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.

A copy of the Annual Review Meeting brochure dated August 2007 has been circulated separately to Executive Members and is available in Members’ Rooms and on the Council’s website www.barking-dagenham.gov.uk

Received and noted a report from the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services on the annual inspection of the Council’s Adult Social Care Services which was carried out by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI). 

Noted that CSCI awarded the Council three stars, the highest rating possible and Barking and Dagenham is one of only five London Boroughs to improve their rating.  In order to maintain the Council’s three star status, action plans are in place to address the areas for improvement and officers will continue to monitor performance closely.

The inspection report will now be made widely available to the community and Members expressed their appreciation of staff who were responsible for making challenging decisions to improve services for the residents of the Borough.

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Resources on the position of the Council’s revenue, capital and Housing Revenue Account budgets from the beginning of April to the end of November 2007.

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

(i)  Note the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budgets as set out in the report;

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

(iii)  Note the action plans being undertaken to alleviate the budget pressures to ensure that the necessary balanced budget for the Council is achieved by the end of the financial year.

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Resources on the Council’s revised revenue budget for 2007/08 and a base budget position for 2008/09.  Discussed, in particular, issues in respect of the costs and legal responsibility for the cleaning of blocked sewers.

Agreed, in order to reflect decisions made during the year and set an initial position before deciding the overall 2008/09 budget, to:

(i)  Note the current revised budget for 2007/08 as set out in Section 2 of the report and Appendix A(i);

(ii)  The base budget for 2008/09 as set out in Section 3 of the report and Appendix A (i);

(iii)  Note the position on the current projected outturn for 2007/08 as set out in Section 4 of the report;

(iv)  Authorise the Corporate Director of Customer Services, in consultation with the Chief Executive, to deal with the issues relating to the clearing of blocked sewers in line with the discussions at this meeting;  and,

(v)  Withdraw the income charge in respect of clearing blocked sewers and that budget proposals for 2008/09 reflect the adjustment to the relevant income budget.

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

Concerns a contractual matter (paragraph 3).

Received and noted a report on the action taken by the Chief Executive, under the urgency procedures contained within paragraph 17.1 of Article 1, Part B of the Council’s Constitution, in authorising the extension of the contract to place a further six packages with the framework contractors in order to achieve delivery of Decent Homes targets by end of March 2008.

Concerns a contractual matter (paragraph 3).

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Regeneration requesting authority to seek tenders from the Council’s four existing construction framework contractors for a new three-year term contract to undertake remedial works for the control of Legionella to the water systems in schools and public buildings.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve its Community Priority “Making Barking and Dagenham Cleaner, Greener and Safer” and meet its statutory responsibilities, to the proposals to procure the new term contract on the terms set out in the report and in line with the revised financial position as reported at the meeting.

Concerns a contractual matter (paragraph 3).

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Regeneration setting out details of the tender process and the progress of the Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) business centres project.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council in achieving its Community Priorities of “Regenerating the Local Economy” and “Raising Pride in the Borough” and to progress delivery of the flagship project of the LEGI programme, to:

(i)  Subject to the arrangements to confirm LEGI funding, authorise the Corporate Director of Regeneration to negotiate and conclude the necessary Development Agreements and leases with Greater London Enterprise Property Developments Limited working with East London Small Business Centre to allow the delivery of the LEGI Business Centres; and

(ii)  The relevant works being undertaken to rationalise the use of the Frizlands depot site, including making a variation to the East London Waste Authority’s lease, in order to secure that the Business Centre part of the site is vacant by March 2008.