CABINET
Minutes of a meeting held on 29th
July, 2009.
Present: Councillor G.C. Kemp
(Chairman); Councillor T.H. Jarvie (Vice-Chairman); Councillors
Mrs. J.E. Charles, P. Church, G.A. Cox, A.M. Ernest, A.D. Hampton,
H.J.W. James, R.L. Traherne and Mrs. D.M. Turner.
C548
MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
held on 15th July, 2009 be approved as a correct
record.
C549
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
The following Members declared interests as
indicated below:
|
Councillor Mrs. J.E. Charles
|
Agenda Item 18 - Member of Barry Town Council
and Barry YMCA.
|
|
Councillor P. Church
|
Agenda Item 14 - Member of Rotary Club,
Penarth
Agenda Item 18 - Member of Penarth Town
Council.
|
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Councillor G.A. Cox
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Agenda Item 13 - Wife is a trustee of
Cowbridge Charter Trust
Agenda Item 14 - Wife is a member of the
Cowbridge Food Festival
Agenda Item 14 - Member of the Vale of
Glamorgan Agricultural Society
Agenda Item 17 - Trustee, Cowbridge and
District Museum Trust.
|
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Councillor A.M. Ernest
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Agenda Item 17 - Member of Penarth Yacht Club
and Member of MNA (Wales) Barry Branch.
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Councillor A.D. Hampton
|
Agenda Item 17 - Trustee of Cambrian
Foundation and Barry YMCA
Agenda Item 18 - Member of Barry Town
Council.
|
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Councillor H.J.W. James
|
Agenda Item 17 - Member of:
Vale of Glamorgan
Band (President)
Llancarfan Community
Association
Rhoose Community
Association
Rhoose
Lifeguards.
|
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Councillor G.C. Kemp
|
Agenda Item 17 - Council nomination to Vale of
Glamorgan Festival
Agenda Item 17 - Member of Rhoose Community
Hall Association and Llancarfan and District Community
Association.
|
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Councillor R.L. Traherne
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Agenda Item 14 - Member of Vale of Glamorgan
Agricultural Society
Agenda Item 17 - Vice President Cardiff and
Vale Area Scout Council and Ambassador for Cardiff and Eastern Vale
Guide Association.
|
Councillor H.J.W. James declared that he had
been granted dispensation to speak and vote on the matters in which
he had declared an interest. All other Members vacated the
room during consideration of the matters in which they had declared
an interest.
C550
TENANTS INCENTIVE TO MOVE (REF) -
Scrutiny Committee (Housing and Public
Protection), on 22nd April, 2009 had been requested to
endorse the introduction of the above Scheme which would be used to
encourage older people under-occupying family homes to transfer
into smaller more suitable stock. The Scheme also proposed to
introduce incentives to support disabled tenants (households) to
move into property more suited to their disability or where their
existing dwelling could not be adapted within reasonable
costs. The Head of Housing indicated that for the Scheme to
be effective it needed to provide a level of incentive that would
attract and encourage a tenant to seek to move, and where such
Schemes had failed in the past, it was usually because incentives
were not attractive enough.
The proposals in relation to the draft Scheme,
as contained in Appendix 1 to the report recommended a level of
incentive payments that would prove attractive. In order for
the Scheme to work, flexibility would need to be introduced into
the current Homes4U Scheme. The current policy required all
vacancies owned by the Vale Council or Scheme RSL partners to be
advertised with applicants being required to bid for vacancies of
their choice. Allocations would be made on the basis of
priority of banding and the length of time within that
banding. However, for the proposed Scheme to work, it would
be necessary to prioritise those applicants subject to the Tenants
Incentive to Move Scheme. The current Homes4U policy was
currently under review so that this requirement could be
incorporated into the process.
Scrutiny Committee had recommended
(1) That
Cabinet be advised that the Tenants Incentive to Move Scheme be
endorsed and adopted.
(2) That
the bi-annual report be made of progress towards meeting the
targets identified within paragraph 14 of the attached report.
Cabinet, having considered the recommendations
of the Scrutiny Committee
RESOLVED - T H A T the recommendations of
Scrutiny Committee be adopted.
C551
BARRY WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT PRINCIPLES: RESULTS OF CONSULTATION
EXERCISE (REF) -
Cabinet, on 3rd June 2009, had
received the Barry Waterfront Principles document, and referred it
subject to a number of amendments, for consultation purposes to
Planning Committee and Scrutiny Committee (Economy and
Environment).
Having considered the Barry Waterfront
Principles document, Scrutiny Committee (Economy and Environment)
on 24th June 2009 had recommended
(1) T H A
T subject to a reflection within the document that affordable
housing properties be dispersed throughout the development as
opposed to being grouped together, the following resolutions of
Cabinet be accepted:
·
The findings of the public consultation exercise in respect of the
Draft Barry Waterfront Development Principles Document be noted and
the consultation responses included in the Consultation Report
contained at Appendix A be approved.
·
The Barry Waterfront Development Principles Document at Appendix B
as amended as indicated below be approved for development control
purposes and for use in preparing a Barry Development Brief and
Master Plan for Barry Waterfront:
-
Under the heading of Affordable Housing amend the sentence
commencing 'in light of the evidence contained ...' by the removal
of the words 'at least 30% affordable housing provision ...' to 'up
to 30% affordable housing provision ...'.
-
Under the heading of A Mix of Uses, remove the word 'local’ on each
occasion it appears in the 1st paragraph.
·
The consortium of house-builder developers comprising Persimmon
Homes, Taylor Wimpey and Barratt Homes be advised of the results of
the consultation exercise including the views of the public on what
future uses should be placed in the Waterfront.
·
The results of the consultation exercise together with the final
Barry Waterfront Development Principles Document be placed on the
Council's website.
(2) T H A
T consideration be given to the development brief that a circular
walkway around the whole area of the Waterfront be included in the
document which could in turn be linked to the Coastal Access
Programme.
(3) T H A
T the report and the recommendations of the Scrutiny Committee be
referred to the Housing and Public Protection Scrutiny Committee
for their consideration.
Having considered the recommendations of the
Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet
RESOLVED - T H A T the recommendations of
Scrutiny Committee be adopted.
C552
COUNCIL HOUSING - CONTRACTORS CODE OF CONDUCT (REF) -
Scrutiny Committee (Housing and Public
Protection) had, on 25th June, 2009, considered a draft
Contractors Code of Conduct which was considered to be one of the
essential protocols needed to be put in place to deliver the
improvements and maintenance.
In accordance with the Council's Approved
Tenants’ Engagement Strategy, the Tenants’ Working Group and the
Tenants’ Panel had been consulted on the content of the Draft
Code. In addition, further consultation had been undertaken
with a number of contractors to ensure the financial implications
of implementing the Code were reasonable and affordable within the
Housing Revenue Account Business Plan. Comments received as
part of the above consultation exercise had led to a number of
minor amendments being made to the Code.
Scrutiny Committee had recommended that
Cabinet be requested to adopt the Contractors Code of Conduct to
apply to all internal and external building contractors engaged to
undertake work to Council's Housing Stock.
Having considered the recommendation of
Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet
RESOLVED - T H A T the recommendations of
Scrutiny Committee be adopted.
C553
TACKLING ANTI-SOCIAL BEHAVIOUR (ASB) ON COUNCIL HOUSING ESTATES
(REF) -
Scrutiny Committee (Housing and Public
Protection) had previously considered this matter on
14th January, 2009 and had subsequently endorsed a draft
policy for consultation with the Council's Tenants’
Panel.
A meeting of the Tenants’ Panel on
21st January, 2009 had considered the draft policy
together with a presentation of reasons for the review and its
recommendations. The draft document was positively received
and tenants were particularly keen that the policy be adopted as
soon as possible. In addition, tenants had also indicated
that whilst it was acknowledged that current policies did work,
there was some concern that the existing policy was long-winded and
slow and the Tenants’ Panel had welcomed the new streamlined
approach which it was hoped would lead to better outcomes for those
tenants who suffered from anti-social behaviour.
The Head of Housing Services had indicated
that the ASB Policy had been designed to contribute to a number of
the Council's corporate objectives and the issues were often
crossing cutting and impacting on Council departments. The
emphasis of the Policy was one of collaboration working to resolve
issues at an early informal stage.
Scrutiny Committee had recommended that the
draft Anti-Social Behaviour Policy be recommended to Cabinet for
approval.
Cabinet, having considered the recommendation
of the Scrutiny Committee
RESOLVED - T H A T the recommendations of
Scrutiny Committee be adopted.
C554
BARRY TOWN CENTRE LIVING STUDY AND NEIGHBOURHOOD RENEWAL ASSESSMENT
(REF) -
Scrutiny Committee (Housing and Public
Protection) had, on 25th June, 2009 received a cross
cutting assessment of neighbourhood and town centre renewal issues
in respect of Holton Road shopping area and the adjacent housing
area in Castleland ward.
The Study was designed to be more radical in
its approach than a Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment by linking
housing, town centre and community regeneration issues thus
providing greater opportunities for long term sustainable change of
the Holton Road shopping area and the adjacent housing areas.
The main report set out the findings of the
study, carried out in accordance with the methodology prescribed in
guidance issued by the Welsh Assembly Government. The report
concluded that the area met the criteria for renewal area status
and that a declaration of a renewal area would be the most
effective way of bringing about the changes required to regenerate
that area. It was further noted that work was still required
to develop the initiative and to report on the mechanism for
declaring the proposed renewal area with effect from January
2010.
The declaration of a renewal area would
support a number of the Council's corporate objectives and it was
also noted that considerable consultation had been undertaken with
residents living in the areas and a public exhibition had been held
at Barry Library in March 2008. Local businesses and private
sector landlords had been requested to complete questionnaires and
to attend meetings of stakeholders. Additionally, briefings
had been held with the relevant Cabinet Members and their comments
had been incorporated into the report under consideration by the
Committee.
Scrutiny Committee had recommended
(1) That
the findings of the Study with regard to the Barry Town Centre
Living Study and Neighbourhood Renewal Assessment be endorsed and
recommended to Cabinet for approval.
(2) That
the consultant's recommendation as set out in the body of the
report, to declare a Renewal Area in the Castleland Ward, be
accepted and that a further report be presented setting out the
mechanism for delivery of the proposed Renewal Area.
Having considered the recommendations of
Scrutiny Committee, Cabinet
RESOLVED - T H A T the recommendations of
Scrutiny Committee be noted.
C555
THE VALE OF GLAMORGAN AFFORDABLE WARMTH STRATEGY 2009 - 2012 (CMT)
(SCRUTINY - HOUSING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION) -
Approval was sought for the Vale of Glamorgan
Affordable Warmth Strategy.
The Affordable Warmth Strategy set out how the
Council and key partners planned to work together to promote
affordable warmth. The Affordable Warmth Strategy could help
ensure funds are targeted and that the benefits of funding were
maximised. The Strategy documented a number of key plans, for
example the Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Strategy and the
Local Housing Strategy and could provide a focus for local action
to eradicate fuel poverty.
Households that needed to spend more than 10%
of their income in all household fuel use in order to achieve a
warm and healthy indoor environment could be said to be in fuel
poverty. The term fuel poverty combined the personal
circumstances of the householder with the physical performance of
the building itself. Those most at risk of fuel poverty
included the elderly, families with young children, the long term
sick / disabled and the long term unemployed.
Rising fuel prices and an increase in
awareness that how we live our lives can impact on the environment,
also led to an increased focus on the need to be more energy
efficient. Four objectives of the strategy, as detailed
below, aimed to improve energy efficiency in properties, promote
affordable warmth and reduce fuel property:
·
raise awareness about the benefits of affordable warmth and the
value of saving energy
·
improve energy efficiency in the private sector by working with
home owners and private sector landlords to maximise funding
opportunities for improvements
·
improve the energy efficiency of the Vale of Glamorgan Council
Housing Stock and Housing Association properties through sustained
investment and information for tenants
·
ensure vulnerable householders had access to information and advice
about energy use and to help them maximise their income and manage
their fuel bills.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the Vale of Glamorgan
Affordable Warmth Strategy be approved.
Reason for decision
To enable the Vale of Glamorgan Affordable
Warmth Strategy to be implemented.
C556
IMPROVEMENT PLAN 2009/10 (CX) (SCRUTINY - ALL) -
Cabinet received the draft Improvement Plan
2009/10 which contained performance and improvement information for
all Directorates and Corporate Plan priorities.
The draft Plan contained performance
information currently available for key PIs. This performance
information would be used by the Wales Audit Office to assess the
Council's ability to improve, and therefore was of critical
importance to the reputation of the Council.
The Plan was continually evolving as
information was made available, and was not yet fully
completed. This information would need to be included prior
to the final draft being presented to Cabinet and subsequently,
Council. Information was awaited on target setting for the
next three years and Welsh comparison data, which would not be
available until September.
The Improvement Plan formed a part of the
Policy Framework and required the agreement of Council.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Improvement Plan for 2009/10 as currently drafted be
endorsed, subject to the sentence on Page 45 of the document
reading “In Adult Services, delayed transfers of care (bed
blocking) have risen this year” being replaced with “In Adult
Services, the numbers of people subject to delayed transfers of
care (bed blocking) were fewer than the annual target figure of
seven, suggesting initiatives to target delays have been
effective”.
(2) T H A
T the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader be authorised
to finalise the Plan.
(3) T H A
T the draft Plan be submitted to the Scrutiny Committees for
consideration and to Cabinet for approval in September.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure that actions are taken to improve services.
(2&3) To agree the Plan for external
audit within required timescales.
C557
PENARTH TOWN CENTRE - PROPOSED TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT AND PARKING
ENHANCEMENT SCHEME (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
-
Approval was sought of proposals to improve
traffic management and car parking in central Penarth.
In 2005, the Council had engaged consultants
to investigate improvements to the urban realm, traffic movements
and parking provision in Penarth town centre. This was funded
by a Welsh Assembly Government Physical Regeneration Development
Grant. In 2006, these studies had led to the Council
undertaking public exhibitions and consultations of the findings
and the promotion of the necessary traffic regulation orders so
that the Council could apply to WAG for a Physical Regeneration
Implementation Grant of an amount of some £1,200,000 to realise the
scheme. In the event, that application was not successful and
so all proposals for Penarth town centre had been in abeyance since
that time.
Support for the Physical Regeneration
Implementation Grant proposals was extensive and it was seen that
these proposals should form the basis for any future development
within the town centre.
The full scheme as envisaged in 2006 was
considerably more expensive than the amount available under Asset
Renewal, so a reduction in the standard of finishings and much of
the “urban realm improvement” aspects could not now be
provided.
However, this scheme interfaced with the
Central Penarth Renewal Area project which incorporated some
road works aspects to improve walking and cycling, in effect
augmenting the budget available to realise this scheme.
Works to the value of some £245,000 plus
professional fees of some £25,000 to be expended this financial
year had been identified to implement the proposed traffic
management and parking enhancement scheme. The funding
derived from Visible Services’ Asset Renewal and Public
Protection’s Penarth Renewal Area Capital Budget as follows:
·
£175,000 - Asset Renewal
·
£95,000 - from a budget already earmarked by Public Protection for
footway and cycleway enhancement at the Plassey Street
interface.
Design, statutory procedures and project
management would be undertaken by the Engineering Design and
Procurement Division of Visible Services.
Construction works funded from Asset Renewal
are to be undertaken by the Highway Maintenance Division’s
construction team, and to ensure consistency, continuity of
delivery and quality, the Housing Renewal Area of the scheme would
be included with these works.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the proposals as set out in
the report be approved.
Reason for decision
So that officers can commence the statutory
processes to enable the traffic regulation orders that underpin the
scheme to be made and the scheme be progressed to implementation in
this financial year.
C558
FUNDING OF CONTRACT FOR SERVICES: SOUTH EAST WALES BIOLOGICAL
RECORDS CENTRE LTD (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
-
Approval was sought for a contract for
services with the South East Wales Biological Records Centre
(SEWBReC) Ltd for the current and subsequent financial years.
In recent years, the Council had increasingly
recognised the importance of biodiversity issues and its statutory
duties in relation to conservation. One of the key roles set
out in the Corporate Plan was the conservation and enhancement of
the environment. A priority within the Community Strategy was
the protection and enhancement of the biodiversity of the
Vale.
Following a pilot agreement with SEWBReC in
2007/08, a decision had been made to complete a contract for
services for the financial year 2008/09.
The importance of access to up to date
biological data and the need for a commitment and contribution to
Local Record Centres had been highlighted by the WAG as part of
guidance on the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Act
2006.
Further guidance from WAG, CCW and the Wales
Biodiversity Partnership highlighted the importance of investing in
an agreement with a Local Records Centre, citing it as best
practice in the fulfilment of WAG’s Environment Strategy for
Wales.
Services provided by SEWBReC include species
and habitat audits, digitisation of data and biodiversity
information searches relating to Council owned or managed land,
development control and the Local Development Plan.
These services would enable the continuation
of a more complete and efficient delivery of aspects of the
Authority’s statutory obligations as well as providing essential
data for the Vale’s Local Biodiversity Action Plan.
£8,000 (excluding VAT) was available from a
reserve held for biodiversity which would be sufficient for the
2009/10 and 2010/11 financial years. Following that time, the
position would be reviewed.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T a contract for services
with SEWBReC be approved upon such terms and conditions as deemed
appropriate by the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing
Services in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for the current and
subsequent financial years, subject to funding for future years
being identified within estimates.
Reason for decision
SEWBReC was able to provide essential
ecological data to enable compliance with the legislative
requirements and guidance from the Welsh Assembly Government,
Countryside Council for Wales and the Wales Biodiversity
Partnership.
C559
COWBRIDGE OLD HALL GARDENS (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND
ENVIRONMENT) -
The views of Cabinet were sought on a proposal
received by the Cowbridge Charter Trust to undertake a revival of
the grounds at the Old Hall in Cowbridge.
Cowbridge Charter Trust had been working in
conjunction with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to carry out
clearance, surveys and repair of the town walls in the Old Hall,
Cowbridge. The Trust had submitted a proposal for the revival
of the Old Hall grounds.
Plans were developing for all parts of the
grounds, and by the Autumn, the Trust should be able to present a
coherent scheme for public consultation. This would include
areas such as the present Health Centre, which was transferred to
the Bro Morgannwg NHS Trust in 2007, as well as areas which should
be worked on as soon as agreements and funding could be
found. The Trust proposed to refurbish the Old Hall façade
and regenerate the pond area. The Trust was engaging
expertise to develop these plans, involving some of the same people
connected with the successful Physic Garden project.
Funding for the project was likely to be
provided by Environment Wales, an Assembly-funded body which
supported volunteering effort and related expenditure.
With this partnership project, the Trust would
obtain all necessary funding for any capital works but would look
to the Council to carry out a basic level of service to maintain
the site, such as grass cutting.
The Trust had requested a 10 year agreement
with the Council to allow them access to the various sources of
funding available. It was proposed that the agreement with
the Trust be for a 10 year period. The land required was
currently vested with the Directorate of Learning and Development
but was managed and maintained by Visible Services, whose officers
had been in direct discussions with the Cowbridge Charter Trust on
this matter.
The gardens would be open to the public when
complete though, similar to the Physic Garden, it was proposed that
they be locked at night to reduce the potential for vandalism and
anti social behaviour.
At the end of the 10 year agreement, the
Council could decide whether to grant a further agreement or to
take on the full management of the garden directly. As the
gardens would be well established at this time, there was little
concern as to the ongoing maintenance costs should managing the
garden ultimately be returned to the Council.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the Cowbridge Charter Trust be authorised to undertake the
revival of the grounds of Cowbridge Old Hall, part of which is
vested in this Council and part of which is vested in the Local
Health Board with an obligation on the part of this Council to
maintain its grounds.
(2) T H A
T the Director of Finance, ICT and Property in consultation with
the Director of Environment and Economic Development, the
Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services and the
Director of Learning and Development be authorised, in consultation
with the Leader, to enter into a written agreement with the
Cowbridge Charter Trust to undertake the revival of the grounds of
Cowbridge Old Hall.
(3) T H A
T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services in
consultation with the Cabinet Members for Legal, Public Protection
and Housing, and Learning and Development, be authorised to
prepare, complete and execute any necessary documentation
required.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
enable a voluntary group to revive the grounds of Cowbridge Old
Hall.
(2) To
provide the necessary authority to progress this project.
(3) To
complete all necessary documentation to the consideration of the
relevant Cabinet Member.
C560
EVENTS AND MARKETING PROGRAMME 2009-2010 (DEER) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY
AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Cabinet received a report which:
-
informed of the proposed events and costs for the financial year
2009-2010, as set out in Appendix A to the report
-
sought approval for the proposed events programme
-
sought approval for the extension of the Deed of Grants, as
detailed in paragraph 6 of the report, for a further three
years.
Cabinet, on 23rd July 2008, had
approved reference to Deeds of Grant. In particular, Cabinet
agreed to continue to support the tall Ships Youth Trust, Vale of
Glamorgan Agricultural Show, Rotary Barry Fireworks and Penarth
Bonfire Night.
Event support for 2009/10 was set out in the
report, together with a proposal for a new event in 2010.
Proposed events and costs for 2009/10 were
identified in Appendix A to the report.
The following events were at the end of the
three year Deed of Grant period ending 2008/09:
|
|
Current
|
Suggested Future
Grants per Annum
(Subject to
Budget)
|
|
Cowbridge Food Festival
Tiered Deed of Grant
|
£10,000
|
£7,500 (2009/10)
£5,000 (2010/11)
£2,500 (2011/12)
|
|
Tall Ships Youth Trust
|
£10,000
|
£10,000 (2009-12)
|
|
Vale of Glamorgan Agricultural Show
Tiered Deed of Grant
|
£5,000
|
£5,000 (2009/10)
£2,500 (2010/11)
£2,500 (2011/12)
|
|
Rotary Barry Fireworks
|
£3,000
|
£5,000 (2009-12)
|
|
Penarth Bonfire Night
|
£1,000
|
£1,500 (2009-12)
|
The information in the report relating to
proposed future events was withdrawn.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the extension of the Deeds of Grant, as detailed in paragraph 7
of the report, be approved for a further three years for the period
2009 -2012, subject to the satisfactory receipt and assessment of
accounts from Penarth Rotary.
(2) T H A
T the Director of Environment and Economic Regeneration in
consultation with the Director of Finance, ICT and Property and
Cabinet Members and the Director of Legal, Public Protection and
Housing Services be given delegated authority to negotiate Deeds of
Grant in respect of the events approved.
(3) T H A
T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services be
granted delegated authority to execute the Deeds of Grant approved
above.
(4) T H A
T a further report on events be brought before Cabinet in September
2009.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
extend and award the Deeds of Grants for a further three years.
(2) To
delegate authority to negotiate Deeds of Grant.
(3) To
execute the Deeds of Grant.
(4) To
update Cabinet.
C561
DYFFRYN GARDENS: WALLED GARDEN SUPERVISOR (DEER) (SCRUTINY -
CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Agreement was sought for the appointment of a
Walled Garden Supervisor on a two year fixed contract funded by
Heritage Lottery Fund as part of the restoration works at Dyffryn
Gardens.
The restoration of the Walled Garden and
glasshouse was the final section of the Phase 1 restoration.
The paths and planting beds had recently been laid out. The
lower walled garden would be available for additional planting in
the summer. The upper walled garden would remain a
construction area during late 2009 / early 2010 whilst the
glasshouses were erected with planting following in Spring
2010.
The Walled Garden Supervisor’s primary tasks
would be to draw up planting plans in conjunction with the Project
Manager for approval by Heritage Lottery Fund and to implement a
rolling programme of cultivation and planting following appointment
in 2009 to 2011. Assistance with these tasks would be in part
from the existing gardens staff but would rely significantly on the
establishment of a volunteer team dedicated to this area, which
would be led by the Walled Garden Supervisor.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the Director of
Environmental and Economic Regeneration be authorised to establish
the position of Walled Garden Supervisor for a two year fixed
period.
Reason for decision
To comply with the terms of the Heritage
Lottery Fund grant for the restoration of Dyffryn Gardens.
C562
SICKNESS ABSENCE REPORT - MAY 2009 (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE
RESOURCES) -
Cabinet were updated on the progress of the
Sickness Absence Management Action Plan and were provided with
sickness absence information for April 2009.
The detailed information for Directorates /
Service / Teams was set out in Appendix A to the report which set
out targets and absence for April 2009, with a breakdown of long
and short term sickness. Due to changes in reporting methods,
only outline figures for Directorates had been provided.
Performance for April - May had been good,
remaining within target overall. Some departments had
performed less well, in many cases where more serious illness had
led to long term absence. Three quarters of absence days were
now due to long term absence of more than 20 working days, up from
around two thirds in the financial year 2008/09. Given that
overall reductions in absence had been achieved, the change in
ratio may be due to a greater reduction in short term
absence. Tackling long term absence had been recognised as a
priority with schemes such as health care insurance and cash plans
under investigation together with preliminary work to analyse the
reasons behind long term absence. Efforts continued with the
support of the Occupational Health team to facilitate the return of
those on long term absence through measures such as phased returns,
revised hours or duties and redeployment.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the sickness absence
information for April - May 2009 be noted.
Reason for decision
To bring matters to the attention of Members
of the Cabinet in line with corporate aims and objectives.
C563
GRANTS TO COMMUNITY / VOLUNTARY ORGANISATIONS 2009/10 (DFICTP)
(SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Approval was sought on the award of grants
from the 2009/10 corporate revenue budget.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T grants be awarded as set
out at Appendix A to the report, with the exception of Item 27
“Wales Council for the Blind”, consideration of which was
deferred.
Reason for decision
To award grants in accordance with the
approved scheme.
C564
COMMUNITY ACTION SELF HELP (CASH) SCHEME 2009/10 (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY
- CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
The views of Cabinet were sought on the
awarding of CASH grants.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T grants be approved as set
out at Appendix A to the report.
Reason for decision
To progress grants in accordance with the
approved scheme.
C565
MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL PLAN 2009/10 TO 2012/13 AND BUDGET STRATEGY
2010/11 (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet were requested to approve the draft
Medium Term Financial Plan 2009/10 to 2012/13 and Budget Strategy
2010/11 (including the proposed Budget Process and Timetable).
The draft Medium Term Financial Plan covered,
for revenue, the period 2009/10 to 2012/13 and, for capital,
2009/10 to 2013/14. Its purpose was to inform Members and to
suggest a way of dealing with the future financial pressures facing
the Council. Also appended to the Plan was the draft Capital
Investment Strategy 2009/10 to 2013/14. Both had been
reported to Scrutiny Committee (Corporate Resources) on
28th July 2009 with a request for any comments to be
reported back to this meeting of the Cabinet.
Changes to the funding regime for local
government in Wales had been introduced in 2008/09 by the Welsh
Assembly Government with the commencement of 3 year revenue and
capital settlements. However, indicative figures only were
used by WAG for years 2 and 3 of the settlement. Following
the 2009 Budget announcement by the Chancellor of the Exchequer,
the budget for Welsh public sector revenue expenditure faced the
prospect of a £216m reduction in 2010/11. Consequently the
previously predicted increase in the Council’s own settlement was
expected to show a significant reduction from the original 2.93%
WAG predicted increase to that of about 1%. However, this
latest figure was based upon current high level predictions by the
Welsh Local Government Association that almost certainly would be
subject to change.
The lack of certainty as to the level of
future settlements was wholly insufficient for forward planning
purposes. However, they constituted the best information
available at present and had been used to inform this Medium Term
Financial Plan. Their accuracy, however, could not be
guaranteed and any changes to these figures may have a significant
financial impact.
For 2010/11 and 2011/12, it was estimated that
the total shortfall in the Council’s revenue funding would be in
the region of a minimum of £10.4m. (excluding costs of implementing
Corporate Plan actions, approximately £2.7m.). As a result,
work had been undertaken to identify targets for efficiency and
other savings to redress the situation.
The total target savings for each area
(incorporating both efficiency targets and other specific savings
targets) together with the average annual percentage that these
represent of the 2009/10 controllable base were shown in the
following table:
|
Total Saving Targets
|
2010/11
|
2011/12
|
Total
|
|
|
|
£’000
|
£’000
|
£’000
|
%
|
|
Learning & Development
|
1,541
|
1,526
|
3,067
|
1.7
|
|
Social Services
|
1,505
|
725
|
2,230
|
2.8
|
|
Environmental & Economic Regeneration
|
945
|
1,235
|
2,180
|
4.7
|
|
Public Protection & Private Housing
|
126
|
156
|
282
|
3.4
|
|
Youth Offending Service
|
13
|
20
|
33
|
2.3
|
|
Corporate Services
|
681
|
629
|
1,310
|
5.4
|
|
Council-wide Savings
|
990
|
320
|
1,310
|
|
|
TOTAL
|
5,801
|
4,611
|
10,412
|
2.7
|
The figures above represented a significant
challenge for all services. Directors had been requested to
identify specific proposals to achieve these savings by
31st October 2009. This would include a review of
the Council’s senior management structure by the Chief Executive
where target savings of £0.5m. had been set.
The Budget Strategy for 2010/11 as detailed in
Section 10.2 of the Plan outlined:
·
In order to establish a base line, Services should prepare initial
revenue budgets for 2010/11 based on the cost of providing the
current level of service and approved policy decisions. This
meant that the cost of price increases and pay awards should be
included as provided for in the 2009/10 Medium Term Financial
Plan.
·
Increases to budgets approved during the course of a financial year
could restrict the freedom of the Council to allocate its resources
to priorities during the following budget cycle when it was aware
of all the competing demands. Consequently:
-
supplementary estimates will only increase the base budget if
Council had given specific approval to this effect. Increases
met by virement within a year would not be treated as committed
growth
-
directors should find the cost of increments and staff changes from
their base budget unless the relevant specific approval had been
given for additional funding
-
the effect of replacing grant from outside bodies that had
discontinued would not be treated as committed growth. In
addition, before any project or initiative that was to be met
either wholly or partly by way of grant may proceed, the exit
strategy must be approved
-
certain items of unavoidable committed growth would continue and
these included the effect of interest changes and the financing
cost of the Capital Programme, increases in taxes, increases in
levies and precepts charged by outside bodies and changes to
housing benefits net expenditure
-
services would be expected to identify and achieve recurrent
efficiency and other savings, including (but not restricted to)
those identified in the 2009/10 Medium Term Financial Plan.
·
The proposed timetable for the 2010/11 Budget was for Cabinet to
make its initial revenue and capital budget proposals in November
2009. The capital bids considered and prioritised will
include those recommended to the Management Team by the Corporate
Asset Management Group. Each Scrutiny Committee would be
consulted and would receive the relevant initial proposals of the
Cabinet in November / December.
·
Scrutiny Committees would be asked to make comments on the
proposals and in particular to consider the prioritisation of the
capital bids. Corporate Resources Scrutiny Committee would
act as the lead Scrutiny Committee in this respect.
·
The budget would then be considered by the Cabinet Budget Working
Group, which would submit its recommendations to the Cabinet in
January / February 2010. Cabinet would formulate its final
proposals and submit them to a meeting of Full Council to be held
in March having first taken any response from the lead Scrutiny
Committee into account. It may be necessary for Scrutiny
Committees, Cabinet and Council to hold special meetings in order
to ensure that the budget may be approved within the statutory
deadline.
·
Membership of the Cabinet Budget Working Group would consist of the
Leader, Deputy Leader, Chief Executive and Director of Finance, ICT
and Property.
It was reported that the Plan and Budget
Strategy had been considered by Scrutiny Committee (Corporate
Resources) on 28th July 2009 at which the Plan and
Budget Strategy had been accepted.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the contents of the draft Medium Term Financial Plan for 2009/10
to 2012/13 be approved.
(2) T H A
T the total savings targets per Directorate as detailed at
paragraph 9 of the report be approved.
(3) T H A
T Corporate Management Team be required to report back to Cabinet
by 18th November 2009 on progress in identifying areas
for savings together with the implications for future service
delivery.
(4) T H A
T the draft Capital Investment Strategy 2009/10 to 2013/14 be
approved.
(5) T H A
T the Budget Strategy for 2010/11 be approved, including the
requirement for Directors to prepare initial revenue budgets for
2010/11 in accordance with a timetable agreed by the Director of
Finance, ICT and Property.
(6) T H A
T the following Timetable be approved for the 2010/11 budget
process:
|
Timetable for 2010/11 Budget
Process
|
To be completed no
later than
|
|
Cabinet consider the initial budget
proposals
|
18th November 2009
|
|
Lead Scrutiny Committee responds to
consultation and makes comments on budget proposals
|
15th December 2009
|
|
Cabinet make its final proposals on the
budget
|
24th February 2010
|
|
Meeting of Council to consider budget and
Council tax resolution
|
3rd March 2010
|
Reason for decisions
(1-6) To facilitate the
integration of medium term financial planning (including the
Capital Investment Strategy) into the corporate planning process
and enable the 2010/11 budget process to be commenced.
C566
SCHOOL INSPECTION REPORTS (DLD) (SCRUTINY - LIFELONG LEARNING)
-
Cabinet were informed of the outcomes of the
School Inspections undertaken since Summer term 2008.
All schools were inspected under Section 10 of
the Schools Inspection Act 1996 which had been amended by the
Education Act 2002. In a school inspection, Inspectors were
required to report on:
·
the standards achieved by pupils
·
the quality of education provided by the school
·
quality of leadership and the management of the school
·
whether the financial resources made available to the school were
managed efficiently
·
the contribution made by the school to its pupils’ spiritual,
moral, social and cultural development.
Since the Summer term 2008, 9 primary schools,
1 secondary school and 1 special school had been inspected,
namely:
Albert Primary (Standard inspection)
Barry Island Primary (Standard inspection)
Llandough Primary (Standard inspection)
Llanfair Primary (Short inspection)
Llansannor Primary (Standard inspection)
Murch Junior (Standard inspection)
Wick & Marcross Primary (Standard inspection)
Y Bont Faen Primary (Standard inspection)
Ysgol Pen-Y-Garth (Standard inspection)
Ysgol Bro Morgannwg (Short inspection)
Ysgol Erw’r Delyn (Full Inspection).
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the outcome of school inspections be noted.
(2) T H A
T the schools concerned be congratulated on the many positive
elements of the reports.
(3) T H A
T the Director of Learning and Development support schools in
developing their action plans to address identified areas for
development.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure elected Members are kept informed of the progress of
maintained schools.
(2) To
recognise the achievement of schools.
(3) To
support schools in the development of their action plans to address
identified areas for development.
C567
ANNUAL REPORT ON LIBRARY AND INFORMATION SERVICE PERFORMANCE
2008/09 (DLD) (SCRUTINY - LIFELONG LEARNING) -
Cabinet received a report which:
-
provided an update on the Library and Information Service’s
progress in the context of the Welsh Public Library Standards
-
sought approval to submit the Annual Return 2008-9 to the Welsh
Assembly Government.
The Welsh Public Library Standards were
introduced by the Welsh Assembly Government in 2001 as a common
performance assessment framework for public library services in
Wales. The Standards had operated as Three Year Frameworks,
and the Annual Return now being submitted was for the first year of
the Third Framework 2008-2011.
The Third Framework of the Standards contained
14 Standards and 13 Performance Indicators. The 14 Standards
measured performance in the following aspects of the Library and
Information Services:
·
providing suitable and appropriate access to services - both
physical visits and online
·
providing services for those with particular needs
·
providing a suitable range of reading and information materials in
appropriate formats
·
ensuring that levels of investment were adequate in materials,
staff and buildings
·
ensuring that responding to user views and needs was properly
reflected in the way the service was managed and developed.
For the first time, detailed information about
the Authority’s performance management processes was to be included
in the Annual Return to illustrate the extent to which library
services contributed to corporate aims and objectives and were
linked to various Council work programmes.
The Annual Return for 2008-9 was the first for
this Framework and, due to the changes outlined above, it was
difficult to predict what the Assessment would say. It
appeared that the Council achieved 9 of the 14 Standards and partly
achieved the other 5. Performance overall appeared good and
consistent with the improvements made in recent years. Areas
in which the library service did not perform well were related to
the number of library items available for the public, number of
items added to stock, library floor areas, percentage of
professional librarians on the staff establishment, and the extent
to which the Library Entitlements were in operation.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the current performance of the Library and Information Service in
relation to the Welsh Public Libraries Standards framework be
noted.
(2) T H A
T the Annual Report 2008-9 be approved for submission to the Welsh
Assembly Government.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
keep Members informed of progress.
(2) To
comply with the requirements of the Welsh Assembly Government for
formal approval of the Annual Return 2008-9.
C568
HEALTH AND SAFETY ENFORCEMENT PLAN 2009/10 (DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY -
HOUSING AND PUBLIC PROTECTION) -
Approval was sought for the Council’s Health
and Safety Enforcement Plan 2009/10.
Local Authorities had a duty to produce a
Health and Safety Enforcement Service Plan that was endorsed by
elected Members and which made clear their arrangements for
contributing to current Health and Safety Commission
priorities. The Plan needed to take account of local needs
while addressing national priorities as set out by the Health and
Safety Commission in its Strategic Plan. The Plan must
identify both reactive and proactive work and include details of
planned promotional and educational activities. A copy of the
Council’s Health and Safety Enforcement Plan, prepared in
accordance with guidance from the Health and Safety Commission, was
attached at Appendix 1 to the report.
There were four National Assembly of Wales
performance indicators that related to the Council’s Health and
Safety Enforcement Service, namely:
·
the number of high risk businesses liable to a programmed
inspection during the year for Health and Safety that were
inspected during the year
·
the percentage of high risk businesses liable to a programmed
inspection during the year for Health and Safety that were
inspected during the year
·
the percentage of new businesses which were subject to a risk
assessment visit for Health and Safety
·
the percentage of new businesses which were subject to a
self-assessment questionnaire for Health and Safety.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the Health and Safety
Enforcement Service Plan attached at Appendix 1 to the report be
approved.
Reason for decision
To ensure the Council has robust arrangements
in place to deliver its obligations as an enforcing authority under
the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and comply with statutory
guidance.
C569
CARDIFF AND VALE OF GLAMORGAN SURVEY AND ASSESSMENT OF GYPSY AND
TRAVELLER ACCOMMODATION (DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY - HOUSING AND PUBLIC
PROTECTION AND ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT) -
Cabinet were requested to adopt the survey and
assessment of gypsy and traveller accommodation undertaken in the
Vale of Glamorgan in partnership with Cardiff City Council.
Following legislation in 1960, the traditional
source of accommodation for Gypsies and Travellers, in the form of
communal land, had been closed off. Therefore, the
accommodation problems of Gypsy and Travellers were relatively
recent. They were however, amongst the most disadvantaged
sectors of society in terms of their accommodation.
In view of this, the Government had introduced
a number of reforms which had important implications for the
provision of Gypsy and Traveller sites. The aim was to ensure
that members of the Gypsy and Traveller community had the same
access to decent and appropriate accommodation as any other citizen
and that there were sufficient sites to meet their needs.
Section 87 of the Local Government Act 2003
required local authorities to produce Local Housing Strategies and
to submit them to the Welsh Assembly Government. Each LHS
must consider the accommodation needs of Gypsies and Travellers in
order to comply with the statutory requirement under S.225 of the
Housing Act 2004.
Planning Policy Wales set out the land use
planning policies of the Welsh Assembly Government. It
included the requirement for local authority planning housing
functions to combine in partnership with local stakeholders,
including private house builders, to undertake a Local Housing
Market Assessment to develop an understanding of the nature and
level of housing demand and need in their local housing markets
which would be used to inform the LHS.
Guidance produced by the Welsh Assembly
Government on undertaking LHMA advised local authorities to carry
out the study over Housing Market Areas. The Vale of
Glamorgan was deemed to be part of the broader Cardiff Housing
Market and therefore it was felt to be appropriate to undertake a
joint assessment with Cardiff City Council.
Against this policy background, Fordham
Research were commissioned by Officers of the Vale of Glamorgan’s
Housing and Planning Departments in partnership with their
respective Officers in Cardiff Council in 2007 to undertake a Gypsy
and Travellers Accommodation Assessment.
The aim of the study was to quantify the
accommodation and housing related support needs of Gypsies and
Travellers. This is in terms of residential and transit sites
and bricks and mortar accommodation.
The research considered a range of Gypsy and
Traveller groups found in the Vale of Glamorgan and Cardiff,
including Welsh Gypsies, English Gypsies and Irish Travellers
across different tenure types.
There were currently no authorised permanent
residential or transit pitches in the area and there was one family
on a long term unauthorised development that had been there for
over 12 years. However, stakeholders believed that there was
a small settled and transient community in the area. This
conclusion had been reached from information collected by Officers
of the Council and by Health practitioners. Both sectors had
dealt with members of the Gypsy and Traveller communities who had
passed through the Vale of Glamorgan on unauthorised encampments or
who lived in permanent homes in the community when they had
accessed available facilities, such as Educational Welfare and
maternity Services.
The research findings of the estimated need in
the Vale of Glamorgan for 2008 to 2018 is shown below:
|
Type
|
Additional Units
per Annum
|
Total Additional
Units over the 10 year period
|
|
Authorised pitches
|
0.6
|
6
|
|
Unauthorised pitches
|
0
|
0
|
|
Transit pitches (where Gypsies and Travellers
may legally stop in the course of travelling)
|
1.5
|
15
|
|
Housing
|
0.1
|
1
|
In 2007, WAG had issued Circular 30/2007
“Planning for Gypsy and Caravan Site” which provided updated
guidance for local authorities in Wales on the planning aspects of
finding suitable sites for Gypsy and Travellers. It required
that where LHMA identified an unmet need for Gypsy and Traveller
accommodation in an area, local planning authorities should
allocate sufficient sites in Local Development Plans to ensure that
the identified pitch requirements for residential and transit use
could be met.
Local Planning Authorities would need to
demonstrate that sites allocated were suitable, and that there was
a realistic likelihood that the specific site(s) allocated in the
LDP would be made available for that purpose.
Further work required to be undertaken,
i.e.:
·
Identify any suitable sites within the Vale of Glamorgan to meet
the need for both an authorised site and a transit site (if the
local authority was unable to meet the assessed future need
identified, the LDP should contain a reasoned explanation as to why
this had not been possible).
·
Assess if a rural exceptions site policy should be used in the LDP
if there was a lack of land to meet the identified need.
·
Determine if the current unauthorised site in Llangan should be
regulated.
·
Determine the policy on any future planning applications to develop
further Gypsy and Traveller sites after the identified need had
been met.
It was noted that the Welsh Assembly
Government was currently developing a Gypsy and Traveller Strategy,
which was due for consultation in the Autumn. This would
include information and aims for future policy direction for
several policy areas in relation to Gypsy and Travellers including
planning and accommodation. This Strategy would therefore
also influence the Council’s local policy direction.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the report be accepted and
the policy implications for the Vale of Glamorgan be noted.
Reason for decision
To ensure that the Council was able to meet
its statutory requirements under S.225 of the Housing Act 2004.
C570
EQUAL PAY AND JOB EVALUATION (DFICTP AND DLPPHS) (SCRUTINY -
CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet were advised of the collective cost
sharing requirements for legal advice obtained via WLGA in respect
of equal pay.
The Council had currently received
approximately 418 equal pay grievances of which approximately 253
Claims had been lodged at Cardiff Employment Tribunals by the trade
unions. The Council, together with many other local
authorities in Wales, had entered defences at the Cardiff
Employment Tribunal. The cases for all local authorities in
Wales had been dealt with collectively at present in order to
consider issues which were relevant to all in an effort to
effectively manage the litigation from a time and costs efficiency
perspective.
Equal pay was highly complex and needed to be
progressed with care and precision. The Council was obtaining
external legal advice, as appropriate. As part of this, the
Council participated with other local authorities in obtaining
general advice, which dealt with the wider issues concerning equal
pay such as up to date information concerning case law, defences to
such claims across the UK and issues peculiar to Wales. It
was important that the Council was able to keep abreast of these
issues which could rapidly change, in order to best protect the
Council’s interests and be in an informed position to make
strategic decisions.
Although the WLGA organised the provision of
advice, a contribution had been requested from each participating
local authority. The cost for the current financial year was
estimated at £2,000 per annum. However, this figure would
vary dependant upon how the equal pay job evaluation issues
developed in Wales and how that impacted upon the advice given.
On occasion, additional funding was necessary
to cover those issues that arose in the course of the Employment
Tribunals claims and were relevant to all local authorities.
In this instance, the local authorities may need to provide
additional funds in order to effectively save on legal costs by
defending elements collectively instead of independently.
The Council’s equal pay group consisting of
the Director of Finance, ICT and Property, the Head / Operational
Manager of Human Resources and the Employment Lawyer believed that
it was in the Council’s best interests to participate in these
joint arrangements for all the reasons set out above, namely as an
efficient way of utilising external legal advice in a cost
efficient manner, ensuring that the Council was well informed in
current developments concerning equal pay and job evaluation,
understanding the similarities and disparities between this
Council’s position and other local authorities in Wales.
There were currently finances put aside for
job evaluation and equal pay progression from which the costs of
the above could be accommodated.
In the light of the further possibility of
additional commitments to group funding with local authorities
becoming necessary to defend specific points within the Employment
Tribunal claims, the Council’s equal pay group also requested that
the Director of Finance, ICT and Property and the Director of
Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services, in consultation with
the Leader approve any future cost sharing arrangements for the
defence of equal pay claims.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T “cost sharing” with other Welsh authorities be agreed to inform
the Council’s equal pay strategy and the Council’s response to
current Employment Tribunal claims, in the course of the Employment
Tribunal.
(2) T H A
T the Director of Finance, ICT and Property and the Director of
Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services, in consultation with
the Leader approve future cost sharing arrangements with other
local authorities where it relates to equal pay advice.
Reason for decisions
(1&2) To ensure that the Council is
in the best informed position to defend claims in relation to equal
pay and to make appropriate strategic decisions regarding equal pay
and job evaluation.
C571
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 indicated be
considered.
C572
CASE MANAGEMENT INQUIRY ACTION PLAN PROGRESS REPORT (DSS) (SCRUTINY
- SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH) -
Urgent by reason of the need to ensure
timely delivery of the Action Plan
Details relating to the progress in
implementing the Action Plan which had been produced in response to
the recommendations from the report of the Case Management Inquiry
were presented.
The Social Services Directorate continued to
make progress with the considerable and challenging change
programme which the Plan required. An updated version of the
Plan was attached at Appendix 1 to the report which showed that all
the actions scheduled for June had been completed and that other
work was on schedule.
The Deputy Minister had asked the Care and
Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) to advise her about how
the matters raised in the report should be taken further. The
Chief Inspector then wrote to the Director of Social Services
posing a number of questions concerning:
·
the management of the case
·
compliance with the Employers Code of Conduct for Social Care
Workers
·
the implications of the findings.
Despite the very short time made available for
compiling a response, detailed information had been provided to the
Chief Inspector covering these matters.
On the basis of his advice, the Deputy
Minister for Social Services made a Written Statement on
8th July 2009. The statement described signs of
improvement in Social Services in the Vale of Glamorgan,
particularly in relation to the engagement and oversight of the
political and corporate bodies and some aspects of Children’s
Services.
The Deputy Minister met with the Leader of the
Council, the Cabinet Member for Social and Care Services, the Chief
Executive and the Director of Social Services on 22nd
July 2009. The purpose of the meeting had been to discuss the
issues the case had raised and to stress how important it was that
the Council’s planned actions addressed these issues.
During the meeting it was acknowledged that
the Council was working to achieve the outcomes detailed in the
Action Plan and that progress was being monitored closely by the
Cabinet and the Social Care and Health Scrutiny
Committee.
The Deputy Minister had now written to all
Directors of Social Services in Wales asking them to consider what
steps they may need to take to ensure that any lessons learned from
this Inquiry were applied to their own policies, procedures and
practices.
The Social Services Improvement Agency had
undertaken a review of policies and procedures across local
authorities and brought forward some examples of good practice that
would inform the ongoing developmental work in the Directorate.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the progress report on the programme of work arising from the
Action Plan be accepted.
(2) T H A
T the progress report be referred to the next meeting of the
Scrutiny Committee (Social Care and Health).
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure that:
·
Cabinet is aware of the progress made
·
Actions in the Plan are achieved properly and with the right
outcomes for people who depend upon good quality social care
services.
(2) To
ensure that the Scrutiny Committee is able to exercise effective
oversight of the way in which the Action Plan is implemented.
C573
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 item of business on the grounds that it
involves 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.
C574
PENARTH HEIGHTS (DEER) (EXEMPT INFORMATION - PARAGRAPH 14)
(SCRUTINY - CORPORATE RESOURCES) -
Cabinet received a report which:
-
outlined the background to the Penarth Heights project
-
summarised a revised financial offer from Crest Nicholson
-
outlined current legal advice from Capital Law
-
sought authority and funding for the proposed Way Forward as set
out in the report.
Following the marketing of the Penarth Heights
site and in accordance with Cabinet Minute C1736, Crest Nicholson
were approved as the Preferred Developer for the Penarth Heights
project to contract. Subsequently the Council and Crest
Nicholson entered into a conditional contract dated 7th
June 2006 for the sale and redevelopment of the site for a new
residential development scheme.
The onset of the economic recession during
2008 had a major impact on the private house building
industry. This had led Crest to reconsider its position in
respect of the Penarth Heights scheme and the developer had
submitted a revised lower financial offer for the acquisition of
the site. The report detailed the implications of this
offer.
In tandem with the marketing and selection of
a developer and the planning and design process, the Council had
continued its effort to achieve full vacant possession of the
site.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T authority be granted to the Director of Legal, Public Protection
and Housing Services to determine the contract between the Vale of
Glamorgan Council and Crest Nicholson.
(2) T H A
T the Way Forward outlined in the report be endorsed.
(3) T H A
T the Director of Environmental and Economic Regeneration be
authorised to appoint consultants that may be required to assist
with the delivery of the project.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
grant authority to the Director of Legal, Public Protection and
Housing Services to determine the contract between the Vale of
Glamorgan Council and Crest Nicholson.
(2&3) To progress the project.
C575
APPLICATIONS FOR LOCAL TAX RELIEF (DFICTP) (SCRUTINY - CORPORATE
RESOURCES) -
Cabinet were requested to determine
applications for relief from rates and Council tax received from
charitable and other organisations and individuals as summarised in
paragraph 9 of the report and as detailed in the appendix
thereto.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the following applications
be approved as determined below:
·
British Red Cross
- 80% mandatory
·
Barry Sea Cadets
- 80% mandatory
- 20% discretionary
·
Llansannor Community Association
- 80%
mandatory
- 20% discretionary
·
Vale of Glamorgan Women’s Aid
- 80% mandatory
- 20% discretionary
·
Action for
Children
- 80% mandatory
- 20% discretionary
Reason for decision
All applications had to be considered
individually.
C576
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 indicated be
considered.
C577
FAMILY INTERVENTION SERVICE (DSS) (EXEMPT INFORMATION - PARAGRAPH
20) (SCRUTINY - SOCIAL CARE AND HEALTH) -
Urgent by reason of the need to enable
the contract to be finalised as soon as possible.
Approval was sought to award a contract
following the procurement process for the Provision of a Family
Intervention Service.
The current contract with Action for Children
had expired on 31st March 2009. The agreement had
been extended to 30th June 2009 to enable Cabinet to
consider and approve the tendering of a range of services, which
included this agreement.
The current contract consists of a range of
essential and desirable elements which would be purchased according
to the needs of the particular family.
Following the placement of an advert, 17
expressions of interest had been received. 5 of these
organisations completed and returned a Pre Qualification
Questionnaire and 3 organisations were shortlisted and invited to
tender. Of these, 2 organisations completed and returned
their tender documentation.
Following the evaluation of both submissions,
it was recommended that Action for Children be awarded the contract
to provide a Family Intervention Service.
This was a matter for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the contract be awarded to the most economically advantageous
tenderer - Action for Children.
(2) T H A
T the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet
Member for Social Care and Health, be granted authority to formally
award contracts that have resulted in the most economically
advantageous tender being successful following the full tendering
of contracts as outlined in the composite report submitted to
Cabinet (Minute C375 refers).
(3) T H A
T the Director of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services be
authorised to complete and execute the required legal
documentation.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure the continuation of the Family Intervention Service.
(2) To
enable the Directorate to award contracts for services in
accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders.
(3) To
execute and complete the contract with Action for Children.