held on 9^th January 2006

(attached)

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 9^th January 2006 were confirmed as a correct record. 

Councillor John Smith declared a personal interest in Agenda item 5 (Bourne Core Area), by virtue of his being a member of a club whose premises were in Bourne Town Centre and took no part in the discussion or voting on this item.

The Cabinet to receive Sue Hitchenor, from the Lincolnshire SM Primary Care Trust

Cabinet welcomed Sue Hitchenor, Acting Chief Executive of Lincolnshire South West Primary Care Trust, to the meeting. Sue addressed the meeting on the Government’s proposed changes to the configuration of Primary Care Trusts and Strategic Health Authorities across the Country, and Lincolnshire and surrounding counties in particular.

Members expressed concern at the proposals and their effect on cross border provision, particularly in the south of the District where many people used services based on Peterborough. Sue Hitchenor explained that the proposals were a reorganisation of administrative boundaries and not service provision.

The deadline for the submission of comments was 22^nd March and the proposals would also be considered by the Healthy Environment DSP on March 14^th. It was suggested that the Council’s submission should be via the Lincolnshire LGA

Report number DCS39 by the Communications Manager (attached)

DECISION:

1. That the Communication Work Programme be endorsed;
2. That Cabinet Members actively promote the role of communications and the Communications Unit to all target audiences, both internal and external.
3. That the Cabinet formally signs up to the Local Government Reputation Project

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)      Report number CO116 by the Communications Manager;

(2)      Oral report made at the meeting by the Portfolio holder which emphasised the fact that the public’s misconceptions about the Council usually stemmed from a lack on information about the Council’s activities;

(3)      There was also an internal issue, council staff needed to be kept informed of the Council’s activities in order to be able to carry out their work more effectively.

An interim communication work programme had been produced by the Communications Unit which covered February to July 2006. This set out recommended key actions which in turn were based on the Council’s nine communication principles.

Report number WCS12 by the Head of Waste and Contract Services (attached)

DECISION:

(1) To  adopt the policies on

·     Waste Collection and Twin Bin Service

·     Exempt Properties, including flat complexes with communal bin areas

·     Side Waste

·     Large Families

·     Mixed Heriditaments

·     Assisted Collections

·     Enforcement

Except that in respect of Policy Statement 2

(i)     insert “two” before “week” in the second line;

(ii)   Replace sentence closing “Residents will receive” (third line) with the following:-

“Residents will be issued with sufficient sacks to be equivalent in volume to the service to householders issued with wheeled bins. To ensure an equitable approach no additional landfill waste will be collected from these households. The sacks will be delivered annually in bulk. Two boxes will be issued to each householder.”

          (2)  To emphasise the fact that the wheeled bins would remain the                                                     property of the District Council.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)        Report WCS11 by the Head of Waste and Contract Services on the policies required pursuant to the forthcoming introduction of a wheeled bin service for waste collection; these were required to ensure the best use and impact of the twin and alternate weekly collection service;

(2)        Experience gained at other authorities had been utilised in the development of policies which would assist with the smooth introduction of the service;

It was not yet accurately known how many residents would require black sacks and not wheelie bins, this issue would be revisited in the light of operational experience.

Report number WCS11 by the Head of Waste & Contract Services.     (attached)

DECISION:

That in view of the decision taken by Lincolnshire County Council, and the reasons for that decision, the District Council should cease providing a supplementary Waste Service with effect from 1^st April 2006.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)       Report number WCS11 of the Head of Waste and Management Services which advised that Lincolnshire County Council had withdrawn the provision of supplementary waste collection services to the residents of South Kesteven with effect from 1^st January 2006. The main areas affected were The Deepings, Caythorpe, Long Bennington, Ancaster, Billingborough, Folkingham, Colsterworth and Corby Glen;

(2)       The County Council’s decision was based on health and safety rather than financial considerations. There had been a number of audit reports drawing attention to inherent dangers in the service, this had been the overriding consideration; 

(3)       Following a Lincolnshire LGA meeting, the Leader of the County Council had agreed to continue providing the service to Stamford until November 2006;

(4)       The District Council had for a number of years operated its own supplementary service to villages that did not receive a service from the County Council. The current cost of providing this service was £12,000 per annum;

One parish council had recently provided a skip in their village for waste that would be recycled.

Report number PLA555 by the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Regeneration.                (attached)

DECISION:

(1)      To note the progress which has been made to date in developing the Council’s Local Development Framework;

(2)      To note the proposed changes to the timetable and the Local Development Scheme (LDS) arising from delays which have already occurred;

(3)      To delegate approval of a revised LDS to the Economic Portfolio Holder.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)           Report number PLA555 by the Head of Planning Policy and Economic Regeneration providing an update on progress made with the development of the Council’s Local Development Framework;

(2)           There had been a degree of slippage to the timetable but the Head of Planning Policy and Economic Regeneration was confident that some of this lost time could be recovered;

(3)           Whether the slippage would affect the award of Planning Delivery Grant was unclear at the present time although the award was given on the basis of performance.

Report number FIN256 by the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources.

                                                                                                            (attached)

DECISION: 

(1)     To recommend to Council that the Council re-score the Financial Services Function to at least a B priority, whilst amending Council Tax collection to a Y service;

(2)     To approve additional resources within the budget papers for 2006/7 to meet the harder test.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)        Report number FIN256 by the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources which informed the Cabinet of the steps necessary to achieve an improved performance in the Use of Resources Assessment. The District Auditor had performed a dry run during 2005/6 on the “Use of Resources – Harder test”, the results of this dry run should be known by March 2006;

(2)        In order for the Council to achieve an excellent rating it would be  necessary for the Council to achieve a level 3 judgement. This was important for the following reasons:-

(i)            Excellent financial management is an underpinning building block of the organisations development towards the delivery of properties and effective corporate governance;

(ii)          The criteria for judgement mirror best practice, and it seems logical to use them for our internal assessment;

(iii)        The Council should want to demonstrate an excellent use of its resources to all stakeholders, especially in the current uncertainty surrounding local government structures;

(iv)        Excellent service provision needs to be supported by excellent financial management.          

Financial services was currently classified as a “Y” service. It was not possible to deliver the stepped changes necessary on the operational minimal levels that the current assessment dictates. 

Report number FIN255 by the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources.

                                                                                                            (attached)

DECISION:

(1)  Dwelling rents be increased in accordance with the Government guidance on rent-restructuring proposals. The average rent to rise by 5% for 2006/7;

(2)  Garage rents to increase by 3.2% in line with the Governments price index used within the subsidy determination;

(3)  All other charges within the HRA to rise by 3.2% in line with the price-index used within the subsidy determination;

(4)  The service charges in relation to warden and care services to be set dependent upon the level of supporting people grant to be received in 2006/7.  These to be set on consideration of the relevant service plan. 

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)     Report FIN255 of the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources made recommendations on the level of rents for dwellings and other rents within the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for 2006/7, which it was necessary to increase in line with inflation. 

The District Tenants Compact had been consulted on the proposed rent increase.

Report number ENV339 by the Head of Environmental Health & Housing.

                                                                                                            (attached)

DECISION

(1)   That the SKDC generic enforcement policy as set out in report ENV339 be approved in principle;

(2)   That the Leader of the Council in consultation with the Head of Legal Services be authorised to approve amendments to the policy as necessary from time to time, for example in the light of changes to legislation.    

considerations/reasons for decision:

(1)   Report ENV339 of the Head of Environmental Health and Licensing suggested an overarching policy on enforcement activities so that these could be co-ordinated in a fair and consistent way;

(2)   Members of the public and business owners were entitled to know and understand what type of legal action may be taken against them and when this may be taken;

An enforcement policy had therefore been produced, following liaison with relevant section heads, which set out the general principles of enforcement followed by specific service sections which would need updating from time to time as government guidance and legislation was revised and updated.   

Councillor Frances Cartwright: Portfolio – Organisational Development & Housing Services

Decision: That the tender received from The Fencing Firm Ltd in the sum of £12,995.92 for wooden boarded fencing to the following properties:

      6-28 (even) St Guthlacs Avenue, Market Deeping

      2-8 (even) Burnside Avenue, Market Deeping

      34-44 (even) Meadway, Market Deeping

be accepted.

[Date decision taken: 30^th January]

Councillor Frances Cartwright: Portfolio – Organisational Development & Housing Services

Decision: That the tender received from Musson Joinery in the sum of £18,201.86 for the refurbishment and repair of a property at East Avenue, Grantham be accepted.

[Date decision taken:30^th January]

Councillor Frances Cartwright: Portfolio – Organisational Development & Housing Services

Decision:That the tender received from Anglian Windows in the sum of £135,079.00 for the replacement of external doors and windows to 51 bungalows including the Community Centre at Sandon Close, Grantham (Sheltered Scheme) be accepted.

[Date decision taken: 30^th January]

Councillor Paul Carpenter: Portfolio – Access & Engagement

Decision:That approval is granted to introduce freephone numbers for the following to help facilitate the transition to the allpay system:

·        Council Tax cash payers

·        Rent Cash payers

·        The reporting of incidents (racial and other)

            [Date decision taken:31^st January]

Councillor John Smith: Portfolio – Economic Development

Decision:That approval is granted that the actions outlined in the Planning Delivery Grant (PDG) Implementation Strategy be adjusted as follows;

·            Management Consultancy Peer Review: From £30,000 to £5000

·               Stamford Car parking Review: From £40,000 to £5000

·               Retail capacity study update: From £35,000 to £20,000

·               Arboricultural Survey: From £30,000 to £60,000

·               Grantham Town Centre Masterplan: From £40,000 to £60,000

·               Additional Item: Landscape Character Assessment: £20,000

That in relation to Grantham Town Centre Masterplan project; that the tender be awarded to Gillespies / Knight Frank to the sum of £118,008.50 (£60,000 to be met from grant from Lincolnshire Enterprise)

Councillor John Smith:  Portfolio – Economic Development

Decision:            That approval be given to the following names in order to provide new postal addresses for new residential development at:-

1.            TRINITY CLOSE residential development rear of Vine Cottage, the Green, Allington;

2.            MACHAM CLOSE residential development at Anchor Farm, High Street, Swinstead.

Date decision taken: 6^th February

Councillor Ray Auger: Portfolio- Healthy Environment

Decision:            That approval is granted to commence proceedings to dispose of an area of public open space adjacent to 65 Truesdale Gardens Langtoft in accordance with statutory procedure under Section 123(2A) of the Local Government Act 1972, it is recommended that the proposed disposal be advertised in a newspaper local to the area of land to be transferred on two consecutive weeks to obtain objections to the proposed disposal.

Any objections received regarding the disposal of land to be referred to the Resources DSP for consideration.

If no objections are received, to proceed with the freehold disposal of the area of open space referred to at best price in accordance with the District Council’s valuation for use as garden land in association with use of adjoining property for residential purposes.

(Date decision taken: 6  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

Report number PLA553 by the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Regeneration (exempt report attached)

DECISION

1.     That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to enter into a Co-operation Agreement, subject to confirmation of the Agreement’s acceptability by the Corporate Manager Legal and Democratic Services;

2.     That Drivers Jonas be retained to provide specialist advice in respect of the scheme, costs to be reimbursed by the developer (subject to cap) and from within existing town centre budgets.

Considerations/reasons for decision

(1)    Exempt report PLA553 of the Head of Planning Policy and Economic Regeneration advised of the progress of discussions taking place between the District Council and the preferred developer;

(2)    A valuation of the properties concerned had been carried out, the result of which was that the scheme proposals needed to be revised;

(3)    Chartered Surveyors Drivers Jonas had been engaged to assist the District Council and they had recommended that A Co-operation Agreement be signed with the developers, to be followed in due course by a more detailed Development Agreement, the latter would be a more binding contractual arrangement  between the parties concerned.

Other options considered and assessed

The strategy outlined above represented recognised best practice in respect of town centre redevelopment proposals.  

(Councillor John Smith declared a personal interest in the Bourne Town Centre area and took no part in the discussion or voting).  

DATE DECISIONS EFFECTIVE:

Key Decisions at minutes numbers CO116, CO117, CO118, CO119, CO120, CO121, CO122 and CO125 and other non key decisions made on 6^th February 2006 can be implemented on 15^th February 2006 unless subject to call-in by the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

DECISION

That, in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business because of the likelihood that otherwise exempt information, as described in paragraphs 7 and 8 of Schedule 12A of the Act, would be disclosed to the public.