Meeting documents

Also in Attendance:  A Rutherford (LSP Co-ordinator) and A McKay (Community Cohesion Project Worker)

Apologies for Absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor S C L Westrip.

RESOLVED:  “That the minutes of the Meeting held 2 June 2008, copies of which had previously been circulated to Members be agreed as a correct record.”

The Leader proceeded to sign the minutes.

There were no questions or representatives received from members of the public.

There were no declarations of interest received from Members.

The Leader introduced the Forward Plan and Work Programme. It was agreed that the date for the Communities Facilities Working Group Report  be revised to be taken in conjunction with the outcomes of consultations with the public around the area arrangements for the District as part of the new unitary proposals and the government White Paper on local communities.

RESOLVED: “That the Forward Plan and Work Programme be noted and updated accordingly.”

Members considered the Decision Tracker.  The Leader referred to the following items for amendment:

Single Housing Investment Programme (SHIP)

It was agreed that this item be removed from the Decision Tracker.

Department for Health Project

The Director of Development Services explained that the evaluation of this project was unable to be produced until the second review meeting had taken place, therefore it was agreed that the date on the Decision Tracker be amended to September 2008.

RESOLVED:  “That the Decision Tracker and the amendments be noted.”

Consideration was given to a report from the Director of Corporate Services to update Members on progress on the ‘People and Place’ Priority.

The Director of Corporate Services drew Members attention to two additional projects to be delivered under the Strengthening Partnerships Action Learning Set which included engaging with local schools on an enterprise competition based on the Dragons Den TV show and an ‘it’s a knockout project’ centred around the handing over of the flags from Beijing for the paralympics on 17 September which would engage with local schools, FAB and other blind and disabled groups.

The Leader advised that since this report had been produced there had been a meeting of the women’s history project group, which had been an interesting and well-attended meeting.

Discussion ensued in relation to the Business Improvement District Bid. It was agreed that the Director of Corporate Services provides a briefing note to the Executive on the outcome of the meeting of the business association on 23 June 2008.

The Director of Corporate Services advised of the amount of work that would be involved for the Business Improvement District Bid, which would require administrative support that would be considered from existing in-house resources.

It was proposed and seconded that the recommendations to the report be agreed.

RESOLVED: 

”1)       That the progress to date on implementing the Transition Plan be noted.

 2)        That the progress made in respect of individual progress and the issues raised be noted.

3)                 That it be agreed that the Corporate Management Team consider how the development of the Business Improvement District Bid can be supported.”

The Assistant Director of Development Services briefed Members on the draft proposals for the local NHS Lifecheck programme and spoke in relation to the four strands of work that the sub-group felt should be looked at including a Lifecheck Co-ordinator post, Community ICT, Promotional materials/activities and the intensive support for the “hard to reach” groups.

It was agreed that the Acting Director of Development Services liase with the homelessness service on this scheme.

It was proposed and seconded that the recommendation to the report be agreed.

RESOLVED:  “That approval be granted to the Lifecheck proposals outlined in the report and delegated responsibility be granted to the Director of Development Services to undertake the following:

a)                 Recruit for the post of Lifecheck Coordinator (s)

b)                 Oversee the implementation of the Lifecheck Community ICT initiative

c)                  Negotiate with MIND the delivery of “Lifecheck” support for the “hard to reach”.”

It was noted that George Garlick (currently the Chief Executive at Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council) had been appointed as the Chief Executive for the new County Durham unitary Council.

“That, in accordance with Regulation 21 (1) (b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) Regulations 2000, the public be excluded during the transaction of the following business because it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.”

“That, in accordance with Regulation 21 (1) (b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) Regulations 2000, the public be excluded during the transaction of the following business because it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.”

The Chief Executive updated Members on the Regeneration Projects Quarterly report.  He outlined the progress made in relation to the Town Centre Masterplan, Heart of the Village at Sacriston, Sacriston Area Development Framework, Heart of the Village at Pelton Fell and Surplus Land.

Councillor Armstrong suggested that the recommendation on 9.2 in the report should specify that the expenditure was from SHIP funding.  It was agreed that this recommendation be amended accordingly.

RESOLVED:

“1)       That the progress on the projects as set out in the Regeneration Projects Quarterly Report at Appendix 1 (capital projects) and Appendix 2 (regeneration strategy) be noted.

2)                 That approval be granted for the expenditure of £260k from the £350k SHIP windfall to be used towards the Heart of the Village, Pelton Fell and the remaining £90k be used towards environmental improvements on the Poets estate subject to availability and requirement.”

The Chief Executive briefed Members on the report on various Land Matters.

It was proposed and seconded that the recommendations in the report be agreed.

RESOLVED:

Land at 10 Cedar Avenue, Kimblesworth

“That the land fronting 10 Cedar Avenue, Kimblesworth be declared surplus to requirements and that approval be granted to use the land for garden purposes subject to the applicant being responsible for all the Council’s costs as previously approved as part of the Council’s approved Land Disposal Policy.

Garage Plots at South Parade/East View, Kimblesworth

That the garage plots as indicated at Appendix B be disposed of for garage purposes having previously been declared surplus to requirements subject to the applicant being responsible for all the Council’s costs as previously approved as part of the Council’s approved Land Disposal Policy.”

Consideration was given to a report from the Head of Corporate Finance to seek Executive approval to write-off irrecoverable debts.

It was proposed and seconded that the recommendation in the report be agreed.

RESOLVED:  “That authorisation be granted to write-off the debts detailed in section 5.2 of the report.”

Consideration was given to a report from the Director of Development Services on the Play Tender Contract from the Big Lottery Fund.  The Director of Development Services advised of the tender process and the evaluation method that had been undertaken.

It was agreed that the Director of Development Services report back to the Leader on the delivery dates for the play areas.  The Chief Executive’s suggestion that the new play schemes should be given maximum publicity was noted.

RESOLVED:  “That the tender received from Wicksteed Leisure be accepted and authorisation be granted for the conclusion of the contract as required under section 2.2 of the Contract of Standing Orders.”