Present at the meeting:
- Councillor P R C Smith (Executive Leader)(In the Chair)
- Councillor K Anderson (Cabinet Champion for Healthier Communities and Older People)
- Councillor J B Baldwin (Cabinet Champion for Lifestyle)
- Councillor T W Halliwell (Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change)
- Councillor J A O’Neill (Cabinet Champion for Regeneration)
- Councillor C Ready (Cabinet Champion for Equality)
- Councillor Mrs E Smethurst (Cabinet Champion for Improvement)
- Councillor B M Wilson (Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People)
124 Apologies for absence: Councillors K Cunliffe (Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhood) and D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion for Environment).
125 GCSE results 2007 Councillor B M Wilson (Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People) reported that the GCSE results issued today showed an increase from 57% to 60% for 5 A – C grade passes in the Authority’s schools overall.
Resolved: The Cabinet accepts the report and requests the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to pass on to the staff and pupils its congratulations on their significant achievement.
126 Minutes : The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 August 2007 were approved as a correct record.
127 Exclusion of the public - section 100a Local Government Act 1972: Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Cabinet discusses the following items for the reasons set out below:-
|
Agenda Item No. |
Title of report |
Minute No. |
Description of exempt information by reference to the paragraph number in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 |
|
E1 |
A49 Goose Green to Westwood Park link road |
144 |
3 ( Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council ) |
|
E2 |
Sandyforth Farm opencast phase 2 – 2007 |
145 |
3 ( Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council ) |
128 Overview and Scrutiny Select Committee No 1 - effective enquiry handling: The Cabinet received a presentation from the Overview and Scrutiny Select Committee No 1 (Minute 142 of April 2007 refers) on its findings and recommendations in relation to the effective enquiry handling. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had approved the report and referred it to the Cabinet for detailed consideration.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- accepts the report now submitted;
- endorses the recommendations set out within the report and requests the Senior Management Team to respond adequately to them;
- agrees to review the recommendations in six months time; and
- thanks the Policy Officer for the presentation and the Chairman and Members of the Select Committee for their hard work in relation to this review.
129 Local Authority/School protocol on managing pupil’s leave of absence (holidays in term time): The Cabinet considered a report on a draft protocol which was to be established between Wigan schools and the local authority relating to pupils’ leave of absence during term time. This would establish a policy common to all of the Authority’s schools thereby reducing the amount and frequency of pupil absence requests over time.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves the protocol and associated guidance on managing pupil term time absence.
130 Remediation of Ince Central Estate (minute 58 refers): The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for continuing remediation work on the Ince Central Estate at a financial risk to the Council until grant aid from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) was forthcoming. A letter from Defra setting out the current progress of the application for funding was attached to the report.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to reduce the risk of the contractor moving off site with resultant difficulties in re-commencement and the risk of legal action being instigated by residents against the Council.
Resolved: The Cabinet recommends Council to:-
- approve budget release in the sum of £767,000 (capital resources) to undertake works for phase 8 of the Ince Central Estate remediation programme and amend the capital programme accordingly;
- amend the budget framework to include provision for all remaining phases of this scheme; and
- request Ian McCartney MP to write to the Secretary of State highlighting the urgent need to provide the necessary funding to complete this scheme.
131 Budget timetable and principles 2008/09: The Cabinet considered a report setting out the strategic budget timetable and revised budget principles in line with the budget strategy, both to be used for the preparation of the revenue budget 2008/09.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet agree the principles and the timetable for the 2008/09 budget.
132 Medium term financial plan 2008/11: The Cabinet considered a report setting out the financial projections for the Council over the next three years with specific focus on the budget and Council Tax prospects for 2008/09.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to avoid a cap on Council tax being imposed.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the forecast and the potential costs surrounding the risk areas identified;
- approves the carry forwards from 2006/07 set out in Appendix 2.;
- requests the Senior Management Team to set out scenarios with savings at 1% and 2% of total budget, standstill and 0.25% growth; and
- requests the Chief Executive to report separately on the budget for support services across the Council in the light of proposals in the recent review for improving services and shifting resources to the front line.
(Councillors J B Baldwin and Mrs E Smethurst declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because they are Members of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust).
133 Heritage lottery fund (HLF) projects – Mesnes Park restoration project and History Shop project (minutes 245 of November 2006 and 485 of March 2006 refer): The Cabinet considered a report and forms CPR1 on the progress of the Mesnes Park restoration project and the History Shop project. The report also identified issues affecting the delivery of each project.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to increase the chances of the projects’ success at the HLF assessment stage.
The Director of Legal and Property Services submitted a report setting out her comments on the impact of the History Shop project on the Council’s limited corporate property maintenance fund budget.
Resolved: The Cabinet:–
- supports the submission of the stage 2 application to the HLF in September 2007 for the Mesnes Park project, scheme A, and supports a second application to the HLF in March 2008 for scheme B of the project;
- delegates authority to the Chief Executive of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and the Assistant Chief Executive of Wigan Council to submit a stage 2 application to the HLF in September 2007;
- agrees to allocate £500,000 of capital resources to the Mesnes Park project to be utilised for the immediate repairs to the entrance lodge, match funding mix for scheme A, and to attract additional match funding to support the scheme B submission in March 2008;
- agrees to allocate additional capital resources of £405,000 to the History Shop project to fund the repairs to the roof and the remaining external fabric repairs as one project so as to increase the chances of securing the HLF grant award at the September 2007 Board;
- authorises the Officers to continue with the preparatory work for both projects but on the understanding that they will not proceed in 2007/08 if the HLF grants are not forthcoming; and, subject thereto
- approves budget release and amendment to the capital programme as follows:-
|
Scheme |
Cost |
Funding |
|
Mesnes Park |
£2,248,569 |
Capital resources |
|
History Shop |
£1,051,136: |
|
|
£500,433 |
Heritage lottery funding |
|
£405,000 |
Capital resources |
|
£15,000 |
Disability Discrimination Act contribution |
|
£130,700 |
Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust contribution |
134 Building schools for the future – potential procurement partnership (minute 53 refers): The Cabinet considered a report on the progress of discussions with Salford City Council regarding a joint procurement process for building schools for the future in both authorities and sought approval for the next stage of the process.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet recommends the Council to:-
- agree to Wigan entering into a joint procurement process with Salford City Council to produce a joint local education partnership;
- delegate authority to the Chief Executive to agree the terms of a memorandum of understanding with Salford City Council;
- delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Executive Leader and the Director of Finance and Information Technology, to agree an apportionment of the project costs with Salford City Council;
- delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Directors of Children and Young People’s Services, Legal and Property and Finance and Information Technology, to approve the necessary OJEU notice, procurement documentation and consultants’ appointments;
- delegate authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Executive Leader, to approve the long list of bidders (ITPD stage) and the short list of bidders (ITCD stage) and the selection for the preferred bidder;
- request the Director of Finance and Information Technology to develop proposals to fund the development costs identified in paragraphs 1.4.5 and 1.4.6 of the report, initially for the period up to October 2009; and
- delegate authority to the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to finalise details of the programme team and to undertake the necessary recruitment and selection activities.
135 Consultation recommendations on the discrimination law review green paper: a framework for fairness: proposals for a single equality bill: The Cabinet considered a report setting out a suggested response to the consultation on the single equality bill, which was intended to streamline the existing discrimination framework and so produce better outcomes for people currently experiencing discrimination.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet ratifies the proposed response on the consultation.
136 Appraisal and extension of Wigan lane conservation area: The Cabinet considered a report on the results of a consultation of Wigan Lane conservation area appraisal and a suggested extension to the boundary of the conservation area as a result. The Planning Committee had endorsed the report (minute 24 refers).
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- adopts the Wigan Lane conservation area appraisal and the principles of the management proposals; and
- approves the extension of the Wigan Lane conservation area under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings & Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as set out in the report now submitted.
137 The Way We Were Museum – development guidelines (minute 181 of September 2004 refers): The Cabinet considered a report setting out a development brief for the sale of the buildings used to house The Way We Were Museum and the Education Centre at Wigan Pier.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to meet the desired outputs concerning job creation for the Wigan Pier Quarter programme; to justify grant assistance to the buildings; and to provide an essential part of the mix of uses across the Pier Quarter as a whole.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves the development brief now submitted.
138 Revenue budget monitoring –quarter one: The Cabinet considered a report on the progress on budgets against spending to the end of June 2007 and the projected position to the year end.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- accepts the report; and
- approves the virement of £231,300 from the central repairs and maintenance budget to the adult services budget in relation to stairlift maintenance.
(Councillors J B Baldwin and Mrs E Smethurst declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because they are Members of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust).
139 Capital programme 2007/08 first review: The Cabinet considered a report that provided a summary of the capital spending and resources for 2007/08 following a review of the programme.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet notes the report and approves the revisions to the programme set out.
(Councillors J B Baldwin and Mrs E Smethurst declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because they are Members of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust).
140 Corporate plan performance report quarter 1 2007/08: The Cabinet considered a report that set out the Council’s performance against agreed performance indicators during the first quarter of 2007/08.
The Cabinet, whilst voicing concerns at sickness absence levels across the Authority, noted the work being done under the auspices of the Senior Management Team to address this.
There were no alternative options for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet accepts the report.
141 Licensing Act 2003 – licensing policy statement 2008/10: The Cabinet considered a report setting out a revised licensing policy statement, which was required under the provisions of the Licensing Act 2003 after the operation of the existing policy for three years.
There were no alternative options for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet recommends the Council to approve the revised licensing policy statement as part of the policy framework.
142 The Commission on Integration and Cohesion – our shared future: The Cabinet considered a report on the recently published report from the Commission on Integration and Cohesion entitled “our shared future”, and the implications for Wigan.
There were no alternative options for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet notes the report and requests the Officers to submit a further report once the Wigan Borough Partnership has considered its recommendations on community cohesion.
143 Supporting people inspection 2007: The Cabinet considered a report on the outcome of the Audit Commission’s inspection of the authority’s supporting people programme which was undertaken during May 2007.
There were no alternative options for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet accepts the report and requests the Director of Adult Services to draw up an action plan, in response to the areas for improvement highlighted in the report, which will be reported to a future meeting.
144 A49 Goose Green to Westwood Park link road (minute 269 of November 2006 refers): The Cabinet considered a report and form CPR1 on the progress relating to the acquisition of land and property for the A49 Goose Green to Westwood Park link road; the disposal of surplus land and property; and the funding arrangements for the scheme.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to obviate any delay of the project.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves:-
- budget release in the sum of £415,000 (capital resources) in connection with the purchase of additional land and property required for this scheme;
- the revised estimated cost of this scheme amounting to £21,443,171 and amendment to the capital programme; and
- the ring fencing of capital receipts from the disposal of land and property (now identified as surplus to requirements) to offset the cost of land and property acquisitions and scheme preparation costs for A49 Goose Green to Westwood Park link road and other highway proposals falling within the major highway schemes transport study.
145 Sandyforth Farm opencast phase 2 – 2007: The Cabinet considered a report and form CPR1 on tenders received for the above scheme in line with the decision taken by Cabinet on 29 March 2007 (Minute 427 refers).
There were no alternative options for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- accepts the tender submitted by I & H Brown Limited, Warrington in the sum of £2,861,184.73, being the lowest tender submitted, subject to the funding set out below being forthcoming; and
- approves budget release in the sum of £3,166,383 (single pot funding agreement with the North West Development Agency) and amendment to the capital programme.
146 Mrs Susan D Lowe: The Executive Leader reported that this would be the last meeting of the Cabinet attended by Mrs S D Lowe (Director of Legal and Property Services).
Resolved: The Cabinet places on record its appreciation of the significant contribution made by Mrs Lowe to the work of the Cabinet and the Council and extends to her best wishes for a long and healthy retirement.
