Executive Minutes - 7 May 2002

THE “CALL IN”PERIOD FOR THESE DECISIONS EXPIRES AT 5.00 PM ON THURSDAY, 16 MAY 2002. 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 TUESDAY, 7 MAY 2002 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, Mrs J L Wareham

Apologies :

Mr H Rees

Also present non-voting :

Mr A C Bartlett, Mr J H Fleming, Mr J F Howe, Mr P D Joyce, Mr A J Mundy, Mr R A Sutton, Mr A A Taylor, Mr D T Yates

10. MINUTES

RESOLVED :

THAT the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 23 April 2002 be confirmed.

11. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

There were no declarations received at this stage.

12. COUNCIL CORPORATE PLAN - VISION STATEMENT

Consideration was given to proposals for a Corporate Plan and approval of a Vision Statement for the Council. Members were reminded that annual management letters from the District Auditor and other independent inspection reports drew attention for the need for a stronger political leadership and corporate management. This along with the Governments commitment to ‘modernise’ local government suggested a more explicit statement of the authority’s strategic aims was now required. It was anticipated that the Corporate Plan would shortly be completed in draft and would be brought back to the Executive before it went out to formal consultation.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

THAT the Vision Statement as attached to the report be approved.

13. REVISED RESPONSIBILITIES FOR PORTFOLIO HOLDERS

Members noted the revised responsibilities for Portfolio Holders as detailed below:

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

THAT the following Portfolios be accepted :

(a) Leader of the Council - Mrs S A Smart

Principal responsibility for the policy direction of the Council

Chairman of the Executive and to oversee preparation of business for its consideration

To indicate Strategic Directors the priorities and programmes of the Executive, and their likely reaction to new policies or projects

To be the principal spokesperson for the Council at all internal and external meetings

(b) Deputy Leader - Mr P G Harris

Deputise in the absence of the Leader

Coordinate all Performance Management arrangements including:

The Corporate Plan

Risk Management

The Best Value Review Programme

The Monitoring of Performance Indicators

Overview of the Public Service Agreement

Oversee the preparation for the Comprehensive Performance Assessment and the ensuing action plan

All matters relating to central resources and ICT, the corporate image, land and property

(d) Economic Development, UK and EU, Regional issues - Mr H Rees

All matters relating to Economic Development, the Council’s role in Europe and relations with UK regional bodies

(e) Education and Life Long Learning - Mrs J L Wareham

All matters relating to Education and Lifelong Learning

(f) Fire, Emergency Planning and Consumer Protection - Mr D J Knowles

All matters relating to Fire, Emergency Planning, Consumer Protection and Crime and Disorder

(g) Social Services and Housing - Mr R G Mazillius

All matters relating to Social Services and Housing and the voluntary sector

(h) Tourism and Leisure - Mrs M A Jarman

All matters relating to Tourism and Leisure facilities

(i) Transport - Mr E Fox

All matters relating to transport, highway and traffic management and Hackney Carriage Private Hire Vehicles

(j) Responsibility for Agenda 21 and Countryside Matters - Mrs B Lawson

All matters relating to Town and Country Planning Policy, Agenda 21 and waste, countryside and coastal management

14. WIGHT LEISURE BEST VALUE REVIEW

Members gave consideration to the findings of the Best Value review of leisure services provided through Wight Leisure. The conclusions reached were as follows:-

• The service had demonstrated continuous improvement.

• There were key barriers to further improvement.

• The Council should provide the leisure services considered.

• The range of service provision is appropriate.

• The Council should externalise the provision of the services.

• A Not for Profit Distributing Organisation (NPDO) would be the most effective route to externalisation.

The report recommended that delivery of the services should be externalised to a NPDO to ensure their continuous improvement. The Executive Summary had been considered by the Economic Development, Planning, Tourism and Leisure Select Committee on 22 April 2002. Members were keen to move forward as quickly as possible and externalisation was intended to commence with effect from 1 October 2002.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT the findings and recommendations of the review be accepted.

(ii) THAT the externalisation of the delivery of the services to a Not for Profit Distributing Organisation be approved.

(ii) THAT a further report be brought back setting out the timetable for the externalisation process.

21. EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY POLICY

Consideration was given to the Equality and Diversity Policy which was linked closely to the Equality Standard for Local Government. This Standard laid down the actions that the Council should address:- leadership and corporate commitment, consultation, community development and scrutiny, service delivery and customer care and employment and training. Each of these areas were divided into 5 levels of achievement. The Policy identified a target date of 2009 to achieve level 5 with progress to be reported annually in the Best Value Performance Plan. Members discussed the maximum retirement age of Council employees and believed that the area should be given further consideration so that the Council does not arbitrarily prevent people from working beyond a specified age regardless of their ability or wishes.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL :

THAT the Equality and Diversity Policy be adopted and a further report on the age of retirement be brought back to the Executive in due course.

22. PORTFOLIO HOLDER - FIRE AND EMERGENCY PLANNING

(a) Community Fire Safety Best Value Review 2001-02

The Best Value Review looked at a wide range of issues which included the consideration of whether community fire safety should be the primary focus of the fire service, the assessment of the performance in eliminating preventable fires, and fatalities and casualties and assessments in reducing the number of fires in dwellings, accidental fire deaths and reducing serious non fatal casualties. The Select Committee had considered the report in detail at its meeting on 15 April 2002.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Community Fire Safety Best Value Review be adopted.

(b) Environmental Health Best Value Review 2001-02

The Review looked at all the services provided by the Environmental Health Department which fell under the main headings of Environmental Protection, including Health & Safety, Food Safety, Licensing and Administration. The report identified a number of changes and developments some of which had already taken place during the review period and others which were currently being implemented. The Select Committee had considered the report in detail at its meeting on 15 April 2002.

RESOLVED :

THAT the Environmental Health Best Value Review 2001-2 be accepted

23. PORTFOLIO HOLDER - EDUCATION AND LIFELONG LEARNING

(a) Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education (RE) in Isle of Wight Community and Voluntary Controlled Schools

(Mrs B Lawson declared a personal interest as a member of SACRE and as an LEA Governor).

Members were advised that there was a statutory requirement upon the Authority to have an approved Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education. A review of the current syllabus had been undertaken and brought in line with changes in the structure of the National Curriculum.

RESOLVED :

THAT the adoption of the new Agreed Syllabus for Religious Education be approved and take effect in the curriculum of all community and voluntary controlled schools from 1 September 2002

(b) Education Capital Programme 2002/03 - Contract Standing Orders

(Mrs B Lawson declared a personal interest as a governor of Ventnor Middle School).

(Mr E Fox declared a personal interest as a governor of Ryde High School).

The Council’s newly approved Contract Standing Orders required that the use of select/standing lists (ie those already compiled with appropriate contractors) should not be used for contracts which are estimated to cost more than £200,000. Contracts above this amount would have to go through an additional stage involving national advertisement and open tendering. This requirement would delay the start of a number of new projects planned by three to four months and would make it impossible to complete the projects within the timescale allotted to the capital allocation. Members were advised that the new procedure would affect 13 school projects. In addition, if the new condition was applied the special school reorganisation could not be completed by September 2003, as advertised, and funding could be lost on all these projects. The Directors Board had recommended that an exemption from Standing Orders be given in this set of circumstances.

RESOLVED :

(i) THAT the requirement to advertise nationally on a temporary basis in respect of projects at the following schools to allow their completion on time be suspended: Medina House, Watergate, Ryde High, Cowes High, Ventnor Middle and Kitbridge

(ii) THAT these projects be subject to competitive tender in the usual way and that the contractors from whom tenders will be sought be selected from the Authority’s approved list.

(iii) THAT the process be reviewed after 6 months as planned.

18. MEMBERS’ QUESTION TIME

Questions were put to the Chairman as follows :

Mr R G Mazillius with regard to the decoration in Committee Room 1.

Copies of the questions and replies given are contained in the Members' Question Register.

CHAIRMAN