Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report setting out the latest position with regard to the work of the Neighbourhood Renewal (NR) Steering Group in relation to the NR Fund and programme.

Agreed to endorse the recommendations of the NR Steering Group held on 1 September 2003 with regard to the allocation of future years NR funding for 2004 - 2006 as set out in Appendix 1 of the report; and that a further report detailing recommendations for the remaining allocation of NR funding be submitted to a future meeting following consultation and appraisal in conjunction with the revised Community Strategy.

The Neighbourhood Renewal Fund and programme is one of the major providers of funding and support to tackle deprivation and achieve the social and economic objectives embodied in the Community, Regeneration and Neighbourhood Renewal Strategies.

Received a report concerning issues relating to the implementation of the single status agreement for staff covered by the National Joint Council for Local Government Services.  The report set out the background to single status in employment and proposed an allocation of funding from reserves to enable dedicated resources to be allocated specifically to this project.

Agreed, in order to ensure compliance with the requirements of the London Agreement in relation to the working hours of blue collar staff and to facilitate progress towards implementation of single status, that:

1. The sum of £200,000 is allocated from reserves to support the process leading to single status, including a pay and grading review and that the Chief Executive is given delegated authority to allocate these resources as appropriate;

2. A working week based on 36 hours for full time staff is introduced for blue collar staff with effect from 1 April 2004 in accordance with the London Agreement;

3. The Council adopts the Greater London Provincial Council job evaluation scheme for staff covered by the National Joint Council for Local Authority Services;

4. The proposed structure for negotiations with the trade unions, described in paragraph 6.1 of the report, is adopted.  Councillors G J Bramley and R J Curtis to be appointed to the central negotiating group; and

5. Further reports be brought to the Executive for decision as required.

Received a report setting out proposals for the future management arrangements of integrated services between the Council and the Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust (PCT), clarifying accountability and reporting lines.

Agreed, in order to allow for continued integration of service delivery, ensuring lines of accountability and management of performance objectives so that each parent Authority can exercise its responsibilities within a framework that sustains integrated working, stability, delivery of services and development, that:

1. The commitment of the Council to integrated working with the PCT, integrated posts and service delivery on health and social care services for the benefit of the local community is reaffirmed;

2. The clarifications and new accountabilities outlined in the report including the Accountability Framework subject to re-examining all titles so that the Council does not have Directors reporting to Directors in future; and

3. Officers of the Council will not be accountable to the PCT Board for the delivery of services.  They will, however, be accountable through the Acting Chief Executive of the PCT on health matters and may attend Board meetings to deliver and discuss appropriate reports.

Noted a report produced by the Social Services Inspectorate reviewing progress over the previous year as part of the Performance Assessment Framework.  This has involved the Social Services Inspectorate meeting with councillors, senior managers and partner agencies and takes into account performance indicators, inspections and other evidence.  This process will inform the Star ratings, which will be announced in November 2003.

Received a report presented by Matthew Cole, Director of Public Health at the Barking and Dagenham Primary Care Trust (PCT), providing an update on the approach and action already taken to deliver changes to tackle health inequalities through the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP).  PCTs have the leadership role for health inequalities within LSPs, leading work to agree a set of local priorities to address health inequalities that all partners can sign up to and support.

The report also presented the latest Department of Health publication, ‘Tackling Health Inequalities: A Programme for Action’, which provides a coherent focus for the local work programme to tackle health inequalities.

Agreedto endorse the approach and support members of the Health Partnership Group in order to focus on tackling health inequalities and devise and agree a local basket of indicators, which will be regularly monitored and reported on annually.

Noted that some adjustments to the report might be needed in view of the current review of the LSP and Community Strategy.

Received a report outlining the Council’s strategy and progress towards meeting the national target for implementing electronic government.

Agreed the Implementing Electronic Government Return (IEG 3) attached as an Appendix to the report, which is to be submitted to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) by 10November 2003, in order to advise the ODPM of progress in meeting the national target in order to secure a grant in the region of £200,000.

Received a report outlining the potential benefits to Barking and Dagenham of a new government scheme, currently out for consultation, which aims to create greater incentives for local authorities to promote economic development in their areas through directly retaining a proportion of business rate revenues. 

Agreed, in order to meet the consultation deadline of 31 October 2003, to:

1. The report as the basis for our response, whilst promoting Barking and Dagenham’s more radical alternative;

2. Volunteer to take part in the administrative “dry run”; and

3. Consider at the proper time, as part of the budget setting process and in relation to other priorities, allocating a part of any new funds gained under the scheme to support more economic development work by the Council.

Received a report setting out a comprehensive strategy for the Council’s economic development work over the next 3 years, which will be vital to the realisation of the 2020 Vision for the Borough.

The Best Value Review of Barking and Dagenham’s Regeneration Strategy identified the need for an Economic Development Strategy for the Council to seize the opportunities created by the redevelopment of the Thames Gateway to diversify and renew the Borough economy.

Agreed to endorse the strategy as the basis for the Council’s economic development work over the next 3 years, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority of “Regenerating the Local Economy”.

Received a report outlining an opportunity to enhance the appearance of Tantony Green through working in partnership with the Marks Gate Agenda 21 Neighbourhood Partnership to make a joint bid for grant aid to the Countryside Agency under their Doorstep Greens Programme.  Together with funds from Section 106 Agreements this would provide additional funding in the region of £62,700, which will be use to replace the existing derelict concrete fencing, provide a football pitch and landscaping.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer”, “Raising General Pride in the Borough” and “Developing Rights and Responsibilities with the Local Community”, to:

1. The Council working with the local community and Marks Gate Agenda 21 Neighbourhood Partnership to set out a Management Plan for the future maintenance of Tantony Green (which will then be implemented in conjunction with the Marks Gate Agenda 21 Neighbourhood Partnership); and

2. Make a bid on behalf of the partners for grant aid from the Countryside Agency and any other potential funding bodies and, if the Doorstep Green application is successful:

(a)  The Council entering into a Deed of Covenant with the Countryside Agency regarding the future disposal of all or part of Tantony Green;

(b)  The future maintenance, to be undertaken in association with the Marks Gate Agenda 21 Neighbourhood Partnership, in line with a Management Plan and to standards agreed with the Agenda 21 Partnership and Countryside Agency at the outset; and

(c)  Subject to grant funding being obtained for improvements to Tantony Green, that the Council acts as Project Manager and accordingly that funding is set aside in the Estimates to enable the use of any grant money awarded by the Countryside Agency (the Creation Grant) be used for the purposes of making improvements to Tantony Green in line with the master plan.

Received a report setting out a procurement strategy for Professional Services within the Leisure and Environmental Services Department, to support in-house capability to meet peak workloads, and a proposal for a bespoke contract to achieve this.

The contract will cover multi skill and expertise services and offer a panel of consultants, already vetted and approved, to be called upon by all departments of this Council to assist officers as and when the need arises.  The intention being to ensure delivery of projects on a needs basis where in-house capability is already saturated with work.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving it’s Community Priority of “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer”, that:

1. A strategic alliance with the London Borough of Camden be set up in order to produce a Professional Services Team Consultancy Contract, at a total estimated cost of £28,000; and

2. Councillors Geddes and Kallar be appointed to take part in the evaluation and award of contract in accordance with the Constitution Part D Contract Rules.

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