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

Councillors Mrs. L. Hovvels and D. A. Newell reported that they would be declaring a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 11e  - Minutes of the meeting of Healthy Borough With Strong Communities Overview And Scrutiny Committee held on 11^th September 2007 as they were associated managers of the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th September 2007.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13^th September 2007 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report of Director of Leisure Services.

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

Members were reminded that Cabinet, at its meeting on 2^nd November 2006 had considered a report regarding the redevelopment of the areas of land shown on the plan and had requested that public consultations be undertaken to provide a base from which to advance the project.

Since that meeting, approximately 1700 responses had been gathered and evaluated and it was clear that local residents valued the open space and wanted to be able to use the space informally for walking, cycling, sitting and relaxing. There was also a need to construct new and improve existing senior and junior soccer pitches and provide new changing accommodation.

It was proposed that a sum of £800,00 be allocated towards the project from the Council’s Major Regeneration Initiatives Programme.

It was pointed out that in order to mitigate future revenue costs to the Borough Council, discussions were taking place with Great Aycliffe Town Council to establish its willingness to take over the responsibility for maintaining the development, subject to a transfer of land on agreed terms.

RESOLVED :         1.         That the Design and Build project team be commissioned, subject to a satisfactory outcome of discussions with Great Aycliffe Town Council regarding its contribution towards ongoing revenue costs.

                        2.         That the sum of £800,000 be allocated towards the project from the Council’s Major Regeneration Initiatives programme.

Report of Director of Leisure Services.

The Lead Member for Leisure and Culture presented a report seeking approval for the sum of £200,000 to be allocated for additional capital works at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre within the 2007/08 financial year.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 3 of the report, which listed the works to be undertaken.

RESOLVED:             That a sum of £200,000 be allocated for additional capital works at Newton Aycliffe Leisure Centre within the 2007/08 financial year.

Report of Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report regarding a Local Improvement Programme application from Spennymoor Settlement Association for funding to completely refurbish and modernise the existing facilities at the Everyman Theatre to enable extra arts and community based activities to be provided.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Members noted that Spennymoor Settlement had been very successful with its fundraising and could contribute £108,000 in matched funding to the project, reducing the percentage of LIP funding to 57% of the total project cost.  The project met the Department for Communities and Local Government eligible ‘Regeneration Definition’ and demonstrated links to the key LIP criteria elements of the Community Strategy. It had also been supported by Area 1 Forum at its meeting on 3^rd September 2007.

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

Report of Assistant Chief Executive.

Consideration was given a report seeking approval to commission consultants to undertake a master planning exercise to form a Area Action Plan for Spennymoor Town Centre to be adopted as part of the Borough Council’s Local Development Framework.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

The purpose of the Plan was to provide a comprehensive regeneration framework that challenged existing use, targeted change and inspired action to guide future investment and activity in Spennymoor town centre.

Members noted that the cost of engaging consultants would be met from monies received through the Government’s Local Authority Business Growth Initiative, Enabling Capital Investment.

RESOLVED :   1.   That the Area Action Plan brief be endorsed.

                        2.   That suitably experienced consultants be commissioned to produce an Area Action Plan to meet the requirements of the brief.

Joint report of Chief Executive and Solicitor to the Council.

Consideration was given to a report setting out the Council’s approach to the retention of civic and ceremonial arrangements if local government review proceeded as announced.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

It was reported that the Government’s latest consultation paper ‘Councils’ Proposals for Unitary Local Government: An Approach to Implementation’ had invited comments from affected authorities regarding the preservation of ceremonial and civic traditions by 28^th September 2007.

Members noted that the privileges attached to the Council’s Charter could be lost if the authority was abolished.  The Local Government Public Involvement (Public Involvement in Health) Bill would, however, allow the Government to establish Charter Trustees for an area within a new Unitary Authority by orders or regulations, which could lead to the creation of Charter Trustees.

RESOLVED :      1.      That in response to the consultation paper issued in August 2007, the Council requests that, in the event that the single tier proposals in County Durham proceed, orders and regulations be made to preserve the privileges and rights belonging to the Council arising from the grant of the Royal Charter on 24th October 1996.

                  2.      That the Solicitor to the Council be directed to liaise with the Department for Communities and Local Government and the County Council, to give effect to this request.

                  3.      That further reports be received.

Report of Director of Resources.

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, profiled budget to 31^st July 2007, actual income and expenditure, forecasted outturn for 2007/08 and the variance between the annual budget and projected outturn.

With regard to the General Fund, it was expected that balances amounting to £742,000 would be used, compared to a revised budgeted use of £760,000, a saving of £18,000.  The Housing Revenue Account would require the use of revenue balances amounting to £110,000, compared a revised budgeted use of £160,000.

RESOLVED :            1.            That the position as at 31^st July 2007 be noted.     

                        2.            That further reports be submitted detailing the position as at the 30^th September 2007, 31^st December 2007 and the final outturn position as at 31^st March 2008 in line with the Budgetary Control Monitoring Arrangements 2007-2008.

Report of Director of Resources.

Consideration was given to a report detailing the progress made to date in meeting the Council’s spending targets, the carry forward approved by Council of commitments unspent on the 2006/07 Capital Programme, the available capital resources for financing the programme and new developments that had occurred since the Council had approved the 2007/08 Capital Programme Budget in February 2007.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

Reference was made to the table detailed in Paragraph 3.4 of the report, which showed the original approved budget for 2007/08, together with the carry forward commitment from 2006/2007.  It also showed all external funding secured to date and the total gross budget reflecting the total capital resources available for the year.

It was reported that a gross total of £4.53m had been spent up to 31^st July 2007 or 19% of the gross Capital Programme budget of £23,913 million.

RESOLVED :      1.      That the four month spend position to 31^st July 2007 be noted.

                        2.      That further reports be submitted to Management Team, Cabinet and all Strategic Working Groups detailing the position as at 30^th September 2007, 31^st December 2007 and final outturn as at 31^st March 2008 in line with the Budgetary Control Monitoring Arrangements 2007/08.

To consider the minutes of the following:

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the following:

NB.  In accordance with Section 81 of the Local Government Act 2000 and Members Code of Conduct, Councillors Mrs. L. Hovvels and D.A. Newell declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following item and left the meeting.

(For copies see file of Minutes).

With regard to Healthy Borough with Strong Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 11^th September 2007, Members’ attention was drawn to Minute No. H&S.9/07 - Formal Consultation on Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust plans to become a NHS Foundation Trust.  It was pointed out that the Committee had agreed with the proposals put forward in the consultation document, however it had recommended that relevant Police Authorities should be represented on the Council of Governors, in addition to the key partner organisations identified in the document.

RESOLVED :         That the Committees’ recommendations be approved and appropriate action be taken.

Minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September 2007.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 3^rd September 2007.  (For copy see file of Minutes).   

RESOLVED :   That the Minutes be received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 19^th September 2007.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 19^th September 2007.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

RESOLVED :            That the Minutes 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 1 and 6 of Schedule 12a of the Act.

Joint report of Director of Neighbourhood Services and Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report proposing changes to the structure of the Neighbourhood Services Department.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

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

Report of Director of Neighbourhood Services.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval to implement compulsory purchase powers to facilitate the completion of land acquisition.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

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

Published on 28^th September 2007.

Any key decisions contained in these Minutes will be implemented on Monday 8^th October 2007 unless they are called in by five Members of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the call in procedure rules.