Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report seeking approval for the suggested new name for the Dagenham Priory School.

Agreed to the name change for Dagenham PrioryComprehensive School to Dagenham ParkCommunity School (ArtsCollege) from September 2004, in order to reflect the changing nature of the school’s role in the local community and the ongoing improvements that have been made there.

Received a report providing an update on the progress made on the implementation of the year one School Admissions Best Value Review Improvement Plan.  The report highlighted that actions in the Improvement Plan have either been superseded or fully completed and that there is an ongoing statutory requirement to monitor Admissions and Exclusion procedures and outcomes through the Admissions Forum.

Agreed that the School Admissions Best Value Review has been completed.

Received a report setting out the results of the 12 month review of the Council’s Community Housing Partnerships (CHP), identifying a range of proposals for improvement to the structure and processes, including an increased democratic involvement in the CHPs by Members of the Council.

Agreed, in order to assist in meeting the Government’s expectations on Tenant Empowerment, to:

1. The proposed changes around Board Membership, as set out in paragraph 4 of the report;

2. Note that the scope of decisions delegated to the CHPs under the delegated authority of the Director of Housing and Health is widened wherever possible to enable the community to have a recognisable influence on decisions that profoundly affect their lives;

3. Note that the style and content of the meetings is enhanced to attract the widest possible audiences; and

4. Note and support the aim to drive up service standards by enabling the CHPs to challenge and raise service level expectations with better training and high quality information.

A full copy and an executive summary of the new Tenant Participation Compact will be circulated separately to Executive Members and will be available from the Members Rooms.

Received a report presenting a proposed revised Tenant Participation Compact for 2004 / 2005.  The Compact is the written agreement between the Council and its tenants and includes the agreed tenant participation arrangements.

Agreed, in order to continue to meet the requirement to develop and publish a Tenant’s Compact that forms the basis of a contract between local tenants and the Council in matters relating to consultation and empowerment, to:

1. The proposed Tenant Participation Compact;

2. Receive subsequent updates in due course; and

3. Authorise the Director of Housing and Health to launch the final version of the Tenant Participation Compact.

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.