Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 15 February 2012.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2012 were presented.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2012.

The Leader made the following announcements:

Mr John Milton

The Leader noted with much compassion the recent and sad passing of Mr John Milton, Councillor Jemima Milton’s husband. The Leader wished for Councillor Milton and her family to know that they were in our thoughts and prayers. This sentiment was shared by all those present.

Councillor Howard Marshall

The Leader expressed the Cabinet’s best wishes for a speedy recovery to Councillor Marshall and invited a representative from the Liberal Democrats present at the meeting to convey these wishes to him.

Pre-deployment parade in Warminster

On Friday 16th March the Leader had attended the pre-deployment parade in Warminster. The event had been very well attended and many people, including members of the Army, of the Town Council and members of the public, had commented on the tremendous work undertaken by the Highways and Streetscene team to ensure the town was at its best. The Leader wished to congratulate the Highways and Streetscene team for their effort.

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 16 March 2012.   Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

The Leader reported receipt of a question from Mr Michael Sprules regarding Speculative Applications prior to the Examination in Public Stage of the Pre-Submission Draft Wiltshire Core Strategy.

Cllr Toby Sturgis, Cabinet Member for Waste, Property, Environment and Development Control Services added that more weight was being given to the emerging Wiltshire Core Strategy as its approval date grew closer. This was reflected, for example, in the recent  Park Lane, Malmesbury appeal decision which supported the Council’s approach of resisting development proposals which undermined the Core Strategy and which did not allow the local community to have a meaningful input into development proposals in their area.

Details of the full question and response can be accessed on this link.

At the meeting Mr Michael Sprules also took the opportunity to suggest that the Olympic Torch route through Chippenham should start at the cricket pavilion which was opened in 1937 by Lord Burghley, a gold medal winner in the 1928 Olympic Games.

The Leader pointed out that thanks to a lot of hard work the torch would be in Wiltshire for four days. She welcomed Mr Sprules’ suggestion and agreed to convey it to the appropriate Olympic committee; however she did explain that previous suggestions regarding changes to the route to be followed had not been favoured by the London 2012 Organising Committee.

In addition, the Leader invited members of the public present to participate in the discussion on items on the agenda.

Cllr Laura Mayes, Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services, presented a report which had been produced as part of the statutory process for the determination of admission arrangements to maintained schools.

She explained that very few responses had been received to the consultation with schools, parents, neighbouring authorities and Senior Officers at Wiltshire Council.

The proposed process for the co-ordination of admissions was broadly similar to previous years apart from the revision to reflect the removal of the requirement for Local Authorities to co-ordinate In Year Admissions cross border as specified in the New School Admissions Code which had come into force on 1 February 2012. The proposed timetables were also the same as previous year.

The general process seemed to be accepted and it had proved efficient, this was reflected by more than 90% of secondary schools applicants being offered their first preference.

She pointed out that Children in Care and Vulnerable Children were, rightfully, the top two criteria for over-subscription.

Cllr Lionel Grundy, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, supported everything said by Cllr Mayes.

Resolved:

That Cabinet approves:

a) the proposed scheme for the co-ordination of admission to secondary schools for 2013/14;

b) the proposed scheme for the co-ordination of admissions to primary schools for 2013/14;

c) the proposed admission arrangements for Voluntary Controlled & Community secondary schools for 2013/14;

d) the proposed admission arrangements for Voluntary Controlled & Community schools for 2013/14.

Reason for Decision:

The Local Authority has a statutory duty to have a determined admission policy for 2013/14 in place on or before15 April 2012.

Cllr Keith Humphries, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Protection Services, introduced a report providing an overview of the Joint Strategic Assessment (JSA) Programme and a programme update on needs assessment.

Cllr Humphries took the opportunity to inform the meeting of the documents underpinning the strategy rather than talk them through the report which was very comprehensive and self-explanatory.

Documents underpinning the JSA included:

·         The Community Areas JSAs;

·         The Joint Strategic Needs Assessment for Health and Wellbeing;

·         JSA by the Police;

·         JSA for the new Clinical Commissioning Groups.

He explained that Wiltshire Council had received national recognition for its work on the JSA from the Faculty of Public Health. Another accolade was the fact that the Army had decided use Wiltshire Council’s JSA as a model.

Maggie Rae, Corporate Director for Public Health and Public Protection, explained that the aim was to deliver increased benefits and improvements to Wiltshire residents. She explained that the data that would be gathered from the census in the coming year would help clarify needs for education, housing, etc. One aspect she would like to focus on was integrating economic analysis in the JSA.

In response to comments made and questions asked the following was clarified:

·         The steady increase projected for inpatient admissions for Wiltshire patients with a primary diagnosis of cardiovascular disease and with a primary diagnosis of cancer (page 85 of the agenda refers) were due to factors such as increases in obesity, alcohol and smoking health issues and the fact that skin cancer was the fastest increasing form of cancer;

·         Failing to meet the target reduction of 50% for under-18 conception rate should be considered in parallel with the fact that Wiltshire already had one of the lowest rate in the country, following campaigns in the 70s and 80s;

·         It would take time to eradicate cases of childhood obesity as this was a problem everywhere at variable levels;

·         The figures shown on page 85 of the agenda were purely for Wiltshire (not Swindon), these figures took into consideration every aspect of projections including an increase in population; 

·         Issues related to drugs and alcohol abuse should be kept as a priority. Considerable progress had been made, especially through the Neighbourhood Policing Teams, as the Police would document any drug offense rather than let the more “benign” offenses slip. An alcohol and drug programme was in place which included immediate action on treatment following report from the Police, there also was a similar programme for Juniors (under 18).

Cllr John Noeken spoke about the Amesbury Area Board Neighbourhood Task Group initiative. This task group had been created following the Amesbury Area Board JSA where drugs and alcohol had been identified as an issue.

It was established that the JSA would become even more important when the Health and Social Care Bill was passed as this would mean that the Wiltshire Health and Wellbeing Board would have to ensure the strategies and plans (evidence based on the JSA) were delivered.

Resolved:

That Cabinet note the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47.

Resolved:

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 Number 50 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in  paragraph 3 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.

Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport guided members through the report and responded to questions raised.  He went through the six proposals in turn and proposed an amendment to one of the recommendations.

Cllr Jane Scott proposed an additional recommendation.

Resolved:

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