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.

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Regeneration which provides guidance to developers on how to implement and work with adopted planning policies. The Planning advice note has been developed to provide guidance to help reduce crime and anti-social behaviour in new and refurbished developments within the borough.

It recognises that the built environment can influence criminal behaviour for good or bad and can also help people to exercise control over their surroundings. The planning advice note will provide guidance for planners, developers and architects to assist them to design and develop buildings and public spaces, recognising that crime prevention and public safety are a fundamental part of achieving sustainable communities.

Agreed,

(i)  That the Planning Advice Note (PAN 6) be referred to the Development Control Board (DCB) to consider and decide on the recommendations in the report.

(ii)  That in future all planning advice issues be referred to the Development Control Board to consider rather than the Executive as DCB also consider Planning applications.

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Resources providing an update on the Council’s revenue and capital position for the first three months of the 2008/09 financial year.

The position for revenue expenditure indicates that current budget pressures exist across four departments amounting to £7.4m. The largest pressure is within the Children’s Services department where significant budget pressures continue to arise from Looked After Children placements and in meeting the Councils’ Leaving Care responsibilities.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve all of its Community Priorities and as a matter of good financial practise, to:

(i)  Note the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budget as at 30 June 2008 as detailed in the report; (Appendix A and C, Sections 3 and 5)

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

(iv)  Hold an additional meeting of the Executive and Corporate Management Team in early September to consider the reasons for the increased budgetary pressures Children’s Services Department is facing.

Received a report from the Corporate Director of Customer Services concerning the billing , collection and recovery of the vast majority of debts that fall due to be paid to the Council for chargeable services and statutory levies such as Council Tax and Business Rates.

The Executive must receive a quarterly report of the debts written off from the Income, Collection, Rents and Benefits Service areas and this report provides a summary of the value and type of debts written off as uncollectible for Quarter 1 of 2008/09 financial year (i.e. April to June 2008).

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve all of its Community Priorities and as a matter of good financial practise, to note the debt write-offs for the 1^st quarter of 2008/09 as detailed in the report and that a number of these debts be publicised in accordance with the policy agreed by Minute 69 of our meeting held on 6 November 2007.

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 from the Corporate Director of Customer Services and the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services detailing the Council’s proposals for transforming Out of Hours Services through the London Connects Shared Services Initiative.

This report outlines the proposals for entering into the joint Out of Hours call handling service for London local authorities.

Agreed, in order to assist the Council to achieve all of its Community Priorities and as a matter of good financial practise, to:

(i)  the delivery of the Borough’s out of hours emergency telephone service via the London Connects shared service; and

(ii)  authorise the Corporate Directors of Customer Service and Adult and Community Service, in consultation with the Divisional Director of Legal and Democratic Services, to enter into the necessary agreements.