THE “CALL IN” PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON FRIDAY, 24 JANUARY 2003.  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 WEDNESDAY 15 JANUARY 2003 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :

 

Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mr E Fox, Mr P G Harris,  Mrs M A Jarman, Mr D J Knowles, Mrs B Lawson, Mr R G Mazillius,           Mr H Rees, Mrs J L Wareham

 

Also present non-voting :

 

Mr C B W Chapman, Mr J H Fleming, Mr J F Howe, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor

 

 

 


168.        MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 17 December 2002 be confirmed.

 

169.        DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no declarations received at this stage.

 

170.        URGENT BUSINESS

 

The Chairman agreed to consideration of two items of urgent business in order to update members on the current position

 

(a)               Meeting with Minister, Mr N Raynsford

 

The Chairman reported on the delegation that recently met with the Minister to put forward the Island’s case for funding.

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT the report be noted

 

(b)               St. Mary’s Hospital, Newport

 

The Portfolio Holder for Social Services and Housing updated members on the future of St. Mary’s Hospital and informed the Executive that a public meeting would take place in early February.

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT the report be noted

 

171.        REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES

 

(a)               Budget Monitor to End of December 2002

 

Members were informed of the latest projections of expenditure against budget for the current financial year together with any necessary action that would be required.  A number of spending pressures were highlighted most of which would be managed within existing service cash limits.  It was noted that those which, could not would need to be met from the General Reserve.  It was noted that the Directors Group had considered the issue of capital over commitment and believed that this could be managed through slippage.

 

            RESOLVED :

 

                        THAT the report be noted.

 

(b)               District Auditor’s Annual Letter

 

The District Auditor presented his annual audit letter that summarised the results of the audit for 2001/2002 and which contained a number of recommendations.

 

This was the first Audit Letter that had been completed since the Comprehensive Performance Assessment had taken place.  There were seven priorities, which the District Auditor highlighted that would need to be addressed in the coming year.  These were the financial position of the Council, performance management, performance information, e-government, procurement, risk management and internal audit.  The Council would respond to these key messages in its annual action statement.  The District Auditor expressed concern over a number of inaccuracies relating to the Best Value Performance Plan and had issued a statutory recommendation to which the Council would shortly respond. Members noted the comments and wished to see further and continuous improvement in service delivery.

 

            RESOLVED :

 

(i)                 THAT the District Auditor’s Letter be received and noted

 

(ii)               THAT the Executive receives by the end of March a further report adopting an annual action statement that includes the corporate response to the District Auditor’s Letter

 

(c)               Local Government Finance Settlement and Budget 2003/4

 

The Portfolio Holder reminded members that the Government’s proposals on the Local Government Settlement for 2003/04 had been announced.  These proposals represented a major shift in resources away from the South East of England that would result in a substantial loss of grant to the Council. There was some short-term protection to offset part of the loss for 2003/4. An outline of the grant distribution formula was given.  It was pointed out to the Executive that the Island had lost the Area Cost Adjustment which under the former system had compensated all authorities in the South East for the higher cost of labour in the region which would in 2002/3 have been worth over £6 million of grant to the Island. 

 

As a basis for discussion, the Directors had put forward proposals for a draft budget.  It was noted that there were severe budget pressures on a number of key services, in particular education and social services.  The implications that the grant distribution would have on the level of council tax were discussed.  The draft budget proposals would have the effect of producing any Council Tax increase of 16.0% with a possible extra 1.8% if there was full passporting of funds to schools

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                 THAT the draft local government finance settlement announcement be noted

 

(ii)               THAT the process set out in Appendix 7 attached to the report be endorsed

 

(iii)             THAT the draft budget be presented to the Co-ordinating Committee for its comments

 

(iv)              THAT the Secretary of State be notified of the intention in recommendation (i) to Council below

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO BUDGET COUNCIL

 

(i)                 THAT the passporting of the Secretary of State’s recommended schools budget be approved

 

(ii)               THAT the proposals from the Remuneration Panel to increase Member Allowances beyond the current formula should not be implemented

 

(d)               COUNCIL TAX BASE 2003/04

 

The Council Tax Base formed the basis of calculating individual Council Tax requirements for the 2003/04 financial year.  It was a statutory requirement to set the Tax Base and to notify the Police Authority, by 31 January 2003.  The Tax Base was calculated from information on the Valuation List as compiled by the Inland Revenue Valuation Offices.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

 

(i)                 THAT the report of the Strategic Director for Finance and Information and County Treasurer for the calculation of the Council’s Tax Base, for the whole and parts of the area, be approved and recommended to the Council.

 

(ii)               THAT the amounts of the Tax Base for the financial year 2003/04 be as detailed in Appendix B as attached to the report

 

172.        QUARTERLY UPDATE FOR THE BEST VALUE REVIEW PROGRAMME

 

Members had requested regular updates on the progress of Best Value Reviews that were currently taking place.  Details were received of the Best Value Reviews on Opportunities for Young People, Community Development, Youth and Community Services, Connecting with the Public, Procurement and Planning. 

 

RESOLVED :

 

            THAT the report be noted and the programme be supported.

 

173.        EARLY YEARS DEVELOPMENT AND CHILDCARE PLAN 2003-2004

 

Consideration was given to the Early Years Development and Childcare Implementation Plan 2003 – 2004. This was required to be submitted to the DfES by 1 February 2003 under s120 School Standards and Framework Act 1998.  The plan was developed through an Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, which composed of relevant organisations, agencies, other local authority directorates, interested individuals and member representatives.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

 

THAT the Early Years Development and Childcare Implementation Plan 2003 – 2004 be adopted.

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN