Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Noted the contents of the final report of the Community Empowerment and Engagement Policy Commission, prior to its submission to the Assembly on
4 February 2004, and placed on record our thanks to those Members and officers who participated.

Received a report setting out an action plan for The Management Team to improve the critical Performance Indicators (PI) that constitute the Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA) service scores on all areas of council services.  The Action Plan also contained information on the latest performance on each of these indicators where available.

Agreed to support the emphasis set out in the Action Plan across the critical basket of CPA Performance Indicators in order to improve performance on those areas that positively impact upon the CPA score.

Attached to these Minutes is a breakdown of those PIs on Education and Social Services, which impact upon the Office for Standards in Education (OFSTED) and the Social Services Inspectorate (SSI) scores, which were not circulated with the agenda.

Received a report summarising the proposals contained within the Government’s consultation paper on policing - Building Safer Communities Together, which looks at modernising and reforming the Police Service through developing strong connections between local communities and the Police. 

We discussed the proposals set out in the report; and

Agreed that a final response be drafted and agreed by the Leader and Lead Member for ‘Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer’, Councillor McKenzie, in order to convey this Council’s views on the strategic functioning of a reformed Police Service, and how its impact upon crime and disorder in Barking and Dagenham can be maximised.

The response will be circulated to all Executive Members prior to its submission to the Association of London Government and the Home Office within the consultation deadline.

We have also placed on record our thanks to the Community Safety team for their work in helping to reduce crime and the fear of crime in the Borough.

Received a report setting out the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2004 / 2005.  The report also set out information on new powers available to the Council to reduce discounts for second homes and long-term empty property, and to award locally determined discounts.

Agreed, in order to comply with statute and assist in the calculation of the Authority’s Council Tax for 2004 / 2005:

1. That the report on the calculation of the Council’s Tax Base for 2004 / 2005 be approved and that, pursuant to the report and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Council as its Tax Base for the year 2004 / 2005 shall be 51,055.3 Band ‘D’ properties;

2. That the discounts for second homes or long-term empty properties are not reduced for 2004 / 2005; and

3. To recommend to the Assembly that locally determined discounts should not be awarded for 2004/2005.

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.