Agenda and minutes

Agreed.

Received a report concerning Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003 which enables the Council to become involved in neighbour disputes arising from nuisance caused by high hedges, and to charge a fee for it’s involvement in the dispute.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council achieve its Community Priorities of Community Safety and Development; Regeneration; Environment and Sustainability; Housing and Public health, to:

1.  A charge of £350.00 being levied for the Council’s involvement under Part 8 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2005.

2.  Recommend to the Assembly that the Council’s Constitution be amended to enable the Director of Regeneration and Environment to deal with all necessary procedures under delegated authority.

Received a report setting out the Council’s expected position at December 2005 in meeting e-government targets set out by the ODPM in July 2004 as ‘Priority Outcomes’. 

Agreed, in order to achieve the government’s performance indicator of 100% of Council services (where practicable) to be accessible electronically by April 2006, to:

1.  Delegate responsibility to the Director of Finance, in consultation with the Lead Member of Customer First, to submit the IEG5 statement to the ODPM by 19 December 2005.

2.  Note the current corporate position in achieving 100% of providing services electronically (BVPI 157) as being defined as 88% as at 21 November 2005.

Received a report detailing the potential rental income for each of the Council’s community halls when they are leased to Community Associations, and what the consequence of charging rent to the Community Associations is likely to be.

Agreed, in order to progress with the delegation of management of community halls to Community Associations and to work towards the Community Priority of Developing rights and responsibilities with the local community, to:

1.  Allowing an initial seven year rent free period for the Community Associations on commencement of each individual lease, the notional rent being matched by grant.

2.  Delegating authority to the Head of Leisure and Community Services to negotiate and sign lease agreements with the individual Community Associations. 

Received and noted a report informing Members how the Government’s Capital Volunteering Grants programme will be utilised to support local voluntary and community sector organisations in 2005 / 2006.

The London Borough of Barking and Dagenham will receive £450,000 over the next two and a half years from the Treasury’s ‘Invest to Save’ scheme, as part of the pan London Capital Volunteering Scheme.

Members noted that this was a huge opportunity to expand options for people with mental health problems in the borough, and would assist in their entering and re-entering the labour market after a period of illness.  It would also give a boost to the local voluntary sector through a grants programme, which would give opportunities to expand and attract further funding.

Agreed, in order to assist the borough in meeting its Community Priorities, specifically improving health, housing and social care and promoting equal opportunity and celebrating diversity, and complementing service development in line with the boroughs ‘Mental Health Rehabilitation Strategy’, to endorse the Council’s coordination function in the management and allocation of funds for the Barking and Dagenham Capital Volunteering Project.

Received a report proposing to replace the existing practice of limited free or concessionary use of certain leisure activities with a category of membership for staff which would give them ‘Member’ access to facilities during all opening hours for a reduced Annual Membership Fee.

Agreed,  in order to demonstrate that the Council is helping and encouraging employees to partake in physical activity to promote their health and well being, to:

1.  Cease the existing staff concessionary / free use of some leisure activities within the Borough’s Leisure Centres from 1 January 2006

2.  Introduce a discounted Membership Scheme for all permanent Council employees offering all staff Membership Rates and benefits at all of the Borough’s Leisure Centres for the full expanse of the Leisure Centre’s opening hours.

3.  Extend this benefit to all permanent school staff and teachers (excluding non Council education establishments such as UEL, Barking College and independent schools).

Received a report providing an overview of the performance of the Pension Fund throughout the year, and the work carried out by the Pensions Panel for 2004/2005.

Agreed that the Pension Fund Annual Report 2004/2005 be approved.