Agenda and minutes

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

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Michael Braley.

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

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

·        Highway Impact and Accessibility Modelling Report – Worcestershire County Council (Halcrow) - May 2011

She also advised that she had accepted the following items as Urgent Business:

·        Item 5 and Item 7 – Additional information from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14^th February 2012

(Not meeting the publication deadline)

·        Item 9 – Employment Policy – Review

(Not on the Forward Plan for this meeting)

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 31st January 2012.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 31st January 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the final outcome of the Review of the Housing Revenue Account.

(Report attached)

The Committee received a report on the review of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

Members were advised that the Government would be dismantling the current HRA subsidy system and that it would be replaced with a new regime of self financing with effect from April 2012.

Officers advised that the Council would have to take on a share of the national housing debt but would be entitled in future years to keep the subsidy, which is currently paid each year to Central Government.

Members were informed that the Council’s share of this debt amounted to £98,929 million, payable to central government on 28th March 2012 with self financing operational from 1st April 2012.  The Council would be compensated for the interest paid in respect of the days between 28th March and 1st April 2012, which is expected to be £35,000.

An additional recommendation was proposed from the Chair as follows:

“Officers bring forward a report outlining the proposals for how this Council might build council houses on some of the land owned by the Council and already declared surplus.”

RESOLVED that

subject to the Council’s approval of the budgetary implications,

1)         the 5 year Housing Capital Programme as set out at Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

2)         the Director of Finance and Resources be authorised to acquire debt from the Public Works Loans Board up to the amount of the actual Debt Cap in line with the profile set out at  Appendix 4 to the report;

3)         subject to Members’ comments, the viability of the 30 Year Business Case for the Housing Revenue Account, and the projected availability of resources within the Business Plan to undertake projects such as regeneration be noted;

4)                 Officers be authorised to incur expenditure as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, up to the limit approved by the Council and for the purposes detailed in the report;

5)                 Officers bring forward a report outlining proposals for how this Council might build council houses on some of the land owned by the Council and already declared surplus; and

RECOMMENDED that

6)                 the Council approve the financial / budgetary implications, as detailed in the report.

To consider providing the Home Support Service to all who have a support need, regardless of tenure.

(Report attached)

Members considered a report on extending the Home Support Service to non Council tenants who would not be eligible for funding through the Supporting People programme and who could afford to pay for a service.

Officers reported that provision of a service would have to be on a cost-recovery basis and an hourly rate of £13.22 had been proposed for the service.

Officers confirmed that the current proposal did not anticipate any increase in the number of staff required to provide the service.

RESOLVED that

1)        the Home Support Service be extended to the private sector within current capacity;

2)                 an hourly rate of £13.22 be introduced to pay for the Home Support Service; and

3)                 any proposal to increase staffing or the capacity of the service be brought back before the Executive Committee with a full Business Case.

To consider a review of the Council’s Street Naming Policy.

(Report attached)

The Committee received a report which sought approval for a revised policy on Street Naming and Numbering for the Borough.

Officers outlined changes to the report that had been made following pre-scrutiny by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 14th February 2012.

Officers were asked to notify Ward Members of any post code changes made by Royal Mail within their Wards.

RESOLVED that

1)         the revised policy on Street Naming and Numbering, as attached to the report at Appendix 1 and 2, be approved and adopted;

2)         authority be delegated to the Head of Business Transformation or Executive Director, Planning & Regeneration, to carry out all functions relating to the addressing process, as appropriate and as now detailed in the revised Policy;

3)         the Scheme of Delegation to Officers be updated accordingly; and

4)         Mr Norman Neasom, a significant local artist, be added to the list of potential street names.

To seek final approval of the recommendations for funding made by the Grants Panel.

[Appendix 1 to this report is exempt, as defined in S.100 of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, as it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of individuals and organisations, disclosure of which is not considered to be in the public’s best interest. In view of this it is anticipated that discussion of these matters will take place after the exclusion of the public.]

(Report attached)

The Committee received a report which sought approval for the recommendations made by the Grants Assessment Panel in awarding grants to voluntary sector organisations for 2012 – 2013.

The Committee was informed that the Grants Assessment Panel had met on 3 occasions.  The total budget available for allocation was £240,000 and that 37 applications had been received totalling £336, 300.

Officers reported that successful schemes would be monitored quarterly.

RESOLVED that

1)         grants be awarded to voluntary sector organisations as detailed in Section 3.6 of the report; and

2)         the additions to the Voluntary and Community Sector Grants Policy at paragraphs 5.4 and 6.2 be approved (Appendix 3 of the report) - these additions give clearer guidance to fundees as to the type of projects / services suitable to be submitted to Redditch Borough Council’s Voluntary & Community Sector Grants programme.

To consider a review of the following Special Leave Employment Policy:

(Report attached)

The Committee received a report which sought approval of the revised Special Leave policy.

Members were advised that both Corporate Management Team and Trade Union representatives had been consulted and had agreed the revised policy.

RESOLVEDthat

the Special Leave policy attached to the report at Appendix 1 be approvedand adopted.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24th January 2012.

There are no outstanding recommendations to consider.

(Minutes attached)

The Committee received the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14th February 2012.

With reference to Minute 149 regarding the Petition on Short Stay Parking in the Town Centre, Members were informed that a meeting had been arranged with relevant agencies and stakeholders, including the petitioners, on 1st March 2012.

RESOLVED that

the minutes be noted.

There were no Minutes / Referrals to consider.

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)

The Committee considered the latest Advisory Panels report.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

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

(Report attached)

Members considered the Committee’s Action Monitoring report.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.