Meeting: Cabinet (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 23/10/2008 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A1 Minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2008
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
CABINET
AT A MEETING of the
CABINET held at the County Hall, Durham on
THURSDAY 9 OCTOBER 2008 at
10.00 a.m. PRESENT COUNCILLOR ROBSON in the Chair
Cabinet Members: Councillors Foster, Hodgson, Hovvels, E Huntington, Nicholls, Stephens, Vasey and B Young.
Other Members: Councillors Armstrong, Arthur, Blakey, Cordon, Dixon, Hancock, Murphy, Paylor, J Robinson, Shuttleworth, Simmons, Southwell, Temple, L Thomson, Wilkes and Wright,
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Henig.
A1 Minutes The Minutes of the meetings held on 18 and 25 September 2008 were confirmed as a correct and signed by the
Chairman.
A2 Declarations of interest None declared.
A3 LGR Update The Cabinet considered a Report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) providing an update about Local Government Reorganisation and confirming that the programme remains on track, although the workload is now increasing significantly as Vesting Day approaches.
With regard to the appointment of Heads of Service it was confirmed that the timetable was still being finalised, but the
newly appointed Chief Officers would have an input into the process.
Members were also informed that a consultation exercise with stakeholders was to take place about the Area Action
Partnerships (AAPs) boundaries. This would be discussed further at the next Members’ Seminar on 28th October.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A4 Civil Parking Enforcement: Notice Issue and Adjudication The Cabinet considered a Joint Report of the Corporate Director Environment and the Acting Director of Corporate Services (for copy see file of Minutes) seeking delegated authority to issue Notices relating to civil parking contravention under the Traffic Management Act 2004 Part 6, and to enter into an agreement with the Adjudication Joint Committee for adjudication services for Civil Parking Enforcement.
In response to a request from Councillor Southwell about the need to provide the public with the details of Contact Officers it was confirmed that this point would be taken up.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A5 Durham County Council Health Improvement Plan - Update Report The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the consultation upon the draft Health Improvement Plan and recommending the adoption of the revised version. The plan will be used in conjunction with the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment to ensure that activity is targeted and the impact measured wherever possible.
In the ensuing discussion some Members suggested that the Plan, which covers the period 2008 to 2011, might usefully
include references to housing and recreation and leisure, bearing in mind that these functions would transfer
to the new Council from 2009. In response an assurance was given that the Plan will be reviewed to take account of the
new Council’s responsibilities once it is in place.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A6 Countywide Community Safety Agreement The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the development of the statutory Countywide Community Safety Agreement for 2008/09.
In the ensuing discussion it was suggested that a single telephone number was required for the public to report crime.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A8 Implementation of the Section 17 Policy and Strategic Framework - Progress Report The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) setting out the annual review of progress in respect of the implementation of the Section 17 Policy and Strategic Framework.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A9 Annual Report of Representations 2007/08 The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the performance of Adult and Community Services in respect of the handling and consideration of representations, as contained in the Annual Report.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A10 Policing Green Paper - “From the Neighbourhood to the National: Policing Our Communities Together” In the opinion of the Chairman the following item was considered to be of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration in view of the need for a response to the Green Paper to be submitted by 10 October 2008.
Accordingly the Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the key proposals within the Policing Green Paper “From the Neighbourhood to the National: Policing Our Communities Together” and seeking approval to the County Council’s response.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A11 Financial Investments: Exposure to Icelandic Banks In the opinion of the Chairman the following item was considered to be of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration to apprise Members of the County Council’s investment position during the current global financial crisis.
Accordingly Councillor Wilkes asked whether the County Council had any investments with Icelandic banks, whether the District Councils have exposure to Icelandic banks and where the County Council has investments in the UK and overseas.
In response the County Treasurer explained -
· The County Council does not have any investments with Icelandic banks.
· Enquiries were being made about the respective investments of the District Councils, to establish the position.
· The County Council’s short term lending, in accordance with the Treasury Management Policy set out in the Budget Book, was across a range of independently highly rated banks and building societies in the UK and a bank in Belgium and provided examples.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A12 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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12 A to the said Act.
B13 Pelton Former Infant School Site The Cabinet considered a Joint Report of the Acting Director of Corporate Services and the Corporate Director Adult and Community Services (for copy see file of Minutes) recommending that an area of land at Pelton Former Infant School be declared surplus to requirements and sold directly to the Primary Care Trust (PCT) at current market prices and in consideration for Developers acting for the PCT to replace the current library which is in poor condition and in need of renewal.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
B14 Heart of the Market Place and the Vennels Project The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director Environment (for copy see file of Minutes) seeking authority
to award a contract to a firm of consultants who will provide a full design service for public realm works within
Durham City Market Place and Vennels.
Resolved: That the recommendation in the Report be agreed.
B15 Aycliffe Secure Services - Position Statement and Next Steps for Future Development The Cabinet considered a Joint Report of the Corporate Director Children and Young People’s Services, the Acting Director of Corporate Services and County Treasurer (for copy see file of Minutes) setting out options for the future of the Aycliffe Secure Service.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
Attachments
10.09.08 minutes.pdf