Minutes for Cabinet meeting, Nov 17 2009, 10.30AM official page

To approve, as a correct record, the Minutes of the Meeting of Cabinet held on 20 October 2009.

Resolved – That the Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 3 November 2009, be approved as a correct record.

To note any items which the Chair has agreed to add to the agenda on the grounds of urgency.

The Leader referred to two urgent items, “UK City of Culture Bid” and “Remembrance of Armed Forces’ Personnel” that he had agreed to add to the agenda on the grounds of urgency.

In each case the reason for urgency was to expedite the wishes of Council at which both matters had previously been discussed.

Members are reminded of the requirement to make an appropriate verbal Declaration at the meeting on any item(s) on this agenda in which they have an interest.  Having done so, Members are asked to complete a form detailing the Declaration, which will be available from the Committee Services Officer at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

Approved recommendations as set out in the report.

The Corporate Director, Communities submitted a report seeking approval to increase the price of meals in Primary Schools in accordance with the Council’s financial strategy.

Resolved – That Option 2, a 10p increase from January 2010 and a further 10p increase in September 2010, be approved.

Reason for the decision

To reduce the Council’s subsidy to this service in light of the Council’s medium term financial priorities.

Approved recommendations as set out in the report.

Consideration was given to a report of the Corporate Director, Regeneration, Culture and Sport which updated Cabinet on feedback from the draft bid submitted on 16 October 2009 to the UK City of Culture organisers and consider the implications of proceeding with a full bid.  

Resolved – That Cabinet endorse Option 1, as detailed in the report:

• Not to proceed any further with the bid on financial grounds unless the Council’s cultural partners could provide the funding which was necessary to successfully compete for UK City of Culture status.
• Authorise Officers to work positively with the feedback provided and the Council’s cultural partners so that it actively drove forward the district’s cultural ambitions.

Reasons for the decision

The decision was taken for the reasons set out in the report, and recognised the financial implications to the Council of proceeding with a formal bid.

Approved recommendations as set out in the report.

The Corporate Director, Business and Resources submitted a report which provided Cabinet with a summary of the Council’s performance for the period April 2008 to March 2009, as part of the corporate performance reporting arrangements.  The report also highlighted areas that required focused attention over the coming months to ensure continuous and step change improvement. 

The annual performance report updated those outputs from 2008/09 Year End Clinic and Leader’s Quarterly Review Meeting discussed at meetings held in May and complemented other reports provided to Cabinet at the end of July regarding the financial out-turn for 2008-09.

Resolved – (1) That the contents of the report, including the significant headline achievements for 2008/09, areas for improvement and resulting challenges for 2009/10, be noted.

(2) That the areas for improvement identified in sections 7 and 8 of the report and actions being undertaken to address under-performance, be noted.

(3) That a further, composite improvement action plan be submitted for consideration following receipt of the Organisational Assessment report and Area Assessment report as appropriate.

(4) That a further report be submitted to Cabinet in six months time, detailing how the Council was addressing the challenges identified in the report and the progress made.

Reason for the decision

The Council constantly strives to improve the way in which services are delivered to meet the needs of local people.  Effective and robust performance management is critical to ensuring the Council knows how well it is meeting these needs, delivering against agreed priorities and whether value for money is being achieved.  In the Council’s drive to go ‘beyond excellence’, strengthened focus and further embedding of the performance management culture was critical.  The report was an integral part of the continuous improvement, priority setting and resource alignment.

Approved recommendations as set out in the report.

The Corporate Director, Family Services submitted a report which provided information through annual reports about developments, activities, performance and plans concerning the Adoption and Fostering Services, which formed an important part of Elected Members responsibilites as the corporate parent to looked after children.  Elected Members were also require dto approive the Statement of Purpose for each service, which was reviewed annually. 

Resolved – (1) That the Statement of Purpose be approved.

(2) That the annual reports for the Fostering Service and the Adoption Service be noted.

(3) That the plans for service development and improvement, which were in place, be noted.

Reason for the decision

Government regulation and best practice support the aim of Elected Members being kept informed about these important areas of service for children for whom the Council has responsibilities. Elected Members also need to be satisfied that every effort is being made to address any shortfall in service and performance and that staff are striving for continuous improvement.

The Statements of Purpose underpin each service, setting out its framework of aims, objectives and the services being provided. Again, it is important that elected Members are aware of the Statements of Purpose and give approval to these as important areas of Council service.

Application No’s 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 be approved.

Application No’s 2 and 9 be refused for the reasons detailed in the report.  

Consideration was given to a report of the Interim Director for Improvement and Partnerships, setting out a schedule of applications from voluntary, community and recreational groups working in the Wakefield District for Community Chest funding.

The grants were available for the purchase of specific items or towards the cost of specific pieces of work.  Criteria had been set by which each bid had been assessed to ensure that any monies allocated would assist the Council in achieving its overall aims and objectives and so work towards providing better services for the people of the District.

Resolved – (1) That the following applications for Community Chest funding be approved:

1)              Castleford & Pontefract Lions Club                                Ward 1      £83.40

Ward 2      £83.40

Ward 3      £83.40

Ward 4      £83.40

Ward 5      £83.40

Ward 7      £83.40

Ward 12    £83.40

Ward 13    £83.40

Ward 15    £83.40

Ward 16    £83.40

2)              Featherstone District Guiding                                         Ward 6    £685.00

3)              Kinsley & Fitzwilliam Community Safety Action Group

                                                                                                      Ward 7  £2000.00

4)              Ossett Town Centre Partnership                                     Ward 11  £500.00

5)              Ossett Town Centre Partnership                                     Ward 11  £500.00

6)              Friends of Kettlethorpe Lake & Woodlands                  Ward 18  £210.00

                                                                                                      Ward 19  £210.00

7)              Wakefield FC Juniors                                                      Ward 20  £750.00

(2) That the following applications for Community Chest funding be refused:

1)              Cutsyke Community Group                                              Ward 3    £500.00

2)              Deaflympics – Rebecca Foster                                     Ward 21  £500.00

Reason for the decisions

To ensure that Councillors are supported in their Community Leadership role through the administration of the Community Chest to help fund small scale Ward based projects.      

Approved recommendations as set out in the report

The Corporate Director, Business and Resources submitted a report which advised Cabinet of the deliberations which had taken place at Full Council on 11 November 2009 regarding measures to be taken in remembrance of citizens from the Wakefield District who had given their lives in the service of HM Armed Forces. 

Resolved – (1) That in consultation with the families of Craig Hopson and James Backhouse, support be given to achieving their respective aspirations for appropriate memorials and the financial implications be managed as set out in paragraph 8.1 of the report.

(2) That work with the Royal British Legion on a proposal to identify all those from the Wakefield District who had died in conflict since the end of the 2^nd World War be progressed. 

(3) That a feasibility study to identify the best way of honouring those service men and women who had lost their lives serving their country with a view to adding to the rolls of honour on local war memorials be undertaken.

(4) That Cabinet confirm that the offer of the Freedom of the City of Wakefield be made to the Yorkshire Regiment and that arrangements be made to hold an extraordinary meeting of Council to confer this honour on the Regiment.

Reason for the decision

To honour members of the Armed Forces who are serving their country and those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.