Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive the apologies of any Member who is unable to attend this meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no apologies for absence.

To invite Councillors to declare any interests they may have in items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no declarations of interest.

1.         To give notice of any items for future meetings or for the Forward Plan, including any scheduled for this meeting, but now carried forward or deleted; and

2          any other relevant announcements.

(Oral report)

The Chair advised that she had accepted the following matter as urgent business:

Item 6 – REDI Centre Options

The Chair advised that she had accepted the following matter as urgent business:

Item 6 – REDI Centre Options

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on the 16th June 2010.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 16th June 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 16th June 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive a deputation from users concerned about the potential closure of the REDI Centre.

(A deputation comprising Ms Justine Bailey, Ms Mandy Bonehill, Mr Tony Powell, Ms Heidi Gregg and Ms Julie Hughes, users of the REDI Centre was received by the Committee. Ms Hughes, Ms Bailey and Mr Powell spoke for the deputation.

The Chair thanked the deputation for their attendance and contribution)

A deputation comprising Ms Justine Bailey, Ms Mandy Bonehill, Mr Tony Powell, Ms Heidi Gregg and Ms Julie Hughes, users of the REDI Centre was received by the Committee. Ms Hughes, Ms Bailey and Mr Powell spoke for the deputation.

Ms Hughes spoke primarily in her capacity as a trainer at the Centre. She discussed the courses provided at the Centre and the contention that had sometimes been made that certain courses had been insubstantial. She expressed the opinion that the value of the service provided should not be underestimated and that many users would not be able to find similar provision in the local area.

Mr Powell approached the issue as a local businessman who had used the Centre to fill a training need and could see the value of the service provided to others in a similar situation. The business benefit of retaining REDI was stressed with the Centre being put forward as an important means by which local people could make a success of their careers and lives.

Ms Bailey noted that Redditch had higher unemployment and lower educational attainment than other parts of the County. There was stated to be a need for a service that bridged the gap between unemployment and the gaining of employment. The place of REDI as a training centre as opposed to a college with minimum entry requirements was stressed. The Centre was very much seen as a place that catered for those in society who were in need.

The Chair thanked the deputation for their attendance and contribution.

To consider an update on the options for the future of REDI Centre.

(In view of the fact that they contain information relating to the financial affairs of other person(s), including the authority holding that information and consultation in connection with a labour relation matter, Appendices 1 and 1a are not for publication and have been circulated only to relevant Officers and Members of the Council.)

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1)         the extension of the existing Learndirect contract only to August 2011 be noted and that Officers appraise Members at the earliest opportunity of the sustainability of the contract beyond this point; and

RECOMMENDED that

2)         Option 4 as set out within the report (relocation of the Learndirect activity to another Council facility) be approved, subject to this being endorsed by Learndirect and that Officers be instructed to liaise with Learndirect as to validation and inspection arrangements; and

3)         the costs of proceeding with Option 4 (£90,000) be approved, these costs to be met from revenue balances.

The Committee received a presentation and report detailing the options that were being put forward for consideration for the future provision of service at the REDI Centre. The options included a retention of the current service, complete closure of the service and two models for partial service retention. It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had recommended that the service be retained in its current form.

An impassioned discussion ensued, with Members speaking in generous terms of the quality of the staff at the Centre and the service they had provided over the years. It was noted that the management of the Centre had been inadequate in recent times and that the service had repeatedly come before Members as a potential budget saving for a number of years, adding to the sense of instability. The predominant argument put forward was that the Council was in an increasingly difficult financial position and that, with the withdrawal of funding for adult education, grant funding for the Centre was rapidly diminishing. It was proposed that the Council could no longer expect the Council Tax payers of the Borough to fund a service which was entirely discretionary and that the money might be more equitably spent to the benefit of a greater number of people.

RESOLVED that

1)         the extension of the existing Learndirect contract only to August 2011 be noted and that Officers appraise Members at the earliest opportunity of the sustainability of the contract beyond this point; and

RECOMMENDED that

2)         Option 4 as set out within the report (relocation of the Learndirect activity to another Council facility) be approved, subject to this being endorsed by Learndirect and that Officers be instructed to liaise with Learndirect as to validation and inspection arrangements; and

3)         the costs of proceeding with Option 4 (£90,000) be approved, these costs to be met from revenue balances.

To consider the adoption of the Council Plan 2010 to 2013 incorporating the vision, values, priorities, the strategic action plan and key performance indicators.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

the Council Plan 2010-2013 attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

Members received the Council’s Plan for 2010/13 following the earlier deferral of the Plan at a previous meeting.

The Plan had been amended to take account of Members’ comments at that previous meeting. The Committee generally agreed that the Plan was more robust than in its previous incarnation. It was suggested that many of the concerns at the lack of specificity in the targets was the result of the performance indicators themselves being inadequate.

Officers confirmed that the Council would still be judged on a performance management, resource management and value for money basis, despite the recent ending of the Comprehensive Area Assessment regime.

RECOMMENDED that

the Council Plan 2010-2013 attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.

To consider proposals further to a review of Redditch Borough Council's Sheltered Housing Stock.  To seek approval for proposed revised categories, funding of improvement works and other costs and to provide Members with an update on the action plan.

(Report attached – Appendices available in Members’ Rooms and via the Council’s Website)

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the preferred options, as determined by Members, from those detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, Section 6.1 (Option A) and 6.2 (Option A) be approved;

            Section 6.1 – Chiltern House (Option A)

·        That the current older persons’ accommodation is returned to general let and that officer’s should meet with residents to discuss a sensitive approach to allocations.

·        Any current tenants affected would be offered an appointment with a dedicated officer to discuss any concerns and all relevant options would be explored. 

·        If this option is approved Officers could give further consideration to converting the communal lounge into a disabled flat or into other rentable accommodation to increase revenue.

·        That further consideration be given to converting the bedsit which is currently used as an office for the Home Support Officer into rentable accommodation to increase revenue.

            Section 6.2 – Auxerre House (Option A)

·        Opportunity for first time buyers under the Homebuy Scheme.  HomeBuy enables social tenants, key workers and first time buyers to buy a share of a home and get a first step on the housing ladder.

2)         up to £166,150.00 capital funding be approved for the essential improvement works recommended in Appendix 4 to the report;

3)         up to £31,051.00 revenue funding be approved to fund the post of Older Persons’ Housing Liaison Officer as detailed in Appendix 16 to the report and paragraph 5.5 of the report; and

RESOLVED that

4)         based on the findings of the Review of Redditch Borough Council’s Sheltered Housing, the categorisation of properties on page 11 in Appendix 2 to the report be adopted;

5)         Officers undertake a feasibility study to consider the findings and options in Appendix 2, Section 6.3 to the report and bring a further report back to Councillors within 12 months of this report;

6)         if approved, the above changes only be applied to new tenants from 1st April 2011 with all current residents keeping their tenancy, even if they do not meet the new criteria;

7)         the revised Action Plan in Appendix 3 be adopted;

8)         an additional member of staff be appointed for twelve months to facilitate the change management process (see Appendix 16); and

subject to the Council’s approval of the budgetary implications, as specified separately above, and consequent adjustment of the Capital Programme

9)         approval be given to incur up to the expenditure detailed in 2) above for the purposes detailed in the report, in accordance with Standing Order 41; and

10)      the proposals detailed above be agreed in principle but that the matter be deferred to 8th September 2010 Executive Committee to enable residents’ feedback on the specific proposals to be sought.

(The categorisation of properties on page 11 in Appendix 2 to the report is included as an appendix to this decision notice)

Officers presented a report that included the outcome of the consultation that had been undertaken following approval of the Older Person’s Housing and Support Strategy, the proposed categorisations that had flowed from the consultation and a draft action plan.

The Strategy and the work that had followed on from it sought to reduce the number of void properties, create a housing stock that better met residents’ needs and that increased the numbers of properties for general let.

Officers reported the recommendations that had been made in respect of the report by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. One of the key recommendations was the proposal that further consultation be carried out. It was noted that very extensive consultation had been carried out to date and further contact with residents was already being undertaken in respect of the proposed categorisations set out within the report. However, the suggestion was again made that, given the vulnerability of the residents, it would be beneficial to have more detailed consultation with those most affected by the proposals.

The creation of a new post to deal with the transitional arrangements was welcomed and the Committee considered the report itself to be comprehensive and worthy of plaudits. Members agreed after some discussion that, in response to the sensitivity of the situation, the measures be approved in principle, thereby allowing time for Officers to visit the various schemes and explain to the residents the implications for them of the categorisations prior to full implementation of the recommendations.

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the preferred options, as determined by Members, from those detailed in Appendix 2 to the report, Section 6.1 (Option A) and 6.2 (Option A) be approved;

            Section 6.1 – Chiltern House (Option A)

·        That the current older persons’ accommodation is returned to general let and that officer’s should meet with residents to discuss a sensitive approach to allocations.

·        Any current tenants affected would be offered an appointment with a dedicated officer to discuss any concerns and all relevant options would be explored. 

·        If this option is approved Officers could give further consideration to converting the communal lounge into a disabled flat or into other rentable accommodation to increase revenue.

·        That further consideration be given to converting the bedsit which is currently used as an office for the Home Support Officer into rentable accommodation to increase revenue.

            Section 6.2 – Auxerre House (Option A)

·        Opportunity for first time buyers under the Homebuy Scheme.  HomeBuy enables social tenants, key workers and first time buyers to buy a share of a home and get a first step on the housing ladder.

2)         up to £166,150.00 capital funding be approved for the essential improvement works recommended in Appendix 4 to the report;

3)         up to £31,051.00 revenue funding be approved to fund the post of Older Persons’ Housing Liaison Officer as detailed in Appendix 16 to the report and paragraph 5.5 of the report; and

RESOLVED that

4)         based on the findings of the Review of Redditch Borough Council’s Sheltered Housing,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

To consider the Capital Programme Outturn 2009/10.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

Members considered a report that set out the actual expenditure and funding of the capital programme during the preceding financial year. With reference to a recent meeting of the Committee, Officers were requested to advise Members of the reason for Job No. C1204 (Asbestos General) not showing as an overspend. The Committee was informed that the additional funding agreed by the Executive had already been incorporated into the figures.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider an update to the Council’s Write Off Policy.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the draft Write Off Policy included at Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

2)         the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to Officers and Financial Regulations be amended accordingly.

Members received a report within which was an amended policy for the write off of debts due to the authority.

A recent LEAN processing review had identified a number of weaknesses in the existing system for writing off debts, primarily in the sense that the process was unnecessarily lengthy and required too many levels of authorisation.

Members agreed that the regular reports received by the Committee in this regard served little useful purpose.

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the draft Write Off Policy included at Appendix 1 to the report be approved; and

2)         the Council’s Scheme of Delegation to Officers and Financial Regulations be amended accordingly.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23rd June 2010.

There are no recommendations to consider.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23rd June 2010 be received and noted.

(Officers undertook to speak to Councillor Anderson following the meeting regarding the reliability of the system for forwarding external telephone calls to specified extension numbers via the Council’s telephone system [Worcestershire Hub Review])

The Committee considered the minutes of a recent meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. In respect of the minute dealing with the Worcestershire Hub Review, Officers undertook to speak to Councillor Anderson following the meeting regarding the reliability of the system for forwarding external telephone calls to specified extension numbers via the Council’s telephone system.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 23rd June 2010 be received and noted.

To receive and consider any outstanding minutes or referrals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Executive Panels, Neighbourhood Groups, etc. since the last meeting of the Executive Committee, other than as detailed in the items above.

There were no minutes or referrals under this item.

There were no minutes or referrals under this item.

To consider the minutes arising from the most recent meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 24th June 2010.

(The minutes of this meeting are NOT FOR PUBLICATION as they relate to contemplated consultations or negotiations in connection with labour relation matters arising between the authority and employees of the authority.)

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

Shared Services and Transformation Programme

1)         the use of the WMIEP (West Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership) Systems Thinking change methodology for the transformation of service areas be approved;

2)         the proposed programme of service areas to be considered for Shared Services / Transformation between the two Councils, as detailed in the Appendix to the report, be approved; and

Procurement

3)         the proposal be agreed in principle.

(Consideration of the Shared Services Board minutes took place in public as the reasons for making the information exempt had ceased to be relevant given the passage of time)

The Committee received the minutes of the last meeting of the Shared Services Board. Consideration of the minutes took place in public as the reasons for making the information exempt had ceased to be relevant given the passage of time.

RESOLVED that

Shared Services and Transformation Programme

1)         the use of the WMIEP (West Midlands Improvement and Efficiency Partnership) Systems Thinking change methodology for the transformation of service areas be approved;

2)         the proposed programme of service areas to be considered for Shared Services / Transformation between the two Councils, as detailed in the Appendix to the report, be approved; and

Procurement

3)         the proposal be agreed in principle.

To consider, for monitoring / management purposes, an update on the work of the Executive Committee’s Advisory Panels and similar bodies, which report via the Executive Committee.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

(Meetings of the following Panels were to be arranged in the near future:

Grants Panel; and

Leisure Contracts Advisory Panel.

It was noted that meetings of the Planning Advisory Panel had been suspended whilst information from central Government on the future direction of planning policy was awaited.

It was also noted that the Independent Remuneration Panel responsibilities had transferred to a Council-wide body.)

Meetings of the following Panels were to be arranged in the near future:

Grants Panel; and

Leisure Contracts Advisory Panel.

It was noted that meetings of the Planning Advisory Panel had been suspended whilst information from central Government on the future direction of planning policy was awaited.

It was also noted that the Independent Remuneration Panel responsibilities had transferred to a Council-wide body.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider an update on the actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To note the following decision taken in accordance with SO36 since the last meeting of the Executive Committee:

Invalid Planning Applications – Introduction of Administration Fee

(Development Control Manager)(Decision Reference 483)

The case for urgency - normally the opportunity for introducing new charges is associated with the review that occurs for the start of each financial year. However in this case it is recommended that the charging begin on 1st October 2010, half way through the current financial year, in order to maximise revenue but still provide a reasonable time period to advise the public of the changes. In order to start on 1st October, Officers need to consult for 6 weeks from early August.

It was therefore RESOLVED that,

with effect from 1^st October 2010, 25% of the planning application fee received be withheld to cover the administration costs associated with an application that is not proceeded with.

(No separate report)

RESOLVED that

the matter be noted.

(Members noted an Urgent Business decisions which had been approved in accordance with Standing Order 36, namely:

Invalid Planning Applications- Introduction of Administration Fee

(UB Reference 483))

Members noted an Urgent Business decisions which had been approved in accordance with Standing Order 36, namely:

Invalid Planning Applications- Introduction of Administration Fee

(UB Reference 483)

RESOLVED that

the matter be noted.