Meeting: Cabinet (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 20/11/2008 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A1 Minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2008
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
CABINET
AT A MEETING of the
CABINET held at the County Hall, Durham on
THURSDAY 6 NOVEMBER 2008 at
10.00 a.m. PRESENT COUNCILLOR HENIG in the Chair
Chairman: Councillor Henig
Cabinet Members: Councillors Foster, Hovvels, E Huntington, Nicholls, Robson, Stephens, Vasey and B Young.
Other Members: Councillors Armstrong, Arthur, A Bainbridge, Carr, Chaplow, Gray, Holroyd, Hopgood, Johnson, Martin, Moran, Murphy, R Ord, Shuttleworth, Simmons, Southwell, Stradling, Temple, Thomson, Tomlinson, Wilkes, Wilkinson, Williams, Woods and Wright,
An apology for absence was received from Councillor Hodgson.
A1 Minutes The Minutes of the meeting held on 23 October 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
A2 Declarations of interest Councillors Robson, Vasey and Young in their capacity as governors of schools that may be affected by the development of Academies proposals (Item A4).
A3 Local Government Reorganisation (LGR) Update The Cabinet considered a Report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) providing an update on LGR issues.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A4 Development of Academies in County Durham - Academy Sponsors and Proposals for Secondary School Re-organisation [Key Decision LLL/CYPS/08/08].
Further to Minute No. A 3 of the meeting held on 21 February 2008 the Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the position regarding sponsors for proposed Academies in Durham and recommending further consultation on preferred options on the pattern of schooling in Stanley, Consett and the Durham City area. The Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services stressed that the schools mentioned in the report all currently had many strengths and were not included in the proposals because they were regarded as failing schools; but rather that Academy status would help further progress to be achieved.
The report also considered the impact of such developments on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme.
In response to questions from Members and representatives of Gilesgate Sports College and Sixth Form Centre the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services and Councillor Vasey made the following points -
· The consultation exercise would include the seeking of views about forms of governance.
· Parents of children at local primary schools would be included in the consultation process.
· The question of whether existing governors would be eligible to serve on academy schools would be raised with the sponsors (including appropriate parental involvement), although it must be borne in mind that the academies are established by the sponsors with the DCSF and so governance arrangements were not fully in the gift of the County Council. However the proposed sponsors are committed to working with the existing schools.
· It was not possible to be specific about sites at this stage, as this would be determined as part of the feasibility study but indications may be given where possible in the consultation.
· The County Council would wish to maximise the use of its capital receipts from the sale of surplus property, but there were specific Government BSF rules laid down to be complied with.
· The next round of consultation would be transparent and all comments would be considered.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A5 County Councillor Representation on Youth and Community Centre Management Committees The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about a process for the nomination of County Councillors to Youth and Community Centre Management Committees now that 2 Members serve in each Electoral Division.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A6 Integrated Funding Arrangements for 3 year Planning and Delivery (Area Based Grants) The Cabinet considered a Joint Report of the Corporate Director, Environment and the County Treasurer (for copy see file of Minutes) about the provision of a rationale and framework for the delivery of the Working Neighbourhoods Fund, the Safer Stronger Communities Fund, Cohesion Fund and Youth Task Force elements of the 2008 - 2011 County Durham Area Based Grant allocation.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.
A7 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 paragraphs 1 and 3 of Schedule 12 A to the said Act.
B8 Sure Start Children’s Centre Programme Phase II The Cabinet considered a Joint Report of the Acting Director of Corporate Services, the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services and the County Treasurer (for copy see file of Minutes) seeking endorsement of the award of a tender to Service Direct for Phase 3 of the refurbishment works to create a Sure Start facility at Fyndoune Community College, Sacriston.
Resolved: That the recommendation in the Report be agreed.
B9 Lease of Land at Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland The Cabinet considered a Report of the Acting Director of Corporate Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about terms which have been agreed for the 99 year lease of 4.84 acres or thereabouts of land at Tindale Crescent, Bishop Auckland.
Resolved: That the recommendation in the Report be agreed.
B10 Re-provision of Supported Housing 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) seeking approval to dispose of an area of land to the Three Rivers Housing Association for the development of supported housing.
Resolved: That the recommendation in the Report be agreed.
B11 Local Authority School Governors - Seaham Trinity School The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the appointment of three Local Authority Governors to Seaham Trinity School in accordance with the process agreed by Cabinet on 18 July 2008.
Resolved: That Councillors R. Arthur, and C. A. Walker and Mr. E. W. Mason be appointed as Local authority Governors at Seaham Trinity School.
B12 Local Authority School Governors - Wellfield Community School - Specialist Maths and Computing College The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Young People’s Services (for copy see file of Minutes) about the appointment the appointment of one Local Authority Governor to Wellfield Community School - Specialist Maths and Computing College in accordance with the process agreed by Cabinet on 18 July 2008.
Resolved: That the recommendations in the Report be agreed, with Mrs E. Devine being appointed as Local Authority governor at Wellfield Community School.
Attachments
11.06.08 minutes.pdf