85.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 December 2003 be confirmed.
86.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Interests were declared in the following matters:
Mrs J L Wareham declared a personal interest in Minute 88 –
Housing Strategy 2003-2008 as she was a private landlord.
87. EDUCATION BUDGET 2004-5
Members were asked to confirm their intention to passport an amount to the Schools Budget. The Executive was informed that there had been a change this year that reduced the flexibility for allocation of the money provided in so much as the schools would be guaranteed an increased income based on a minimum uplift of the amount they received for each pupil.
Government requirements meant that the Council needed
to ‘passport’ an amount that corresponded to the increase that it had been
given. The settlement for 2004-5 would be £67.874 million and therefore there
was a requirement that £60.631 million would need to be passported to the
Schools Budget
During the debate an amendment
was proposed and seconded that an intention to passport the sum of money be
reported to the Secretary of State as the formal agreement to do this would
form part of the normal budget process.
RESOLVED :
THAT the intention to comply with
the requirement of passporting of £60.631
million to the Schools Budget be reported to the Secretary of State
88.
HOUSING STRATEGY 2003-8
The
Portfolio Holder advised members that under the Local Government Act 2003 all
local authorities were required to produce an annual Housing Strategy. This set out local needs together with a
series of proposals indicating how these needs would be addressed. The Housing Strategy was a key strategic
document for the Island focussing on the needs and aspirations of local
households. Members believed that due
to the strategic significance of the document it should be added to the policy
framework contained in Article 4 of the Council’s Constitution.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL :
(i)
THAT the Housing Strategy is added to the Policy
Framework contained in Article 4 of the Constitution
(ii)
THAT
the draft Housing Strategy be approved for submission to the Secretary of State
89.
BEREAVEMENT SERVICES ASSETS; VENTNOR LODGE, THE OLD
MORTUARY, RYDE AND SHANKLIN CEMETERY
Consideration was given to declare Ventnor Lodge, Newport Road, Ventnor and Old
Mortuary, West Street, Ryde surplus to the Council’s requirements. Members were made aware of the history of
both sites and of the recommendations of the select committee. Advice had been given in the report
regarding council policy on not ring fencing capital receipts to a particular
service area since this ran counter to the principle of prioritisation of
resources towards the delivery of key corporate objectives.
A letter from the tenant of Ventnor Lodge was briefly referred to and
the Executive was advised that this matter was between the tenant and her
employer, not the Council.
The Executive also considered land at Shanklin Cemetery, which at
current burial rates would not be used for at least 500 years. It was noted that the land had been
designated as open space in the Unitary Development Plan. The Portfolio Holder confirmed that this
space was surplus to requirements for the use as a cemetery and not as surplus
to requirements for an open space.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT Ventnor Lodge,
Newport Road, Ventnor be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and
that the Head of Property Services be instructed to dispose of the property for
best consideration
(ii) THAT the Old Mortuary, West Street, Ryde, be declared surplus to the Council’s requirements and instruct the Head of Property Services to identify and implement alternative use consistent with its location through sale or lease, for best consideration
(iii)
THAT land at Shanklin
Cemetery as marked on Appendix 1 attached to the report be declared surplus to
Bereavement Services requirements and that the Head of Property Services be
instructed to take on responsibility for the ongoing management of this land in
accordance with its planning annotation as open space
(iv) THAT a requirement for an annual capital allocation for the next 5 years of at least £50k for Bereavement Services asset improvements be noted
90.
GREEN PAPER ON CHILDREN’S SERVICES “EVERY CHILD MATTERS”
(Mr M J Cunningham declared a personal
interest in this matter as a member of Homestart Children’s Charity).
The Executive received a report that detailed the implications of the
recently published Green Paper on the future of Children’s Services. Local authorities were expected to implement
the recommendations and have arrangements in place by 2006.
Members were aware that the Green Paper would have
major implications for the Council at all levels. A Strategic Director of Children’s Services accountable for
education and children’s social services would need to be appointed. This would have a significant effect on the
current Directorates of Education and Community Development and Social Services
and Housing. Appropriate arrangements
would also need to be made for the other services in the existing Directorates
that did not sit easily within a new and much broader Children’s Services
Directorate. The Council would also be
expected to appoint a portfolio holder for children and therefore changes to
the existing portfolio holder arrangements would be necessary.
Members were advised that the greatest challenges were concerned with service integration. It was suggested that key services would be located within a Children’s Trust for which the Strategic Director of Children’s Services have responsibility.
The Portfolio Holder confirmed that an early decision would enable detailed work to begin, including that of the appointment of a Strategic Director of Children’s Services. This would give a clear indication of the direction the Council intended to take and would authorise the Strategic Directors of Education and Community Development and Social Services and Housing to work with their colleagues both within the Council and partners to deliver the service integration that would be required.
If the Council made a clear
and early statement, then it could be possible for other decisions on
consequential structural changes elsewhere within the Council to be agreed by
April 2004.
RESOLVED :
(i) THAT The Council agree to establish the post of Strategic Director of Children’s Services with effect from April 2004 to have accountability for relevant Education and Social Services functions undertaken by the Council
(ii) THAT the Chief Executive Officer be requested to bring back formal proposals on the structural changes to the Council that would be required as a consequence, with a view to those proposals being agreed by April 2004 and then fully implemented by 2005
(iii) THAT the report from the Chief Executive Officer should, at the same time, identify recommended changes to portfolios and select committee arrangements with a view to those changes being implemented by April 2004
(iv) The two Strategic Directors be requested to work with colleagues both within the Council and with partner organisations to deliver service integration across Children’s Services at the earliest possible date in line with the Local Preventative Strategy
(v) The two Strategic Directors and portfolio holders ensure the development of proposals with stakeholders for the establishment of a Children’s Trust
91.
MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME
Mr R G Mazillius asked a verbal question concerning the disposal of a
certain type of fire extinguisher. The
Portfolio Holder confirmed he was looking into the matter.
CHAIRMAN