Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Council’s Constitution, Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest they may have in any matter which is to be considered at this meeting.

None declared.

Agreed.

Received the Council’s ICT strategy and associated delivery plan for the next four years.

Agreed, in order to enable new innovations to shape ICT development in line with current & future business requirements, to approve the Information Communications and Technology (ICT) Strategy 2007 - 2010 and the associated Delivery Plan.

Received the draft Community Cohesion Strategy, explicitly designed to improve community cohesion in the Borough.

The strategy had been developed through intensive engagement with local people, including those representing equality theme groups, and was recommended for adoption by the Public Service Board of the Local Strategic Partnership.

Agreed, in order to improve community cohesion in the Borough, to:

1.  Approve the draft Community Cohesion Strategy;

2.  The creation of a post to oversee the implementation of the Strategy, to be located within the Community Services, Libraries and Heritage division; and

3.  The following key actions for immediate delivery:

a)  Give feedback to the community on the outcomes of the engagement exercise and the actions to be taken;

b)  Develop a partnership induction strategy for new residents and businesses;

c)  Improve signage of regeneration development sites;

d)  Incorporate the delivery of community cohesion objectives as a criterion for all commissioning and funding programmes by partner organisations

Received a report updating the Executive on the Council’s revenue and capital position for the first month of the 2007/08 financial year.

Whilst the current forecast for Revenue highlighted a balanced budget for the year, all departments had identified a number of early pressures that would need addressing as part of the Council’s ongoing budget monitoring process.

As a result departments were beginning to identify and implement the necessary action plans to ensure that the Council addressed these early pressures so that it produces the necessary balanced budget by the year end. The outcomes and progress of these action plans would be monitored and reported to both the Resource Monitoring panels and the Executive through the regular budget monitoring meetings and reports.

For the Housing Revenue Account, whilst pressures existed around housing subsidy, income from rents and repairs and maintenance costs, it was currently forecast that the service should perform to target and that the revenue account would make a contribution to its balances in 2007/08.

With regard to the Capital programme, the current projection was that total spend would be in line with the budget by the year end. Directors would continue to review the delivery of individual capital schemes to ensure maximum spend was achieved by the year end.

Agreed, as a matter of good financial practice, to:

1.  Note the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budget as at 30 April 2007;

2.  Note the position and projected out-turn for the Housing Revenue Account; and

3.  Note that Directors are beginning to identify and implement the necessary action plans to alleviate early budget pressures to ensure that the necessary balanced budget for the Council is achieved by year end.

Agreed to exclude the public and press for the remainder of the meeting by reason of the nature of the business to be discussed which included information exempt from publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Concerns a contractual matter (paragraph 3)

Received a report setting out options for the delivery of the leisure centre as a stand alone facility or as part of a comprehensive redevelopment of the Beacontree Heath site.

 The report set out costed options for the provision of the leisure centre and a range of procurement options for the delivery of the leisure centre.  The option analysis also considered the financial and land assembly implications arising, providing indicative costs, and timetables.

It was proposed that a mixed use scheme involving a new leisure facility with housing above was the preferred option because it met a wider spread of community objectives and offered the Council the most cost effective procurement route and lower ultimate costs, although it meant that it would not be delivered until mid-2010.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of “Providing Better Education and Learning for all”, “Regenerating the Local Economy” and  Raising Pride in the Borough” and to assist in the good planning of the area, to:

1.  Authorise the Corporate  Director of Regeneration to progress and  deliver:

a)  A new leisure facility as part of an integrated mixed use scheme on Beacontree Heath.

b)  Leisure mix option  3.

c)  An assessment of the financial options to fund option 3 as the preferred way forward as part of consideration of the Council’s capital programme; and that the Corporate Director of Regeneration defers the later stages of procurement until funding for the scheme is secured and agreed by the Executive as identified in recommendation 7 below.

2.  Authorise and delegate to the Corporate Director of Regeneration to negotiate and agree terms with the land owners of the Total Petrol station and the Three Travellers Public House either to include them within a redevelopment scheme or purchase their interest in the land;

3.  Authorise and delegate to the Corporate Director of Regeneration the service of notices under Section 16 of the Local Government (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1976 for the purposes of identifying all of the legal interests (some of which are currently unknown) with a view to the exercise by the Council of its Compulsory Purchase Powers. 

4.  Authorise the use by the Council of its Compulsory Purchase Order making powers pursuant to Section  226(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 (As Amended) for the acquisition of the outstanding freehold and leasehold interests in the properties outlined in the report, for the purposes of securing a comprehensive regeneration of the Beacontree Heath site.

5.  Authorise the Corporate Director of Regeneration or her nominated Officer to take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of a Compulsory Purchase Order including  demolition notices, the publication and service of all Notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any public inquiry following the making of the Compulsory Purchase Order for the properties outlined in the report.

6.  Authorise the Corporate Director of Regeneration or her nominated Officer to take all necessary steps to serve an initial  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

Concerns a contractual matter (paragraph 3)

Received a report seeking approval for the award of the two Construction Related Framework Agreements relating to Civil Engineering work and Education and other Public Buildings.

Agreed, in order to improve the Council’s contractual performance, as well as provide a fast response to project needs, to:

1.  Note the progress made in relation to this project to date and the current programme dates as set out in Sections 3 and 4 of the report;

2.  The appointment of the Construction Framework suppliers for the Education and Other Agreement and the Civil Engineering and Highways Agreement from July 2007 to June 2011, in order that the proposed Construction Framework Agreements can be implemented as set out in Section 5 of the report; and

3.  Authorise the Corporate Directors of Customer Services and Regeneration to make a decision at a later date regarding the appointment of the suppliers for the Housing Framework Agreement for a period of up to four years with the last contract being awarded under the framework prior to June 2011. (The delegated authority can only be exercised in favour of the parties cited in this report and if no issues arise out of the consultation process which require Executive review or approval under the Housing Act).