Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a progress report on the proposals for the regeneration of Beacontree Heath, which include the development of new leisure facilities to replace Dagenham Swimming Pool.

Agreed, in order to progress the identification of a potential development partner and assist the Council in achieving all of its Community Priorities, to:

1.  Authorise the Director of Regeneration and Environment to publish a Prior Information Notice (PIN) in the Official Journal of the European Union (OJEU) calling for expressions of interest from developers regarding the regeneration of Beacontree Heath; and

2.  A further report on the findings of the feasibility study for a new leisure facility and proposals for an approach to the regeneration of Beacontree Heath being presented in due course.

Further to Minute 150 (19 October 2004), received an update report on the proposal to introduce a Home Computer Initiative (HCI) scheme for all permanent staff at the Council.  Since our initial consideration of the proposal, the Greater London Authority (GLA) has announced plans for a London-wide HCI scheme.

Agreed, in view of the interest shown by staff to participate in the HCI scheme and in order to assist the Council in its Community Leadership role through enabling staff to improve their information technology skills, to:

1.  The Council’s participation in a London-wide HCI scheme, led by the GLA, for all permanent staff; and

2.  The sum of £10,000 being allocated from reserves as a ‘Spend to Save’ initiative which will be recouped as savings accrue from take-up of the scheme.

Further to Minute 99 (7 September 2004), received the fourth annual report in respect of the Council’s regeneration strategy ‘An Urban Renaissance in East London’ which was published in November 2001.

Agreed to the publication of the fourth Annual Report which covers the period April 2004 to March 2005.

Received reports in respect of Best Value reviews carried out during years 1 and 2 of the Council’s Best Value Review Programme which have now been completed.

Agreed to formally sign off as complete the Best Value reviews and associated action plans in respect of the following services:

(i)  Looked After Children

(ii)  Hospital Discharge

(iii)  Day Opportunities

(iv)  Care Management

Agreed the attendance of the Head of Property Services as part of a delegation visiting the Moscow Regional Government from 19 - 24 September 2005 at an estimated total cost of £1,100, which will be met from existing budgets.

Agreed the attendance of the Chief Executive and Director of Corporate Strategy at the SOLACE annual conference 2005 at a cost of approximately £1,800, which will be met from existing budgets.

Agreed the attendance of the Head of Revenue Services and the Council Tax Manager at the 2005 Institute of Revenues, Ratings and Valuation Annual Conference and Exhibition at a total cost of £1,543, which will be met from existing budgets.

Received the draft final report of the Anti-Social Behaviour (ASB) Scrutiny Panel and a presentation by Councillor Hunt, the Lead Member of the Panel, on the key findings from the scrutiny.

Arising from the discussions the following observations were made:

(i)  In respect of the Panel’s recommendation to “provide more Police Officers in schools”, it should be emphasised that this is to extend the provision of a community base for community policing under the ‘Safer Schools Partnership’ initiative, and not because there is an enforcement need in the Borough’s schools;

(ii)  That the Council should consider making it a requirement for Registered Social Landlords in the Borough to sign up to supporting the ASB Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations;

(iii)  The success of Council initiatives to reduce anti-social behaviour such as the AlleyGator scheme and the alcohol drinking ban in Barking Town Centre; and

(iv)  The need for the Council and its partners to implement an effective media campaign on anti-social behaviour issues.

Councillor Hunt thanked the Executive for its support of the Panel’s work and agreed to take on board the point referred to in (i) above prior to submitting the Panel’s final report for formal adoption by the Assembly on 5 October 2005.

Received and noted a report on the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budgets for the period 1 April to 31 July 2005, details of the action being taken by Chief Officers to ensure a balanced position by the year end, the position and projected out-turn for the Housing Revenue Account and the prudential indicators for April to June 2005.

The Performance Monitoring graphs will be circulated to Members under separate cover and will also be available on the Internet, in the Members’ Rooms and at public libraries.

Received a report in respect of the performance monitoring information for the first quarter of 2005/06, which included an overview of the new Planning and Performance Management Framework. 

Chief Officers gave a presentation on key performance indicators which were below target levels at the end of the first quarter, although it was acknowledged that significant recent improvements have been made in a number of these cases to the extent that target levels are expected to be achieved at the year end.

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

(* Items considered as a matter of urgency with the consent of the Chair under the provisions of Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.)