Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet member for Children’s Services.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 February 2014.

The minutes of the last meeting held on 11 February 2014 were presented.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 February be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

The Leader made the following announcements:

Schools Funding

The Leader explained that the Government was currently consulting on schools funding for 2015/16, looking to increase funding levels for the lowest funded authorities which included Wiltshire. Based on current school pupil numbers, this was likely to be in the region of an additional £5.4 million.

Adult Social Care Team

The Leader was delighted to announce that the Adult Social Care team had been awarded the title of Best Commissioner in the Independent Specialist Care Awards 2014 run by LaingBuisson. The Leader also reported that the initial feedback from the adult care peer review was very positive and thanked Cabinet member, Cllr Keith Humphries and Corporate Director, Maggie Rae for all their hard work.

Wiltshire Business and Sports Legacy Dinner – 13 March

The Leader explained that the Council had hosted the first Wiltshire Business and Sports Legacy Dinner in the atrium on Thursday 13 March. The event raised almost thirty thousand pounds which would go to help support our future Olympians and Paralympians.

More than two hundred and twenty business representatives attended this unique and successful event where we connected Wiltshire’s sports stars to local businesses for mutual benefit.

The money raised had enabled us to form a foundation trust that will assist our local athletes with the support they need. This year, as a result of the dinner and the support of local businesses, we were able to provide funding to fourteen future Olympians and Paralympians aged from 14 to 47, covering a wide range of sports.

Cllr Jerry Wickham

The Leader welcomed Cllr Jerry Wickham to the meeting. Cllr Wickham was the Unitary Councillor for the Ethandune Division following the by-election held on 6 March.

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 13 March 2014. Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

It was noted that no requests for public participation had been received.  The Leader did however; explain that as usual at meetings of Cabinet, she would be more than happy to hear from any member of the public present on any of the items on this agenda.

The Leader reported receipt of a question from Cllr Jon Hubbard to which Cllr John Thomson replied. A copy of the question and response is appended to the signed copy of these minutes and available on the Council’s website.

The question related to the announcement by the Government to provide additional funding to support local authorities to deal with highway repairs following the recent extreme weather. Following a query by Cllr Hubbard, Cllr Thomson confirmed that any additional funding used would be added to what the Council had allocated in its budget. He also explained that the Council was awaiting further details on how the funding scheme would operate.

Report by Corporate Directors, Carolyn Godfrey and Maggie Rae

Councillor Keith Humphries presented a report which outlined the importance of Wiltshire’s Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the main considerations for Wiltshire Council. The Strategy was also presented for Cabinet’s consideration.

Cllr Humphries noted that the Strategy had been the subject of consultation including with the Area Boards and Scrutiny.  The Strategy had four key aims:

Living longer, living healthily for longer and enjoying a good quality of life, living independently for longer and living fairly – reducing the higher levels of ill health faced by some less well-off communities.

These aims would be delivered by the actions set out under four key themes, namely, prevention, independence, engagement and safeguarding. The Leader explained many of these initiatives had since also been included in the Better Care Plan.

Resolved:

That Cabinet note the importance of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy and its bearing on the delivery of Council services.

Reason for decision:

The plans of Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group, NHS England, and Wiltshire Council for commissioning services must be informed by the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. Where plans are not in line with the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment or Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy then CCGs, NHS England and Wiltshire Council must be able to explain why.

Report by James Cawley, Associate Director Adult Care Commissioning, Safeguarding and Housing

Cllr Keith Humphries presented a report which explained the joint work taking place between the Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group on a Better Care Plan.

The draft Better Care Plan, 2014-2016 was presented which had been submitted to NHS England and the Local Government Association. The Plan sets out our commitment to the integration of health and social care services, and our plans to allocate £22m in 2014-15 and £29m in 2015-16 to developing services jointly.  The Plan would support the Council’s goal to protect those who were most vulnerable in our communities, by ensuring that services were coordinated, and delivered to support the objective of care close to home.

Corporate Director, Maggie Rae explained that the report which has so far, been very well received was only possible due to the leadership and commitment shown by the Council, in particular, the Health and Wellbeing Board and its Chairman, the Leader, Cllr Jane Scott. The Council was constrained in the contents of the Plan and would have preferred to have adopted from a cradle to the grave approach.

Cllr Jon Hubbard welcomed both the Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Better Care Plan. He did however, make an observation that the documents did not appear to include very much information on how it was proposed to deliver the actions contained therein. This would be a key piece of information to enable monitoring their effectiveness.

The Leader explained that the governance arrangements were being considered with draft details being presented to the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Resolved:

That Cabinet note the development and submission of a draft Better Care Plan to NHS England and the Local Government Association.

Reason for decision:

To inform Cabinet of the work on the Better Care Plan and the integration of health and social care, which is being overseen by the Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Board.

  Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director

  Cllr Richard Gamble, Portfolio holder for Schools, Skills and Youth presented a report which gave details of the requirement to have in place schemes for the co-ordination of admissions to the schools within Wiltshire.

The proposed schemes and arrangements were agreed by the School Admissions Forum on 27 February 2014 for recommendation to Cabinet, following a period of consultation with schools, parents, neighbouring authorities and Senior officers at Wiltshire Council. Cabinet was therefore asked to consider the four documents presented as the admission policy for Wiltshire for 2015/16. The admissions process for the intakes in September 2015 begins in September 2014.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approves:

i)          the scheme for the co-ordination of admission to secondary schools for 2015/16.

ii)         the scheme for the co-ordination of admissions to primary schools for 2015/16.

iii)        the admission arrangements for Voluntary Controlled & Community secondary schools for 2015/16.

iv)       the admission arrangements for Voluntary Controlled & Community primary schools for 2015/16.

Reason for decision:

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to have a determined admission policy for 2015/16 in place on or before 15 April 2014.

        Report by Carolyn Godfrey, Corporate Director

  Cllr Toby Sturgis presented a report which sought approval of the revised policy for School Infrastructures and Capital Cost Multipliers for Section 106 Agreements.

A new methodology had been introduced based on the Building Cost Information Service (BCIS) public sector national cost standards for State Schools. The revised calculated rates at present are £16,416 per Early Years place, £16,768 per primary school place and £19,084 per Secondary school place. 

Cllr Sturgis explained that it may be necessary to amend the wording of paragraph 2.5 of the policy to ensure it was fit for purpose and sought delegated authority to do this.

Resolved:

1.     That Cabinet approve the Policy for School Infrastructure and Capital Cost Multipliers for Section 106 Agreements.

2.     To give delegated authority to the Associate Director - Commissioning, Performance and School Effectiveness

       following consultation with the Cabinet member for Strategic

       Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property  

       And Waste to make minor amendments to the wording of paragraph 

       2.5 of the policy as necessary.

Reason for decision:

To enable the Council to update the Policy for requesting infrastructure contributions where the need for extra school places arises directly from housing developments.

To provide an update on the interim treasury management position to the end of December 2013 for the financial year 2013/14.

Councillor Dick Tonge presented a report which set out the quarterly review of the Treasury Management Strategy.

This report reviews management actions in relation to:

a) the prudential indicators, treasury management indicators originally set for   the year and the position at the 31 December 2013;

b) other treasury management actions during the period; and

c) the approved Annual Investment Strategy.

Resolved:

That Cabinet note the contents of the report in line with the Treasury Management Strategy.

Reason for decision:

This report is a requirement of the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy.

Any other items of business, which the Leader agrees to consider as a matter of urgency.

There were no urgent items.

Question from Cllr Jon Hubbard and response