CABINET
MINUTES of a meeting held on 17th
January, 2007.
Present: Councillor Ms. M.E. Alexander
(Chairman); Councillors R.F. Curtis, S.C. Egan, C.P. Franks, N.J.
Gibbs, G. John, N. Moore, Mrs. M. Randall, Mrs. M.R. Wilkinson and
C.J. Williams.
Also present: Councillors Mrs. M. Kelly Owen
and A.J. Readman.
C2840
CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENT -
The Leader announced with pleasure the award
of the Ministry of Defence Contract to the Metrix Consortium.
The Leader also paid tribute to the efforts of
officers of the Council in assisting the successful bid and stated
that the Council was looking forward to working with Metrix.
C2841
MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
held on 21st December, 2006 be approved as a correct
record, subject to it being recorded that Councillor N.J. Gibbs had
declared an interest in Agenda Item 8 in that he was a member of
the Local Health Board.
C2842
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
Councillor C.P. Franks declared an interest in
Agenda Item No. 19 in view of his employment and left the meeting
whilst it was under consideration.
C2843
VALE OF GLAMORGAN COUNCIL VOLUNTEERING POLICY (REF) -
The Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee,
on 29th November, 2006, was advised that a Compact
between the Voluntary Sector and the Vale of Glamorgan Council
outlined responsibilities for both parties in the management of
their work together. The initial development of the Compact
was seen as a positive development and the Council was the first
Authority in Wales to enter into such an agreement. The
Council was committed to working with volunteers to meet its
purpose and objectives. Volunteering involvement in
appropriate tasks was welcomed and encouraged in all the
Directorates of the Local Authority.
Volunteers were an established and integral
part of the work of the Vale of Glamorgan Council. There were
currently three types of volunteers who assisted the Council:
·
Group One - Volunteers who belonged to an existing constituted
group who offered their services to the Council and service
users;
·
Group Two - Volunteers for local communities who ran amenities on
behalf of the local community, but who derived from community
benefit for themselves, for example, School Governors and Community
Hall Committee Members;
·
Group Three - Volunteers who provided direct services to Local
Authority Service Users to complement existing service provision,
for example, Meals on Wheels volunteer drivers.
The Vale of Glamorgan Volunteering Policy had
been drafted to recognise the importance of volunteers within the
work of the Local Authority. Through the Policy, the rights
and responsibilities of the Council in relation to the rights of
the volunteers was made explicit. The Policy also outlined
the level of support to be given to volunteers working on behalf of
the Council particularly in relation to training and
development.
The Vale of Glamorgan Policy outlined that any
volunteers working to support the Vale of Glamorgan Council’s
services should be recruited in accordance with the Vale of
Glamorgan Council’s Recruitment, Selection and Screening
Policies. The Policy outlined that volunteers were able to
claim out of pocket expenses subject to the production of suitable
receipts. The experience of Directorates, to date, was that
many volunteers did not access this remuneration.
The Volunteering Policy set out the formal
arrangement and outlined responsibilities for both the Council and
the Voluntary Sector in the management of their work
together. The Voluntary Sector indicated that they were very
pleased to see this document as it had been under discussion for a
significant period of time. The Policy was very clear and
incorporated all the points raised by the Voluntary Sector.
The representative from the Vale Volunteer Bureau indicated that
the Vale of Glamorgan Council would be the first in Wales to adopt
a Volunteering Policy and indicated that they would like to share
this document as good practice with other Vale Volunteer Bureaux in
Wales.
The Joint Liaison Committee
AGREED - T H A T the Voluntary
Sector Joint Liaison Committee add its support to the draft Council
Volunteering Policy and request Cabinet to approve the adoption of
this Policy.”
Cabinet, having considered the request of the
Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee,
RESOLVED - T H A T the request of the
Voluntary Sector Joint Liaison Committee be endorsed.
C2844
TAKING FORWARD SUSTAINABILITY (CX) (SCRUTINY - ALL) -
Cabinet received an update on progress in
co-ordinating sustainable development in the Council and agreement
was sought for new roles for Cabinet and Scrutiny.
It was reported that revised guidance for the
Wales Programme for Improvement, published in December 2005,
introduced new responsibilities for Councils to assess progress
towards sustainability objectives within the annual Improvement
Plan.
Sustainability was also linked to the Making
the Connections agenda, as it was seen as a key component of
efficiency and procurement. Efficiency would, in future, be
defined in terms of whole-life and whole-systems costs.
Sustainability was also linked to engagement, defining resources
more broadly and using them sparingly, building and drawing on
community resources, seeking synergies and favouring renewable and
self-sustaining sources.
The role of the Wales Audit Office would be to
assess continuing progress against sustainability objectives.
Within the Joint Risk Assessment, sustainability would be more
rigorously assessed.
The Deputy Leader had been identified as the
Cabinet Member with responsibility for progressing sustainable
development.
In the Corporate Plan, the Council’s working
definition of sustainability had been agreed as:
·
Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society - meeting the diverse
needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting
personal wellbeing, social cohesion and inclusion, and creating
equality of opportunity for all;
·
Achieving a sustainable economy - building a strong, stable and
sustainable economy which provided prosperity and opportunities for
all, and in which environmental and social costs fell on those who
imposed them (polluter pays), and efficient resource use was
incentivised;
·
Living within environment limits - respecting the limits of the
planet’s environment, resources and biodiversity - to improve our
environment and ensure that the natural resources needed for life
were unimpaired and remained so for future generations;
·
Promoting good governance - actively promoting effective,
participative systems of governance in all levels of society -
engaging people’s creativity, energy and diversity.
An officer working group had been established
to:
·
provide a strategic focus for sustainable development within the
Council;
·
co-ordinate the work necessary to embed sustainable development
across the Council;
·
build understanding and awareness of the importance of doing things
in sustainable ways and achieving sustainable outcomes;
·
identify and share examples of good practice from within the
Council and from other organisations;
·
establish ambitions and aspirations for sustainability within the
Council.
The working group had agreed an action plan,
attached at Appendix 1 to the report. In order to establish
effective scrutiny of sustainable development, the working group
was proposing that one Scrutiny Committee be identified to
scrutinise sustainable development. In the past, this
responsibility had been divided between all Scrutiny Committees,
with a resulting loss of focus. With such a wide definition
of sustainability, only the Scrutiny Committee (Corporate
Resources) currently had a wide enough remit to take on this vital
role.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Action Plan for the Sustainable Development Working Group be
endorsed.
(2) T H A
T the Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) be requested to
undertake responsibility for scrutinising sustainable
development.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure that actions are taken to progress sustainable
development.
(2) To
ensure appropriate scrutiny of sustainable development.
C2845
CABINET FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME JANUARY - APRIL 2007 (CX) (SCRUTINY
- CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet were informed of the Forward Work
Programme for the period January to April 2007, and were also
informed of those reports still to be received from the previous
Work Programme covering September to December 2006.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the Forward Work Programme
for the period January to April 2007, together with the publication
of details of availability of the Programme, be noted.
Reason for decision
To comply with the requirements of the Local
Government Act 2000, subordinate legislation and the Council’s
Constitution.
C2846
MEMBERSHIP OF WESTERN VALE INTEGRATED CHILDREN’S CENTRE MANAGEMENT
BOARD (DCS) (SCRUTINY - COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND SAFETY)
-
On 20th September, 2006, Cabinet
had resolved -
“(1) T H A T
the Cabinet Member for Social and Care Services be nominated as one
of the Council’s two representatives on the Western Vale Integrated
Children’s Centre Management Board.
(2) T
H A T expressions of interest be invited from Western Vale Ward
Members to be the Council’s other representative and that a further
report as a result of that exercise be submitted to
Cabinet.”
Cabinet were informed of expressions of
interest received by Members to be the second elected Member to
represent the Vale of Glamorgan Council on the Western Vale
Integrated Children’s Centre Management Board.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T Councillor A.J. Readman be
appointed to sit on the Western Vale Integrated Children’s Centre
Management Board.
Reason for decision
So that the Vale of Glamorgan Council is
appropriately involved with the project.
C2847
SECTION 180, HOUSING ACT 1996 VOLUNTARY SECTOR FUNDING PROPOSALS
(DCS) (SCRUTINY - COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND SAFETY) -
Approval was sought to allocate £23,000 on
Section 180 funding to voluntary bodies and to utilise the
remaining £17,000 to undertake an audit of homelessness / rough
sleeping in the Vale of Glamorgan by March 2007 as required by the
Welsh Assembly Government and, additionally, to establish a system
for proactive monitoring of homelessness within the County.
The priorities to be supported by the Section
180 funding, as determined by the Homelessness Strategy and
supported by the review were:
·
Objective one: Preventing homelessness and repeat homelessness from
occurring whenever possible, thereby reducing homelessness;
·
Objective two: Ensuring the provision of effective homelessness and
advice services;
·
Objective three: Ensuring adequate supply of appropriate support
and accommodation, both temporary and permanent;
·
Objective four: Informing the public and involving users in
developing and improving services.
The Review of Homelessness concluded that the
current financial support allocated to voluntary bodies needed to
remain in place in order to achieve the objectives of the strategy,
currently:
(i) Home Access
Trust - Accommodation Funding and Bond Board Services. Money
to be used to part fund salary of the Bond Officer - £5,000.
(ii)
Llamau Housing - JIGSO - Advice and assistance to single people
aged 16+ who are homeless / threatened with homelessness.
Includes Bond Service, landlord / tenant support and generalist
housing advice - £12,000.
(iii) Vale
Furniture Grant Project - To provide grants to homeless people who
cannot fund the purchase of furniture - £6,000.
The Homelessness Review recommended that the
remainder of the Section 180 monies (£17,000) be utilised to
undertake an audit of homelessness / rough sleeping in the Vale of
Glamorgan by March 2007 as required by the Welsh Assembly
Government and to establish a system for proactive monitoring of
homelessness within the County.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the following Section 180 Funding allocations be made:
Home Access Trust - Accommodation Funding and
Bond Board Services. Money to be used to part fund salary of
the Bond Officer - £5,000.
Llamau Housing - JIGSO - Advice and assistance
to single people aged 16+ who were homeless / threatened with
homelessness. Includes Bond Service, landlord / tenant
support and generalist housing advice - £12,000.
Vale Furniture Grant Project - To provide
grants to homeless people who cannot fund the purchase of furniture
- £6,000.
Audit of homelessness / rough sleeping in the
Vale of Glamorgan by March 2007 as required by the Welsh Assembly
Government and to establish a system for proactive monitoring of
homelessness within the County - £17,000.
(2) T H A
T the report be referred to Scrutiny Committee (Community Wellbeing
and Safety) for information.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
allocate funding.
(2) For
information.
C2848
DYFFRYN GARDENS AND ARBORETUM REVISED ADMISSION CHARGES (DEER)
(SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Cabinet received a report which sought
agreement to admission charges for the gardens for March 2007 and
the launch of the new facilities.
The income generated through the charges
supports the operations at Dyffryn Gardens and is essential to the
sustainability of the Grade I registered heritage site. The
all year round operation and extended events programme would
require additional staffing. Visitor numbers had generally
risen from 28,800 in 2003 to over 40,000 in 2006, which was the
centenary year.
The pricing structure proposed, attached at
Appendix A to the report, was comparable with existing rates
charged by similar heritage sites. The existing admission
charges at Dyffryn were substantially lower. Should the
raising of the admission charge result in an initial lowering of
the visitor numbers, the income level would still be comparable to
current levels even if the visitor numbers reduced by one
third.
To encourage children and families to visit
Dyffryn, the proposed individual child rate had been lowered from
£2.50 to £2.00 and the family ticket redefined as two adults and up
to four children (currently two children). Further discount
had also been offered to people with special needs.
The current charging did not offer a season
ticket. A previous Scrutiny Committee had recommended an
investigation into the option for a season ticket. The
proposed charges therefore included season tickets for various
categories with additional discounts. The season ticket would
operate for twelve months from the date of purchase.
The current Friends of Dyffryn Society
membership runs for a fixed year from April to March.
Membership entitled free access to the gardens during normal
opening hours during the charged season i.e. April to October
inclusive. It also offered various privileges both at
Dyffryn, such as previews to events and at other gardens e.g. free
access to Kew. The Society assists the garden by representing
Dyffryn at various shows and providing volunteers and sponsorship
support. Two thirds of the membership fee is paid to Dyffryn
by the Society.
A substantial price difference between the
season ticket and the membership fee could have a detrimental
affect on the Society if the season ticket that would be lost was
substantially cheaper. Alternatively, the effectiveness of
the season ticket, if the Society’s membership fee was not
increased from its current level. The proposal was therefore,
to only have a slightly higher value to the Society’s membership
and to actively promote the privileges associated with the added
value of becoming a member as opposed to a season ticket
holder. However, the possibility of a season ticket had
raised concern with the Friends of Dyffryn Society who felt it
would jeopardise their existence and who were therefore, against
its introduction. The Friends were also concerned about a
substantial price increase on admissions as this will in turn cause
an increase in their membership subscriptions.
As a special promotion for the launch of the
new facilities in March 2007, special discounted rates were
proposed as well as a one-month introductory promotion to National
Trust members to encourage their patronage of the facilities during
the launch month with the aim of securing their interest for the
rest of the year. This would be subject to National Trust
agreement to promote this membership offer in their Spring
newsletter.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the proposed admission
charges be endorsed.
Reason for decision
In order to precede the opening on
1st March, 2007 and publicise the new charges in
marketing and promotional material.
C2849
FREE SWIMMING IMPROVEMENT FUND (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND
ENVIRONMENT) -
Approval was sought for the acceptance of an
offer of grant under the Welsh Assembly Government’s Free Swimming
Initiative.
Authorisation was sought to accept the
following offer of grants from the Free Swimming Improvement
Fund:
(a) Barry
leisure Centre - small pool ceiling improvement - £4,448.
(b)
Equipment for all pools - to increase interest in swimming -
£4,275.
(c)
Development of Water Sports - equipment and training to deliver
water-based games - £14,700.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration be
authorised to accept the grants from the Free Swimming Improvement
Fund in consultation with the Directors of Finance, ICT and
Property and Legal and Regulatory Services.
(2) T H A
T the Council continues to offer free swimming to young people and
the over 60’s at specified times whilst it continues to receive
grant assistance from the Welsh Assembly Government.
(3) T H A
T the Capital programme be increased by £18,606.35.
(4) T H A
T the Urgent Decision Procedure as set out in Article 13 of the
Council’s Constitution be implemented in view of the need to accept
the offer of grant by 31st January, 2007.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
improve swimming opportunities in the Vale of Glamorgan.
(2) To
allow certain groups within the population profile of the Vale of
Glamorgan to enjoy free swimming in the Council’s Leisure
Centres.
(3) To
enable the Capital expenditure to be incurred.
(4) To
meet the deadline.
C2850
WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT: ACTIVE LIFESTYLES - COMMUNITY CAPITAL
PROGRAMME (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
-
Cabinet received a report which sought
authorisation to accept grants awarded to the Council from the
Welsh Assembly Government: Active Lifestyles, Community Capital
Programme and which advised of other grants from the same fund
which had been awarded to non-local authority projects within the
Vale of Glamorgan.
The Council had been advised that the
following offers of grant had been made for the Vale of Glamorgan
for non-local authority projects:
|
Applicant
|
Project Details
|
Total Project Cost
|
Grant Requested
|
LA
Priority
|
Grant
Supported
|
|
Lower Penarth Community Association
|
Cycle Rack
|
£2,000
|
£2,000
|
8
|
£2,000
|
|
Peterston Church & Community Hall
|
Refurbishment of Main Hall Floor
|
£10,950
|
£10,950
|
5
|
£10,950
|
|
St Nicholas Community Centre
|
Refurbish basement area of the hall
|
£30,000
|
£30,000
|
1
|
£30,000
|
The following local authority projects had
also gained funding:
|
Applicant
|
Project Details
|
Total Project Cost
|
Grant Requested
|
LA
Priority
|
Grant
Supported
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Council
|
Active for Life - outreach programme
|
£740
|
£740
|
N/A
|
£740
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Council
|
Cycle Training – Led Cycle Routes
|
£20,000
|
£20,000
|
17
|
£9,260
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Council
|
Glamorgan Heritage Coast Project
|
£10,000
|
£10,000
|
3
|
£10,000
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Council
|
Barry Comprehensive School - Community
Fitness Suite
|
£19,578
|
£16,578
|
13
|
£16,578
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Council
|
Cosmeston Lakes Country Park Activity
Trail
|
£25,000
|
£25,000
|
2
|
£25,000
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Council
|
Cowbridge Youth Centre - Bouldering Block
|
£25,000
|
£25,000
|
7
|
£25,000
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Council
|
Castle Fields Access Improvements
|
£35,000
|
£35,000
|
10
|
£35,000
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
In addition and due to the demand for cycling
projects, it had been agreed to undertake a national cycling
initiative. Details and guidance on this would be issued
shortly.
It was also reported that the Led cycle route
grant would only be accepted if a worthwhile project could be
delivered for £9,260. No match funding would be sought for
this project.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration in
consultation with the Directors of Finance, ICT and Property, and
Legal and Regulatory Services be authorised to accept the Welsh
Assembly Government Active Lifestyles Capital Fund Grant offers for
the Vale of Glamorgan Council Projects.
(2) T H A
T the Capital Programme be increased by £121,578.00 with the
ability to increase this further once details of the cycling
initiative were released if applicable.
(3) T H A
T the grant for the LED cycle routes only be accepted if a
worthwhile project could be delivered without the requirement for
match funding. If this grant was not accepted, the Capital
Programme be adjusted accordingly.
(4) T H A
T the Urgent Decision Procedure as set out in Article 13 of the
Council’s Constitution be implemented in view of the need to
confirm acceptance of the grants by 31st January,
2007.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
increase the opportunities for physical activity in the Vale of
Glamorgan.
(2) To
comply with Council procedures.
(3) To
comply with Council procedures.
(4) To
meet the required deadlines.
C2851
GREEN WASTE COLLECTION SERVICE (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND
ENVIRONMENT) -
Cabinet received a report which proposed the
introduction of an improved green waste kerbside collection service
to operate from 1st April, 2007.
In order to improve the amount of green waste
collected at the kerbside, it was proposed to introduce a
fortnightly (April - October) green waste collection round
utilising, on a double shift basis, the compaction vehicles
currently used to collect cardboard and plastic. November
through to March would continue as a ring and request
service.
It was further proposed that to assist in
encouraging a greater take up of the service customers be able to
purchase re-usable green waste bags for £1 each and/or the
compostable bags three for £1. The bags would be sold at the
current locations, and a series of road shows would be held in the
early spring.
The improvements to the service would be
widely publicised and participation in the scheme should be greatly
increased.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration be
authorised to introduce a fortnightly kerbside collection service
of green waste between 1st April, 2007 and
31st October, 2007 and to reorganise the current
residual waste collection rounds accordingly.
(2) T H A
T re-usable green waste bags be made available for residents at a
cost of £1 per bag in addition to the compostable bags already
available.
(3) T H A
T the Leader write to the relevant WAG Minister asking that the
Assembly take into account the materials produced from composting
bins when assessing recycling targets.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
increase the amount of green waste composted in the Vale and to
realise the necessary savings from changes to the current residual
waste collection service.
(2) To
cover the purchase and administrative costs of providing the
re-usable bags.
(3) To
advise WAG of the views of this Council.
C2852
FOOD LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICE PLAN 2006/2007 (DLRS) (SCRUTINY -
CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet received a report which sought
approval for the Council’s Food Law Enforcement Service Plan
2006/2007.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) required the
Council under the Framework Agreement on Local Authority Food Law
Enforcement to produce a statutory plan for food enforcement work
each year that is “submitted to the relevant member forum for
approval” to ensure local transparency and accountability.
The Plan for 2006/07 was attached to the report.
The Plan covered all aspects of food safety
enforcement work and facilitates comparisons of performance between
local authorities. The Plans provide the basis on which all
local authorities are monitored and audited by the FSA. This
Council was audited by the FSA in 2003/04 and the report
acknowledged improvements in the service achieved and identified
areas where they felt the Council demonstrated real
strengths. Work to comply with the recommendations had been
completed.
If the Food Standards Agency were not
satisfied with services being delivered by local authorities they
had powers to transfer the relevant responsibilities to another
authority. This would have very serious consequences as any
cost incurred by the authority receiving the function would be
recoverable from this Council.
Environmental Health staff within Regulatory
Services were responsible for carrying out the Council’s food law
enforcement duties. Officers carried out these duties
alongside other duties such as health and safety enforcement and
infectious disease control. The FSA expected authorities to
achieve food inspection rates based on the Food Law Code of
Practice. In 2005/2006 100% of high risk premises due for
inspection had been inspected. 100% of “other” premises were
inspected against a local target of 100%. Thus in 2005/06 the
Council delivered 100% of all due food premises inspections.
This is a National Assembly Performance Indicator for the Council
and puts the service in the top quartile of performing
Councils. All planned high risk food standards inspections
were also carried out.
A new Food Law Code of Practice was introduced
in Wales in October 2006, and this introduced updated guidance and
procedures to reflect the fundamental change in food law that
occurred in January 2006. It had introduced an option of
alternative enforcement strategies (rather than programmed
inspections) for the lowest risk premises. Thus a premises in
this risk category due to be inspected would be issued with a self
assessment questionnaire. The purpose of the questionnaire
would be to establish whether any changes had occurred at the
premises which may impact upon its risk rating. However,
where questionnaires are not returned inspections will have to be
carried out.
The new Code of Practice had also taken
approved premises out of the risk rating scheme and specified their
inspection frequency.
Performance against the Food Law Enforcement
Plan was continually monitored by the Operational Manager of
Regulatory Services. Any shortfall or deviation from the
service plan and specified performance targets were reported to the
Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources).
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the success of the Environmental Health Food Safety Team in
achieving 100% of its planned inspection programme be
recognised.
(2) T H A
T the Food Law Enforcement Service Plan be approved and that a copy
be submitted to the Food Standards Agency.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
recognise the efforts of the food team staff.
(2) To
comply with statutory requirements under Food Safety
legislation.
C2853
SCHOOL TRANSPORT - WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION (DEER AND
DLD) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Cabinet were advised that the Council had
received a consultation document from the Welsh Assembly Government
for current Home to School Transport Policy and Legislative
arrangements. The report also provided a response to the
Welsh Assembly Government’s questions as detailed in the
document.
The Vale of Glamorgan Council had implemented
a wide range of policies for Home to School Transport deemed good
practice, since 1974. It was felt that the consultation would
allow the Vale of Glamorgan an opportunity to further influence new
legislation and guidance in respect of school transport
provision.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the contents of the Welsh Assembly consultation document be
noted.
(2) T H A
T the response to the document as attached in Appendix 2 to the
report be endorsed, and issued to the Welsh Assembly Government in
advance of the deadline for comments.
(3) T H A
T the urgent decision procedure under Article 13.09 of the
Constitution be implemented to authorise the Director of
Environmental and Economic Regeneration to issue the response to
the Welsh Assembly Government in advance of the deadline for
comments.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) To ensure that the Vale of
Glamorgan has every opportunity to ensure a fair and consistent
approach in providing school transport in the Vale of
Glamorgan.
(3) To
respond to the deadline set by the Welsh Assembly Government.
C2854
REVENUE MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 2006 TO
30TH NOVEMBER, 2006 (CMT) (SCRUTINY - ALL)
-
Cabinet were advised of the progress of
revenue expenditure for the period 1st April, 2006 to
30th November, 2006.
The projected outturn for the 2006/07 revenue
budget was shown in comparison with the amended revenue budget at
Appendix 1 to the report. The current forecast was for a
deficit of £4,383,000 on the General Fund and a balanced budget on
the Housing Revenue Account.
Learning and Development - a saving of
£120,000 on Education and Schools arising from a lower than
expected inflation increase on renewed large contracts such as
school transport together with staff vacancies within the Education
Department had been used to off-set the overspending on Lifelong
Learning, Job Shop Extra (£10,000) and the Training and Heritage
Skills Centre (£110,000).
Directorate of Community Services - the
current forecast for this Directorate was for a balanced budget on
the Housing Revenue Account and a deficit of £4,716,000 on General
Fund Services.
Children’s Services - the service was
currently showing a projected deficit of £1,481,000 on current
expenditure, primarily due to the cost of child placements, with a
further £665,000 expenditure on this area as a result of a lower
than anticipated available balance on the Social Services
Reserve.
Community Care and Health - there was a
projected overspend of £2,558,000, a reduction of £288,000, on the
previously reported figure. The reduction reflected savings
in community care commitments and improved income
collection.
Catering - the projected adverse variance of
£130,000 on catering was mainly due to a reduction in the number of
meals being provided and increased costs in meeting Assembly
requirements on nutritional standards. Every effort was being
made to further reduce this deficit by the year end.
Private Sector Housing - the underspending on
Private Sector Housing/Community Safety (£118,000) was mainly
attributable to an increase in subsidy income and savings on staff
salaries.
Directorate of Environmental and Economic
Regeneration - included in the figure was an anticipated deficit on
Leisure Management (£150,000) due to significant increases in
utilities costs, on Parks Maintenance due to the increase in prices
charged by external contractors for grass cutting and verge
maintenance (£120,000) and the additional costs of grounds staff re
the Centenary Celebrations at Dyffryn Gardens (£50,000) and on
Building Maintenance (Trading Unit) (£150,000) attributed to
pricing policies. These deficits were to be off-set from
underspendings within the Directorate.
Policy - the underspending of £333,000 was
mainly attributable to additional external interest
earned.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the position with regard to
the Authority’s 2006/07 Revenue Budget be noted.
Reason for decision
That the Members were aware of the projected
revenue outturn for 2006/07.
C2855
CAPITAL MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 2006 TO
30TH NOVEMBER, 2006 (CMT) (SCRUTINY - ALL)
-
Cabinet were advised of the progress on the
2006/07 Capital Programme for the period 1st April, 2006
to 30th November, 2006 and where necessary considered
requests for changes to the programme.
Appendix 1 to the report detailed financial
progress on the Capital Programme as at 30th November
2006.
It was anticipated that the following schemes
would not be completed on target.
Director of Community Services
-
Adult Respite Care - it was anticipated that
this budget would not be spent this financial year as it would be
allocated as part of the Social Services Action Plan. It was
therefore requested that the budget of £500,000 be carried forward
into 2007/08.
Director of Environmental and Economic
Regeneration -
New Facilities Parc Bryn y Don - following a
delayed start to the scheme, due to the presence of the Great
Crested Newt, work commenced on site during October 2006. A
programme of works had now been received from the contractor and it
was requested that £257,000 be carried forward to future years to
enable works to be completed by May 2007.
Penarth Headland Link - A report to Cabinet on
29th November, 2006 had advised Members of the latest
position on the scheme. It was recommended that surplus land
be identified in order to generate capital receipts for the project
and a further report be presented to Cabinet in January 2007.
The projected outturn this year was currently anticipated to be
£1,060,000.
Access Road to Dunraven Bay, Southerndown - As
had been previously reported, an area of land needed to be
purchased prior to work commencing. Negotiations were nearing
completion and works were now planned to commence on site during
October 2007, thereby avoiding the Summer season and nesting
birds. It was requested that £248,000 be carried forward into
future years.
Dyffryn Gardens Phase 1 - This scheme was
funded 100% from a Heritage Lottery Fund grant. Part of the
scheme was for the construction of new glass houses. The
commencement of works had been delayed due to co-ordinating with
the Phase 2 horticultural compound and the presence of Great
Crested Newts. Work was prohibited during the Winter because
of their hibernation and in Spring, the Council would be required
to clear the newts from the area and to protect the site from reuse
by them during construction. The exact date the site would be
available was therefore unclear. As the building was listed,
a building application would need to be submitted to Cadw.
This could again affect the start date. It was therefore
requested that £500,000 be carried forward to future years.
Replacement Footbridge, Barry Island Station -
Permission to proceed for the scheme had now been received from
Network Rail and Barry Steam Railway, subject to a Work Programme
agreement. An external team would be appointed and would use
a design and construct approach. The successful contractor
would undertake the majority of the design work. The design /
delivery team would be appointed in the New Year and it was
anticipated that actual spend this year would cover the initial
design work and would be approximately £20,000. Physical
works would start on site during 2007/08 and it was therefore
requested that £205,000 be carried forward into future years.
Holton Road Shop Front Improvements - This
budget was approved to match fund grant from the Welsh Assembly
Government. This year, grant funding would not be forthcoming
from the Assembly, however, it was anticipated that Town
Improvement grants would be available in 2007/08. It was
therefore requested that £25,000 be carried forward into
2007/08.
Atlantic Trading Estate Infrastructure - This
scheme was funded from capital receipts generated from the sale of
land/units at the trading estate. As the estate was purchased
via Welsh Development Agency grant, any receipts had to be returned
to them. However, subject to WDA approval, some receipts
could be retained for infrastructure works on the estate. A
part of this scheme was for the demolition of unit 2. Due to
the presence of asbestos, costs had increased by £16,000 and the
WDA had agreed that these additional costs be funded from the
receipts. It was therefore requested that the budget be
increased by £16,000.
Policy
Disabled Access Audit and Improvements - This
budget had been allocated to fund a building access audit programme
and works to Council owned buildings which were used by the
public. It was agreed that the Council needed to develop a
more structured and co-ordinated approach to produce a programme of
works for the foreseeable future and therefore consultants had been
engaged during July 2006. The final report from the
consultants was due in January 2007. An underspend was
therefore anticipated this year. However, the allocation
would be required to carry out works in future years. A new
budget profile would be reported to Cabinet once the final report
was received.
Glamorgan Record Office - The Vale of
Glamorgan Council was part of a group of six authorities who fund
the Glamorgan Record Office. The lease on the current
building was due to expire in 2008 and the search for a new
location was being undertaken. The Council had allocated a
budget of £1m., £250,000 in 2006/07 and £750,000 in 2007/08 as a
capital contribution towards the new building. It was now
thought unlikely that a contribution would be required this year
and it was proposed that £250,000 be carried forward into
2007/08.
Housing Advances - This allocation was used to
issue loans to homeowners, for example, where such a loan could not
attract a commercial mortgage lender i.e. the property in question
was of a non-standard design structure. This year to date, no
applications had been received and it was therefore anticipated
that this scheme would underspend by £50,000.
OneVale - Works were now underway at
Provincial House. However, other works had not yet
commenced. It was therefore anticipated that the budget would
underspend this year and it was requested that £1,311,000 be
carried forward into 2007/08.
Part of the report was to be referred to
Council because it was contrary to and not wholly in accordance
with the budget.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T Cabinet approves and refers to Council the reduction of the
following 2006/07 budgets and the carry forward to future
years:
·
Adult Respite Care – Reduce budget from £500,000 to nil (carry
forward £500,000)
·
New Facilities Parc Bryn Y Don – Reduce budget from £832,000 to
£575,000 (carry forward £257,000)
·
Access Road to Dunraven Bay, Southerndown – Reduce budget from
£293,000 to £45,000 (carry forward £248,000)
·
Dyffryn Gardens Phase 1 – Reduce budget from £589,000 to £89,000
(carry forward £500,000)
·
Replacement Footbridge Barry Island Station – Reduce budget from
£225,000 to £20,000 (carry forward £205,000)
·
Holton Road Shop Front Improvements – Reduce budget from £25,000 to
nil (carry forward £25,000)
·
Glamorgan Record Office – Reduce budget from £250,000 to nil (carry
forward £250,000)
·
One Vale – Reduce budget from £3,747,000 to £2,436,000 (carry
forward £1,311,000).
(2) T H A
T the Atlantic Trading Estate Infrastructure budget for 2006/07 be
increased by £16,000 to £53,000, to be funded from capital receipts
from sales at the trading estate.
(3) T H A
T the use of the Urgent Decision Procedure to formally approve
£25,000 of the 2007/08 Barry Regeneration Partnership budget prior
to approval at Council during February 2007 be agreed.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
allow schemes to be undertaken / completed in future financial
years.
(2) To
allow schemes to be undertaken in this financial year.
(3) To
allow a contract to be let during January 2007 which would use part
of the 2007/08 Capital budget.
C2856
MATTER WHICH THE CHAIRMAN HAD DECIDED WAS URGENT -
RESOLVED - T H A T the following matter which
the Chairman had decided was urgent for the reason stated, be
considered.
C2857
COMMUNITIES FIRST DEVELOPMENT FUNDING (DLD) (SCRUTINY - LIFELONG
LEARNING) -
Urgent by reason of the need to
receive external funding on behalf of a Communities First
Partnership Board
Cabinet received a report which sought
approval to receive the Welsh Assembly Government funding on behalf
of the Communities First Partnership Board for Thompson Street
Estate.
The total amount of funding secured from the
Welsh Assembly Government was £100,053, which was the total cost of
the project. In order to adhere to the Council’s Financial
Regulations, Cabinet approval was required to accept external funds
in excess of £50,000.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the receipt of the funding
from the Welsh Assembly Government be approved on behalf of the
Partnership Boards.
C2858
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC -
RESOLVED - T H A T under Section 100A(4) of
the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded
from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds
that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as
defined in Part 4 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Act, the
relevant paragraphs of the Schedule being referred to in brackets
after the minute heading.
C2859
WASTE DISPOSAL CONTRACTS - APRIL 2008 (DEER) (EXEMPT INFORMATION -
PARAGRAPH 20) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Cabinet received a report which:
(i) Advised of
the current situation regarding the Authority’s Waste Disposal
Contracts.
(ii) Sought permission
to proceed with procurement of future Waste Management
Contracts.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration, in
consultation with the Director of Finance, ICT and Property and the
Cabinet Member for Visible Services be authorised to enter into a
joint contract with Cardiff County Council for the procurement of a
residual Waste Disposal Contract.
(2) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration, in
consultation with the Director of Finance, ICT and Property and the
Cabinet Member for Visible Services be authorised to request
expressions of interest for new Waste Disposal Contracts (Recycling
Facilities, Recycling Centres, Transfer Station and Community
Recycling Centres).
(3) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration, in
consultation with the Director of Finance, ICT and Property and the
Cabinet Member for Visible Services be authorised to request
expressions of interest for contracts for the bulky waste, green
garden waste, kitchen waste and clinical waste as necessary.
(4) T H A
T further reports be submitted to Cabinet outlining progress.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure the Authority has a route for residual waste disposal from
April 2008 until a regional waste solution is developed.
(2) To
enable the Authority to receive expressions of interest for the
Waste Disposal Contracts (Recycling Facilities, Recycling Centres,
Transfer Station and Community Recycling Centres) from April
2008.
(3) To
enable the Authority to receive expressions of interest for
contracts for bulky waste, green garden waste, kitchen waste and
clinical waste as necessary.
(4) To
keep Cabinet informed.
C2860
MATTER WHICH THE CHAIRMAN HAD DECIDED WAS URGENT -
RESOLVED - T H A T the following matter which
the Chairman had decided was urgent for the reason stated, be
considered.
C2861
DIRECTORATE OF COMMUNITY SERVICES - REVIEW OF ORGANISATIONAL
ARRANGEMENTS (CX) (EXEMPT INFORMATION - PARAGRAPH 4) (SCRUTINY -
COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND SAFETY) -
Urgent by reason for the need to
address current issues within Social Services
Cabinet received a report which sought
approval to review organisational arrangements in Community
Services and to establish a new Social Services Directorate.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T a new Directorate of Social Services be established.
(2) T H A
T accountabilities for Community Safety, Housing and Catering be
reallocated as detailed in the report.
(3) T H A
T the current Director of Community Services, Heads of Service for
Adult and Children’s Services posts be deleted.
(4) T H A
T the Chief Executive be authorised to implement necessary
procedures and processes and to establish the ERR Committee as
necessary.
(5) T H A
T the Chief Executive be given delegated authority, in consultation
with the Leader, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Social and
Care Services to appoint an Interim Manager.
(6) T H A
T the Chief Executive be designated as the Statutory Lead Officer
for Social Services until a Director appointment is made.
(7) T H A
T the Chief Executive be authorised to initiate recruitment
procedures for a new Director of Social Services and the necessary
Senior Management Appointments Panel be convened.
(8) T H A
T the Chief Executive report further on progress and on the
reallocation of the non social services functions to other
Directorates.
Reasons for decisions
(1) to (8) To implement effective
organisational change and to address current concerns within Social
Services.