Meeting documents

            Meeting: Cabinet (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 09/10/2008 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A1 Minutes of the meetings held on 18 and 25 September 2008

         

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AT A MEETING of the CABINET held at the County Hall, Durham on THURSDAY 18 September 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

PRESENT

Cabinet Members:

Councillors, NC Foster, Hodgson, Hovvels, Nicholls, Robson, Stephens, Vasey and B Young.

Other Members:

Armstrong, Arthur, A Bainbridge, B Bainbridge, A Bell, Blakey, C Carr, Docherty, Hancock, Holroyd, Laing, Martin, Murphy, B Myers, A Naylor, RC Rodgers, Saviory, Shuttleworth, Simmons, Southwell, Stradling, P Taylor, Temple, Todd, Tomlinson, Wilkes, Wilkinson and Williams.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors E. Huntington and O’Donnell.

The Chairman advised the meeting that item 13 on the agenda had been withdrawn.


A1 Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 28 August 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.


A2 Declarations of interest
Councillor Foster, in relation to Minute No. A9, as a Tudhoe Grange School Governor and in relation to Minute No. B13
as an employee of Sedgefield Borough Council.

Councillor Hovells and Stephens, in relation to Minute No. B13, as Members of Sedgefield Borough Council.
Councillor Doherty, in relation to Minute No. A5, as a Member of the County
Durham Partnership.

A3 LGR Update

The Cabinet received an oral update from the LGR Programme Manager outlining the progress that had been made in relation to preparations for Vesting Day, the issues that were currently being addressed and confirming that the Implementation Programme was on track. Two LGR Briefing Sessions had been arranged for Monday 22 September to provide Members with the opportunity to examine the position in more depth, including the Blueprint. Similar LGR Briefings for Members were to be held monthly thereafter.

In response to a number of questions and comments Councillor Henig assured Members that they would have the opportunity to be involved in the process as and when political decisions were required. A Forward Plan was being developed in this respect. All Members would also be sent details about the Heads of Service proposals as part of the consultation exercise.

Councillor Armstrong also reminded Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Workshop that was to be held on 24th September to examine the Blueprint. Executive Members were also welcome to attend this event.


A4 Blueprint
[Key Decision Corp/CEO/05/08]

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Acting Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) seeking agreement to the
referral of the Blueprint for the new unitary council to the County Council on 1 October 2008 for approval.
In the light of the information set out in Appendices 3 and 4 of the report the Cabinet were also asked to provide
recommendations to the County Council on -

· The geographical focal points for Area Action Partnerships (Appendix 3 of the Report refers)
· The Name of the new Unitary Council (Appendix 4 of the Report refers)

In the ensuing discussion Members made a range of observations and comments relative to the Blueprint and the way forward.

Resolved:
1 That the County Council be recommended to approve the following: · Bishop Auckland
· Chester-le-Street
· Consett
· Crook/Willington
· Durham
· Easington
· Ferryhill/Chilton
· Lanchester/Durham Rural West
· Newton Aycliffe
· Sedgefield Rural Corridor/Durham Rural East
· Spennymoor
· Stanley
· Teesdale-(based around Barnard Castle)
· Weardale- (based around Stanhope)

2 That the Blueprint be updated to include the recommendations relating to Area Action Partnerships and the name of the unitary council as set out in Minute No 1 (a) and 1 (b) above and also to include appropriate textual refinements and as such be submitted to the County Council for adoption. A5 Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities - Statutory Guidance and LAA Review

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Head of Policy and Improvement (for copy see file of Minutes) about the key issues set out in the ‘Creating Strong, Safe and Prosperous Communities’ statutory guidance and highlighting key implications for the Council and the County Durham Partnership (CDP), including the approach to the Local Area Agreement (LAA) review.

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A6 Asset Management

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Acting Director of Corporate Services (for copy see file of Minutes) providing an
update of current asset/property management activity and forthcoming developments needed to meet future
Comprehensive Area Assessment requirements. The Government has recently restated the need for strategic asset
management to be embodied in business planning activities, to ensure that the asset base is aligned with corporate
goals and objectives and is structured to deliver maximum service and community benefit.

Resolved:
That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.

A7 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 - New Executive Arrangements

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Acting Director of Corporate Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the requirements of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 relating to the need for local authorities to make changes to executive arrangements. In view of this, the Cabinet were asked to recommend to the County Council the process for implementing change and consultation as set out in the report and, subject to that, the adoption of a new style Leader and Cabinet Executive in accordance with the 2007 Act.

Resolved:
That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.


A8 School Organisation: The Outcomes of Initial Consultation with Shotton Hall Infant and Junior Schools, Peterlee

[Key Decision LLL/CYPS/10/08]

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services (for copy see file of Minutes) presenting the outcomes of consultation on proposed changes in the organisation of school provision in Peterlee, as it affects Shotton Hall Infant and Junior Schools with effect from 1 September 2011, commenting on the responses in the context of statutory guidance and recommending the next steps.

Helen Hagarth, a Parent Governor at Shotton Hall Infants School, outlined the following concerns surrounding the proposed reorganisation-
· The need for the existing pre-school provision to be catered for in the new build.
· The provision of ancillary services under PFI and the potential impact upon staff job losses.
· The inadequacy of the infrastructure for access to the new school.

Mr. Donkin, Headteacher of Shotton Hall Junior School, echoed these concerns and expressed a preference for the “design and build” PFI option. He also was of the view that the admission limit for the new school should be no less than 50, rather than the 45 which had been proposed.

In response the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services made the following points -

· Overall there was surplus early years provision in the area. However, the existing pre-school facilities at Shotton Hall Infants could be included in the design for the new building, if that was desired.

· With regard to the concerns that had been expressed about inadequacy of the access road he agreed to take this point up further with the BSF design team to see whether the concerns could be alleviated.

· The TUPE Regulations apply when a PFI company takes over responsibility for facilities management.

· That current projections suggested that an Admission Limit of 45 should be adequate.


Resolved:
That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.


A9 School Organisation: Outcomes of Consultation on the Proposal to Re-organise Tudhoe Grange School and Spennymoor Comprehensive School -Building Schools for the Future (BSF)
The Competition Process for the Establishment of New Schools
[Key Decision LLL/CYPS/10/08]

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Young Peoples Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about -

· The outcomes of recent consultation on the proposal to re-organise Tudhoe Grange School and Spennymoor Comprehensive School into one new secondary school from 1 September 2013.
· Seeking authority to move to the next stage in the process, to issue an ‘invitation to bid’ notice inviting proposers to express an interest in providing the new school, as part of the new competition process prescribed by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF).

Resolved:
1 That the recommendations contained in paragraphs 21 (i), 21 (ii) and 21 (iii) of the Report be agreed.
2 That with regard to paragraph 21 (iv) it be agreed that the County Council does not enter the competition to run the new school.
3 That with regard to paragraph 21 (v) it be agreed that each set of proposals for a new school be considered on its merits, before determining whether or not to enter the competition for such.


A10 Rural Development Programme for England: Management Arrangements

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Acting Corporate Director, Environment (for copy see file of Minutes) seeking agreement for the County Council, on behalf of the County Durham Sub-Regional Partnership (SRP), to become the Accountable Body for the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) in County Durham.

Resolved:
That the recommendation in the Report be agreed.


A11 Exclusion of the Public

Resolved:
That under Section 100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be exclude from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 A to the said Act.


B12 South West Durham Employer Led Learning and Construction Training Centre

The Cabinet considered a Report of the County Treasurer (for copy see file of Minutes) seeking support for a proposal made by Sedgefield Borough Council to transfer property and resources, as detailed therein, to Bishop Auckland College to provide enhanced training facilities in South West Durham.

Resolved:
That the recommendation in the Report be agreed.


AT A MEETING of the CABINET held at the County Hall, Durham on THURSDAY 25 SEPTEMBER 2008 at 10.00 a.m.

PRESENT

Cabinet Members:

Councillors NC Foster, Hodgson, Nicholls, Stephens, Vasey and B Young.

Other Members:

Councillors Armstrong, Arthur, Carr, Chaplow, Gray, Johnson, Laing, Martin, Morgan, J Robinson, Rodgers, Southwell, Stradling, Tomlinson, Walker, Wilkinson and Williams.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Hovells, E. Huntington, Moran, Myers, O’Donnell, Robson and R. Young.

The Chairman formally welcomed George Garlick, the new Chief Executive, to
the meeting.


A1 Declarations of interest

Councillors Gray, Southwell and Williams as Members of the Police Authority in respect of Minute No. A7.


A2 Responses to the Draft Sustainable Community Strategy
The Cabinet considered a Report of the Head of Policy and Improvement (for copy see file of Minutes) seeking agreement the Council’s response to the draft Sustainable Community Strategy (SCS).

In the ensuing discussion Councillor Young, the Cabinet Lead Member for the Environment concurred with comments from Councillor Martin about the need to add appropriate references relating to climate change and working towards a low carbon economy.

Resolved:
That the response to the draft Sustainable Community Strategy be agreed, with the addition of appropriate references relating to climate change and working towards a low carbon economy.


A3 Raising Expectations: Enabling the System to Deliver

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about Government proposals to transfer funding and commissioning responsibility for the delivery of education and training for young people aged 16-19 from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to individual local authorities from 2010 and to seek a decision on proposals for the development of a sub-regional grouping to deliver the commissioning responsibility.

The Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services explained that the proposals would not inherently impact upon the current pattern of applications to Durham Gilesgate 6th Form College.

Resolved:
That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.


A4 School Crossing Patrol Service Review

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Acting Corporate Director, Environment (for copy see file of Minutes) about the changes in the management of the School Crossing Patrol Service (SCPS); a review of the SCPS; and recommending a number of policies to ensure that the optimum service can be provided.

Councillor Young, the Cabinet Lead Member for the Environment emphasised that consultation will take place with the schools involved in the review.

Resolved:
That the recommendation in the Report be agreed.


A5 Putting People First/ Transforming Social Care: Personalisation
of Services and Increasing Preventative and Early Intervention Services
Key Decision SHSC/A&CS/07/08

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the most recent policy drivers, regarding personalisation of services for people who use adult social care services.

The Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services confirmed that the appointment of the Personalisation Development Manager was a permanent appointment and not just for the three-year period of the Social Care Reform Revenue Grant as there was an ongoing role in managing the change process. Indeed the existing Management Structure would have to be revised for this purpose.

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A6 Joint Strategic Needs Assessment
[Key Decision SHSC/A&CS/09/08]

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) providing information on the final County Durham Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A7 Policing Green Paper

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) outlining the key proposals within the Policing Green Paper.

Resolved:
That the report be noted and the County Council’s response be considered at the next meeting on 9th October 2008.


A9 Exclusion of the Public

Resolved:
That under Section 100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be exclude from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 A to the said Act.


B10 Independent Sector Domiciliary Care Review
[Key Decision SHSC/A&CS/06/08]

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) advising of the recommendations in the Business Case of the independent sector domiciliary care review. A number of options had been developed, and of these, a clear preferred option has emerged proposing 11 zones based around demand for the service, with more than 1 provider in each zone. Providers within a larger geographical zone would be required to work together and cover for each other. Prospective providers would not be awarded more than 4 zones each to allow for continued competition.

The Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services advised that this option would result in some service users having a change of provider. There would be a hand-over period for this to be done, including appropriate discussions with the service users involved.

It was pointed out that the Business Case had on legal advice not been included with the report because of the commercial sensitivity of the information.

Resolved:

1 That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
2 That the Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services be provided with delegated authority to let the contract once the tendering exercise has been completed


Attachments

 09.25.08 minutes.pdf;
 09.18.08 minutes.pdf