Issue - meetings

Assembly received and noted this report introduced by Councillor P Waker, Cabinet Member for Housing, on behalf of the Leader of the Council.

The Cabinet Member advised that the draft Statement of Priorities for 2012/13 summarised the main actions and activities to be taken by the Council during the coming year, based on its Policy House and set in the context of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

He outlined some of the key achievements to date in respect of the key priorities of 'Raising Household Incomes',  'Raising Standards in School and Post-16 Education' and 'Housing and Estate Renewal' and he referred to the plans set out within the draft Statement of Priorities document to further deliver on those aspects.

Members raised the following points on the draft Statement of Priorities:

Ø  On the basis that 23% of our residents had no qualifications, could targets for improving the basic skills of adults at the Adult College and Further Education College be included?

Ø  Could our twin town, Witten, be encouraged to share good practice?

Ø  Could new ways be looked at for raising funds for education and encouraging people to spend locally, particularly during the Olympics period, by setting up a 'store club'  type card on which rewards could be built?

The Cabinet Member concluded that Members' comments would be noted.

Assembly agreed to approve the draft Statement of Priorities 2012/13 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Leader of the Council presented a report on the draft Statement of Priorities for 2012/13 which summarised the main actions and activities to be taken by the Council during the coming year, based on its Policy House and set in the context of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

The Leader outlined some of the key achievements to date in respect of the key priorities of ‘Raising Household Incomes’, Raising Standards in School and Post-16 Education’ and ‘Housing and Estate Renewal’ and he referred to the plans set out within the draft Statement of Priorities document to further deliver on those aspects.

Cabinet agreed to recommend the Assembly to approve the draft Statement of Priorities for 2012/13 as set out at Appendix 1 to the report.