CABINET
MINUTES of a meeting held on 31st
January, 2007.
Present: Councillor Ms. M.E. Alexander
(Chairman); Councillors R.F. Curtis, S.C. Egan, C.P. Franks, N.J.
Gibbs, G. John, Mrs. M. Randall and Mrs. M.R. Wilkinson.
Also present: Councillors Mrs. M. Kelly
Owen and A.J. Readman.
C2862
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE -
These were received from Councillors N. Moore
and C.J. Williams.
C2863
MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
held on 17th January, 2007 be approved as a correct
record.
C2864
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
Councillors C.P. Franks and N.J. Gibbs
declared an interest in Agenda Item No. 7 in respect of the Local
Health Board and vacated the room during its consideration.
C2865
VALE OF GLAMORGAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN - DRAFT SUSTAINABILITY
APPRAISAL SCOPING REPORT (REF - MINUTE NO. 669) -
Cabinet had considered the above at its
meeting on 13th December, 2006 and, subject to
consultation with the Planning Committee and appropriate Scrutiny
Committee, had, inter alia, approved the same for a five week
written consultation period. The Planning Committee had
subsequently endorsed the resolutions of Cabinet.
RESOLVED - T H A T the endorsement of the
Planning Committee be noted.
Reason for decision
To take account of the views of the Planning
Committee.
C2866
APPOINTMENTS TO OUTSIDE BODIES/JOINT COMMITTEES (CX) (SCRUTINY -
CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Minute No. C2832 in respect of the above had
been called in by Councillor H.J.W. James and considered by the
Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) on 23rd
January, 2007. The purpose of the call-in had been to seek
clarification and justification for the appointments, the relevance
of the portfolio holders to some of the appointments and to clarify
what was legally appropriate and conformed with the Constitution
and Member Allowance Scheme. The Scrutiny Committee had
subsequently requested Cabinet to consider the following
recommendations
(i) Arts Council of
Wales: South Wales Area Committee - Cabinet be requested to
ascertain whether such an appointment still exists.
(ii)
Barry YMCA Management Committee - Cabinet be requested to review
the Council’s role in / relationship with Barry YMCA, to include
consideration of operational and financial matters and the status
of the Council’s representatives of the Management Committee.
(iii)
Friends of Bellevue Park - Cabinet be requested to consider the
appointment of an additional Member, i.e. Councillor P. Church, in
order that both Local Members are representatives.
(iv) Local
Health Board - Cabinet be asked to note that membership would need
to be reconsidered in the light of proposed organisational changes
within the Directorate of Community Services.
(v)
South Wales Police Authority - Cabinet be invited to reconsider the
matter in the light of the decision of the South Wales Police
Authority Joint Committee in 2004 that the Vale of Glamorgan
Council would be the one constituent Council on the South Wales
Police Authority represented by a Conservative Member (i.e. thereby
reflecting political balance across the constituent Councils).
(vi) Steel
Action - Cabinet be requested to consider whether the
representative should, in fact, be the Leader given her portfolio
included responsibility for regeneration.
(vii) Vale of
Glamorgan Buildings Preservation Trust - Cabinet be requested to
ascertain whether the appointment of the Chairman, or any Member,
of the Planning Committee as the Council’s representative
constitutes a potential conflict of interest.
(viii) Waterfront IT
Centre Board - Cabinet be requested to consider the addition of the
Cabinet Member for Education and Training to the list of
representatives.
(ix)
Cabinet requested to delete the words “attendance allowance and”
from the original recommendation (2) of Minute No. C2832 to reflect
the fact that, in fact, no such attendance allowance was any longer
applicable to Members attending individual meetings.
In respect of recommendation (i) above,
confirmation was given at the meeting that the appointment still
existed. With regard to the South East Wales Transportation
Alliance (SEWTA), the Leader confirmed that Minute No. C2832 should
read the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation as well as
the Chairman of the Planning Committee.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T a further report be made to Cabinet in respect of recommendations
(ii), (iv) and (vii) above.
(2) T H A
T Councillor P. Church be appointed as an additional Member to the
Friends of Belle Vue Park.
(3) T H A
T the decision of Cabinet on 21st December, 2006 in
respect of the South Wales Police Authority be re-affirmed.
(4) T H A
T, in respect of Steel Action, the Leader be appointed as the
Council’s representative with Councillor R.F. Curtis deputising
where necessary.
(5) T H A
T, in respect of the Waterfront IT Centre Board, the Cabinet Member
for Education and Training be added to the list of
representatives.
Reason for decisions
To ensure that the Council is represented
appropriately.
C2867
FLYING START (DCS) (SCRUTINY - COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND
SAFETY)-
Cabinet had, on 21st December, 2006
approved the acceptance of the WAG Flying Start grant (Minute No.
C2833). The WAG’s late issue of guidance had resulted in many
local authorities being unable to spend the full revenue allocation
within the current financial year and, accordingly, WAG had offered
the facility for local authorities to transfer some of the revenue
allocation for 2006/07 to spend on capital schemes. The
Flying Start Executive Strategic Planning Group proposed that a
transfer of £86,500 be requested to
· provide
facilities in Cadoxton Primary and Jenner Park Primary Schools to
enable the provision of Parenting classes, and
· modify the
nursery in Cadoxton School to provide an additional 8 free child
care places for Flying Start 2 year olds and undertake alteration
works to provide a crèche for children of parents attending the
Parenting classes.
It was accepted that such modifications would
assist the delivery of the agreed Flying Start Plan, and complement
the use of schools as a community focal point.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the transfer of £86,500
from the WAG Flying Start grant for 2006/07 revenue allocation for
capital use be authorised.
Reason for decision
To enable full use of the WAG’s Flying Start
funding.
C2868
REPORT ON THE JOINT WORKING SPECIAL GRANT (FLEXIBILITIES) 2006/08
(DCS) (SCRUTINY - COMMUNITY WELLBEING AND SAFETY) -
Funding for the Joint Flexibilities Working
Grant had been initially given to cover the period April 2002 to
March 2005. The grant was being reviewed by the Minister for
Health and Social Care over the next two years and, in order to
secure funding for 2006/08, additional update reports with exit
strategies had to be forwarded to the WAG. The Council had
now received formal notification that the grant would be awarded at
the current rate of £425,667 for each year. It was noted that
this was £1,122 less than the amount given in 2005/06. The
review was intended to clarify the future funding position after
March 2008 and it was likely that £325,667 of the £425,667 would be
subsumed into the Revenue Support Grant. That funding would
support front line services for people in the Vale of Glamorgan,
with the remaining £100,000 being ringfenced for partnership
working between the Local Health Board and the Council. The
report then detailed each scheme and funding allocation, summarised
below:
· the Health,
Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy Team - £100,000 to support joint
working between the Council and the Local Health Board
· increased day
care provision at Bryneithin - £10,205 per annum for older people
with mental ill health delivered in partnership with Crossroads
EMI
· joint planning
administrative support - £20,600 per annum to fund the Local Health
Board element of joint working in relation to the delivery of
Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy, the Children and Young
People’s Framework and the Community Safety Partnership
· Manger of
Services for Disabled Children - £40,000 designated towards the
cost of post annually
· expansion of the
Vale Community Rehabilitation Team and integration with the Vale
Short Term Intervention Service - £76,230 each year
· reablement
service in the western Vale - £184,754.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the Joint Working Special
Grant allocation for 2006/08 be noted and approved as detailed
above.
Reason for decision
To bring Members’ attention to the Joint
Working Special Grant and initiatives funded through this grant
stream.
C2869
FUNDING OF CAVITY WALL INSULATION FOR CORPORATE BUILDINGS (DCS)
(SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Policy agreement 7a between the WAG and the
Council required a 6% reduction in the carbon dioxide emissions
associated with building use in the year leading up to
31st March, 2007. The most recent annual figures,
however, to March 2006 showed that there had been an increase in
building related carbon dioxide emissions over the baseline of
5.9%. Whilst a capital bid was being made for a “spend to
save scheme” for energy efficiency once again this year, it was
noted that should it be successful work would not start until next
summer. As an interim measure, therefore, investment in
insulation measures in the next few months would have a big impact
on the energy use within particular buildings and would start a
trend of energy reduction. Single contractor quotations had
been provided for insulation of the Civic Offices and Barry Leisure
Centre. Details of the resource implications were contained
within the report. Basically, the costs indicated that cavity
wall insulation in both the Civic Offices and Barry Leisure Centre
could result in a reduction of 14 tonnes of CO² per annum at a
one-off cost of £40,500. Revenue savings would cover that
investment within just over three years and annual savings of over
£12,000 would be realised year after year thereafter. The
work would be initially financed through the project fund, the aim
of which was to fund the project with the repayment of such
advances (including interest) being credited back to the
fund. Four annual repayments of £11,263 would be made back
into the fund by the relevant operational budget and it was noted
that a 1.1% saving would be achieved by taking this action over the
policy agreement baseline.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T funding be made available in the 2006/07 capital programme to
carry out insulation works on Barry Leisure Centre and the Civic
Offices.
(2) T H A
T the capital costs of the works be funded from the Project Fund
and based on a projected cost of £40,500, four annual payments of
£11,263 to be made back into the fund by the relevant operational
budget.
Reasons for decisions
(1) In
order to release money for work to go ahead in winter 2006/07 which
would have an impact on the final policy agreement figures up to
April 2007.
(2) To
confirm repayment arrangements.
C2870
PUBLIC SECTOR STOCK CONDITION SURVEY (DCS) (SCRUTINY - COMMUNITY
WELLBEING AND SAFETY) -
The Tribal/HCH Housing Stock Retention report
highlighted the need to undertake the procurement of a new stock
condition survey and its installation on the existing or new asset
management system. Tribal/HCH also raised concerns about
difficulties experienced with the stock condition database.
It was reported that a public sector stock condition survey
invitation to tender was being developed, the Council having the
two main options of commissioning the work either by a European
Union (EU) route or the OGC Catalyst framework. The OGC
Catalyst was a catalogue of framework agreements established by the
Office of Government and Commerce (OGC) to provide standard
arrangements which public sector bodies could call off for works,
goods and services without having to adopt full EU processes.
For the reasons outlined in the report, it was proposed that the
Council follow the OGC Catalyst framework to commission a new
public sector stock condition survey. The proposed survey
would initially be a 40% two year rolling survey to assess the
condition, existing and future liabilities of
· the Council’s
housing stock
· the property
assets related to the housing stock
· the Council’s
leasehold interests and liability relating to the housing
stock.
The proposed contract would be for two years,
which period could be extended to include the remaining 60% of the
housing stock at the discretion of the Council. If the
contract were to be extended, it was proposed that the survey
continue at a rate of 20% of the stock per annum through to
2011. The initial part of the public sector stock condition
survey would be to undertake an impressionistic study which would
be a broad profile of the Council’s housing stock which would be
used to define the choice of properties for the main survey.
The cost of commissioning and delivering the stock condition survey
would be met from within the Housing Revenue Account, the cost of
the contract and activities being in the region of £100 to
£200,000. The Property Section would take on the management
role for the provision of the public sector stock condition survey
and the resources required to undertake the work would be subject
to a further Cabinet report.
The need to make progress was fully
recognised. Clarification was given in relation to the time
taken to commission a new public sector stock condition survey, the
content of the tender specification - the outcome of which would in
turn allow more accurate costings to be assessed, and the day to
day management arrangement of the process. It was anticipated
that the survey would commence June/July 2007 and take some two
years to complete the initial 40%. The aim of the study would
be to transform what was essentially a reactive maintenance system
into a proactive service. Cabinet was also informed that WAG
had been requested to permit the underspend on the Major Repairs
Allowance to be carried forward and that the recent Cabinet report
relating to the MRA spend in future years had been forwarded to WAG
simultaneously. No response had yet been received.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the proposal to follow the OGC Catalyst framework for the
commissioning of the public sector stock condition survey be
endorsed.
(2) T H A
T a further report on the outcome of the commissioning process for
the public sector stock condition survey be submitted in due
course.
(3) T H A
T a further report on the proposed management arrangements for the
public sector stock condition survey be submitted in due
course.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure that the Council undertakes a new public sector stock
condition survey.
(2) To
ensure all Members are informed of the outcome of the commissioning
process for the public sector stock condition survey.
(3) To
ensure adequate resources are provided to manage the public sector
stock condition survey.
C2871
VALE OF GLAMORGAN LOCAL DEVELOPMENT PLAN (LDP) - PROPOSED VISION
(DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Approval was sought to adopt the Vale of
Glamorgan Community Strategy Vision as the guiding vision for the
Vale of Glamorgan LDP 2011-26. It was explained that a key
feature of the new LDP system was the emphasis on creating synergy
between LDPs and Community Strategies. Guidance had been
issued which supported the above. In accordance with that
guidance, the Council’s approved Delivery Agreement (August 2006)
proposed that the Council would assess the appropriateness of the
Community Strategy (2003-13) Vision as a vision for the LDP.
The vision paper as appended to the report provided a detailed
assessment of the suitability of the Community Strategy Vision as a
Vision for the LDP and had been informed by the advice contained
within the LDP manual, namely that
· the vision was up
to date and had wide spatial relevance
· the vision flowed
from having a clear view of what sort of place the authority wanted
to become
· the vision was
well rounded so that there should be a balance between economic,
social and environmental objectives.
A summary of the assessment of the above was
contained within the report as were details relating to the next
steps in delivering the LDP objectives and strategic options.
It was noted that the assessment of the Community Strategy Vision
had been prepared by officers within the Planning and
Transportation Policy Group within existing budgets. However,
in the medium to longer term, the preparation of the LDP would have
significant financial and officer resource implications.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Vision contained within the Vale of Glamorgan Community
Strategy (2003-13) be adopted as a Vision for the Vale of Glamorgan
LDP (2011-26).
(2) T H A
T the Vision be used to inform the development of the LDP
strategy.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) To satisfy the statutory
requirements of the LDP regulations.
C2872
SUPPORTED LOCAL BUS SERVICE TENDERS 2007 (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY
AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Details of those contracts for Supported Local
Bus Services due to terminate in 2007 were contained within the
report and approval sought to re-tender for those contracts.
It was noted that there was no option available to extend the
current contracts and that the intention was to tender for existing
provision on all those services indicated in the report along with
alternative options which terminated in September 2011. That,
with the exception of the Council’s contract for the Village Bus
Group of Services (V1 to V5) which terminated in May 2011, would
bring together all other existing contracts for termination at the
same time and would enable a full review of provision.
Patronage on Supported Local Bus Services was currently being
surveyed and data for those services would be provided in the
report to award contracts as that data could then be assessed
against the cost of tender bids. The budget for Supported
Local Bus Services was currently fully committed and, therefore,
any major increase in tender submissions might require the loss of
some service provision unless additional resources could be
found. Cross subsidy payments were made to this Authority by
neighbouring authorities for certain services which ran in their
areas and those authorities would be contacted to advise them of
this Authority’s invitation to tender to enable their views to be
taken into account prior to the award of contract.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Following further consideration of the above
and the remainder of the report, it was
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T tenders for the continued provision of the following supported or
partly supported local bus services be tendered in accordance with
the Transport Act 1985:
|
Service 87
|
Dinas Powys - Cardiff Bay
|
Monday - Saturday Daytime
|
|
Service 94,96
|
Barry - Cardiff Barry
|
Sunday Evenings
|
|
Service 94,96
|
Barry - Cardiff Barry
|
Monday - Saturday Evenings
|
|
Service 100
|
Barry Circular
|
Sundays
|
|
Service 145
|
Llantwit Major - Bridgend
|
Monday - Saturday All Day/Evening
|
|
Service 146
|
Cardiff Airport - Bridgend
|
Monday - Saturday All Day/Evening.
|
(2) T H A
T the tender submissions received be reported to Cabinet for the
approval of new contracts, subject to available funding.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
provide a continued and effective supported local bus service
provision that enhances the commercial bus service network.
(2) To
gain Cabinet approval for recommendations that will also enable any
necessary decisions that may come to light following tenders.
C2873
KNAP SKATEBOARD FACILITY - REFURBISHMENT (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY
AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Cabinet had, in June 2006, resolved that a
further report be submitted to Cabinet on the suitability of the
current Knap Skateboard site and possible alternatives for its
relocation (Minute No. C2512).
Details were presented of possible alternative
sites for the skate park facility currently located at the Knap in
Barry and consideration given to progressing the refurbishment of
the facility in accordance with the Richard Taylor Memorial
Fund.
The assessment of suitable alternative sites
for the facility had been based on a number of considerations using
relevant guidelines such as the National Playing Fields Association
Six Acre Standard, British Standards Institute, PAS35: 2002 Wheeled
Sports and ROSPA - Play Safety - Skateboarding
recommendations. A table identifying the summarised criteria
and assessment of the sites considered was appended to the
report. Of the possible locations, the Knap Gardens, Maslin
Park and Romilly Park had been further considered. For the
reasons contained within the report, it was proposed that the
facility remain at the Knap and be refurbished. Whilst it was
recognised that there were challenges with the existing location,
the design of the new facility, planned future anti-skating
measures on the Promenade and Shelter roofs, along with improved
management arrangements, would help ameliorate any residents’
concerns and also to encourage more appropriate use of the
area. The preferred method for delivering the project was to
utilise the Council’s capital contribution to remove the existing
equipment and to resurface the skate floor area to the required
standard. The financial contribution from the Memorial Fund
would then be used for the procurement and installation of the
equipment. The final design of the facility, including all
materials used, would be subject to approval by the Director of
Environmental and Economic Regeneration in consultation with the
Cabinet Member for Visible Services. On final construction
the equipment would be gifted to the Vale of Glamorgan
Council. An amount of £25k. from the 2006/07 Visible Services
Asset Renewal Fund had been identified as the Council’s
contribution to the project. That would be used to fund the
initial preparation work as indicated above. The Richard
Taylor Memorial Fund had identified a sum of £44k. towards the cost
of the project. The custodians of the Fund would be
responsible for negotiating all costs associated with the supply
and fitting of the skate equipment.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T, due to the suitability of the Knap site compared with the others
assessed, the Knap Skate Park be refurbished at its current
location utilising the contribution from the Richard Taylor
Memorial Fund (RTMF).
(2) T H A
T the Director of Legal and Regulatory Services negotiate and agree
terms and conditions to accept the funding from the RTMF in
consultation with the Director of Environmental and Economic
Regeneration.
(3) T H A
T the Director of Legal and Regulatory Services be authorised to
sign any agreements required on behalf of the Council.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
permit the refurbishment of the existing facility utilising funding
provided by the RTMF.
(2) To
protect the interests of the Council and the Charity in the
arrangement.
(3) In
order to execute and complete legal documentation.
C2874
ELECTED MEMBERS ICT USER GROUP (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE
RESOURCES) -
The Members ICT User Group had first been
established in 2003 and its terms of reference agreed under Minute
No. C1024 in November 2003. The Group had been very useful
and informative both from a Member’s perspective and from a support
perspective in that it had allowed ICT staff direct access to
Members to obtain their views on a variety of subjects and develop
the support provided to meet the Members’ needs.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Group continue with the following terms of reference:
· to consider
issues relating to the use of ICT from an Elected Member’s
perspective and to provide views and advice;
· to consider
priorities for the further development of ICT facilities for
Elected Members and to provide views and advice;
· to consider the
training requirements and the development needs of Elected Members
in relation to ICT and to provide views and advice;
· to improve
feedback on ICT facilities so that services could be reviewed and
improved;
· to raise issues
with regard to service providers where these had not been dealt
with satisfactorily through the usual channels (e.g. the ICT Help
Desk);
· to act as a link
to reflect the views of the main body of Elected Members;
· the minutes of
the User Group to be reported to Cabinet for approval;
· that the Chairman
of the Group be the Cabinet Member for Finance, ICT and
Property;
· that the user
group is open to all members to attend, but the Group Leaders would
be requested to nominate at least one representative to the user
group.
(2) T H A
T the Group be chaired by the Cabinet Member for Finance, ICT and
Property.
(3) T H A
T all Members continue to have the opportunity to attend meetings,
but that the Group Leaders on the Council would be requested to
appoint at least one nominee.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure the terms of reference are still applicable.
(2) To
provide feedback to Cabinet and refer any issues for decision.
(3) To
provide all party support for Member Development in ICT.
C2875
EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY (AGE) REGULATIONS 2006 (DLD) (SCRUTINY -
CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
The report detailed the implications of the
Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 for the Council and the
responsibilities of officers of the Council under the
aforementioned legislation. The legislation had come into
effect on 1st October, 2006 and covered direct
discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and
victimisation and covered all ages of the workforce, making
anti-discriminatory practice because of age unlawful. The
scope of the legislation focussed not only on retirement but also
on recruitment, terms and conditions, redundancy, culture and
communication, and training. The report outlined relevant
issues and options pertaining to the above. As regards
retirement, for example, the Regulations set a default retirement
age of 65 although employers could set their retirement age at 65
or above or have no retirement age. However, if the
retirement age was set below age 65 employers would need to
objectively justify their reasons for doing so. Nor was the
Council required to agree to an employee working beyond age
65. In order to ensure that managers were being consistent in
their approach to any requests to work beyond 65, the Council’s
current Retirement Age Policy included criteria that needed to be
met for a request to be agreed. Another issue raised in the
report related to redundancy whereby the selection process for
redundancy would have to be free of age discrimination and
practices such as “last in first out” and length of service were
likely to be considered discriminatory. Attention was drawn
to other implications arising from the Regulations, both to the
Council and to its officers, which were not detailed in the
report. Concern was expressed regarding, for example, the
redundancy provisions for those aged 50 or over whereby certain
rights to access pension would be removed. Human Resources
and Equalities (Operational Services) was currently running
workshops to advise managers of their responsibility under the
legislation with the expectation that the information would then be
cascaded down to the service areas. That information was also
available to Members should they so desire.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the report and the offer to receive Awareness Raising/Training be
accepted.
(2) T H A
T a report detailing the implications and any points of concern
arising from the Regulations for the Council and its officers be
submitted to a future meeting.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
further demonstrate achievement of the training requirements as
contained within the Regulations.
(2) To
allow consideration of the issues raised.
C2876
SOUTH EAST WALES ECONOMIC FORUM (SEWEF): CONSTRUCTION SKILLS (DEER
& DLD) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Details were presented of an initiative to
support built environment development (construction industry) in
South East Wales (designated the ‘Capital Network’ in the Wales
Spatial Plan) and formal approval and endorsement of the initiative
sought. The SEWEF had been told that South East Wales was
witnessing a substantial increase in built environment projects and
that that represented a significant opportunity for the ‘Capital
Network’ to harness both direct and indirect benefits for the
region. The SEWEF had considered that there was a need for a
more balanced approach to construction training than at present
with greater emphasis on the provision of appropriate skill level
courses - a view expressed also by the construction industry
itself. It was understood that the SEWEF would provide advice
and/or assistance to local authorities in drafting terms and
conditions into contractual documents for future projects.
SEWEF were also in touch with WAG (DEIN) officials regarding the
potential afforded by the proposal for a Defence Training College
at St. Athan. It was evident that local authorities and other
public sector bodies had a key role in the process, potential
actions including the following:
· with clients/main
contractors, establishing local agreement and contracts that set
and monitor targets for the use of local companies; employment of
local people; training of economically inactive people; number of
other trainees within the total supply chain of the project; and
appropriate proportions to meet equal opportunities targets
· establish a
single point of contact for all stakeholders involved in the built
environment programme and ensuring that appropriate local fora
existed where necessary to monitor progress (including involvement
of the Sector Skills Councils through the Sector Skills
Agreement)
· liaising with
local clients and lead contractors to establish longer term needs
for people and skills
· liaising with all
training providers in the area to encourage the match between local
commitment and supply both of absolute numbers and skill mix
· facilitate local
supply chain sourcing through provision of support and advice to
local businesses
· work with
schools, further education and higher education institutes in the
locality to develop learning pathways for the built environment
sector
· encourage SMEs to
take advantage of the business opportunities inherent in South East
Wales
· spread best
practice in constructing and procurement procedures.
A copy of the paper presented at the SEWEF
meeting was appended to the report, and Cabinet was requested to
approve and endorse the planned approach to improve construction
skills in South East Wales.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the planned approach to
construction skills in South East Wales be approved and
endorsed.
Reason for decision
To enable the regional approach to be taken on
this issue.
C2877
REVENUE MONITORING: 1ST APRIL, 2006 - 31ST
DECEMBER, 2006 (CMT) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES)
-
The projected outturn for the 2006/07 Revenue
Budget was for a deficit of £4,301,000 on the General Fund and an
underspend of £50,000 on the Housing Revenue Account. In
respect of Learning and Development, it was reported that an
anticipated saving of £120,000 on Education and Schools would be
used to off-set the overspending on Lifelong Learning of
£120,000. The deficit of £4,634,000 on General Fund Services
had been made up as follows:
· Social Services -
projected overspend of £4,704,000
· Catering -
projected overspend of £130,000
· Private Sector
Housing - underspend of £200,000 mainly attributable to an increase
in subsidy income and savings on staff salaries.
Included in the figures in respect of the
Directorate of Environmental and Economic Regeneration were an
anticipated deficit of £150,000 on Leisure Management; of £120,000
on Parks Maintenance; £50,000 additional costs relating to the
Centenary Celebrations at Dyffryn Gardens; and of £180,000 on
Building Maintenance (Trading Unit). It was noted that those
deficits were to be off-set from underspendings in the
Directorate. The underspending of £333,000 on Policy was
mainly attributable to additional external interest earned.
It was further noted that the net overspend of £4.634m. on
Community Services would have to be met from the General Fund
balance which was predicted to stand on 31st March, 2007
at £5m. That figure had been arrived at after the use of
£2.250m. approved by the Council to balance the 2006/07
budget. Consequently, attention was drawn to the fact that a
substantial amount of the overspend would have to be found by
un-earmarking specific reserves.
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 Members are aware of the projected
revenue outturn for 2006/07.
C2878
CAPITAL MONITORING: 1ST APRIL, 2006 TO 31ST
DECEMBER, 2006 (CMT) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES)
-
Details were presented of the progress on the
2006/07 Capital Programme. Attention was drawn to the
following schemes:
· Penarth Headland
Link - the projected outturn for the current financial year was
anticipated to be £1,060,000
· Cowbridge
By-Pass, rain activated sign - delays in signing the contract meant
that the budget would not be required in the current financial year
and the request made that the budget of £26,000 be transferred into
the Visible Services Asset Renewal Fund to finance the Pant Y
Lladron gully waste disposal reed bed system
· Disabled Access
Audit and Improvements - an anticipated underspend of £50,000
· Dyffryn Gardens -
since the beginning of the scheme, expenditure of approximately
£178,000 had been incurred on items of work for which the Heritage
Lottery Fund monitoring officer had queried the eligibility for
grant draw down; until the position became clear, those costs would
be covered by the Project Fund, the Fund being reimbursed
accordingly should the Council be successful in recovering any
monies
· Holton Road
Christmas Lighting - a budget of £77,000 had been included for
decorative Christmas lighting; as the equipment was subject to a
three-year finance lease, the required accounting treatment was to
capitalise the whole costs within the first year.
During the course of the subsequent
discussion, reference was made to the situation at Dyffryn and the
need to keep expenditure under scrutiny.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the 2006/07 budget of £26,000 for Cowbridge By-Pass rain
activated sign be vired to the Visible Services Asset Renewal
budget.
(2) T H A
T the Cowbridge By-Pass rain activated sign and the remainder of
the Pant Y Lladron scheme be given priority to be funded from the
2007/08 Visible Services Asset Renewal Fund.
(3) T H A
T the position regarding Dyffryn Phase 1 be noted and further
information presented to Members of Cabinet on the overall
position.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
allow schemes to be undertaken/completed in the future financial
year.
(2) To
allow schemes to be undertaken in this financial year.
(3) To be
aware of the current position.
C2879
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.
C2880
PENARTH ESPLANADE: PIER PAVILION AND ITALIAN SHELTER (DEER) (EXEMPT
INFORMATION - PARAGRAPH 21) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
-
Progress in respect of the above was submitted
for consideration. Cabinet had, in October, 2006 requested a
report on progress in respect of negotiations on the Pier Pavilion
and the Italian Shelter to be submitted to a future meeting (Minute
No. C2718). Details of the relevant issues and options were
contained in the report. The sole party who had previously
expressed an interest in the Pier Pavilion had subsequently
withdrawn that interest and the only party to continue to express
an interest was Penarth Arts and Crafts Limited (PACL).
Discussions had been held with PACL and its vision and proposals
for the Pier Pavilion (as appended to the report) appeared to have
considerable potential, especially given the positive discussions
PACL had had with the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF), and thereby the
opportunity of bringing major investment for the Pier
Pavilion. The HLF had advised PACL to apply for the Project
Planning Grant (up to a value of £50k.) which would require match
funding of a minimum of 10%. It was noted that there would be
additional important information required to progress the project
from project development stage to the project implementation stage
and, to that end, to enable reasonable progress of the development
stage of the project, a Partnership approach might be appropriate
between PACL and the Council. The aim of the Partnership
would be to achieve a high quality restoration of the Pier Pavilion
and a beneficial public use run on a long term lease by a type of
legal trust. As regards the Italian Shelter, Heads of Terms
of the lease had been agreed in April 2006 subject to the
conclusion of the necessary legal agreements by a set deadline
which had actually elapsed in October 2006. Negotiations with
the prospective lessee were ongoing but it was noted that, if the
matter were unable to be satisfactorily progressed, consideration
would need to be given to remarketing the Shelter.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Having regard to the above and to the
remainder of the report, it was
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Directors of Environmental and Economic Regeneration and
Finance, ICT and Property in consultation with the Leader and the
Cabinet Member for Policy and Regeneration be authorised to agree
Heads of Terms for the Council to form a Partnership Agreement with
PACL without prejudice with the aim of restoring the Pier Pavilion
and bringing it back into beneficial public use, and that the Pier
Pavilion be not advertised until reasonable time had been allowed
for the Partnership to make progress.
(2) T H A
T the Directors of Environmental and Economic Regeneration and
Finance, ICT and Property in consultation with the Leader and
Cabinet Member for Policy and Regeneration progress contract
negotiations with the party with whom Heads of Terms had been
agreed for the lease of the Italian Shelter, that the other formal
bids be re-explored to determine if they were viable and reasonable
and, should a way forward not be found, that the Italian Shelter be
remarketed.
(3) T H A
T the Director of Legal and Regulatory Services be authorised to
prepare, complete and execute all relevant documents involved in
the legal arrangements following from resolutions (1) and/or (2)
above.
(4) T H A
T an “Active Citizenship” Grant of £50,000 be awarded to Penarth
Arts and Crafts Limited towards a Project Planning Grant with the
aim of bringing the Pier Pavilion back into beneficial public
use.
Reasons for decisions
(1&2) In order to determine a way
forward.
(3&4) To enable progress.
C2881
ADVENTURE GOLF - BARRY ISLAND (DEER) (EXEMPT INFORMATION -
PARAGRAPH 16) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRIONMENT) -
Approval was sought to enter into an Agreement
with a single supplier for the provision and management of an
adventure golf facility at Barry Island. Cabinet had, in July
2006, authorised the Directors of Environmental and Economic
Regeneration and Finance, ICT and Property to progress negotiations
with North Valley Leisure for a possible installation of an
adventure golf facility at the existing site on Barry Island
(Minute No. C2587). The Company had now provided a formal
proposal, a copy of which was appended to the report. The
proposal appeared to represent a significant opportunity to build
on the excellent work that had already been undertaken in the Barry
Island area and authority was therefore sought to terminate the
existing concession agreement for the crazy golf facility and to
enter into a 25 year agreement with North Valley Leisure for the
construction and management of a new adventure golf development at
the site. It was also noted that the rental per annum was
index-linked and that the offer from North Valley Leisure in
financial terms represented good value for money.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
Having regard to the above and the remainder
of the report, it was
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Director of Legal and Regulatory Services be authorised to
serve notice of termination of the current licence agreement for
the crazy golf concession at Barry Island.
(2) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration, in
consultation with the Director of Finance, ICT and Property, be
authorised to negotiate and agree Heads of Terms with North Valley
Leisure for the construction, management and operation of the new
adventure golf facility for a 25 year period.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
terminate the existing crazy golf concession agreement.
(2) To
ensure the appropriate construction and operation of the facility
protecting the Council’s interest in the land asset.