Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report on proposed planning enquiry charges for the 2005/06 financial year.

Agreed, in accordance with the principles laid down by the Council’s Charging Policy Commission, to increased charges for Planning Post Search enquiries and Consultancy Fees for 2005 / 2006 as set out in the report.

Received a report on proposed room hire and other fees and charges for Eastbury Manor House for the 2005/06 financial year.

Agreed, in order to bring the charges into line with those at similar venues and to assist in meeting challenging income targets, to increased fees and charges for Eastbury Manor House for 2005/06 as set out in the report.

Received a report on the branding of the new Joint Service Centre at Castle Green, Dagenham.

Agreed, in order to provide an established identity for the new Joint Service Centre development, to adopt “Castle Green” as the overall name for the Joint Service Centre.

Received a report on a proposed Equal Opportunities Impact Assessment in respect of the regeneration of Barking Town Centre.  

Agreed, in order to meet the requirements of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 and to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority of ‘Regenerating the Local Economy’, to adopt the Equal Opportunities Impact Assessment of the Barking Town Centre regeneration programme as appended to the report, subject to appropriate amendments to the wording of the document to take on board the comments made at this meeting.

Received a report on the development options for the South Dagenham (West) area of the Borough which the Council would wish to be included in the London Development Agency’s master plan for the area. 

Also noted an update on the Planning Inspectorate’s consideration of the application for the compulsory purchase of properties in the area, and the steps taken in an attempt to accelerate the Planning Inspectorate’s reporting timetable.  In this respect, officers undertook to review the option of using “Powers of Well-Being” and to advise relevant Members accordingly.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of ‘Regenerating the Local Economy’, ‘Improving Health, Housing and Social Care’ and ‘Raising General Pride in the Borough, to:

1.  The promotion of the development of South Dagenham (West) as an environmental exemplar; and

2.  Any future developments in the area being in accordance with the environmental and development standards and requirements as set out in the report.

Appendices 1 and 2 to this report are circulated separately to Members of the Executive and are available on the Internet, in the Members’ Rooms and at public libraries.

Received the Audit Commission’s report on the Supporting People Programme in the Borough following a recent inspection, and the proposed Delivery and Improvement Plan for 2005/06 produced in response to the Inspector’s recommendations.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority of ‘Improving Health, Housing and Social Care’, to:

1.  Note the Audit Commission’s report and the recommendations contained therein;

2.  Endorse the Supporting People Delivery and Improvement Plan 2005/06, as attached at Appendix 2 to the report; and

3.  An annual report on the Supporting People Programme being submitted to the Executive.

Received a report on proposed changes to the Council’s Unitary Development Plan (UDP) Steering Group to reflect the new requirements in respect of the Local Development Framework, which will replace the existing UDP.

Agreed to recommend the Assembly:

1.  That the Unitary Development Plan Steering Group be renamed the Local Development Framework Steering Group;

2.  That the terms of reference for the Local Development Framework Steering Group be approved, as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the report;

3.  That the membership of the Local Development Framework Steering Group be as follows

a.  Voting Members – the Leader of the Council, the Executive Member for Regeneration and the Executive Member for Better Education and Learning For All

b.  Non-voting Members – the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Development Control Board.

Received a report on requirements under the Local Government Pension Scheme (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2004 for the Council to approve a Funding Strategy Statement by 31 March 2005.

Agreed, in order to meet statutory requirements in respect of the Council’s Pension Scheme, to adopt the Funding Strategy Statement for 2005/06 as appended to the report.

Received a report on the triennial valuation carried out by the actuary for the Barking and Dagenham Local Government Council’s Pension Scheme, in accordance with the requirements of the Local Government Pension Scheme Regulations 1997.

Agreed to:

1.  Note the contents of the report, which summarises the 2004 actuarial valuation, and the recommendations that the actuary has made in respect of future employer contributions; and

2.  Pension fund contribution rates not including any additional contributions for the costs of early retirements.

Received a report seeking the views of the Executive in respect of the Council’s political structure.

Agreed to:

1.  Recommend the Assembly that the Executive supports the continuation of the political structure in its current form, and

2.  Note the intention to carry out a review of Community Forums during 2005/06.

Members are asked to bring with them the papers that were circulated for the meeting on 22 February, when this item was originally due to be considered.

Received the third quarter monitoring report in respect of the Council’s Best Value Performance Plan targets for 2004/05.  Noted that the format for future performance monitoring presentations is to be revised to facilitate a more in-depth understanding and debate of key performance indicators by Members of the Executive. 

The Corporate Management Team gave a presentation on the performance against a range of key indicators including the Council’s Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) targets.  Requested that additional information be provided in respect of the following:

(i)  BV174 – number of racial incidents recorded by the Authority per 100,000 population – The information required by Minute 190(1) (16 November 2004) be provided to Councillor Bramley;

(ii)  LPSA 8(1) & (2) – cleanliness of highways – The information required by Minute 190(4) be provided to Councillor McCarthy.

(iii)  BV56 – percentage of items of equipment delivered within 7 working days – Details of the current position regarding the provision of aids and adaptations be sent to the Chair and Councillor Smith.

(iv)  PSA 12(5) – number of pupils completing an educational course in parks and green spaces – Details of which trips can be counted towards this indicator be provided to Councillor Bramley.

Received a report on the Borough Local Development Scheme (LDS), which is a three year rolling work programme associated with the production of the Local Development Framework (LDF).  The LDS is required to be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval by 28 March 2005.

Agreed, in order to provide a planning policy framework which will assist in the delivery of the Council’s Community Priorities, to:

1.  The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham Local Development Scheme, as appended to the report, for submission to the Secretary of State by 28 March 2005; and

2.  Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Environment to make any non-material amendments as may be necessary to the LDS.

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 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972