To notify the Chairman of any items included in the agenda in which you may have an interest.

Members had no interests to declare.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 28^th July 2005.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 28^th July 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Director of Leisure Services.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to undertake roof works at Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor Leisure Centres.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members noted that since 2002 both Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor Leisure Centre roofs had experienced water ingress.  A survey of the leaking areas had found that the problems had been caused by deterioration of the existing roofing systems, which were between 20 and 30 years old, and condensation due to the lack of insulation.

It was reported that tenders had been invited to install new roofing systems and the lowest tender had been submitted by Duffell Roofing in the sum of £365,964 with £147,000 in respect of Spennymoor Leisure Centre and £213,964 for Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre being identified.

It was pointed out that consideration had been given to the feasibility of phasing the work at the Centres.  It was established that the roof areas at Spennymoor Leisure Centre would not last another winter, however, work to the Sports Hall roof at Newton Aycliffe could be delayed until April 2006. As part of the Capital Programme for 2005/6, £37,000 of the cost of the works to Spennymoor Leisure Centre roof could be met by deferring two capital schemes:the refurbishment of the pool hall area at Spennymoor Leisure Centre and the provision of playing pitches at Sedgefield. The remainder could be met from capital contingencies.  

RESOLVED :            1.            That the lowest tender submitted by Duffell Roofing in the sum of £360,954 for both Centres be accepted.

                        2.            That the roof work at Spennymoor Leisure Centre be undertaken within the 2005/06 financial year at a cost of £147,000.

                        3.            That the agreed Capital Programme be altered with £37,000 ear-marked for the refurbishment of the pool hall at Spennymoor Leisure Centre and the provision of a playing pitch at Sedgefield being deferred until 2006/07.

                        4.            That £110,000 be allocated from capital contingencies to meet the balance of costs for the roof replacement at Spennymoor Leisure Centre.

                        5.            That the roof work required at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre, amounting to £213,964 be a first call against the 2006/07 Capital Programme.

Report  of Director of Neighbourhood Services.

The Lead Member for Housing presented a report detailing the proposed private sector housing capital programme for 2005/06 and the changes to the bidding arrangements to the Regional Housing Board in respect of future funding.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members noted that the planned budget for 2005/06 was £1.6m, which was made up of three elements, Mandatory Disabled Facilities Grant, Single Housing Investment Programme “safety net” allocation and the discretionary ‘coalfields’ allocation.  The ‘safety net’ element would be focused on the delivery of services to the elderly and vulnerable client groups, for example, fast track adaptations to support hospital discharges and replacement heating systems for elderly or vulnerable low income home owners.

The report also provided information of the Council’s performance against the 2004/05 private sector housing budget.

RESOLVED :            That the Private Sector Housing Capital Programme 2005/06 be approved and the changes to the Single Housing Investment Programme be noted.

Report of Chief Executive Officer and Director of Resources.

The Lead Member for Performance Management presented a report seeking approval to establish two e-Government Project Manager posts for one year only, to enable the Council to move at a faster pace in the delivery of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister’s Priority Service Outcomes. (For copy see file of Minutes).

It was reported that many of the Council’s Priority Service Outcome (PSO) achievements to date had been delivered through the deployment of relatively quick fix solutions, however, further resources were required to progress the outstanding PSOs.

Members’ attention was also drawn to paragraphs 3.12 - 3.14, which detailed the proposed governance framework for the Council.

RESOLVED :          1.         That two posts of e-Government Project Manager, graded PO(K) be established for one year only, on a fixed term contractual basis.

                        2.         That the proposed governance framework detailed in paragraphs 3.12 - 3.14 be approved.

To consider the minutes of the following meetings:

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the following meetings :

Area 4 Forum                         -                        19^th July, 2005

Area 5 Forum                        -                        26^th July, 2006

(For copies see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :                        That the reports be received.

Published on 2^nd September, 2005.

The key decisions contained in these Minutes will be implemented on Monday 12^th September, 2005 five working days after the date of publication unless they are called in by five Members of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the call in procedure rules.