To notify the Chairman of any items that appear 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 16^th November 2006.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 16^th November 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Director of Housing.

The Lead Member for Housing presented a report regarding the above (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members were reminded that Cabinet at its meeting on 29^th June 2006 had agreed that the future provision of the call out service for emergency housing repairs be subject to market testing and that in assembling an in house bid, the need to secure continuous provision of the service throughout the year had to be recognised and consideration given to negotiating a contractual agreement with the relevant Trade Unions. 

It was reported that the tendering exercise had been completed, however, it was not possible to award the contract within existing budgets.  It was therefore necessary to re-tender the service with a revised specification, reflecting existing service standards whilst maintaining the requirement for the service to be delivered within a contracted agreement.

RESOLVED :            That the call-out service be re-tendered with a revised specification, reflecting current service standards whilst maintaining the requirement for the service to be delivered within a contracted agreement.

Joint report of Director of Housing and Director of Neighbourhood Services.

The Lead Member for Housing presented a report regarding the Council’s option to exercise the first right of refusal to buy back a property purchased under Right to Buy provisions after 15^th August 2005 and the waiving of the claw back of Right to Buy discount in certain circumstances.

(For copy see file of Minutes)

RESOLVED :      1.      That the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Director of Neighbourhood Services, be authorised to agree the repurchase properties sold in accordance with the Right to Buy requirements after15th August 2005, subject to the requirements set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

                        2.      That the Director of Housing be authorised to agree the waiving of the claw back of the Right to Buy discount subject to the requirements set out in Paragraph 4.2. of the report.

Cabinet response to the recommendation of the Scrutiny Review Group.

Consideration was given to a schedule detailing the Cabinet’s response and action plan to the recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Review Group regarding the Council’s Community Newspaper Inform.  (For copy see file of Minutes)

RESOLVED :         That the schedule be agreed.

To consider the minutes of the following meetings:

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the following meetings:

              (For copies see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :         That the reports be received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 7^th November 2006.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 7^th November 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 Paragraphs 3 and 4   Schedule 12a of the Act.

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services.

The Lead Member for Environment presented a report regarding the options available upon termination of Grounds Maintenance Contract 2 to unlock the potential for neighbourhood working and deliver services locally.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

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

Report of Director of Housing.

The Lead Member for Housing presented a report detailing the critical activities and key matters for consideration in the procurement of the housing capital programme and repairs and maintenance service for the period 2007 to 2012.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The Leader of the Council thanked officers for preparing a comprehensive and detailed report.

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

Joint report of Head of Strategy and Regeneration and Head of Financial Services.

The Leader of the Council presented a report regarding an offer received to purchase the above industrial unit.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

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

Published on 1^st December 2006.

Any key decisions contained in these Minutes will be implemented on Monday 11^th December 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.