Agenda and draft 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.

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Children’s Services setting out proposals for the amalgamation of Valence Infant and Junior Schools into one Primary School with effect from 21 April 2008.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority of “Better Education and Learning For All”, to the amalgamation of Valence Infant and Junior Schools to form an all-through Primary School with effect from the start of the Summer Term 2008 (2007/2008 academic year).

Received a report on the Council’s revenue and capital position for the period 1 April to 31 October 2007.

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

(i)  Note the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budget as at 31 October, 2007;

(ii)  Note the position and projected out-turn for the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Section 4 and Appendix B of the report; and

(iii)  Note that Corporate Directors are continuing to identify and implement their current action plans to address projected overspends on departmental budgets to ensure full delivery of a balanced budget for the Council is achieved by the end of the financial year.

Received a report from the Divisional Director of Corporate Finance setting out the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2008/09 and information on powers available to the Council to reduce discounts for second homes and long term empty properties and to award local determined discounts.  Information was also provided on powers available to the Council to offer discounts for prompt payment, where bills are paid immediately in full without the need for an instalment plan.

Agreed, in order to comply with statute and assist in the calculation of the Authority’s Council Tax for 2008/09, to recommend the Assembly:

(i)  That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the amount calculated by the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham as its Tax Base for the year 2008/09 shall be 51,429.5 Band ‘D’ properties;

(ii)  That the discounts for second homes and short term empty properties are reduced from the current 50% discount to a 10% discount from 2008/09 onwards;

(iii)  That the discounts for long term empty properties are reduced from the current 50% discount to a 10% discount from 2008/09 onwards; and

(iv)  That no locally determined discounts based on categories of property or occupier be awarded for 2008/09.

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 paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

Concerns a contractual matter (paragraph 3)

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Regeneration on proposals to procure a new four-year term contract for asbestos removal and management in non-domestic Council properties.

Agreed, to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priority “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer” through the provision of a responsible, safe and cost effective asbestos management and removal programme, to the procurement of the term contract for asbestos removal and management in non-domestic properties 2007/2011 pre-tender packaging on the terms detailed in the report.

Concerns a contractual matter (paragraph 3)

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Regeneration on proposals relating to an arts commission on Castle Green which pays tribute to the borough’s ‘Sporting Legends’.

Discussion took place as to the local sporting legends worthy of recognition and the proposal to erect an empty plinth to be used, for example, for a young sports person of the year or sports high achiever.  Copyright issues were also considered.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority “Raising General Pride in the Borough” and celebrate and promote the achievement of individuals from the Borough, to:

(i)  Waive tendering requirements under the provisions of paragraph 4.1(e) of the Council’s Contract Rules for the contract to supply a tribute to the Borough’s sporting legends;

(ii)  Officers proceeding with the Sporting Legends commission from the budget of £188,000 currently in the Council’s Capital Programme;

(iii)  The nomination of The Sculpture Factory as the preferred supplier for the contract; and

(iv)  Waive the requirements of paragraph 10.1(a) of the Contract Rules and authorise the Corporate Director of Regeneration, in consultation with the Divisional Director of Legal and Democratic Services, to agree the final terms of the contract with the preferred supplier.

Concerns a labour relations matter (paragraph 4)

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services setting out four detailed options for the future of the Council’s Parks Police service following a review of the current service and various operational issues.  Discussed the advantages and disadvantages of each option and noted, in particular, issues relating to the scope of the Independent Police Complaints Commission and the outcome of the Internal Audit investigation which has resulted in a number of service improvements being implemented.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer”, to:

(i)  The implementation of a Council-delivered ‘Reassurance’ service (Option 4) which will provide a patrolling presence in the Borough’s parks, in the form of a Safer Parks Team, as set out in the report;

(ii)  Authorise the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services to determine the details of the new service in line with the proposals under Option 4;

(iii)  The introduction of Fixed Penalty Notices for the infringement of the Council’s Parks and Open Spaces byelaws, and to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services (or his/her nominated deputies) to issue Fixed Penalty Notices;

(iv)  Budget provision for this service to be considered as part of the budget process for 2008/09 to facilitate the implementation of Option 4 as detailed in the report; and

(v)  The new service being reviewed after the first year of operation and a further report to the Executive, to include the effectiveness of the new service and the on-going financial implications in the context of all other competing corporate priorities.

(* 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.)