Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report seeking approval for attendance at the Society of Information Technology Managers annual conference in accordance with the Council’s Conference, Visits and Hospitality Rules.

Agreed to representation by two managers from the Information Management and Technology Division at the Society of Information Technology Managers Annual Conference, 16 – 18 October 2005, in Brighton, at an estimated cost of £1,070 plus travel, in order to network, share experiences, learn from workshops and seminars and discuss new IT with suppliers.  The cost of attendance will be funded from the Information Management and Technology Division’s training and seminar budget.

Received a report outlining the budget process, the proposed budget timetable and initial savings targets for 2006 / 2007 for all Departments.  The report also addressed the key issues arising from recent Government proposals on future funding to Council’s from 2006 / 2007 onwards. 

Noted:

1. The proposed summary budget timetable as set out in Appendix A to the report;

2. That a successful budget process is reliant on officers and information across the whole Council;

3. That the Director of Finance is exploring the potential for bringing forward the Council Tax payment date to the first of each month and the necessary impact on the timetable;

4. The principles adopted in the target savings for both the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account as outlined in paragraph 5 of the report;

5. That further reports on the Budget process will be reported to the Executive commencing in the Autumn; and

6. Noted that the government was consulting on proposed changes to government funding from 2006 / 2007 onwards.

Received a report setting out the latest position regarding Building Schools for the Future following a meeting with officials from the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) who have indicated that Barking and Dagenham will be in the next waves of the Building Schools for the Future programme.

Agreed, in order to rebuild, refurbish and / or remodel secondary schools in the Borough, to:

1. A sum of £700,000 to be added to the Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 4.4 of the report, to allow some early work in drafting proposals, research on site difficulties and drawing up feasibility options for the development of school rebuilding and / or refurbishment of the secondary school estate.  This will include the establishment of a Local Education Partnership, legal and financial fees for advice (subject to undergoing the Capital Programme Monitoring Office process);

2. The sum of £700,000 to be initially funded from slippage from the Warren Comprehensive School Science Facility scheme;

3. Note that future bids for resources will be considered in February 2006, as set out in paragraph 4.3 of the report;

4. The advancement of the Building Schools for the Future process along the lines set out in the report and subject to consultation with the DfES / Partnership for Schools; and

5. Authorise the Director of Education, Arts and Libraries to enter into the process of securing advisors to help develop the process.

Councillor Wade declared an interest as a member of the Friends of the Osborne Partnership and took no part in the discussion.

Received a report outlining details of a proposal by the Osborne Partnership to establish a social enterprise and of the Partnership’s request to lease Council premises at a concessionary rent as a base for the enterprise.

Agreed to:

1. Note that the establishment of a social enterprise by the Osborne Partnership will be an important stepping-stone to employment by some of the most disadvantaged groups in the Borough;

2. Note that the financial profile for such a social enterprise would preclude the possibility of paying an economic rent for appropriate premises;

3. Note that granting a concessionary rent to the Osborne Partnership for the premises at Valence Depot, as outlined in the report, would mean the loss of income of up to £35,000 pa;

4. In principle, grant a lease for a period not exceeding 18 months, on condition that the Partnership use that period to find other premises; and

5. Authorise officers to negotiate an appropriate lease arrangement and offer all assistance to the Osborne Partnership in establishing the enterprise.

Received a report seeking to rename a former housing amenity Green, which has been redeveloped through support from the River, Village and Goresbrook Community Forum and other agencies.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of ‘Raising General Pride in the Borough’ and ‘Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer’ as well as to mark the project’s completion, to:

1. Name the former housing amenity green adjoining land at the junction of Heathway and Dagenham Avenue as ‘Heathway Gardens’; and

2. Note that an official naming ceremony will be arranged in due course.

Received a report regarding the commissioning of a ‘Peace and Memorial Garden’ in recognition that a space is needed within the Borough to commemorate the civilians who have lost their lives in the many atrocities and hostilities that have happened both here in the UK and around the world.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of ‘Raising General Pride in the Borough’, ‘Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer’, ‘Promoting Better Education and Learning for All’ and ‘Promoting Equal Opportunities and Celebrating Diversity’, to:

1. The inclusion of £175,000 for the Peace and Memorial Garden in Central Park in the Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 3.1.4 of the report; and

2. Fund the project from £120,000 of 2004 / 2005 Revenue underspends as reported to the Executive on 12 July 2005 and £50,000 of slippage from other capital projects within the overall Capital Programme, to be identified by the Director of Regeneration and Environment and the Director of Finance.

Received a report regarding improvements to Goresbrook Park including the provision of perimeter security measures and play equipment, together with a dedicated Play Projects Officer for a period of two years. 

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of ‘Raising General Pride in the Borough, and ‘Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer’, to:

1. The inclusion of the scheme for Goresbrook Park in the 2005 / 2006 Capital Programme, to the sum of £637,000 as set out in paragraph 3.4.2 of the report and funded as detailed in paragraph 3.1 of the report;

2. Appoint Councillors Northover, Porter and Thomas to be involved with the packaging and specification of the above mentioned contract and the subsequent evaluation and award;

3. Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Environment, in association with the Director of Finance and Solicitor for the Council, to accept the tender(s); and

4. Reprofile the Capital Programme for regeneration initiatives of £1m from 2005 / 2006 into 2006 / 2007.

Received a report outlining the current position in respect of the Thames Gateway Bridge (TGB) scheme which is progressing through its statutory processes for securing powers to construct it. 

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of ‘Regenerating the Local Economy’ and ‘Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer’, to:

1. A written submission on behalf of the Council to the TGB Public Inquiry;

2. The content of the written submission be subject to the Lead Member for Regeneration’s approval;

3. The principles of the legal agreement on offer by Transport for London and the establishment of a Boroughs’ Consultative Group (BCG);

4. Any drafting changes to the legal agreement be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and Environment for agreement and subject to consultation with the Solicitor to the Council; and

5. Withdraw concerns previously expressed in respect of the Thames Gateway Bridge.

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.