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.

There were no declarations of interest.

Agreed.

The Corporate Director of Regeneration reported on proposals from Transport for London (TfL) London Buses to re-route the No. 499 bus service.

In line with policies as set out in the Unitary Development Plan and the Local Development Framework, the Council generally supports improvements and extensions of the public transport network in the Borough.  Noted however that in this instance there are a number of road safety and traffic management issues and also received written and personal representations from a number of local residents affected by the proposed changes.

Agreed, in view of the potential road safety and traffic management issues associated with this proposal, to:

(i)  Reject the original proposals of TfL London Buses to re-route bus route 499; and

(ii)  Officers going back to TfL and discussing this particular proposal along with the provision of bus services in the Borough generally including the possibilities of establishing new routes to both Queens and King George’s Hospitals to serve residents in the Marks Gate area.

Also asked that local residents should be kept informed and consulted on any future arrangements in relation to the 499 route, and that this be coordinated through the local neighbourhood management arrangements in the area. 

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Children’s Services on the draft Strategy for Change (Part 2) which will form part of the Council’s submission for funding via the Government’s national Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieve its Community Priorities of “Better Education and Learning For All” and “Regenerating the Local Economy”, to:

(i)  Support, in principle, the Council proceeding with the BSF project and note that this is currently intended to be in Wave 4 of the Government’s programme;

(ii)  Adopt the BSF Strategy for Change (Part 2) document as appended to the report, the implementation of which will contribute significantly to raising educational standards and meeting the current and future needs in terms of buildings, information and communication technology (ICT) provision and services;

(iii)  The entering into of contractual arrangements with a Local Education Partnership (LEP), which will include a private sector partner, to deliver the BSF investment in Schools on the terms set out in the report; and

(iv)  Participation in the national BSF programme being conditional upon the provision by the LEP of a fully managed service for ICT.

Further to Minute 158 (13 March 2007), received a report providing an update on the results of the public consultation exercise on the implementation of a pilot project to deliver a fully integrated remote concierge system to a number of high rise blocks across the Borough.

Agreed, having regard to the overall support of residents to the project as well as the proposed funding mechanism, and to assist in achieving the Community Priorities of “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer” and “Improving Health, Housing and Social Care”, to:

(i)  The commissioning of the project and the associated tendering procedures as detailed in the report; and

(ii)  Nominate Councillors Bramley, McCarthy and P. Waker to be part of the tender packaging and evaluation procedures panels, alongside non affected tenant representatives who will be nominated through the Leaseholder and Tenants Federation, to ensure that the outcome is transparent, fit for purpose and provides value for money.

Received a report on proposed guidance for retailers, in the form of a Planning Advice Note (PAN), in relation to the design of shop fronts in the Heathway, Dagenham.  Noted that in the longer term the guidance will be rolled out for other shopping areas in the Borough.

Agreed, in order to contribute and add value to the improvements of the public realm principally at the Dagenham Heathway and assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority of “Raising General Pride in the Borough”, to:

(i)  Approve the Dagenham Heathway Shop Front Design Planning Advice Note (PAN 7); and

(ii)  Authorise the Corporate Director of Regeneration to make any non-material changes as may be necessary to PAN 7. 

Received a report on proposals to further improve the Council’s graffiti removal service through the introduction of an Anti-Graffiti Charter and a new approach to recovering graffiti removal costs.

Agreed, in order to meet crime and disorder targets, national performance standards and assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority of “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer”, to:

(i)  The introduction of amended charges for the removal of graffiti for Small and Medium sized Enterprises as detailed in Appendix A of the report; and

(ii)  Adopt the proposed Anti-Graffiti Charter as detailed in Appendix B.

The appendix to this report will be circulated to Members under separate cover and made available on the Internet, in the Members’ Rooms and at public libraries.

Received and noted the performance management report for the first quarter of the 2007/08 financial year showing performance of the Council across the four major areas of performance, projects, pounds and people.  The report also detailed progress of those actions identified in relation to 4^th quarter results from 2006/07.

Agreed, in order to assist in achieving the Council Priority of “Improving Performance Across the Board”, to the implementation of the recommended actions for improvement as detailed in Appendix E to the report.

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 2007, as well as the position and projected out-turn for the Housing Revenue Account for the same period.

Discussed the action being taken by Corporate Directors to ensure a balanced position by the year end and agreed arrangements for further detailed consideration of these and other related issues.

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)

Further to Minute 121 (19 December 2006), received a progress report on the Council’s housing repairs and maintenance contract with Thames Accord Limited and a summary of the annual review and 3rd and 4th quarterly reviews for 2006/07.

Agreed, in view of the significant improvements in the operation of the contract, to:

(i)  The continuation of the Contract on new and / or varied terms and conditions as provided for under the terms of the 10 year contract;

(ii)  Authorise the Corporate Directors of Customer Services and Resources to act on behalf of the Council in relation to (i) and to agree any necessary changes to the Contract;

(iii)  The final account figure for Year 4 of the contract being determined as £25.4 million (£20.4 million Target Price work and £5 million for named schemes and other works); and

(iv)  Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Customer Services to sign-off future contract annual reports.