Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Agreed representation by the Lead Member for Regeneration and the Group Manager Urban Design at the Planning and Urban Design Conference on the 19 and 20 of May 2004, in order to assist the Lead Member for Regeneration and the new Urban Design Group in promoting urban design in the planning and regeneration of the Borough.

A presentation will be made at the meeting by MORI

Received a presentation by Ashley Aimes from MORI presenting feedback arising from recent surveys on staff attitudes and the perception of residents of Barking and Dagenham.

Noted the contents of the final report of the Social Inclusion Policy Commission, prior to its submission to the Assembly.

Received a report reviewing performance in the Social Services Department, the commissioning of services and the financial framework.

Agreed, in order to continue to achieve improvements in the performance of Social Services, to:

1. Endorse the Finance and Commissioning Framework; and

2.  Note the additional spending to Formula Spending Share (FSS) as set out in Table 4 of the report.

Received a report reviewing the level of charging for social care services for 2004 / 2005 and proposing benchmark prices for care placements.

Agreed, in order to implement the required changes to the charges for social care services from 12th April 2004 (the date at which state benefits are increased), except for Nurseries from 1 May, to:

1. Endorse an increase of approximately 5% for the level and range of non-residential charging as set out in paragraph 4.3 of the report;

2. Endorse Supporting People charging as outlined in paragraph 6.3 of the report;

3. Endorse the level of charge for Welfare Meals as set out in paragraph 8.4 of the report;

4. The Residential and Day Care charges for other Local Authorities (and full payers) together with benchmark prices alluded to in paragraphs 10.5 , 10.6 , and 10.7 of the report; and

5. The level of charges for Nursery Places set out in paragraph 9.1 of the report.

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