Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors John Noeken, Alison Bucknell and Laura Mayes

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2011 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2011

The Leader made the following announcements:

Congratulations to Wootton Bassett for becoming Royal Wootton Bassett.  The Leader said she was very pleased to hear the news which was well deserved and added that the Council would be supplying the appropriate road signs.

Barbara Mills, Head of Legal Services, would be retiring at the end of the month.  Barbara had worked for the Council for 20 years and the Leader thanked her for all her hard work and wished her well for the future.

To receive any declarations of personal or prejudicial interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

Ms Louise Cole, representing the National Deaf Children’s Society,  addressed the committee on concerns regarding provision of services for hearing impaired children in the County.

Mr Jeffrey Taylor addressed Cabinet on the report on the Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD as referred to at minute no. 45.

Cabinet received the minutes of the Cabinet Capital Assets Committee for 10 January and 7 February 2011.  Some discussed ensued regarding section 106 agreements.

Resolved

That the minutes be noted.

The Leader presented a report which set out the proposal for the transfer of Public Health services from NHS Wiltshire to Wiltshire Council.  

Resolved

1. That the Cabinet agrees to proceed with a transfer of the current Public Health functions from NHS Wiltshire to the Wiltshire Council by way of, and  to the extent permitted, by an arrangement under section 75 of the National Health Service Act 2006 and the relevant regulations, with a target date of September 2011, and to be an “early implementer” of the Health and Wellbeing Board.   

2. That the authority to finalise that agreement be delegated to the Corporate Director of Public Health and Wellbeing following consultationwith the Leader.

3. That the transition process is recognised in the Wiltshire Council Corporate and Business Plans.

4. That there be no additional costs to the Authority until the final transfer in 2013.

Reason for the decision

The Health and Social Care Bill (currently progressing through parliament) sets out the Governments intention to transform the delivery of health services in England. This Bill proposes, amongst a number of reforms, radical changes to the organisation of the commissioning and management arrangements for local health services. One of these reforms is the transfer of Public Health services from the NHS to local government. 

Councillor Lionel Grundy  Cabinet member for Children’s Services presented a report produced as part of the statutory process for the determination of admission arrangements to maintained schools.   He said that this was an annual requirement and this year it had  the addition of arrangements in respect of service families.

Resolved

That Cabinet approves:

a)    the proposed scheme for the co-ordination of admission to secondary schools for 2012/13.

b)   the proposed scheme for the co-ordination of admissions to primary schools for 2012/13.

c)   the proposed admission arrangements for Voluntary Controlled & Community secondary schools for 2012/13.

d)   the proposed admission arrangements for Voluntary Controlled & Community primary schools for 2012/13.

Reason for the decision

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to have a determined admission policy for 2012/13 in place on or before15 April 2011.

Councillor John Brady, Cabinet member for Economic Development, Planning and Housing presented the report and drew attention to some amendments to the plan and covering report.  He explained that following a consultation 43 suitable sites had been identified and the purpose of the report was to seek approval to publish a draft Waste Site Allocations DPD for formal eight week public consultation, followed by submission to the Secretary of State for Independent Examination.

During the debate members sought clarification regarding several of the selected sites.

Resolved

That Cabinet:

1. Approves the Submission Draft Waste Site Allocations DPD for publication for an eight week formal consultation to commence in May/June.

2. Endorses the Waste Site Allocations Proposed Submission Draft and recommends that Full Council approves the document for the purpose of submission to the Secretary of State, subject to there being no representations which, in the opinion of the Director for Economy and Enterprise in consultation with the Cabinet Member, raise fundamental issues on the soundness of the Strategy.

3. Authorises the Director for Economy and Enterprise, in consultation with the Cabinet Member, to make any necessary amendments to the Core Strategy in the interests of clarity and accuracy before it is published, and to make the arrangements for consultation.

Reason for Proposal

To ensure that an up-to-date waste policy framework is in place for Wiltshire in line with the requirements set out in the Council’s Local Development Scheme.

Public Participation

Mr Jeffrey Taylor spoke on behalf of The Bromham Quarry Campaign

Councillor John Brady, Cabinet member for Economic Development, Planning and Housing presented the report which noted the progress made and confirmed site options which are excluded from further consideration and also those that are suitable to be carried forward.  Further assessments would be taking place and it was confirmed that the results of these would be available of the Council’s website.

Resolved that:

1. The site options contained within Tables 1 and 2 of Appendix 1 of the report are excluded from further consideration.

2. Those site options contained within Table 3 of Appendix 1 of the report are subject to further assessment to gather sufficient information for officers to make a recommendation.

3. Targeted consultation is undertaken on the Petersfinger site submitted during the consultation.

4. On the basis of the detailed assessments, a local figure for aggregate provision in Wiltshire and Swindon is produced and the Director of Economy and Enterprise and Cabinet Member, in consultation with their counterparts in Swindon, should write to SWRAWP and central government notifying them of the provision that can be met for the period to 2026.

Reason for the decision

To ensure that an up to date and appropriate level of provision for sand and gravel extraction can be established for Wiltshire and Swindon, in accordance with national policy.   Once adopted, the Aggregate Minerals Site Allocations DPD will form part of the Council’s policy framework.

Cllr Fleur de Rhe-Philipe, Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance and Risk presented a report which advised Cabinet of the revenue budget monitoring position as at 31 January 2011 for financial year 2010-11.

It was noted that the there was an ongoing reduction in the projected overspend

Resolved

To note the report showing a forecast overspend of £0.960m which remains in line with the Council’s financial plan.

Reason for the decision

That members can approve the financial position of the Council at the continued corporate approach to managing the financial pressures and government reductions ahead of the final outturn for 2010-11

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

There were no urgent items.

Resolved:

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 minute number 49 below as it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 & 4 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.

Cabinet considered a confidential report outlining proposals for the future support of Tourist Information Centres.

Resolved:

To agree the proposals set out in the report as amended.

Reason for the decision

To implement the next stage of the process agreed at the January Cabinet