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

The Members present had no interests to declare.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd November 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2^nd November 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Head of Strategy and Regeneration.

The Lead Member for Social Regeneration and Partnership presented a report regarding a Local Improvement Programme application from Great Aycliffe Town Council for funding to extend the existing Great Aycliffe Way to the south east of the town and to further improve an area of unused industrial land that had been converted into a nature park.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members noted that the application had been supported by Area 5 Forum at its meeting on 25^th July 2007 and the funding applications made to the County Durham Environmental Trust (£20,000) and The Conservation Foundation (£1,000) had been approved.

RESOLVED :      That the application for Local Improvement Programme funds, based upon the information provided, be approved.

Report of Director of Housing.

The Lead Member for Housing presented a report seeking approval to negotiate two bathroom improvement schemes, one roofing project and two heating schemes with the Contracts Section of the Housing Department, together with private contractors, who had successfully won tendered contracts with competitive rates.  (For copy see file of Minutes)

Approval was also sought for the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, to proceed with accepting the most advantageous negotiated project, with details being subsequently reported to Cabinet.

RESOLVED :   1.   That negotiations proceed with the Contracts Section of the Housing Department and with two private contractors to benefit from competitive costs from the lowest tenderer.

                        2.   That negotiations be undertaken in accordance with Procedure Rule 1(2) and 8.

                        3.   That approval to proceed with accepting the most advantageous negotiated project be delegated to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Lead Member for Housing, and subsequently reported to Cabinet.

Report of Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to acquire the necessary software to comply with the requirements of the Electoral Administration Act 2006 with regard to the collection of personal identifiers (signature and date of birth) for all existing postal and postal proxy voters, and subsequent reproduction and checking at the time of voting.  (For copy see file of Minutes)

The estimated cost of obtaining the additional software was £11,400, together with ongoing maintenance costs of 20%.  It was expected that the Council would receive grant funding of a minimum of £20,500 to cover the cost of staff input, postage and stationery to implement the new requirements.

RESOLVED :            That the necessary software be purchased from Express Software Solutions Limited, with the cost of the project being met from the 2006/07 Contingencies Fund.

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Report of Head of Financial Services.

Consideration was given to a report regarding the above.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The report gave details of the approved budget for the main portfolios for the first six months of 2006/07, actual income and expenditure, projected probable outturn for 2006/07 based on actual spend to date and known commitments, as well as variance between the annual budget and the projected probable outturn.

With regard to the General Fund, it was expected that balances amounting to £581,500 would be used, compared to the initial budgeted use of £500,000.

Specific reference was made to the table detailed under Paragraph 3.2 of the report, which showed the overall financial position of the General Fund.

It was noted that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) was currently predicting a small underspend of £94,000.  HRA balances of £100,000 would be used to fund the first year’s cost of the HRA Service Improvement Plan and £300,00 to cover the costs of the additional disabled persons adaptations, which had recently been approved by Cabinet.  In addition, £500,000 was being used to support the HRA capital programme.

With regard to the Training and Employment Service, it was anticipated that an operating loss would be made in the region of £60,000, which was a significant improvement on the initial budget forecast of £125,000.

RESOLVED :       1.      That the financial position for 2006/07 be noted.

                        2.      That further reports be submitted to Cabinet detailing the position as at 31^st December 2006 and final outturn as at 31^st March 2007, in line with the Budgetary Control Monitoring Arrangements 2006/07.

                        3.      That detailed reports be submitted to future Strategic Working Groups to continue the monitoring process throughout the remainder of the year.

Report of Head of Financial Services.

Consideration was given to a report detailing the progress made to date in meeting the Council’s spending targets, the available capital resources for financing the programme and developments which had occurred during the year that had an impact on the overall capital programme.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Reference was made to the table detailed in Paragraph 3.6 of the report, which showed the original approved 2006/07 capital programme, together with the carry forward commitments from 2005/06.  It also showed all approved external funding secured to date and the total gross budget, reflecting the total capital resources available for the year.

Members’ attention was then drawn to the table detailed in paragraph 3.7, which showed actual spend across all portfolios up to 30^th September 2006. A gross total of £5.922m had been spent or 29% of the gross capital budget of £20.773m.

RESOLVED :       1.      That the half year spend position 30^th September 2006 and the proposed financing of the Capital Programme be noted.

                        2.      That further reports be submitted to Management Team, Cabinet and all Strategic Working Groups detailing the position as at 31^st December 2006 and final outturn as at 31^st March 2007, in line with the Budgetary Control Monitoring Arrangements 2006/07.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 24^th October 2006.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 24^th October 2006.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :         That the report be received.

RESOLVED:             That in accordance with Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12a of the Act.

Report of Head of Strategy and Regeneration and Head of Financial Services.

Consideration was given to a report regarding an application to purchase 1.267 hectares of business development land on Heighington Lane Business Park.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :         That the recommendation detailed in the report be adopted. 

Published on 17^th November, 2006.

Any key decisions contained in these Minutes will be implemented on Monday 27^th November, 2006 five working days after the date of publication unless they are called in by three Members of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the call in procedure rules.