THE "CALL IN"PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 4.30 PM ON MONDAY, 21 MAY 2001. NONE OF THE DECISIONS CAN BE IMPLEMENTED UNTIL AFTER THAT DATE.
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE EXECUTIVE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON THURSDAY, 10 MAY 2001 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM
Present :
Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr M J Cunningham, Mr P G Harris, Miss H L Humby, Mr G A Nichols, Mr H Rees, Mr R A Sutton
Apologies :
Mrs T M Butchers, Mr A D Hollands, Mr G S Kendall
Also present non-voting :
Mr A C Bartlett, Mr E Fox, Mrs M A Jarman, Mr D J Knowles, Mr V J Morey, Mr A J Mundy, Mr D J Yates
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 May 2001 be approved as a correct record.
329. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Interests were declared in the following matters:
Mr A D Hollands - a pecuniary interest in Education and Social Services matters as a contractor for a number of transport contracts for those departments. It was accepted that this was a standing declaration.
Mr R A Sutton declared a pecuniary interest in Minute 331 - Care Management and Commissioning
330. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Best Value : Client Services Section
The Director reported on his Directorates first Best Value Review which had centred on the Client Services Section, and particularly the functions of School Admissions and Higher Education Student Support. He advised Members that the positive OFSTED Inspection report together with the recent attainment of a Charter Mark was evidence that improvements had been made to service delivery. Results of customer surveys had been very encouraging and provided evidence that Client Services was meeting the needs of parents and students.
The Review contained six recommendations, five of which would require minimal additional resources to implement. The other recommendation, relating to the establishment of an Admissions Forum, would be the subject of a report to the appropriate Select Committee later in the year.
Members went on to discuss their concerns over home to school transport and indicated that when a survey was undertaken, it should be done consultation with the portfolio folder and the relevant select committee chairman.
RESOLVED :
THAT the report be approved.
331. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING
Best Value Review of Care Management and Commissioning
(Mr R A Sutton and Mr H Rees declared a pecuniary interest in this item and left the room).
(Mrs S A Smart and Mr M J Cunningham declared a non pecuniary interest in this item).
Members were informed that the Best Value Review had been undertaken between May 2000 and March 2001. They were advised that care management and commissioning favourably compared against national measures for the provision of adult social care although certain areas would benefit from improvement and change. The Review included a detailed action plan which set out a framework for improvements in access to services, information and care and improvements in arranging and purchasing care. A bid was to be made for �18,000 from the 'Spend to Save' provision to fund a pilot care purchasing scheme (Brokerage), and if successful, this would be fully funded in 2002/03 through efficiencies and further redeployment of resources.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the report be approved.
(ii) THAT specialist Adult Services teams with a single access point for making referrals or contact be developed in the future.
(iii) THAT the allocation of responsibility for commissioning services to the most appropriate senior manager (the appointed lead commissioner) be continued.
332. REPORT OF THE DISTRICT AUDITOR
The Director of Finance and Information introduced the District Auditor who presented his report on the Unicentre System. He informed Members that he had been approached by the Chief Executive to investigate and to report back on the circumstances and facts surrounding the purchase of the system, to consider whether the Council's procurement rules had been broken, whether there was any prima facie evidence of corruption and to advise the Council on best practice and improvements in relation to future procurements and control mechanisms.
The District Auditor confirmed that a definite view of the facts was not possible due to the absence of documents and the passage of time that had lapsed. He confirmed that the equipment had not remained in its packaging but had been piloted.
The District Auditor reported that he had found that the Councils procurement rules were sound but had not been followed in this instance. Since then procurement rules and those relating to hospitality had been strengthened. However he had found that standing orders were ambiguous in relation to the words 'general works' and believed this should be reviewed.
After questioning the Auditor on his findings and a detailed discussion it was :
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the report of the District Auditor be noted and accepted.
(ii) THAT no further action be taken against of either Mr Knight or Cemoc.
(iii) THAT Standing Orders as to contracts be reviewed to take into account the comments made by the District Auditor.
(iv) THAT the District Auditor be thanked for his report.
333. REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR AND FINANCE AND INFORMATION
Future implementation of the Unicentre System
The Director presented his report on the Business Case relating to the future implementation of the Unicentre System. Members then received a presentation demonstrating how the Unicentre system had been designed to help the IT department manage the organisation's file servers, data networks and desktop PCs. After an initial pilot project, implementation of the software stalled and then came to a halt in mid 1998. The project was reviewed by the new Head of ICT in August 1998 and subsequently his recommendation now was that the project should not be progressed further.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT the 'do-nothing' option be accepted.
(ii) THAT the obligation to pay the outstanding amounts for the next two years at a cost of �27,000 per annum be accepted.
(iii) THAT the Unicentre project be formally laid to rest.
CHAIRMAN