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 Leader advised that she had accepted the following matter as Urgent Business:

·        Item 7 – Review of Dial a Ride – Referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Leader advised that she had accepted the following matter as Urgent Business:

·        Item 7 – Review of Dial a Ride – Referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 20th October 2010.

(Decisions previously circulated, minutes to follow)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 20th October 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 20th October 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Members to consider a presentation regarding the budget for 2011/12.

(Oral Presentation)

RESOLVED

that the update on the budget for 2011/12 be noted.

The Executive Director (Finance and Corporate Resources) gave an update in the form of a presentation to the Committee on the budget for 2011/12.

Members were informed that further regular updates on the budget process would be made to the Committee.

RESOLVED

that the update on the budget for 2011/12 be noted.

To seek approval for the adoption of a Joint Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan for Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils.

(Report and Appendices to Committee members attached.  Appendices also available on the website and in Group Rooms.)

RESOLVED that

1)                 the report be noted;

2)                 an annual report be made to the Executive Committee on energy savings, linking into the budget building process; and

RECOMMENDED that

3)                 the Climate Change Strategy, as attached at Appendix 1 of the report, be adopted;

4)                 100% of the savings from the Salix project be reinvested into further climate change work; and

5)                 a policy be approved for insertion in both the Planning Core Strategy and Climate Change Strategy whereby:  “for any new developments that the Council undertakes, for example when building a new public leisure centre, consideration of whole life costs of the building are considered and, as part of this, all new public buildings should aim to exceed the nationally set BREEAM standard.”

(An amendment to the recommendations was proposed, seconded and defeated.)

Prior to consideration of the report the Committee congratulated the Climate Change Manager on gaining a Master of Science degree in Climate Change.

Members considered a Joint Climate Change Strategy for Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils that set out the policy framework in which both Councils would meet their corporate objective of tackling climate change. 

Members were informed that the strategy also set out the strategic direction that would be required to meet targets on reducing carbon emissions internally, across the wider community, and how the Councils could adapt to severe weather events and future climatic change.

An amendment to the recommendations was proposed, seconded and defeated.

RESOLVED that

1)                 the report be noted;

2)                 an annual report be made to the Executive Committee on energy savings, linking into the budget building process; and

RECOMMENDED that

3)                 the Climate Change Strategy, as attached at Appendix 1 of the report, be adopted;

4)                 100% of the savings from the Salix project be reinvested into further climate change work; and

5)                 a policy be approved for insertion in both the Planning Core Strategy and Climate Change Strategy whereby:  “for any new developments that the Council undertakes, for example when building a new public leisure centre, consideration of whole life costs of the building are considered and, as part of this, all new public buildings should aim to exceed the nationally set Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) standard.”

To consider recommendations for the future delivery of the Dial a Ride Service.

(Report and Appendices to Committee members attached.  Referral from Overview and Scrutiny Committee to follow. Appendices also available on the website and in Group Rooms. )

RESOLVED that

1)                 subject to any budget setting considerations, the Council continue to deliver the Dial a Ride service;

2)                 expenditure of up to an amount of any capital funding agreed in due course by the Council be approved in accordance with Standing Order 41, for the purposed defined in the Dial a Ride – Review report; and

RECOMMENDED that

3)                 there be an increase in concessionary rate fees for use of the service from £1.05 to £1.50, subject to review in 12 month’s time from 2011;

4)                 capital investment for fleet replacement be included in the Capital Replacement Programme, and that a full business case be developed exploring the options for the continuing use of the existing fleet;

5)                 the possibility of closer working with Bromsgrove District Council, regarding the Bromsgrove Urban and Rural Transport (BURT) service, be assessed in respect of potential cost saving opportunities for both Councils; and

6)                 further opportunities for additional types of provision, which would include the hire of vehicles to community groups, registering fro contracts with Worcestershire County Council and having the option to have a mixed fleet of vehicles, be investigated.

The Committee considered a report on the future delivery of the Council’s Dial a Ride (DAR) Service.

Officers reported that an independent review of the DAR service had been carried out by consultants to look in depth at the operation of, and demands for DAR.  Members were informed that this had included current policy, organisational structures, operation and deployment of vehicles and drivers, costs and revenue, models of provision, bookings management, demands and needs, user profile and patterns of usage, accessibility considerations, and the eligibility to use the service.

The report had been subject to pre-scrutiny by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 27th October 2010. 

Members were informed that following the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee the Dial a Ride Task and Finish Group had met and prepared their final report.  

The Chair of the Dial a Ride Task and Finish Group, Councillor Robin King, reported that the group had largely endorsed the proposals detailed by Officers in the Dial a Ride Service – Review report but had suggested alterations as follows:

·        that there be an increase in concessionary rate fees for use of the service from £1.05 to £1.50, subject to review in 12 months time;

·        that capital investment in fleet replacement be included in the Capital Replacement Programme, and that a full business case be developed exploring the options for continuing use of the existing fleet.

RESOLVED that

1)                 subject to any budget setting considerations, the Council continue to deliver the Dial a Ride service;

2)                 expenditure of up to an amount of any capital funding agreed in due course by the Council be approved in accordance with Standing Order 41, for the purposed defined in the Dial a Ride – Review report; and

RECOMMENDED that

3)                 there be an increase in concessionary rate fees for use of the service from £1.05 to £1.50, subject to review in 12 month’s time from 2011;

4)                 capital investment for fleet replacement be included in the Capital Replacement Programme, and that a full business case be developed exploring the options for the continuing use of the existing fleet;

5)                 the possibility of closer working with Bromsgrove District Council, regarding the Bromsgrove Urban and Rural Transport (BURT) service, be assessed in respect of potential cost saving opportunities for both Councils; and

6)                 further opportunities for additional types of provision, which would include the hire of vehicles to community groups, registering fro contracts with Worcestershire County Council and having the option to have a mixed fleet of vehicles, be investigated.

To seek the Committee’s approval to revised funding limits to enable Officers to proceed in a more timely fashion with enforcement actions in accordance with current legislation.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the Council revise, within budget, the limits in the current Scheme of Delegation in respect of Land Drainage enforcement to £10,000 per occurrence in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and Head of Service.

The Committee considered a request to revise the financial limits in the Scheme of Delegation in respect of Land Drainage enforcement.

Officers outlined the reasons for the request to increase these financial limits. 

RESOLVED that

the Council revise, within budget, the limits in the current Scheme of Delegation in respect of Land Drainage enforcement to £10,000 per occurrence in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and Head of Service.

To consider the notes of the most recent meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 14th October 2010.

(Notes attached)

RESOLVED that

the notes of the meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 14th October be noted.

(The Deputy Chief Executive clarified the situation regarding e-mail addresses for Members and Officers mentioned in the notes.)

The Deputy Chief Executive clarified the situation regarding e-mail addresses for Members and Officers mentioned in the notes.

RESOLVED that

the notes of the meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 14th October be noted.

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 Housing Advisory and Planning Advisory Panels had been arranged for the last week in November.

It was noted that Councillor Chance had been appointed as Chair of the Grants Panel.)

Members advised that meetings of the Housing Advisory and Planning Advisory Panels had been arranged for the last week in November.

It was noted that Councillor Chance had been appointed as Chair of the Grants Panel.

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.

(Officers were asked to provide sickness and vacancy information to future meetings of the Committee.)

The Committee received the Action Monitoring report.  Officers were asked to provide sickness and vacancy information to future meetings of the Committee.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.