THE CALL IN PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON FRIDAY, 28 NOVEMBER 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, 19 NOVEMBER 2003. COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM

 

Present :         Mrs S A Smart (Chairman), Mr R R Barry, Mrs T M Butchers, Mr E Fox, Mr G S Kendall, Mr D J Knowles, Mrs J L Wareham

 

Apologies :

 

Mr J H Fleming, Mr P G Harris, Mr H Rees

 

Also present non-voting :

 

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr C B W Chapman, Mr R G Mazillius, Mrs M J Miller, Mr J A M D Whittaker

 

 

 


70.             MINUTES

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 5 November 2003 be confirmed.

 

71.             DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

 

There were no interests received at this stage.

 

72.             HIGHWAYS CAPITAL PROGRAMME – TAKEN UNDER RULE 15 URGENCY PROVISIONS

 

The Chairman agreed to the consideration of this item being brought forward as the Portfolio Holder was required to attend another meeting.

 

The Portfolio Holder advised the Executive that a number of changes were necessary to the Highways Capital Programme following extensive subsoil shrinkage and damage to carriageway surfacing caused by the drought conditions of the 2003 summer. 

 

The scale of the problem had been assessed at £1.6m and a number of remedial schemes were necessary to mitigate the effects of the clay subsoil shrinkage across the Island.  The estimate for the urgent high priority remedial work was £600,000.  Members also received an update on the budget shortfall relating to Ventnor Haven Project.  In order to accommodate the unforeseen pressures on the highways capital budget, the delivery of a number of capital schemes within the Highways Capital Programme would need to be deferred to next financial year 2004/2005.

 

The Executive was advised that the proposed decision had not appeared on the forward plan and was to be taken as an urgent item under Rule 15 Access to Information Procedure Rules.  This was due to the severity of the shrinkage cracking which had increased significantly over the last few weeks. The matter could not wait until the publication of the next forward plan because urgent repair works were needed to restore highway safety and prevent accelerated deterioration of the road structure.

 

            RESOLVED :

 

THAT the proposed changes to the Highways Capital Programme as set out in the report be approved

 

73.             2nd QUARTERLY PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT REPORT

 

Members received the second quarterly Performance Management Report, which allowed the Executive to monitor and review key aspects of the Council’s performance against its objectives.  The report covered the period from 1 July to 30 September 2003 and included information relating to the achievement of actions and targets from the Council’s Annual Action Statement and the District Auditors Audit Letter plan 2001/02.  Consideration would be given to the layout of future reports including an indication of the portfolio holder’s area of responsibility.

 

RESOLVED :

 

(i)                 THAT the second quarterly performance management report be approved

 

(ii)               THAT the actions being taken for Areas to Watch for the second quarter as detailed in Section 2.1 and the progress being made on the first quarter’s Areas to Watch as detailed in Section 2.2 of the report be agreed

 

(iii)             THAT any areas of performance that the Executive required further information on be highlighted in the next quarterly report.

 

74.             PLANNING SERVICES – BEST VALUE REVIEW

 

(Mr G S Kendall declared a personal and prejudicial interest as his wife was employed in the section under discussion and left the room during the consideration of this item).

 

Due to the interest declared by Mr G S Kendall the meeting became inquorate. Members decided that the presentation and discussion should proceed not withstanding that a formal decision could not be made.

 

The Executive received a presentation on the findings of the Best Value Review together with the planned actions.  Members were informed that the Government was seeking to improve Planning Services through the new Planning and Compulsory Purchase Bill.  This would replace the Unitary Development Plan with a new Local Development Framework that would link into the Community Strategy (Island Futures).  Therefore, it was anticipated that Planning Services would become a more pro-active service and provide sustainable development, whilst protecting the local environment.  The five key themes based on the Audit Commission’s report on Planning Services contained in the Improvement Plan were outlined. 

 

Following the discussion and after taking legal advice, the Portfolio Holder agreed to endorse the Best Value Review and give approval to the implementation of the Improvement Plan by using her delegated powers once the necessary procedural issues had been completed.

 

75.             TO AGREE A RESPONSE TO THE CONSULATION ON THE GOVERNMENT’S GREEN PAPER ‘EVERY CHILD MATTERS’

 

Consideration was given to the Council’s response to the Government’s Green Paper ‘Every Child Matters’ on the future of Children’s Services. This had been published in response to the Laming report following the death of Victoria Climbie.  In formulating a response, consideration was given to a number of steps that had already been taken and these were highlighted in the report.  The Executive made a number of changes to the response before its consideration by Full Council.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL :

 

THAT the proposed response detailed in Appendix A attached to the report, as amended, be agreed

 

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN