Agenda and minutes

All Cabinet members present.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 24 September 2013.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 24 September 2013 were presented.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 24 September 2013 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

The Leader made the following announcements:

Withdrawal of agenda Item

The Leader explained that item 12 on the agenda – ‘Local Government Association Adult Social Care Peer Challenge’ was withdrawn from the agenda. This was due to notification from the Local Government Association that it would not be able to provide a review team to carry out the Peer Review. This was now expected to be considered in the Spring of 2014 when the matter would be brought back to Cabinet.

Officers leaving due to Voluntary Redundancy

The Leader acknowledged that several officers had either recently left or would be leaving the Council’s employ shortly following their successful applications for voluntary redundancy. The Leader wished to place on record her thanks for their hard work and contribution to the services they helped provide to the people of Wiltshire.

In particular, the Leader thanked 3 officers who had provided direct support to the Cabinet and members, namely John Quinton – Head of Democratic Services, Marie Todd – Area Board and Member Support Manager and Wendy Packer – Senior Member Support Officer. She referred to the excellent work carried out by these officers.

John Quinton had been heavily involved in the transition to unitary status in 2009, successfully led the boundary review project and instrumental in establishing the Police and Crime Panel and the Health and Wellbeing Board.  Marie had successfully led and developed the democratic support function to the Council’s Area Boards and been a key player in the Council’s induction programmes and member development and enabled the Council to secure Charter status for member development. Wendy had consistently provided friendly and efficient support to elected members and the democratic process.

Framed Picture from Leer, Germany

Cllr Horace Prickett explained that he had recently attended a twinning conference in Leer, Germany which was twinned with Trowbridge. Cllr Prickett gave a brief presentation on the work of Wiltshire Council and as a friendly gesture between the two authorities presented them with a Wiltshire Flag and explained its origins.

The Burgomaster of Leer Council presented Cllr Prickett with a framed picture of the Leer Council house, their administrative building and the harbour side in Leer. Cllr Prickett in turn presented the picture to the Leader to receive on behalf of the Council.  The Leader thanked the people of Leer for their generosity, commenting that it was a beautiful picture and thanked Cllr Prickett for bringing it to the Council. She explained that she would arrange for the picture to be displayed in a suitable location at County Hall.

No declarations of interest 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 Thursday 17 October 2013.  Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

The Leader explained that as usual at meetings of Cabinet she would be more than happy to hear from any members of the public present on any of the items on this agenda. She acknowledged receipt of statements and questions received as circulated at the meeting.

Cllr Margaret Willmot, Salisbury City Councillor – Transport Planning in Salisbury

Cllr Willmot addressed Cabinet on this issue to which Cllr John Thomson responded. A copy of the statement and questions submitted and response from Cllr Thomson are included with the online agenda for this meeting.  

Mr Kenneth Spencer, Atworth Traffic Action Group – Traffic and Road Safety

Mr Spencer addressed Cabinet on this issue to which Cllr John Thomson responded. Cllr Thomson added that he would be happy to bring the issues raised by Mr Spencer to the Road Safety Partnership and that the Area Board could take up the matter through the Community Area Transport Group. A copy of the correspondence from Mr Spencer and response from Cllr Thomson are included with the online agenda for this meeting.

To receive and note the minutes of the Cabinet Capital Assets Committee held on 24 September 2013.

The minutes of the Cabinet Capital Assets Committee dated 24 September 2013 were presented.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the Cabinet Capital Assets Committee dated 24 September 2013 be received and noted.

Report by ParvisKhansari, Service Director, Highways and Transport

Cllr John Thomson reminded Cabinet  that the Council had submitted a bid to the Department for Transport’s (DfT) Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) in February 2012. The bid project had three main elements:

·         Support for improved rail services on the Westbury to Swindon line (the Trans Wilts service)

·         Interchange improvements at Wiltshire’s railway stations

·         Supporting smarter choices measures.

The Council was awarded a £4.25 million grant by the DfT on 27June 2012. At its meeting on 10 September 2012, Cabinet approved the commencement and delivery of the package of complementary sustainable transport measures but given the uncertainties and risks associated with the implementation of the train service at the time, requested that officers liaise with the DfT, the Great Western franchise bidders and other relevant parties regarding the improved Westbury to Swindon train service, and submit a further report to a future Cabinet meeting.

Accordingly, Cllr Thomson presented a report which updated Cabinet on the latest developments and included proposals to approve the procurement of the improved Trans Wilts rail service from First Great Western Limited. The various options open to the Council and the risks involved were detailed in the report. Cllr Thomson read out a statement in support of the proposals from Mrs Jenny Ragget, Director of Travelwatch, South West. She congratulated the Council on its efforts to achieve a vastly improved Trans Wilts rail service.

Cabinet noted that procurement of an improved Trans Wilts rail service would provide local areas with a number of economic, community and environmental benefits. It would also offer the opportunity of the service being considered by the DfT for full inclusion in the franchise after three years of successful operation. The Leader and Cllr Thomson added that the future viability of the service would be largely dependent on how well it was used and should therefore be encouraged by local members.

In the debate which ensued, a number of members welcomed the proposals. Some members hoped that the Council would be able in due course to look to support services and the reopening of stations in their divisional areas. Cllr Jon Hubbard highlighted that the service would open up  Melksham railway station to other rail networks and as such, he hoped that a ticket machine in particular would be provided to enable the purchase of tickets in advance. He also requested that officers explore opportunities for funding capacity improvements to the Melksham single track line through the Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership Strategic Economic Plan.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

a)            approves the procurement of the improved Trans Wilts rail service from First Great Western Limited and delegates the finalisation and signing of the contract agreement to the Service Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene and Broadband and

b)           delegates detailed operational matters relating to the improved Trans Wilts rail service to the Associate Director for Highways and Transport in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Highways  ...  view the full minutes text for item 93.

Report by Parvis Khansari, Service Director, Highways and Transport

Cllr John Thomson presented a report which sought Cabinet approval of a programme of road maintenance to improve the condition of the highway network in Wiltshire. This was very much in keeping with one of the twelve actions in the Council’s Business Plan to ‘invest additional money between 2014-17 to reduce historic backlog in highways and maintenance.’

Expenditure on highways maintenance had varied enormously over the years. During the 1990s funding for road maintenance reduced nationally, and consequently a backlog of maintenance developed on the nation’s highway network.  Investment since 2000/01 had improved overall road conditions, but this had still not been sufficient to keep all of the roads and footways in good condition.

The Council acknowledged that the County’s roads was important to the public as demonstrated by the results of the Council’s People’s Voice and the National Highways and Transportation (NHT) surveys.

Cllr Thomson guided members through the report, a comparison of the  various options which ranged from maintaining existing conditions and increasing investment to £17 million and £21 million for six years and the financial implications of each option.  

The recommended option to increase investment to £21 million for six years would provide a significant improvement to the condition of the network, including improving the condition of the unclassified roads. It would also improve safety on the classified roads by improving 664 kilometres of road. There would be the opportunity to involve the Area Boards to help identify local priorities for treatment.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approve the following:

a)             To achieve the objective set out in the Council’s Business Plan a project for improving Wiltshire’s roads should be undertaken by increasing annual expenditure on road maintenance to £21.000 million for six years from 2014/15.

b)            The level of future funding from the Local Transport Plan Maintenance Block Capital Grant is a major risk in the proposed highways road maintenance investment.  Not until future year allocations are published will the true financial implications of investments be known.  It would be prudent to reassess the financial implications once these are known and during the annual budget setting process.

c)            The Area Boards should be involved in helping to set local priorities for roads to be treated, with the details of the process to be agreed by the appropriate Associate Director in consultation with Cllr Thomson, the Cabinet Member for Highways and Streetscene and Broadband.

Reason for decisions

The county’s roads are important to the public, as demonstrated by the results of the Council’s People’s Voice and the National Highways and Transportation (NHT) surveys, which indicate low levels of public satisfaction with road conditions. In the Council’s consultations on budget setting, expenditure on road maintenance is a service where the public consistently wish to see more spent.

The experience of other Authorities who have made substantial investments in highways maintenance recently is that improvements in the condition of the network are apparent, and public satisfaction is increased.

The proposed additional investment in the county’s roads would improve those roads in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94.

Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director and Michael Hudson, Service Director - Finance

Cllr Laura Mayes presented a report which updated Cabinet on the outcome of consultation with Wiltshire Schools on proposed changes to the Wiltshire local funding formula for schools and to agree the changes to the formula as recommended by Schools Forum.

The report also outlined why proposals from the Department for Education (DfE) to allow the inclusion of formula factors for mobility and sparsity are not recommended for inclusion in the Wiltshire formula.

As a result, the main elements of the funding formula are left unchanged however there are 3 changes that local authorities could now incorporate within their local funding formula for 2014-15.  These were:

1. Lump sum – it was now possible to set differential lump sums for primary and secondary schools, with a maximum allowable lump sum of £175,000
2. Pupil mobility – a threshold had now been introduced to enable funding to be more targeted
3. Sparsity– a new factor could now be used to target funding at necessary small rural schools

The new proposals from DfE for 2014-15 were aimed at supporting schools in rural authorities. Wiltshire Schools Forum had considered the implications of the new proposals to establish whether they should be incorporated in to the Wiltshire local funding formula.  Following consideration of the potential financial impact of the proposals the recommendation from Schools Forum was that differential lump sums should be implemented for primary and secondary schools but that the formula should not be amended to include Mobility or Sparsity factors. Schools were consulted on the proposed changes to the lump sum during September and the outcomes of that consultation were considered by Schools Forum on 3 October 2013.

The current Wiltshire funding formula is compliant with DfE requirements however the proposed changes would enable the formula to better reflect the differing requirements of primary and secondary schools.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approve the recommendations of the Schools Forum from its meeting on 3 October 2013 as follows:

1. That the lump sum for Primary schools be set at £85,000
2. That the lump sum for Secondary schools be set at £175,000

Having consulted Maintained schools on the delegation or de-delegation of budgets for central services,

That budgets for central services continue be held centrally with the exception of the elements of the budgets for the Ethnic Minority Achievement Service and the Traveller Education Service which have been delegated to secondary schools in 2013-14.

Reason for decisions

The changes to the lump sum element of the schools funding formula introduced by DfE in 2013-14 had the single biggest impact on school budgets in Wiltshire.  The ability to set differential lump sums and therefore recognise the different fixed costs in primary and secondary school will mean that the funding formula can more appropriately reflect the costs of running schools.

The reasons why Schools Forum has not proposed the implementation of a mobility factor or a sparsity factor are detailed within the report.

Report by Alistair Cunningham, Service Director - Economy and Regeneration

Cllr Fleur de Rhé-Philipe presented a report which invited Cabinet to consider the development of Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) in Wiltshire.

The report also informed Cabinet on the development of BIDs in Wiltshire, and updated Cabinet on the development of the Salisbury BID as the postal ballot was now in progress and the ballot count due to be held on 13 November 2013. The Salisbury BID Business Plan was presented for Cabinet’s information.

A BID was a clearly defined commercial area within which extra improvement and management is funded by contributions made by the businesses and public bodies operating within it.

A BID is proposed in consultation with stakeholders within the district, and ultimately voted for by businesses within the defined area for a specific term, which was usually five years.  At the end of the term, the BID may either disband, or propose a ballot for a new, subsequent BID.  Nationally, the majority of BIDs that have reached re-ballot have continued to a further term.

The BID mechanism provided a way for both public bodies and the business community to invest together in their town centres following an agreed business plan.  BIDs can deliver a better environment for Wiltshire’s town centres and can boost their economies by supporting and providing additional services to their business communities.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

a)            notes and approves Wiltshire Council’s participation in the establishment of BIDs in Wiltshire;

b)           delegates authority to the Service Director for Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Economy, Skills and Transport, to cast any votes to which Wiltshire Council is entitled in the event of a BID ballot and

c)            that the cost to the Council be capped at £80,000 per annum as gap funding.

Reason for decisions

BIDs provide a recognised mechanism via which both public sector bodies and the business community can invest in their town centres following agreement of a business plan which must be approved by postal ballot of all eligible businesses and public sector bodies operating within the proposed district boundary.  If the ballot results in a ‘yes’ vote then these organisations must pay a small additional levy on their business rates.  The funding that is raised is then ring fenced and used to deliver additional projects and services to those currently provided by Wiltshire Council and other public bodies, directly benefiting the business community within the BID area and boosting the economy of the town centre.

It is now timely to inform Cabinet about BIDs in view of the development and forthcoming ballot of a BID in Salisbury.  The Salisbury BID has been in development and its postal ballot commenced on 13 October and the count is scheduled to take place on 13 November 2013.

Report by Dr Carlton Brand, Corporate Director.

 Cllr Toby Sturgis presented a report which sought Cabinet’s commitment to enabling the delivery of a University Technical College (UTC) based within Salisbury.

Cabinet was therefore asked to specifically consider the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between this Council, Wiltshire Police, the Wiltshire and Swindon Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) and the UTC, details of which were presented. This outlined the framework that the aforementioned parties would work within to enable the UTC to be developed on part of the existing Wilton Road Police Station site.

Cabinet was asked to confirm that, in order to enable the delivery of the UTC on this site (and thus drawing down a £7.5million investment by the Education Funding Agency), it wishes officers of Wiltshire Council to undertake all required work to develop the most cost effective financial package to enable the purchase of the required element of the Wilton Road Police Station site by Wiltshire Council.  An independent valuation of this element of the site, jointly commissioned by Wiltshire Council and the PCC, confirmed a suitable purchase price would be in the region of £2 million.

Cabinet was also asked to note that Wiltshire Council officers were working with officers of both the PCC and Wiltshire Police to identify, secure and provide a modern and sustainable Custody Suite to serve Salisbury and the south of the County.  Officers would also support Wiltshire Police in the development and delivery of a long term estate plan for the County.

Members were very positive about proposals to provide such a facility in the County.

Cllr John Walsh, local member expressed his delight at the project although did have some concerns on which he needed clarification. The Leader undertook to request the PCC to consider and reflect the views of local members and provide opportunities for local involvement throughout the project to allay any concerns.

Resolved:

That Cabinet:

a)    approve the proposed Memorandum of Understanding between Wiltshire Council, Wiltshire Police, the Police and Crime Commissioner and the South Wiltshire University Technical College Limited;

b)   request officers to develop the most cost effective funding package to enable the delivery of the University Technical College on the Wilton Road Police Station site, delegating this to Corporate Dr Carlton Brand, in consultation with the Solicitor to the Council, the Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property, Waste and the Cabinet member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform and

c)    note and support the work being undertaken by officers to support the development and delivery of the Police and Crime Commissioner’s  and Wiltshire Police’s long term estates strategy.

Reason for decisions

To approve the proposed MoU, confirm the council’s position in relation to the proposed purchase of an element of the Wilton Road Police Station site and note the work regarding the police estate that is being undertaken by Wiltshire Council officers.  This work and proposal will enable the delivery of the UTC in Salisbury with new educational places for 600 young  ...  view the full minutes text for item 97.

Report by James Cawley, Service Director Adult Care and Housing Strategy

As explained at the start of the meeting under Leader’s announcements (minute no. 89 refers), this item was withdrawn.

There was no urgent business.

Statement and questions from Cllr Margaret Willmot, Salisbury City Council and response from Cllr Thomson, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport

Correspondence from Mr Kenneth Spencer, Atworth Traffic Action Group and response from Cllr Thomson