Meeting documents

            Meeting: Cabinet (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 05/02/2009 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A1 Minutes of the meeting held on 22 January 2009

         

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AT A MEETING of the CABINET held at the County Hall, Durham on THURSDAY 22 JANUARY 2009 at 10.00 a.m.

PRESENT

Cabinet Members:
Councillors Foster, Hodgson, Hovvels, E Huntington, Nicholls, Robson, Stephens, Vasey and B Young.

Other Members:
Councillors Armstrong, Arthur, Blakey, Bowman, Boyes, Burnip, Chaplow, Charlton, Crooks, Graham, Hancock, N Harrison, Hopgood, Hugill, G Huntington, Johnson, Jopling, Martin, Morgan, Murphy, O’Donnell, Shiell, Shuttleworth, Simmons, Southwell, Stradling, Thompson, Thomson, Tomlinson, Walker, Wilkes, Wilkinson, Williams, Woods and Zair.

A1 Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2009 were confirmed as a
correct record and signed by the Chairman.

A2 Declarations of interest

Councillor Martin in respect of Minute A3 as a public governor of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Foundation Trust.

A3 Durham County Council Bus Strategy
[Key Decision Env/EN/11/08].

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director, Environment (for
copy see file of Minutes) that reported back on the consultation exercise that had been undertaken on the proposed Bus Strategy. A presentation was given on the background to the provision of bus services.

Resolved:
That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.

A4 LGR Update

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of
Minutes) providing an update on the LGR programme.

Resolved:
That the report be noted.

A5 Area Action Partnerships
[Key Decision SHSC/LGR/09/08].

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Assistant Chief Executive (for
copy see file of Minutes) about the proposed geography, function, governance arrangements, broad budgetary criteria and transition arrangements for the 14 Area Action Partnerships to be established in County Durham .

The report also set out a number of issues that will need to be addressed in order to hold a series of inaugural AAP meetings across the County in April 2009.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee highlighted the key issues that came out of their discussion. These primarily related to the importance of good governance based on principles of openness and transparency, getting the right membership for AAP`s; tenure of office; responding to equality and diversity, the need for political balance and geographical spread, responding to communities /delivering action, using the core funding through opportunities to match fund with other AAP partners, making sure projects are sustainable and not short term, and building communication and liaison links across AAP`s, and set local priorities informed by the Council plan, partner priorities within the context of the SCS and LAA priorities; focus on local issues. The Cabinet Portfolio holder welcomed the views of the Committee and confirmed that where possible the issues raised would be incorporated into the AAPs.

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee would be setting up a Working Group to monitor the operation of the AAPs from 1 April 2009.

The Chairman advised that a number of representations had been made to him that the parishes of Bearpark, and the Gaunless Valley did not agree with the AAP those parishes would be in, and sought the views of local Members. Councillor Wilkes was satisfied that the views of residents in Bearpark had been listened to. Councillors Hugill and P Charlton advised of the views they had received from the people living in Evenwood and it was noted that the Members had opposing views on which AAP Evenwood should be with.

Members thanked the Cabinet Portfolio Holder, and the Head of Partnerships and Community Engagement for the work that they had undertaken in progressing with the establishment of Area Action Partnerships.

Resolved:
That the recommendations in the Report be agreed.

A6 Performance Ratings for Adult Social Care 2007/08

The Cabinet considered a Report of the Corporate Director of Adult and Community Services relating to the Commission for Social Care Inspection annual performance rating for Durham County Council’s Adult Social Care Services in 2007/08 (for copy see file of Minutes).

Resolved:
That the Report be noted.

Attachments

 01.22.09.pdf