Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report outlining details of a proposal by the Department of Education and Skills (DfES) to restrict the increase in the Local Education Authority element of the Schools Block 2004 / 2005 to that of the percentage increase in the Individual Schools Budget (ISB) in order to meet its minimum guarantee made to schools.  Authorities wishing to apply for an exemption from this restriction must make their case to the DfES by the new deadline of 13 February 2004.

Agreed, to delegate to the Director of Education, Arts and Libraries and the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, permission to seek exemption by the DfES from this restriction if deemed necessary.

Received a report seeking to extend a joint contract with members of the London Contracts & Supplies Group (LCSG) for the supply of cleaning materials.

Agreed, in order to continue to obtain competitive prices and improved service levels from a range of suppliers and increase partnership working with members of the LCSG, that the supply of cleaning materials be undertaken through an agreed 12 month extension, as allowed for in the original contract, from 1 June 2004 to 31 May 2005.

Received a report setting out proposals to introduce new Conditions of Tenancy in order to strengthen the Councils fight against Anti Social Behaviour and to modernise the existing tenancy agreement, which has become dated since it original launch some years ago.

Agreed, in order to modernise the Conditions of Tenancy to take account of issues that have become relevant in recent years and assist in tackling Anti Social Behaviour, to:

1. The wording and content of the new Conditions of Tenancy, as set out in Appendix A of the report;

2. The document being illustrated and prepared with corporate branding prior to a draft copy being sent to every tenant in the Borough as part of the required consultation process;

3. Additional costs for the implementation of the new Conditions of Tenancy, to a maximum of £116,000, to be met from existing budgets of the Housing Revenue Account; and

4. Officers progressing the gathering of photographic ID evidence, as set out in Paragraph 4 of the report, based on tenants providing their own passport sized photographs.

Further to Minute 357 (18 March 2003), received a report describing the process of selecting a partner to provide high level advice and training within the client side construction planning team, together with other changes to develop the Best Value procurement, programme and project management activities of client side staff.

Agreed:

1. The appointment of MACE plc as client planning team advisor.  MACE plc has been selected after a rigorous and transparent procurement exercise; and

2. That Councillor B Osborn be appointed to the Project Steering Board.  . The project board, as described in section 4 of the report, will ensure that the client partnering arrangement delivers agreed outputs and outcomes.

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

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