CABINET
Minutes of a meeting held on 25th
June, 2012.
Present: Councillor N. Moore (Chairman);
Councillor S.C. Egan (Vice-Chairman); Councillors Ms. B.E. Brooks,
L. Burnett, R.F. Curtis, C.P.J. Elmore, and G. John.
Also present: Councillors C.P. Franks and K.
Hatton.
C1742
MINUTES -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
held on 11th June, 2012 be approved as a correct
record.
C1743
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST -
Councillor S.C. Egan declared an interest in
Agenda Item No. 9 - Summary of School Inspection Reports for the
Spring Term 2012 - Governor of High Street Primary School.
C1744
VALE OF GLAMORGAN LOCAL ACCESS FORUM -
The following minutes of a meeting held on
16th May, 2012 were submitted:
Present: Mr. F. Coleman
(Chairman); Mr. M. Dunn (Deputy Chairman); Mr. S. Lait,
Ms. C. Lucas, Ms. E. Nash, Mr. M. Parry, Mr. G. Thomas
and Mr. R. Traherne.
Ms. T. Cottnam, Mr. G. Teague and
Mrs. S. Thomas (VoGC).
Prior to the meeting several of the above
had undertaken a walk to Cwm Mawr together with Belinda Ashong, a
Heritage Coast Ranger. The Chairman thanked Gwyn Teague and Sandra
Thomas for leading the walk and staff at the Heritage Coast Centre
for their assistance in facilitating the meeting being held at the
Centre.
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(a)
Apologies for Absence -
These were received from
Mrs. V.M. Hartrey Mr. J.J Herbert,
Mr. H.S. McMillan, Mr. R. Pittard and Mr. C. Short; Mr.
B. Guy and Mr. J. Wyatt (Secretary).
The Chairman notified Members at this
juncture that Anthony Ernest would no longer attend meetings as the
Council’s nominated representative. The Council’s Cabinet
would be requested, in due course, to nominate a new
representative.
AGREED – THAT the Chairman write to Mr.
Ernest thanking him for his support and wishing him well for the
future.
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(b)
Presentation from Chris Heaps, CCW on Open Access -
Chris Heaps referred to the duty imposed
upon CCW to review the maps of open access every 10
years. He referred to the fact that most of the access land
within the Vale related to registered common land and that CCW
needed to know if there were any changes required to the current
maps, such as the deletion or inclusion of areas. Discussion
was ongoing with a variety of interested parties, including
LAFs. He drew attention in the course of his
presentation to the limited resources CCW now had available to
undertake such a review compared with when the process had first
been undertaken.
The proposed timetable indicated that CCW
would issue all Wales draft maps of open access on 16th
July, 2012, the date from which the consultation period would
commence. The consultation would conclude on 23rd
November, 2012. CCW would issue all Wales provisional maps on
7th August, 2013 following which there would be an
appeals process. CCW anticipated that an all Wales conclusive
map would be issued in September, 2014.
He concluded his presentation by reminding
Members of the appropriate website, namely openaccessmapping@ccw.gov.uk,
following which the Chairman thanked him for the information
provided.
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(c) Minutes of the
meetings held on 22nd February, 2012-
AGREED – T H A T the minutes of both
meetings held on 22nd February, 2012 be accepted as a
correct record subject to the numbering of minute no. (l) on page 7
relating to the Countryside Code being amended.
The following updates were provided to
members:
(i)
Valeways: Gwyn Teague
indicated that the request for grant aid from Valeways of £20k. had
been approved by the Council’s Cabinet ( a reduced figure from that
previously approved) and that there would be a consequent reduction
in the level of maintenance work undertaken. Cabinet had also
asked the appropriate Director to carry out a full review of the
services offered by Valeways to the Council.
Reference was made to the change in the
political leadership of the Council since the local government
elections earlier in the month. Members accepted that the
Council’s priorities might also change and that a further update
would be given at the next meeting should that, indeed,
occur.
(ii)
Appointment of additional Member to represent Disabled People:
whilst the Access Group Co-ordinator from Diverse Cymru had
reaffirmed his interest in attending the LAF in early May, no
further contact had been made. The Chairman asked that his
intentions be clarified.
(iii) Vale
of Glamorgan Local Development Plan, Sustaining a Living Wales and
Natural Resources Wales (single body): the responses to the
consultation processes in respect of each of the above as collated
and submitted by both the Chairman and the Deputy Chairman on
behalf of the LAF were appended to the minutes. Also attached
was a response sent by the National Representative of LAFs in Wales
to the single body consultation.
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(d)
Briefing Note for New Members -
Gwyn Teague had updated the briefing note
from that previously circulated for Members’ information to reflect
the current position.
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(e)
Communication (Web Content) –
The report briefly outlined the position
in relation to what was currently available, and where, and the
opportunities for the enhancing the information provided. A
matter Members deemed of paramount importance was the amalgamation
of the information into one site, the view being expressed by
several that the site was difficult to navigate. Another
suggestion made related to an on-line form being published to
assist in the reporting of, for example, the need for footpath
repairs (as was currently the case for potholes). Members
were requested to forward any suggestions for improvement to Gwyn
Teague.
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(f) Maintenance
Priorities -
Gwyn Teague presented the report which
indicated the background relating to the Council’s 554.34
kilometres of Public Rights of Way (PROWs). Maintenance
issues had been divided into 6 categories and breakdowns showing
issues in relation to those categories were contained within the
report. Members were requested to identify those issues the
LAF considered required to be addressed as a priority. The
following discussion included apparent anomalies in respect of
certain geographical areas, the rationale for commissioning
independent surveyors and the criteria for grant funding which
meant that grant monies could not be expended on work the Council
was required to undertake, Members were asked to consider the
survey findings further prior to the next meeting. At that
meeting, Gwyn would submit suggestions as to a list of priorities
based on the likely budget available and the evidence collected on
the ground.
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(g)
Definitive Map Modification and Public Path Orders – Update
–
The report covered both live and closed
cases in respect of the above. Members agreed that, in
future, closed cases should be removed from the report. It
was anticipated that the Definitive Map would be published during
2012 with the outstanding issues relating largely to cross border
links and a redrafting of some of the statements. Gwyn Teague
confirmed that, for the most part, the map had been quality assured
and that only minor matters remained to be finalised.
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(h)
ROWIP and CAIP – Update –
Gwyn Teague took Members through the ROWIP
element of the report illustrating the way in which the grant
funding of £39k. would be mainly expended. The bulk of the
funding would be used to match fund various projects under the
Rural Development Plan, further details in respect of certain of
which were given at the meeting.
Trisha Cottnam amplified the details given
in the report relating to the CAIP. She indicated, for
example, that the alternative route referred to at St. Mary’s Well
Bay was already well walked and displayed samples of both urban and
rural signage together with pavier signs relating to the Coastal
Path, requesting Members with any suggestions as to the desired
location of the same to contact Gwyn. She continued by
referring to the opening of the Coastal Path on 5th May
and to the ongoing promotional events, drawing specific attention
to the website (http://www.walescoastpath.gov.uk/)
where one could find information such as downloadable maps.
Any feedback relating solely to the Coastal Path Website should be
directed to Anna Mullarkey at annam@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk.
At this juncture Gwyn showed Members the interim leaflet produced
within his team which illustrated the route of the path within the
Vale together with useful information such as the nearest parking
and refreshment facilities. Trisha also made available a
leaflet produced by the Penarth Tourism and Visitor Association
which showed the route of the path from Cardiff Bay through
Penarth. In response to a question relating to the
development of circular routes, Gwyn Teague indicated that, where
feasible, that could be considered with the next tranche of CAIP
funding.
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(i) Highways
and Transport (Wales) Bill –
Since the papers for the meeting were
despatched, the Welsh Government had produced a white paper
entitled Consultation on Active Travel (Wales) Bill which replaced
what had been known as the Highways and Transport Bill. Hard
copies of the consultation document were tabled and it was noted
that the consultation period would end on 14th
August. Members were notified that officers within the
Transport Division of the Council would be submitting a report to
Cabinet for consideration and asked if they would prefer to feed
any comments back to the Welsh Government through the Council or
independently as the LAF. Gwyn Teague indicated that the key
proposals within the white paper related to the opening up of and
enhancing the network of routes to non-motorised users (simply,
pedestrians, cyclists and equestrians). The desirability of
increasing the routes available for horse riding was fully accepted
but it was recognised that there was a need to take a practical
approach as to what might or might not be achievable and to ensure
a balance of interests. Gwyn understood that consultation
events were being run and undertook to make the Chairman aware of
the same where possible. Members subsequently agreed that the
most appropriate way to make representations to the Welsh
Government was for the LAF to respond on its own behalf. Gwyn
would circulate comments to all Members based on his understanding
of the consultation document to assist in the formulation of
individual responses which he would collate. The Chairman
would then consider the optimum way to proceed in order for a
composite response to be made to the Welsh Government by the due
deadline.
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(j) Use of
Volunteers –
To be considered at a future
meeting
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(k) Stepping Forward
– the Stakeholder Working Group on Unrecorded Public Rights of Way
: Report to Natural England –
Gwyn Teague drew attention to the above
consultation which recommended a package of legal and procedural
changes in England.
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(l) Glastir
Woodland Management Consultation –
To be considered at a future
meeting.
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- - - - - - - - - -
RESOLVED - T H A T the minutes of the meeting
be noted.
Reason for decision
Having regard to the views expressed.
C1745
USE OF THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE'S EMERGENCY POWERS (L) (SCRUTINY - AS
INDICATED BELOW) -
RESOLVED - T H A T the exercise of the Chief
Executive's Emergency Powers as indicated below be noted:
(a) Authority
to transfer capital funding from community centre doors, windows
and fascias for a new floor for the main hall of Lower Penarth
Community Centre.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(b) Authority
to allocate £15,667 towards the shortfall in funding for the Forest
Lodge project (Porthkerry Park) and £27,000 towards the Nell’s
point Study, Barry Island.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(c)
Authority to include an additional £129,521 capital funding from
the Welsh Government Substance Misuse Action Fund to cover the
shortfall in the Safer Vale Partnership’s current capital
allocation in respect of Cadoxton House, Barry.
(Scrutiny - Housing and Public Protection)
(d) Authority
to act in the case of an employee relations issue within the
Directorate of Legal, Public Protection and Housing Services.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(e) Authority
to replace Councillor Miss S.J.C. Williams on the Scrutiny
Committee (Lifelong Learning) with Councillor Mrs. M. Kelly Owen
until the Council’s Annual Meeting in May 2012.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(f)
Authority to appoint the specialist conservation contractor, Ken
Biggs Contractors Limited, to enable restoration of the principal
rooms of the east section of Dyffryn House.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(g) Authority
to replace Councillor S.C. Egan on the Scrutiny Committees (Social
Care and Health) and (Housing and Public Protection) with
Councillors Mrs. A.J. Moore and N. Moore respectively until his
return from ill health.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(h)
Authority to accept additional grant of £227,637.33 to extend the
works being carried out on Port Road, Barry to provide
walking/cycling infrastructure and to include the same in the
Capital Programme.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(i)
Authority to replace Councillor S.C. Egan on the Appeals Committee
with Councillor N. Moore until his return from ill health.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(j)
Authority to act in relation to applications for secondment within
the Directorate of Learning and development.
(Scrutiny- Corporate Resources)
(k)
Authority to replace Councillor S.C. Egan on the Social Services
Appeals Committee with Councillor N. Moore until his return from
ill health.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(l)
Authority to sign off BBIS Access Agreement to enter into a
contract with Northgate for the production of Disabled Blue Car
Parking Badges.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(m) Authority to
accept additional grant funding of £12,000 from the Sewta RTCG Road
Safety Grant and to include the same in the Capital Programme.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(n)
Authority to accept additional grant funding of £35,000 to extend
the works currently being carried out on Port Road, Barry to
provide walking/cycling infrastructure to Colcot School and to
include the same in the Capital Programme.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(o) Authority
to accept additional grant funding of £83,000 for the Barry Docks
Park and Ride scheme from the Sewta RTCG fund and to include the
same in the Capital Programme.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(p) Authority
to accept additional grant funding of £20,000 from the Sewta RTCG
fund to study Five Mile Lane safety improvements and to include the
same in the Capital Programme.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(q) Authority
to appoint the Council’s Construction Section to undertake the
advanced works in respect of the Gileston to Old Mill highway
improvement scheme, to appoint Capita Symonds to undertake the
tasks identified in the note attached to the pro-forma requesting
authority, and to amend the Capital Programme to include the
£100,000 allocation.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(r)
Authority to increase the current capital budget in respect of the
partial roof replacement at the Civic Offices to £340,000, to slip
£270,000 into the 2012/13 Capital Programme and to accept the
tender from Dawnus Construction limited in the sum of
£258,246.79.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(s)
Authority to approve the funding by the Council of the costs of the
equal pay settlement in schools.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(t)
Authority to authorise a redundancy payment for a Learning Support
Assistant on a temporary contract.
(Scrutiny - Corporate Resources)
(u)
Authority to allocate £5,000 from the Environmental and Economic
Regeneration revenue reserve towards funding survey works to be
undertaken by a RICS registered firm on the United Reformed
Methodist Church, Windsor Road, Barry.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(v)
Authority to distribute funding to facilitate the delivery of the
various projects within the Vale Sport and Physical Activity Plan
as indicated on the pro-forma seeking authority for the use of
emergency powers.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(w) Authority
to accept additional grant funding of £29,000 to upgrade bus stops
to DDA standards on the A48 corridor and £20,000 to upgrade the
cycle route from the Sewta RTCG grant fund and to include the same
in the Capital Programme.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
(x)
Authority to award the contract to provide a day care service in
St. Athan for older people with dementia to Hafod Community
Care.
(Scrutiny - Social Care and Health)
(y)
Authority to accept £1.411m. from the Welsh Government National
Transport Plan fund for the Five Mile Lane Highway Safety
Improvements scheme.
(Scrutiny - Economy and Environment)
Reason for decision
To apprise Cabinet.
C1746
CAPITAL MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 2012 TO
31ST MAY, 2012 (L) (SCRUTINY - ALL) -
Appendix 1 detailed financial progress on the
Capital Programme as at 31st May, 2012. It was
noted that Appendix 1 did not include requests for underspent
committed expenditure to be slipped from 2011/12 into the financial
year 2012/13. A request for this slippage would be included
in the Closing Down report presented to a future meeting of the
Cabinet.
Councillor John, the relevant Cabinet Member,
indicated that a further report apprising Cabinet on progress in
delivering the refurbishment of St. Paul's Church, Penarth would be
presented in the near future. He also updated the Cabinet on
progress in relation to the following:
·
Wick Pavilion disabled access
·
Pencoedtre Park improvements and
·
Park buildings and play equipment.
This matter was for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the latest position in
respect of the 2012/13 Capital Programme be noted.
Reason for decision
In acknowledgement of the latest progress to
date on the Capital Programme.
C1747
REVENUE MONITORING FOR THE PERIOD 1ST APRIL, 2012 TO
31ST MAY, 2012 (L) (SCRUTINY - ALL) -
The projected outturn for the 2012/13 Revenue
Budget was for a balanced budget.
In regard to the Housing Revenue Account this
was forecasting a balanced budget.
As for Social Services, it still remained
early in the financial year and was currently forecasting a
balanced budget. In addition to increased demand for
services, the Directorate was working towards achieving its savings
target for 2012/13. The financial information in respect of
budgetary pressures on Children and Young People Services, and
Adult Services was set out in the report.
This matter was for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the position with regard to
the Council's 2012/13 Revenue Budget be noted.
Reason for decision
In acknowledgement of progress made to date in
regard to the projected outturn for 2012/13.
C1748
SCHOOLS TRANSPORT - RESULTS OF TENDERING EXERCISE AND AWARD OF
CONTRACTS (BIREDPT) (SCRUTINY - ECONOMY AND ENVIRONMENT)
-
The report set out at Appendix A the results
of a recent tendering exercise in respect of 30 school bus
contracts that were due for renewal and to commence from September
2012. Since the circulation of the report an updated Appendix
had been tabled for further consideration. This reflected
changes as a consequence of information provided by the successful
tenderers which indicated that due to the number of contracts they
had successfully tendered for, they were unable to deliver certain
services owing to capacity issues. In such instances, the
contract had been awarded to the next lowest tenderer.
It was noted that 34 operators had submitted
tender returns but not all operators tendered for all
contracts. An analysis of the tender submissions had been
undertaken applying a weighting in line with the criteria
reflecting an emphasis on price (70%) and then quality (30%)
(vehicle age and whether the vehicles would be equipped with CCTV
systems).
It was proposed that service P123 Park
Crescent to Barry Island Primary School be discontinued due to
dwindling passenger numbers based on information supplied by the
operator.
This matter was for Executive decision.
RESOLVED -
(1) T H A
T the award of contracts for the School Bus Services as set out in
the Appendix to the report be approved.
(2) T H A
T the proposed withdrawal of the discretionary service P123 Park
Crescent to Barry Island Primary School be approved.
(3) T H A
T in the event of any of the preferred operators for each listed
contract decline to accept the contract as offered, the operator
offering the next advantageous tender be awarded the contract.
Reasons for decisions
(1) To
ensure ongoing school bus provision from September 2012 which the
Council had a statutory obligation to provide.
(2) To
withdraw this fare paying discretionary school bus service due to
the lack of passengers.
(3) To
allow the contracts to be awarded to commence September 2012.
C1749
SUMMARY OF SCHOOL INSPECTION REPORTS FOR THE SPRING TERM 2012
(SCH(C)S) - (SCRUTINY - LIFELONG LEARNING) -
The Cabinet was apprised on the results of
school inspections for the Spring Term 2012 under the Estyn School
Inspection Common Inspection Framework (CIF) which was introduced
across all schools in Wales in September 2010.
CIF introduced some significant changes
namely:
- only three Key Questions instead of
seven;
- two new overarching judgements;
- more specific reference to the need to
promote learner wellbeing in parallel with standards;
- more specific reference for practitioners and
school leaders to work with others to secure best practice and
school improvement.
The following schools inspected during the
Spring Term 2012 were set out below including details of the
overall judgements achieved by the same.
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School
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Overall Judgement
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Current Performance
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Prospects for Improvement
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High St Primary School
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Good
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Good
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St David's Church in Wales Primary School
(placed in Estyn Follow-up category)
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Adequate
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Adequate
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Cogan Primary School
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Good
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Good
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Llangan Primary School
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Good
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Good
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For those schools requiring local authority
monitoring, there was an expectation that the local authority works
closely with the school to help devise and deliver its improvement
plan to improve the school within a specified timeframe which for
schools placed in the category of local authority monitoring, was
usually one year. After which time there was an expectation
for the local authority to provide evidence to inform Estyn
judgements about whether or not they felt that the school had made
satisfactory progress against the improvement plan
recommendations. Interim progress report devised by the local
authority would be required by Estyn.
St. David's Church in Wales Primary School had
been placed in an Estyn follow-up category. However, a
substantive Headteacher was now in place, the post inspection
action plan produced and supportive work to address the
recommendations had commenced. Cabinet also noted that a half
termly progress report would also be provided to the Cabinet and
the Scrutiny Committee (Lifelong Learning).
This matter was for Executive decision.
RESOLVED - T H A T the contents of the report
be noted and that the report be referred to the Scrutiny Committee
(Lifelong Learning) in order that it may consider the nature of any
follow-up activity required.
Reason for decision
To develop a shared understanding about the
outcomes of schools inspections, according to the new
arrangements.