Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Laura Mayes, Portfolio Holder for Organisational Culture.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 14 June 2011, previously circulated.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 14 June 2011 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2011.

No announcements were made.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Written notice of questions or statements should be given to Yamina Rhouati of Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on Friday 22 July 2011. Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

The Leader explained that as usual, she would be happy to allow members of

the public to speak at the start of each item if they wished to do so.

Denominational Home to School Transport

The Leader reported receipt of two questions and one statement as follows on the subject of Denominational Home to School Transport:

A question was received from Father Jean-Patrice Coulon, representing the Catholic community of Devizes as Parish Priest. Father Coulon asked if consideration of this item could be the subject of a single issue Cabinet meeting held in the evening.

A response was given by Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport.

The Leader confirmed that consideration of this item by Cabinet had been postponed until 13 September 2011 in order to avoid considering it during the school holidays as it had become clear from responses to the consultation that many interested parties would not be able to attend this meeting. She also noted that the Children’s Services Select Committee in considering a report on this issue had agreed to establish a Rapid Scrutiny Task Group to look at the proposals in detail with a view to making recommendations to Cabinet in September.

A question was received from Mrs Emma Kayne which asked that the item be further postponed to ensure that information from parents and schools which would allow detailed costings to be drawn up would be made available and taken into account in determining the proposals.

A statement was made by Mrs Ann Ferries, Chair of Governors of St Patrick’s Primary School, Corsham. Mrs Ferries expressed concern on aspects of consultation and the ability to obtain information from parents and schools during the school holidays.

Copies of questions and written  statement are included with the online meeting documentation for this meeting available from the following link to the Council’s website:

http://cms.wiltshire.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=141&MId=5649&Ver=4

For public participation in respect of Salisbury car parking charges, please refer to minute no. 98.

Report of the Corporate Director, Children and Education and the Corporate Director, Public Health and Wellbeing is circulated.

Cllr Lionel Grundy, Cabinet member for Children’s Services presented a report which sought Cabinet approval of a Reducing Child Poverty Strategy for Wiltshire and Delivery Plan.

The Child Poverty Act 2010 required central Government to produce a national strategy and reduce child poverty. It also required local areas to address child poverty through cooperation between partners, the production of a needs assessment and implementation of a child poverty strategy. Accordingly, a Wiltshire draft needs assessment and strategy was prepared by a multi-agency task group which included representations from the Council’s departments for Children and Education, Economic Development, Housing, Research and Intelligence; NHS Wiltshire, Police and Job Centre Plus.

The Strategy suggested 5 key strategic objectives, namely:

·         Keeping child poverty in the spotlight

• Providing support to the 0-5 year olds in the most disadvantaged families
• Narrowing the educational attainment gap
• Creating an inclusive Wiltshire with an appropriate job for everyone and economic opportunity for all
• Considering a consolidated, geographical approach to areas of concentrated child poverty.

Councillors welcomed the Strategy and the realistic and genuine approach to it. A number of Councillors commented that some areas including rural areas had more deprivation than others. Cllr Grundy added that it was important to work to break the cycle of deprivation and the Leader commented on initiatives to concentrate on economic recovery and attract higher value jobs into the County.

The Children’s Services Committee in considering the report at its meeting on 22 July noted and commended the report and recommended that Cabinet makes adequate funding available to fulfil the objectives described within the Strategy.

After a lengthy debate during which various questions were raised to which Cllr Grundy and officers responded it was

Resolved:

(a)             That Cabinet approve the Reducing Child Poverty Strategy for Wiltshire and Delivery Plan.

(b)             That Extended Services Steering Groups be supported in being involved to deliver the objectives of the Strategy.

Reason for Decision

To meet the statutory duty under the Child Poverty Act 2010 for the Local Authority to produce a needs assessment and local strategy.

 Report of the Corporate Director, Department of Community Services is circulated

Report of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood and Planning to follow

Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport presented a report on proposals for a car parking redemption scheme for all Wiltshire Council owned and operated car parks across the County.  The Leader explained that this was raised at the Council meeting on 12 July when an undertaking was given that Cabinet would at this meeting consider a redemption scheme. However, it had since appeared that such a scheme may not be wanted by the retail trade in some areas.

The scheme was designed to assist traders where it was supported locally without imposition. The scheme acknowledged recent research which demonstrated that retail trade was being affected nationally and had been declining on an annual basis over the last three years as the result of the recession and other factors such as internet buying.

Cllr Tonge therefore amended the recommendation in order to initially consult interested parties to establish if they indeed wanted such a scheme before it was introduced. Comments from Cllr Nigel Carter who was unable to attend the meeting were circulated.

A discussion ensued on the recent increase in car parking charges to which Cllr Tonge replied.

Resolved:

(a)          To delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood and Planning in agreement and consultation with the Cabinet member for Highways and Transport and the Leader of the Council to consult with

·         Town councils

·         Chambers of commerce

·         Town and City centre management committees and

·         Those representing independent retailers and other interested parties

on proposals to introduce a car parking redemption scheme to establish if they wish to develop such a scheme  in their town.

(b)          To delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood and Planning in agreement and consultation with the Cabinet member for Highways and Transport and the Leader of the Council to develop and implement a car parking redemption scheme in areas where such a scheme is wanted following the outcome of consultation referred to in  (a) above.

(c )      That details of any car parking redemption scheme if introduced be circulated to all Councillors.

Reason for Decision

To consult on a proposal to establish if a car parking redemption scheme is wanted and where it is, to implement such a scheme to offset the impacts of the recession on town centres in Wiltshire.

Report of the Interim Chief Finance Officer to follow

Cllr John Brady, Cabinet member for Finance, Performance and Risk presented a report which informed Cabinet of progress in delivering savings identified in the 2011-15 Financial Plan in relation to the 2011-12 base budgets and of any significant new cost pressures.

It was noted that significant levels of savings, 87% were on target to be delivered with areas that required further examination and action being highlighted in the report.

The overall assumption was that without further action, the current monitoring of the first quarter for 2011/12, suggested an overspend / shortfall on the balanced budget of £5 million. The early identification of potential issues was part of sound and prudent financial management. The position was similar to the previous year and Cabinet was reminded that positive early action in that instance resulted in a turn around to a £700k underspend at outturn.

Action to address this year’s forecast should thus be taken where officers have the delegated powers to do so and this has started. Cllr Brady responded to questions.

Public Participation

Mr Gould addressed Cabinet on car parking charges in Salisbury. He commented that whilst the reintroduction of a 1 hour parking scheme would help, it would not solve all problems and that the Council should review all the bands.

Mr Stevens made similar points and commented that retailers not affiliated to any of the established organisations should also be involved.

Cllr Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport drew Cabinet’s attention to a joint memorandum as tabled from the Salisbury City Centre Management Ltd, Federation of Small Businesses in Salisbury and Salisbury and District Chamber of Commerce. The memorandum included a set of proposals for a revised parking regime in Salisbury. Cllr Tonge also submitted a Briefing Note which detailed the revenue implications of adopting the suggested proposals.

The Leader explained that in reviewing car parking charges the 2 hour parking charge was introduced in good faith and in the belief that it was preferred over a 1 hour scheme. It had since transpired that in fact a 1 hour scheme was wanted by several organisations in Salisbury. The Leader suggested that a meeting be arranged as soon as possible between Cllr Tonge and appropriate representatives from Salisbury to consider options, concentrating on the 1 hour parking proposals and possible funding arrangements.

Resolved:

(a)          That Cabinet notes the outcome of the first quarter budget monitoring and receives updates as to how officers had taken action to address potential shortfalls in order to balance the budget or where Financial Regulations required, be in a position to take decisions on proposals for alternative savings at the next Cabinet meeting.

(b)          That a meeting be arranged between the Leader of the Council, Cllr Jane Scott; Cllr Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport and appropriate representatives of Salisbury to consider options with a view to exploring the feasibility and funding options for reintroducing a one hour parking charge in Salisbury.

Reason for Decision

To inform effective decision making and ensure a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 98.

Report of the Interim Chief Finance Officer is circulated

Report of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood and Planning is circulated

Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport presented a report which sought Cabinet approval to extend the street lighting contract with the existing contractor Balfour Beatty.

In response to a question on the use of LED in street lighting, Cllr Tonge replied that this could be included if monies were made available through spend to save.

Resolved:

(a)          The existing street lighting contract with Balfour Beatty Workplace be extended for one year until July 2012.

(b)          Consideration should be given to including the maintenance of the Council’s street lighting maintenance in any future Highways Works contract which would be likely to start in June 2013.

(c)          The highway lighting work is moved from Southern Electricity to Balfour Beatty Workplace to realise the £4,000 saving.

Reason for Decisions

There are potential long-term savings to be made by including the maintenance of the county’s street lighting in a future larger Highways Works Contract.  Extending the existing street lighting contract would represent less risk to the Council and should offer good value for money in the circumstances.

To consider passing the following resolution:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item Numbers 14, 15, 16 and 17 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information, as indicated in each case, of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Confidential report of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood and Planning is circulated

Exempt by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 Confidential report of the Corporate Director, Department of Community Services is circulated

Exempt by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Cllr John Thomson, Cabinet member for Adult Care, Communities and Housing presented a report which sought to update Cabinet on the contract evaluation process for the Help to Live at Home service. The report also sought Cabinet approval for the award of contracts following completion of the evaluation process, details of which were provided.

Resolved:

To approve the recommendations detailed in the report presented and approve the award of contracts as circulated at the meeting.

Reasons for Decisions

As detailed in the confidential report presented.

Confidential report of the Corporate Director, Department of Community Services is circulated

Exempt by virtue of paragraph 3  of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Confidential report of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood and Planning is circulated

Exempt by virtue of paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Clr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport presented a confidential report on transformation of the Passenger Assistant service. The report documented the work carried out to date to identify an appropriate, workable and more cost effective solutions to the delivery of this service. The report included a number of options.

The resolution of the Children’s Services Select Committee which had considered the report at its meeting on 22 July was circulated in which it was noted that the Committee supported implementation of the recommended option 7.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approves implementation of Option 7 as detailed in the report presented.

Reason for Decision

As detailed in the confidential report presented.