76.
MINUTES
RESOLVED :
THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 19 November 2003 be confirmed.
77.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Interests were declared in the following matters:
Mrs T M Butchers declared a prejudicial interest in Minute 79 – White Paper – Our Fire and Rescue Service, as a member of her family was a firefighter.
Mrs
S A Smart and Mr H Rees declared a personal interest in Minute 80 as Directors
appointed by the Council to the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership.
78.
WHITE PAPER – OUR FIRE AND RESCUE SERVICE
(Mrs T M Butchers left the room for the discussion of this item).
The Portfolio Holder introduced a report that detailed the governments White Paper on the future of the Fire and Rescue Service. A number of concerns were set out including the size of the Fire Authority and the effect of Regional Management Boards. The outcome of discussions of the Fire and Public Safety Select Committee were reported to the Executive. Members were advised as to the possible financial implications both in terms of being a stand-alone authority, combining Fire Control with other public services on the Island and in respect of Regional Management Boards. Members noted the possible conflict of the White Paper with the Councils objective contained in the Corporate Plan relating the provision of a locally controlled, managed and delivered fire service.
During the debate, members were keen to reiterate their support for the provision of the Island delivery of services and put forward an additional recommendation to encapsulate their commitment to this.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the
Government’s modernising agenda for the Fire and Rescue Service as outlined in
the White Paper be noted, and that the tensions between that agenda and established
corporate strategic priorities be observed
(ii)
THAT the Portfolio
Holder for Fire, Emergency Planning and Consumer Protection be authorised to
negotiate and in particular by pressing the case for
a.
the
establishment of a Regional Management Board which best reflects the
established strategic priorities set out in the Corporate Plan and,
b.
the
recommendations of the Select Committee particularly, to pursue the objectives
of
§ Sub regional status
§
Maintaining
a control room on the Island
§
Combining
the Control Room with the Ambulance Service on the Island
(iii)
THAT Portfolio
Holder for Fire, Emergency Planning and Consumer Protection and the Chief Fire
Officer take all available opportunities to develop alternative, on Island,
provision of a multi agency (police, ambulance service, fire and out of hours
social services) control room including, but not limited to, the developing of
the Great Access to Great Services agenda
(iv)
THAT
these objectives be pursued through all available avenues including the
regional assembly, ministerial lobbying as well as through the Regional Board
when established
79.
REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR SOCIAL SERVICES AND
HOSUING
(Mr G Kendall declared a prejudicial interest in this item as he was a member of the Primary Care Trust and left the room for the discussion of the following item)
(a)
To Consult On A Pooled Budget With The Primary Care Trust
In The Management Of Reimbursement Around Delayed Discharges From Hospital
The Executive was informed that the Community Care Delayed Discharges Act placed new duties on local authorities to ensure patients in an acute hospital bed were discharged into the community within appropriate time scales or the local authority would be liable for reimbursement of care. The legislation aimed to encourage partnership working and a proactive cross agency approach to the prevention of delays. Consideration was given to a pooled budget between the Primary Care Trust and the Social Services and Housing Directorate via a Section 31 Agreement for a period of 3 years to begin in April 2004.
The new pooled budget would be set up using existing
allocated resources between health and social care details of which were set
out in the report. The aim of setting
up the pooled budget was to ensure that new funds allocated could be used to
invest in services to prevent delay rather than to pay reimbursement. Advice was received that the existing pooled
budget for Free Nursing Care amounted to approximately £5.7m in the current year and was expected to increase
by a minimum of 3% per year thereafter.
RESOLVED :
(i)
That a pooled budget for
Reimbursement of Delayed Discharges and Intermediate Care between the Primary
Care Trust and the Social Services and Housing Directorate be agreed and be
constructed using a Section 31 Agreement for a period of 3 years to take effect
from April 2004
(ii)
THAT
the approach taken with the Free Nursing Care pooled arrangements be endorsed
and the extension of this for a further 3 years from April 2004, be supported
subject to a final evaluation
(b)
To Consult Of The
Proposed Approach To Dealing With The Adult Protection Agenda
Consideration was given to an approach in managing the protection of vulnerable adults and the appointment of an adult protection officer. The government has issued an increased amount of documents and guidance with an intention to provide better protection for vulnerable adults the main points were outlined to the Executive. Members considered the appointment of an Adult Protection Co-ordinator and were advised that this could be funded from existing budgets.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the proposed
management of this agenda be endorsed
(ii)
THAT the
appointment of a dedicated adult protection coordinator to be funded from
existing budgets be agreed
80.
REPORT OF THE ISLE OF WIGHT PARTNERSHIP
Representatives from the Isle of Wight Partnership attended for this item. The quarterly report covering the period from July to September 2003 from the Isle of Wight Partnership was received. This information allowed the Executive to keep under review and monitor the extent of economic activity on the Island. The Executive indicated that future reports should contain where possible figures to show how the Island compared with neighbouring authorities.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the
report from the Isle of Wight Economic Partnership be received
(ii)
THAT the Executive continue to undertake
quarterly contract management
(iii)
THAT the Executive continue to receive reports
from the IWEP for the purpose of keeping under review the sufficiency of
economic development on the Island generally and the exercise of the council’s
economic wellbeing powers in particular
81.
THE REPORT OF THE PORTFOLIO HOLDER FOR RESOURCES
(a) Local Government Act 2003 – Council Tax on Second Homes
The Executive were advised that the Local Government Act 2003 gave the Secretary of State powers to make regulations which would allow billing authorities to set the rate of discount for Council Tax on second homes for prescribed classes of property. It was understood the discount could be reduced to as low as 10% with effect from April 2004. Additional money raised would be able to be retained locally. There were over 3,000 such properties on the Island, which could have a potential income of £1 million if a 10% discount was introduced and was collected. The Executive indicated that any money received should be used to improve delivery of it’s existing policy objectives and acknowledged the role the Select Committee could play in the process and an amendment was made to give support that view. Members were also aware that a decrease in the level of discount could affect other areas of the Islands economy.
RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL :
(i) THAT the Executive recommend to Council that it exercises the power to set the level of discount on second homes
(ii) THAT a final decision on the level of discount be taken following the budget consultation process
(iii)
THAT the level of discount should maximise revenue and the
delivery of it’s existing policy objectives, in particular those in relation to
social housing
(iv)
THAT noting the Resources Select Committee had the issue of
Council Tax on second homes on their work programme, the Executive invites the
Select Committee to support the policy set out in the report and invites
recommendations as to whether, in order to achieve those policy objectives, the
decrease in discount should be :
§ at, or less than, the maximum allowed by law, and/or
§
with immediate or phased effect
(b)
Suspension of Standing Orders In Respect of the Procurement
of Banking Services
Consideration was given to suspend Standing Orders
in respect of the procurement of banking services. Evidence had been received from specialist banking consultants and local
authorities, which indicated that a tendering exercise may result in increased
costs to the Council. The
recommendations of specialist advisors included that the Council should seek to
negotiate a further extension to its contract with its current provider of
banking services.
The Council had an obligation to ensure that it received best value. Contract Standing Orders prescribed that, for contracts of this value, a tendering exercise should be undertaken and that the Executive could only disapply this.
RESOLVED :
THAT Standing Orders be suspended in order that the Chief Financial Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Resources, may enter into negotiations with the current provider for a three to five year extension on the current contract
82.
CHANGES TO THE CURRENT FORWARD PLAN
The Executive was informed that an urgent report under Rule 15 on the Area Investment Framework was due to be considered at its next meeting on 17 December.
83.
EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
RESOLVED :
THAT under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act
1972 the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item
of business namely Minute no 84 on the grounds that there was likely to be
disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 8 of Part 1 of
Schedule 12A of the Act.
84.
CONFIDENTIAL
REPORT ON THE PURCHASE OF LAND AND PLANTATION TO EAST OF MAURICK FARM PAN
NEWPORT ISLE OF WIGHT
Members considered the acquisition of a piece of land at Pan, Newport in order to provide a mixed-use development. This would incorporate residential, retail, leisure and employment uses and would to enhance existing links with the town and countryside in providing new areas of open space within the development.
Negotiations for the purchase of land had been on going for some time. The terms that were now offered were set out in the confidential report together with legal and financial implications. Members discussed the available options.
Advice was received that the terms being
offered were extremely advantageous to the Council and if made public, may lead
to rival bids for the land being made.
Immediate acquisition of the land, through disapplication of the call in
provisions was necessary in order to avoid the real risk of losing the
opportunity to acquire on the terms set out in the report.
RESOLVED :
(i)
THAT the terms set out in
the confidential report for the Council to complete the acquisition in April
2004 be confirmed
(ii)
THAT the call in procedure
be disapplied and the Chief Executive Officer be authorised to implement a
decision to proceed immediately and report the action taken to the next meeting
of the Council
CHAIRMAN