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 19^th June 2008.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 19^th June 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. 

Report of Director of Leisure Services.

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

Members were reminded that Cabinet at its meeting on 19^th June 2008 had approved the 2008/09 capital programme and the Borough Transition Plan, both of which gave approval for the development of an Arts Resource within Spennymoor Leisure Centre, subject to a further report to Cabinet. 

It was explained that the aspirations of the Borough Council in attempting to use the Arts Resource as a cultural hub for the town relied heavily on assembling significant cultural sector partners, who would come together within the Spennymoor Leisure Centre campus and re-engineer the delivery of public cultural services, in a way not yet seen across County Durham.  The development of a master plan for the leisure centre included the resiting of the County Council Library from its existing position to form part of the Cultural Hub.  Discussions with the County Library Service had been ongoing for over fifteen months and although the Borough’s concept of the Cultural Hub had generally been agreed, the timing for the relocation of the library had not yet been formalised. 

It was therefore proposed that a phased approach to the Arts Resource be adopted, working within the context of the existing availability of financial resources.  Spennymoor Leisure Centre would on completion of the first phase of the project, have an Arts Resource which would include a multi- function performance and rehearsal facility seating up to 200 for drama, dance, music and film performance, specialist dance and drama rehearsal space for residents and visiting performing arts companies, an exhibition foyer, a bar/café facility and an artists studio. 

Members’ attention was drawn to paragraph 3.2 of the report, which gave details of the partnership discussions that had been taking place.

It was noted that the Council’s project client team’s advisors had suggested that £570,000 was needed to deliver the redevelopment of the phase one area of the facility.  Financial assistance would be sought from the Arts Council North East for an element of the redevelopment work valued at £70,000, which would leave the Borough Council to invest £500,000 to deliver phase one, which was reflected in the 2008/09 Capital Programme and the 2008/09 Transition Plan.

RESOLVED :   That the phase one development of the Arts Resource be approved, in line with the report.

Report of Director of Resources.

Consideration was given to a report, which provided a review of the final outturn position on the 2007/08 Capital Programme as at 31^st March 2008.   (For copy see file of Minutes).

The report gave an overview of progress made in meeting the 2007/08 spending targets, provided an analysis of the capital resources available to finance the programme and summarised how the resources had been used to finance capital expenditure in 2007/08.

It also provided an analysis of unspent commitments in 2007/08 that had been requested to be carried forward into the 2008/09 capital programme.

RESOLVED :         1.         That the final outturn position to 31^st March 2008, the carried forward request to meet commitments in 2008/09 and the proposed financing of the capital programme be noted.

                        2.         That quarterly capital budgetary control reports continue to be submitted throughout 2008/09.

Report of Director of Resources.

Consideration was given to a report summarising the final outturn position on the Council’s revenue activities for 2007/08. (For copy see file of Minutes)

Members noted that the General Fund had used balances of £536,000, compared to a revised budgetary use of £760,000, a saving of £224,000 and the Housing Revenue Account was expected to use balances of £1,949,200, compared to a revised budgeted use of £1,714,000, an overall overspend of £235,200.  The Training and Employment Service had made an operational surplus of £119,000.

RESOLVED :   That the financial outturn position as at 31^st March 2008 be noted.

Report of Assistant Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report regarding a Local Improvement Programme application to provide a floodlit Multi Use Games Area for Trimdon Community College Association and the local community.  (For copy see file of Minutes). 

It was explained that the MUGA would be located in an area that had been previously occupied by an all weather sports pitch, which was currently unusable as it had reached the end of its intended lifespan.  It would be developed to a high specification and accommodate football, netball and hockey.

The project met the Department for Communities and Local Government  Eligible Regeneration definition and demonstrated links to the LIP criteria elements of the Community Strategy.  It had also been supported by Area 3 Forum.

Members noted that the applicant had requested £35,000 of LIP funding which was 27% of the total capital project costs of £130,146 and had made an application for a grant of £30,000 from the Football Foundation.

It was reported that notification had just been received that the Association had been awarded only £20,000 from the Football Foundation.  It was therefore proposed that the amount of LIP funding be increased to £45,000.

RESOLVED :                          That the application for LIP funds be approved.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th June 2008.

Consideration was given to the Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th June 2008.  (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 item of business on the grounds that it may involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Act.

Report of Director of Resources.

Consideration was given to a report seeking approval for the transfer of the property at 45/47 North Street, Spennymoor to the existing licensee of the building.  (For copy see file of Minutes).

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

Published on 4^th July, 2008

Any key decisions contained in these Minutes will be implemented on Monday 14^th July, 2008 unless they are called in by three Members of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the call in procedure rules.