Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Tributes were paid to the late Councillor Bunn and a minute's silence was held in his memory.

Agreed the following appointments:

·  Local Housing Company Board - Councillors Mrs Hunt, Miles, B Osborn and Mrs West

·  Best Value Review Member Panels for Cross Cutting Best Value Reviews:

Ø  Regenerating the Local Economy - Councillors Mrs Blake, Bramley, Bruce, Dale, Jones, Miles and Thomas

Ø  Procurement - Councillors Cook, Davis, Denyer and Miles

·  Trustees of the Brocklebank Lodge Trust Fund - Councillors Jones and H Collins

Considered a petition organised by the Dagenham Village Residents’ Association, which was introduced by the Secretary, Mr. V R Tolchard, requesting that the flooding of Church Elm Lane between Rectory Road and Royal Parade be brought to the attention of the responsible body.

The Assembly was sympathetic to the petition and suggested that Thames Water be invited to meet them to discuss the problems being experienced in the Borough.

Agreed to endorse the actions taken so far by Officers and noted that there will be ongoing liaison with Thames Water Utilities regarding this and other flooding issues.

(i)  Councillor Osborn will introduce a video showing what the Council is doing to take Cleaner, Greener, Safer issues forward in the Borough

(ii)  National Service Framework for Older People's Services - Presentation by Catherine Mitchell, Director of Older People's Services Primary Care Trust/Social Services (background report attached for Members information)

(i)  Cleaner, Greener, Safer

  Councillor Osborn introduced a video made by Councillor McKenzie and himself showing what the Council is doing to take Cleaner, Greener, Safer issues forward in the Borough, which has been produced to inform tenants about these actions.  Service charges are seen as a way forward for funding the new initiatives and a series of consultation exercises will shortly be carried out with residents to explore the possibility of introducing these charges.

(ii)  National Service Framework for Older People’s Services

  Catherine Mitchell, Director of Older People’s Services Primary Care Trust/Social Services, gave a presentation on the National Service Framework for Older People’s Services.

  At the end of September/beginning of October the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) will carry out an inspection of Older People’s Services.  It is important that all Members and staff are kept informed of the work that is being undertaken so that they can respond to any questions the SSI may ask.  There will be regular articles in Council publications and briefings for staff.

The Assembly thanked Ms Mitchell for her presentation.

Received the above report, which included recommendations on:

(i)  The Delivery of Housing Services

(ii)  The Formation of a Local Housing Company

(iii)  The Calendar of Council Meetings for 2003/04

(iv)  The JNC Officer Pay Review

Agreed:

(i)  The proposed constitution for Community Housing Partnerships, the scope of delegated authority and the new article for the Constitution.

(ii)  To nominate four Members to join the Local Housing Company Board (see Minute 73)

(iii)  To approve the Calendar of Meetings for the coming municipal year

(iv)  The recommendations set out in the report to the Executive relating to the JNC Officer Pay Review

The following question has been received from Councillor Jeyes:

'May consideration be given to terminating the use of Hay Consultancy.  All employees should be considered with equity.  This could be our contribution to stop leapfrogging of salaries throughout England.'

In relation to the JNC Officers’ pay review, Councillor Jeyes asked that ‘consideration be given to terminating the use of Hay Consultancy.  All employees should be considered with equity.  This could be our contribution to stop leapfrogging of salaries throughout England’.

The Leader responded that all employees are considered equally in the Borough and the Council has not leapfrogged salaries.  He explained the background to the use of Hay Consultancy, commenting that the Authority had used the services of the Association of Local Government in the past, but this had proved too slow a process and obviously the review could not be undertaken in-house.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

The Budget 2003/04

Received the report of the Borough Finance Officer on the Budget for 2003/04.  Councillor Geddes commended the work done by the Head of Corporate Finance.

Agreed:

A  The Budget 2003/04

1.  That the following, as submitted in the Annual Estimates Book, be approved: -

(a) the revised revenue estimates for the year 2002/2003 and the revenue estimates for 2003/2004.

(b) the capital programme for the year 2003/2004 and, in principle, for 2004/05 to 2007/08.

2.  That it be noted that at its meeting on 17 December 2002 the Assembly calculated the amount of 51,921 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2003/2004 in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 made under Section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

3.  That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2003/2004 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992: -

(a) £414,608,609being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2) (a) to (e) of the Act.

(b) £209,408,609being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(3) (a) to (c) of the Act.

(c) £205,200,000being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 32 (4) of the Act, as its budget requirement for the year.

(d) £162,430,596being the aggregate of the sums which the Council estimates will be payable for the year into its General Fund in respect of redistributed non-domestic rates, revenue support grant reduced by the amount of the sums which the Council estimates will be transferred in the year from its General Fund in accordance with Section 97 (4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 and increased by the amount of any sum which the Council estimates will be transferred from its collection Fund to its General Fund pursuant to the directions under Section 98 (4) of the Local Government Finance Act 1998 made on the 7 February 1994.

(e) £823.74being the amount at 3 (c) above less the amount at 3 (d) above, all divided by the amount at (2) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33 (1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(f) Valuation Bands

being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at 3 (e) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5 (1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band ‘D’ calculated by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 83.

Agreed to exclude the public and press for the remainder of the meeting, as the business was confidential.

Chief Executive's Department - Restructuring (to follow on Friday)

Concerns information about individual Council employees (paragraph 1)

Received the report of the Chief Executive proposing a restructuring of the Chief Executive's Department.

Agreed the recommendations set out in the report.