Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Noted a report providing an update on four petitions that have been received by the Council and are due to be presented in full to the Assembly in due course.

Received a report regarding a petition received requesting a youth club on the Marks Gate Estate. 

Noted that a youth club, called ‘Give em a chance’, has opened on Wednesday evenings in the Marks Gate Community Centre, staffed by the local community with ongoing support from both the Neighbourhood Co-ordinator and the Youth Support and Development Service.

Received a petition asking the council to combat anti social behaviour, including youth nuisance, intimidating behaviour, harassment and vandalism, on the Margaret Bondfield Estate.

Noted the actions currently taken and the actions proposed in order to deal with the issues raised by the residents of Margaret Bondfield Avenue.

Received a petition asking the council to combat anti-social behaviour relating to youth nuisance, intimidating behaviour, harassment and vandalism within and around the Tolworth Parade of shops in Chadwell Heath.

Noted the actions already taken and the actions proposed in order to deal with the issues raised by the residents living in and businesses operating from the Tolworth Parade of shops.

Received a petition asking the Council to combat anti-social behaviour relating to youth nuisance, intimidating behaviour from youths, harassment and vandalism within the Valence Ward including Valence Park.  The petition made specific reference to the lack of a Safer Neighbourhood Team.

Noted the current position with regard to the action already taken and the action proposed in order to deal with the issues raised by the residents of Valence Ward.

Received a petition from Cambell Infant and JuniorSchools and members of the surrounding community regarding road safety concerns in local roads and footpaths, particularly when children are travelling to and from school.

Agreed, in order to reduce the potential for accidents and encourage more children to walk to school, to:

1.  Include the Cambell Schools area in the next Borough Spending Plan submission to Transport for London for the implementation of a 20 mph Zone with associated traffic management and traffic calming features;

2.  Implement a scheme, subject to funds being made available in due course, following consultation with Ward Members, the local community and the schools; and

3.  To respond to a request for measures that will improve road safety.

Councillor Mrs Flint declared a personal interest in this item as an active member of the Salvation Army.

Received a petition raised by the Salvation Army in objection to a proposed Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) to be introduced in the King Edwards Road area in Barking, as this would cause difficulties for their volunteers and visitors in terms of parking opportunity.

The new CPZ will operate seven days a week between the hours of 8:30 am and midnight.  During this period only vehicles displaying a valid permit will be permitted to park.  Permits will be available for purchase by residents and their visitors. 

Agreed, to:

1.  Implement the CPZ in accordance with the wishes of the majority of residents who responded to the consultation exercise;

2.  Make the Westbury Centre car park available for use by religious establishments on Sundays on a self funding basis as far as possible; and

3.  Permits for Parking in the Westbury Centre be allocated via Religious establishments who will make payment to the Council.

Received the final report of the Improving Employment Prospects Policy Commission which was established to investigate ways in which to improve the employability of local people.

Agreed the recommendations as set out in the final report.

It was also noted that Barking and Dagenham has recently been awarded £15.5 million over the next three years under the first round of the new Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI), a Government programme to boost business and enterprise in deprived areas.

Barking and Dagenham's successful bid, which could be worth £34.7 million over 10 years, subject to future Government Spending Reviews, was one of ten successful bids out of the fifty-five Local Authorities across England who applied.

Received a report seeking the Assembly’s approval to set a revenue budget and Council Tax for 2006/2007 and a Capital Programme for 2006/2007 to 2009/2010.  The report also presented a Medium Term Financial Strategy and Capital Strategy for adoption by the Council.

Agreed:

1.  A Revenue budget and Council Tax increase of 3.49% for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and noted the 13.35% increase in the Greater London Authority precept giving an overall increase of 5.67% for 2006/2007 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report;

2.  A Capital Programme for 2006/2007 to 2009/2010 in accordance with the recommendations approved by the Executive on 21 February 2006 as set out in Appendix 3 of the report;

3.  The position on reserves as set out in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.4 of the report;

4.  The Statutory Budget Determinations and Amount of Council Tax for the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham:

i)  Noted that at its meeting on 20 December 2005 the Executive calculated the amount of 50,648.4 as its Council Tax Base for the year 2006/2007 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.

ii)  That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2006/2007 in accordance with Sections 32 to 36 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992:

Received a report setting out the Treasury Management Annual Investment Strategy Statement, Prudential Indicators and Annual Investment Strategy in respect of the Council's Treasury Management functions.

Agreed:

1.  An authorised borrowing limit of £20 million for 2006/2007;

2.  The Treasury Management Annual Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and

3.  The prudential indicators for 2006/2007 through to 2008/2009 as set out in Appendix 1A of the report.

The draft 2006/07 Calendar of Meetings has been circulated to all Members under separate cover.

Received a report on the draft Calendar of Meetings for the 2006/2007 municipal year.

Agreed the draft Calendar of Meetings for the coming Municipal Year, as considered and amended by the Executive on 14 February 2006.

Received a report outlining details of amendments to the Local Government Act 1972, being introduced from 1 March 2006, amending the Access to Information framework and specifically the categories and circumstances of exemption where local authorities are able to withhold information from disclosure to the public.

Agreed to:

1.  Note the affect of the amendments to the categories and circumstances of exemption where local authorities are able to withhold information from disclosure to the public; and

2.  Amend Article 14 of Part B of the Council’s Constitution accordingly as set out in Appendix B to the report.

* Item considered as a matter of urgency with the consent of the Chair under Section 100B (4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.