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 the Committee that the following items of business, scheduled on the Forward Plan to be dealt with at this evening’s meeting,
had been re-scheduled to a later meeting of the Committee:

·        Draft Core Strategy

·        Bromsgrove and Redditch Joint Core Strategies
– Consultation Responses

·        Local Development Scheme Update

·        Fees and Charges 2011.

The Chair advised that she had accepted late circulation of the following papers:
 

·        Item 4 – Minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee on 10th November 2010.

Finally, the Chair also advised that she had accepted the following additional item as Urgent Business:

·        Local Enterprise Partnerships.

The Chair advised the Committee that the following items of business, scheduled on the Forward Plan to be dealt with at this evening’s meeting,
had been re-scheduled to a later meeting of the Committee:

·        Draft Core Strategy

·        Bromsgrove and Redditch Joint Core Strategies
– Consultation Responses

·        Local Development Scheme Update

·        Fees and Charges 2011.

The Chair advised that she had accepted late circulation of the following papers:
 

·        Item 4 – Minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee on 10th November 2010.

Finally, the Chair also advised that she had accepted the following additional item as Urgent Business:

·        Local Enterprise Partnerships.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on the 10th November 2010.

(Minutes to follow)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 10th November 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 10th November 2010 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider an update on the budget-setting process for the 2011/12 financial year.

(Oral Presentation)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

(Oral report / No decisions or recommendations.

Members noted that the financial announcements anticipated on 2nd December had not yet been made and that further reports to Members would be provided as soon as more was known.)  

Officers provided a brief update on the budget situation as currently understood, pending imminent Government announcements.

Members noted that the financial announcements anticipated on 2nd December had not yet been made and that further reports to Members would be provided as soon as more was known. 

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To ask Members approval to implement the new Tenant Involvement Agreement as part of the Tenant Involvement Strategy Action plan approved by Members in December 2009.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

subject to Members’ comments*, the new Tenant Involvement Agreement, attached to the report at Appendix 1,  be adopted.

(*Members’ comments included:

• Fixing the quorum figure for BTP meetings at 4;
• Auditing of accounts in an appropriate and proportionate (‘light touch’) way only;
• Some minor rephrasing and textual amendment to improve the wording, such as using ‘to be apolitical’ rather than (‘not to be party political’).”)

The Committee received a report seeking authority to implement a new Tenant Involvement Agreement, as part of the Tenant Involvement Strategy Action Plan, previously approved by Members in December 2009.

Members generally supported the proposals, but felt some improvement could be made to the wording of some of the detail of the document. Members’ comments included:

·        fixing the quorum figure for Borough Tenants’ Panel meetings at 4 persons;

·        reference should be made to Auditing of Accounts in an appropriate and proportionate (‘light touch’) way only; and

·        some minor rephrasing and textual amendment to improve the wording of the document, such as using the wording ‘to be apolitical’ rather than ‘not to be party political’ in the conduct of business”.

RECOMMENDED that

subject to Members’ comments being incorporated, the new Tenant Involvement Agreement, attached to the report at Appendix 1,  be adopted.

To consider and approve changes to the Grants Policy.

(Report attached)

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the updated Voluntary Sector Grants Policy attached to the report at Appendix 1 be approved;

2)         the following themes and percentages of funding be allocated for the 2011/12 voluntary and community sector grants process:

§         Enterprising Communities                  -   55% =  £130,000

§         Safe/ Clean & Green                              -     8% =  £  20,000

§         LSP theme - Health and Wellbeing    -     8% =  £  20,000

§         LSP theme - Education                         -   25% =  £  60,000

§         LSP theme – Stronger Communities -   4% =   £    9,000;

3)       £2,000 be re-allocated from the existing Grants budget for the use by the Grants Team to deliver:

·            workshops, networking and promotional events;

·            advertising and communication support;

·            newsletters; and

·            support packages;

and

RESOLVED that, subject to the Council’s approval of the above recommendations 1) & 2), 

4)       authority be delegated to the Head of Community Services, in consultation with the Grants Panel, to agree the allocation of community grants under the Local Strategic Partnership ‘Stronger Communities’ theme.

(Members noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had pre-scrutinised, and recommended approval of, these proposals.)

The Committee received and approved proposed changes to the Council’s Grants Policy and associated processes.

Members noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had pre-scrutinised, and recommended approval of, these proposals.

The Committee thanked Officers for the report and welcomed the greater clarity the proposals brought to the Council’s Grants process.

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the updated Voluntary Sector Grants Policy attached to the report at Appendix 1 be approved;

2)         the following themes and percentages of funding be allocated for the 2011/12 voluntary and community sector grants process:

§         Enterprising Communities                  -   55% =  £130,000

§         Safe/ Clean & Green                              -     8% =  £  20,000

§         LSP theme - Health and Wellbeing    -     8% =  £  20,000

§         LSP theme - Education                         -   25% =  £  60,000

§         LSP theme – Stronger Communities -   4% =   £   9,000;

3)       £2,000 be re-allocated from the existing Grants budget for the use by the Grants Team to deliver:

·            workshops, networking and promotional events;

·            advertising and communication support;

·            newsletters; and

·            support packages;  and

RESOLVED that,

subject to the Council’s approval of the above recommendations 1) & 2), 

4)       authority be delegated to the Head of Community Services, in consultation with the Grants Panel, to agree the allocation of community grants under the Local Strategic Partnership ‘Stronger Communities’ theme.

To provide Members with an overview of the budget, including the achievement of approved savings as at the end of Quarter 2, 2010/11.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

(Members noted a number of variations and improvements to the reported position.)

Members considered an overview of the budget, including the achievement of approved savings, as at the end of the second quarter of the 2010/11 financial year.

Members noted a number of variations and improvements to the position detailed in the report.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider the quarterly performance report, showing indicators which have improved, declined or remained static when compared to the same period in the previous financial year.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

The Committee considered a quarterly performance report, which showed indicators that had improved, declined or remained static when compared with the same period in the previous financial year.

Members noted the possible impact of changes to the performance monitoring regime, which indicated that the Government’s set range of indicators might be reduced. However the Council might still wish to retain some indicators which were useful for the conduct of the Council’s business.
 

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To advise Members of actual performance during Quarter 2 of the Improvement Plan.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

The Committee received a report on the performance of the Benefits service during the second quarter of the improvement plan.

Members were pleased to note the very good performance detailed in the report and that there had been a significant reduction in the number of complaints in this area.

The Committee congratulated Officers on their achievements.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider a report which provides a view on aspects of the Council’s Formal Complaints Procedure, the compliments recorded during the same period and the Ombudsman Annual Review.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

Members considered a report which detailed the Council’s performance in relation to complaints and compliments recorded during June to September 2010 and the Ombudsman’s Annual Review. Members noted that the Council’s response to complaints was in line with national performance figures.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider a report on the disposal of the ‘Teardrop’ site at Abbey Stadium.

(Report attached)

RESOLVED that

1)       the land known as the “Tear Drop” be disposed of for the purposes detailed in the report; and

2)       Officers be instructed to proceed with the offer from Party E as detailed in the confidential Appendix 2 to the report.

(Members re-affirmed their intention to direct the income towards the Abbey Stadium Redevelopment project.  There was no discussion in confidential Session.)

The Committee was asked to formally declare as surplus the ‘tear drop’ site adjacent to the Abbey Stadium and Cemetery / Crematorium area. Members confirmed that it had been the Council’s intention as part of the earlier, larger-scale proposed Abbey Stadium redevelopment to offer this site for redevelopment. However, it appeared no formal decision to do this had yet been recorded.

Members re-affirmed their intention to direct the income derived from the sale towards the Abbey Stadium Redevelopment project.

Members also determined which of five offers for the site, reported in the confidential appendix to the report, should be accepted.

(There was no discussion in confidential Session.)

RESOLVED that

1)       the land known as the “Tear Drop” be disposed of for the purposes detailed in the report; and

2)       Officers be instructed to proceed with the offer from Party E as detailed in the confidential Appendix 2 to the report.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 27th October 2010.

There are no recommendations to consider.

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 27th October 2010 be received and noted.

(There were no additional decisions for the Executive Committee or full Council to make.)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 27th October 2010 be received and noted.

To consider the minutes and any recommendations arising from the most recent meeting of the Worcestershire Enhanced Two Tier Shared Service Joint Committee.

(Minutes and/or recommendations to follow, if available)

There were no minutes or recommendations to consider.

There were no minutes or recommendations to consider.

RECOMMENDED that

in order to ensure that the business and economic interests of the businesses and residents within the Borough of Redditch can be properly and adequately represented, the Council approve that Redditch Borough forms part of both the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) if successful, and the Birmingham and Solihull LEP.

(This item was accepted by the Chair for consideration by the Committee as Urgent Business, in view of the need to obtain a full Council decision before the Christmas break 2010.

An explanatory briefing note was tabled at the meeting which will be provided to all Council members in relation to the 13th  December Council meeting.)

The Committee considered the need for an urgent decision in respect of which Local Enterprise Partnership, of a number of such proposed partnerships, Redditch should align itself with. An explanatory briefing note was tabled at the meeting which was also to be provided to all Council members in relation to the 13th December full Council meeting.

Members noted that it was possible to be part of more than one LEP and that local businesses, when recently surveyed, had expressed a preference to join a Worcestershire LEP. However, at this stage it was not clear whether the Worcestershire LEP would proceed.
 

RECOMMENDED that

in order to ensure that the business and economic interests of the businesses and residents within the Borough of Redditch can be properly and adequately represented, the Council approve that Redditch Borough form part of both the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), if successful, and the Birmingham and Solihull LEP.

(This item was accepted by the Chair for consideration by the Committee as Urgent Business, in view of the need to obtain a full Council decision before the Christmas break 2010.)

To receive and consider any outstanding minutes or referrals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Executive Panels, 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, 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.

(Members noted that a schedule of meetings had been drawn up for the Constitutional Review Working Party and Member Development Steering Group for the period up to the next Council Annual Meeting.)

Members noted that a schedule of meetings had been drawn up for the Constitutional Review Working Party and Member Development Steering Group for the period up to the next Council Annual Meeting.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

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

RESOLVED that

subject to Members’ comments*, the report be noted.

(* Members requested reinstatement of more regular reports in relation to  sickness monitoring and vacancies.)

Under consideration of this item, the Committee requested reinstatement of more regular reports in relation to sickness monitoring and staff vacancies.

RESOLVED that

subject to Members’ comments, as recorded in the preamble above, the report be noted.