Agenda and minutes

On behalf of the Assembly, the Deputy Chair welcomed the new Chief Executive, Stella Manzie.

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest.

Agreed

Received and noted this report presented by the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services (CDACS) in the absence of Councillor Smith, the Leader of the Council.

It was noted that the CREATE annual arts festival is funded by the Olympiad but that beyond the 2012 Olympic Games it will be for the Council to consider what resources it will provide.

Agreed to the appointment of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Sport to the Board of Directors of the CREATE festival company as from the date of its incorporation.

Received and noted this report introduced by the Corporate Director of Finance and Resources (CDFR).

It was further noted that:

(i)  the authorised borrowing limit of £257m was not the amount of money that would be borrowed in 2011/12 but that determining a borrowing limit is a legal requirement pursuant to Section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003;

(ii)  the indicators did not include the Housing Revenue Account nor funding for decent homes;

(iii)  the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) is a statutory body that provides loans to local authorities.  As part of the Government's Spending Review, the lending rate was increased by 1%, creating a situation where the private sector is offering similar rates.

Agreed to approve the Treasury Management Strategy for 2011/12 (this document) and within this document the following:

1.  The current treasury position for 2010/11 and prospects for interest rates:

2.  The Authorised borrowing limit of £257m for 2011/12, which will be the statutory limit determined by the Council, pursuant to section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003;

3.  The Borrowing Strategy, Borrowing Requirement Strategy, Borrowing Requirement  Debt Rescheduling Strategy and Policy on borrowing in advance of need for 2011/12; 

4.  The Minimum Revenue Policy Statement for 2011/12 which sets out the Council’s policy on repayment of debt;

5.  The Annual Investment Strategy and creditworthiness policy for 2011/12 (Appendix B to the report), which outlines the investments that the Council may use for the prudent management of its investment balances. It also includes details of benchmarks set for external managers. The power is delegated to the Chief Financial Officer to change these benchmarks as required;

6.  The Treasury Management Indicators and Prudential Indicators for 2011/12 (Appendix A to the report);

7.  Treasury Management Principles, areas of responsibility and frequency as required by the Revised Code of Practice for Treasury Management 2011/12(Appendix C to the report) as well as the key reporting requirements as required by the Code (Appendix D to the report); and

8.  The Housing Reform and effects on treasury management Housing Revenue Account Reform and Impact on Treasury Management.

The Lead Member of the Children's Services Select Committee, Councillor L Rice, presented the Select Committee's in-depth review of child protection practices and policies in the borough's schools, which had been presented to the Cabinet on 15 March 2011.

She offered her thanks to Members and officers for their contribution to the review.

It was noted that the Select Committee recognised recent improvements that had been made in children's services across the borough and the 30 recommendations put forward were intended to build on those improvements.

The Lead Member added that the underlying theme of the recommendations was to encourage better understanding and working between the agencies involved, such as the school staff, Governing Bodies, the Police and the Council.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Education introduced the Cabinet's comments on the report.  He thanked the Lead Member, the Select Committee Members and officers and made particular reference to the report highlighting the importance of the Common Assessment Framework (CAF).

The Corporate Director of Children's Services (CDCS) introduced her response to the report. 

She welcomed the report's challenges and reported that an action plan would be formulated, the first draft of which will be presented to the Select Committee in June 2011 and monitored six monthly thereafter. 

The CDCS further advised that a five day peer review of services had just been completed by the Local Government Information Unit.  An independent survey of 100 people in the borough was undertaken as part of this process with “91% of survey respondents very confident or mostly confident that multi-agency safeguarding procedures are working well”.

Whilst this is a high percentage, it did mean that 9% were concerned about child protection, and it is these such concerns that would be acted on.

Following questions, the CDCS stated that:

1.  Some of the recommendations would be implemented immediately;

2.  In its use of the CAF, the borough was seen as an example of best practice;

3.  The borough's intervention work in Multi Agency Locality Teams (MALTs) had been recognised nationally;

4.  Progress on unauthorised absence was an agenda item at the termly meetings with the schools; school attendance has improved, so that it now matches national levels;

5.  Whilst any knife crime is a problem, it was lower in this borough than other London boroughs.  There was a level of safety in school, and officers worked closely with the Police regarding safety outside of school.

Agreed to adopt the Children's Services Select Committee's recommendations as set out in the report and to note the comments of the Cabinet (as set out in Appendix B to the report) and the response of the Corporate Director of Children's Services (as set out in Appendix C to the report).

The Lead Member of the Safer and Stronger Community Select Committee, Councillor Rodwell, presented the Select Committee's in-depth review of community cohesion, which had been presented to the Cabinet on 15 March 2011.

He recorded his thanks to officers and to the local community and voluntary groups for the outstanding support they had given to the Select Committee throughout the review.  He noted the wide range of work already undertaken by the Council and partners in promoting a cohesive Barking and Dagenham and stated that he saw this report and the 21 recommendations as the initial step in a continuing review process.

The Cabinet Member for Crime, Justice and Communities introduced the Cabinet's comments on the report, stating that the Lead Member had provided the clarification sought in relation to Recommendations 2 and 9, as set out in Appendix B.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Education referred to the examples in the report of the work undertaken by a number of schools in the borough in building community cohesion.  He further acknowledged the role of school governors in terms of opening up school facilities to the community and stated that Members, in their capacity as school governors, should give particular consideration to recommendations 18 and 19.

In response to a question as to the available resources to continue resident surveys as set out in recommendation 1, the Chief Executive advised that some surveys were carried out nationally, but that this was something that we as a Council should continue to look at to identify where progress is being made, and that she would consider the resource implications.

Agreed to adopt the Safer and Stronger Community Select Committee's recommendations as set out in the report and to note the comments of the Cabinet (as set out in Appendix B to the report).

In the absence of the Lead Member, the Deputy Lead Member of the Living and Working Select Committee, Councillor Perry, presented the Select Committee's in-depth review of Fly-Tipping Services, which had been presented to the Cabinet on 15 February 2011.

The Deputy Lead Member stated that the underlying theme of the 11 recommendations was the need to work together with partners, other local authorities and especially the borough's residents.

He recorded his thanks to Members and officers for the support that they had given to the Select Committee throughout the review.

In responding to Member questions, the Corporate Director of Customer Services advised that:

1.  Rubbish left by fly-tippers costs in excess of £100 per tonne to dispose of;

2.  The Council worked with VOSA (Vehicle and Operator Services Agency) in stopping commercial vehicles that drive along River Road to ensure that the vehicles were securely sheeted, carrying the correct load, and going to the correct destination;

3.  The Council operated:

(a)  a free bulk waste service, for which residents may have to wait 3-5 weeks; and

(b)  a priority service (3-5 days) costing between £12.50/£17.50

4.  During this current year:

(a)  38 fly-tippers have been prosecuted;

(b)  61 fixed penalty notices have been issued

5.  Due to the high cost of waste disposal, which was paid for via Council Tax, it was important that waste volume is kept in check.  This borough's residents were disposing of more waste than any other London borough, and it was for this reason that wheelie bins were introduced; to give residents the opportunity to compost and recycle. 

The Corporate Director of Customer Services invited Members to meet with him outside this meeting to discuss specific concerns about discarded litter in their Ward areas.

Agreed to adopt the Living and Working Select Committee's recommendations as set out in the report.

The Lead Member of the Health and Adult Services Select Committee, Councillor Twomey, presented the Select Committee's in-depth review of smoking cessation, which had been presented to the Cabinet on 15 March 2011.

He recorded his thanks to everyone who had participated in this review, giving particular thanks to Glen Oldfield, the Overview and Scrutiny Officer.

It was noted that many of the Select Committee's 16 recommendations related to discouraging young people from smoking.  The Lead Member stressed the importance of denying young people access to adult proxy purchasing of tobacco products. 

Referring to the sale of illicit tobacco, he asked that Members, in their capacity as school governors, publicise recommendations 11 and 12 in the borough's schools.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, Councillor Reason, presented the Cabinet's comments on the report.  She emphasised the Lead Member's foreword to the report which stated that in our community one person died every day from a smoking related disease.

Members commended the report, having particular regard to the following recommendations:

6.  peer-led interventions in schools

7.  Members on school governing bodies ensuring that good quality tobacco education is given high priority

8.  a Youth Stop Smoking Service

9.  the removal of tobacco vending machines

10.  discouraging adult proxy purchasing

11.  publicising high profile prosecutions to deter sellers of illicit tobacco products

12.  encouraging local businesses to address the sale of illicit tobacco in the workplace.

Agreed to adopt the Health and Adult Services Select Committee's recommendations as set out in the report and to note the comments of the Cabinet (as set out in Appendix B to the report).

Received and noted this report presented by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration.

Following debate, it was agreed that the Cabinet Member would provide a written reply to Members regarding questions raised in connection with:

1.  possible compensation claims, and

2.  the level of housing benefits paid to families living in properties that have been converted to multiple occupation dwellings.

Agreed to make a non-immediate Article 4 Direction, covering the whole borough, withdrawing permitted development rights for changes of use from use class C3 (dwelling house) to use class C4 (house in multiple occupation).

Received and noted this report presented by the Cabinet Member for Regeneration.

Responding to questions the Cabinet Member advised that:

1.  Regarding bullet points 4 and 6 of paragraph 1.2 of the Cabinet Report:

Policy BR1 -  "exceptional circumstances"(where the Environmental Building Standards in Policy BR1may not be appropriate) would be reported to and challenged by the Development Control Board;

Policy BR6 – this paragraph should be taken as read.  Should any planning applications be received from the operator at Marks Warren Farm, in depth discussion would take place between officers and the operator prior to it being reported to the Development Control Board.  Ward members would be notified accordingly.

2.  Chadwell Heath Station was within the London Borough of Redbridge.  TfL review bus routes regularly and officers in the Regeneration department would be asked to write to TfL on this.  Crossrail would not be operational until 2017/2018. 

Received and noted this report introduced by the Divisional Director of Legal and Democratic Services.

Referring to paragraph 2.3(iii) of the report in respect of the proposal to replace the set allowance of the Deputy Chairs/Deputy Lead Members to an ad hoc meeting based payment, Councillor Twomey pointed out that members had reflected on the role and had concluded that if carried out correctly it amounted to more than simply deputising for the Chair at meetings. He further noted that this special responsibility allowance along with all other allowances had been frozen for the past two years.

Councillor Twomey moved that the special responsibility allowance payable to Deputy Chairs and Deputy Lead Members of £1571 should continue to apply.

Agreed:

1.  that no increase be applied to Members' basic and special responsibility allowances for the 2011/2012 municipal year, representing a freeze in allowance levels for the third year in succession;

2.  to incorporate the position of Independent Adviser to the PAASC in the overall Scheme and, in view of the current economic situation, to set the allowance payable for 2011/12 at £300 per meeting; and

3.  that the draft Members' Allowances Scheme for the 2011/12 municipal year attached to the report at Appendix A take effect from 19 May 2011 (the day after Annual Assembly), with the exception of the proposed change to the Mayor's Purse, which will take effect from 21 May 2011 (the day after the 2011/12 Ceremonial Council meeting), and subject to the continued payment of the Deputy Chairs' and Deputy Lead Members' special responsibility allowance of £1571.

No motions have been received.

None

None

General Question 1 from Councillor Carpenter:

“Education Maintenance Allowances (EMAs) are being withdrawn by the Conservative-led Government from September 2011.  In Barking and Dagenham College of Further Education, 41% (1,234) of 16-18 year olds currently in learning are in receipt of an EMA.  I am very worried about the negative impact this will have on our younger learners being able to remain in learning and training from September 2011 when EMAs are withdrawn.  The College has successfully used the payment of EMAs to motivate youngsters to stay in learning and to improve their attendance.  This helps our young people to develop positive attitudes to learning and to achieve good results.  Many of their families also depend upon this money in order to keep these youngsters in learning.  We also know that unemployment amongst young people is growing.  What work is the Barking and Dagenham Partnership doing to assess the implications of this change on the number of potential NEETS in Barking and Dagenham (those young people not in education, employment or training)?  Will our NEETS numbers spike even higher?  What can the Partnership do to help our young people in these difficult circumstances? What plans are the Partnership putting in place from September 2011 to mitigate the impacts of this?”

Response from Councillor R Gill, Cabinet Member for Children and Education:

The Cabinet Member thanked Councillor Carpenter for a very detailed question on a very important issue.

He stated that in the last financial year £580m had been allocated to EMAs but that the revised scheme, announced by the Secretary of State for Education, had an allocation of £180m, of which £156m would be made available to schools and colleges to support low income families.

Students who received EMAs in 2009/10 would continue to receive the same payments until the end of the 2011/12 academic year. 

Students who started courses in September 2010 and qualified for the £30 per week payments would continue to receive support of at least £20 per week until the end of the academic year.

Referring to the impact of the loss of EMAs, the Cabinet Member stated that through the 14-19 Partnership, the borough's secondary schools and the Barking and Dagenham College were currently undertaking a detailed review of all courses and qualifications to ensure that they are appropriate, robust and provided good opportunities for progression. 

There also continued to be a good supply of local part-time work, which provided young people with valuable work experience.

Referring to NEETs and youth unemployment, at February 2011 data showed a further reduction in unemployment of young people from 7.9% to 6.9%, which was in line with other east London boroughs.

There was concern about unemployment rates for 18-24 year olds, which stands at 17.3% against the national average of 20.1%.  A specialist 18-24 Job Broker was currently being recruited in partnership with Elevate.

The Skills Centre, which was due to be completed on 23 July 2012, would provide authentic workplace learning in key local employment sectors such  ...  view the full minutes text for item 79.

The Deputy Chair announced that Nina Clark, the Divisional Director of Legal and Democratic Services and Monitoring Officer would be leaving the Council at the end of this month after 24 years' service. 

The Assembly placed on record their appreciation of the service Ms Clark has given to this Council and wished her well for the future.

The Cabinet Member for Children and Education recorded the Assembly's congratulations to Children's Services in winning the prestigious LGC award.

The Corporate Director for Children's Services acknowledged the award as testament to the young people in the borough and to the officers in youth services who work with them.  She explained that the award was for the work done to shape services in partnership with children and young people.

She further recorded her thanks to the Councillors for their continued support of the young people.