Present at the meeting:
- Councillor P R C Smith (Executive Leader)( In the Chair)
- Councillor K Anderson (Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhood)
- Councillor J B Baldwin (Cabinet Champion for Cultural)
- Councillor K Cunliffe (Cabinet Champion for Healthier Communities and Older People)
- Councillor T W Halliwell (Cabinet Champion for Equality)
- Councillor J Hilton (Cabinet Champion for Lifestyle)
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People)
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion for Environment and Regeneration)
- Councillor C Ready (Cabinet Champion for Improvement)
- Councillor P Prescott (Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change)
1 Welcome to new Members: On behalf of the Cabinet, the Executive Leader extended a warm welcome to Councillors J Hilton, Mrs S Loudon and P Prescott, new members of the Cabinet.
2 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 24 April 2008 were approved as a correct record.
3 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 |
Primary strategy for change |
17 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) |
| E2 |
Remediation of contaminated land at Ince Central estate |
18 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council)
5 (Information covered by legal professional privilege i.e. legal advice from a qualified legal representative) |
4 Building schools for the future – review of mainstream secondary schools – report on stage 1 consultation on proposals to close PEMBEC: The Cabinet considered a report informing Members of the results of consultation on the proposal to close PEMBEC. The report also sought Cabinet’s approval to publish statutory notices proposing the closure of the school by 31 August 2011. The Children and Young People’s Panel had endorsed the report (minute 7 refers) and had requested that the concerns expressed at the meeting be passed on to Cabinet.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the concerns raised by the Children and Young People’s Panel;
- authorises the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to publish statutory notices on the proposal to close PEMBEC by 31 August 2011;
- requests the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to bring a report to a future meeting of Cabinet detailing the proposed strategy for the provision of 14 to 19 diplomas.
5 Home to school and college transport policy – 1 September 2008: The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval of the Council’s updated home to school and college transport policy from 1 September 2008. The report also sought permission for a fundamental review of future policy and for recommendations to be brought back to Cabinet in due course. The Children and Young People’s Panel had endorsed the report (minute 9 refers).
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to allow for a review of existing transport provision and to make recommendations on a longer term school and college transport policy.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- approves the home to school college transport policy from 1 September 2008 as a consolidation of existing provisions and statutory requirements; and
- authorises the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to undertake a fundamental review of future school and college transport provision and submit a further report to Cabinet in due course.
6 Wigan’s draft Local Area Agreemnet: The Cabinet considered a report that informed Members of Wigan’s current draft Local Area Agreement and the proposed priorities, indicators and targets contained therein.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- endorses the draft Local Area Agreement;
- delegates authority to the Service Director – Business Transformation to negotiate any outstanding targets with Government Office North West and then to finalise the agreement; and
- agrees that when finalised, the agreement will be signed by the Wigan Borough Partnership before being submitted to Government Office North West.
(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust).
7 Review of provision and use of resourced schools: Consultation on the provision of resourced places for pupils with low severity autism at Hawkley Hall High School: The Cabinet considered a report dealing with the outcome of the informal consultation on the proposal to provide resourced places for pupils with low severity autism at Hawkley Hall High School. The Children and Young People’s Panel had endorsed the report (minute 6 refers).
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to meet an identified need for provision within the Borough for those pupils on the Autiscti Spectrum Disorder continuum whose needs were not so severe as to warrant placement in a specialist school, but who experienced difficulty accessing their local mainstream school, even with considerable support.
Resolved: The Cabinet authorises the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to conduct statutory consultation on the proposal to provide resourced places for pupils with low severity autism at Hawkley Hall High School.
8 Wilding Street, Ince (Minute 157 September 2007 refers): The Cabinet considered a report on a revised development brief for the development of an area of land at Wilding Street, Ince. The development brief would be used by the Council as a guide for considering the acceptability of any development proposals. The Planning Committee had endorsed the report (minute 4 refers).
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was because funding proposed for the community facilities had not been utilised by the community group, and as such these facilities would not be able to be provided through the Regeneration Fund due to the funding timescales involved. If the development brief previously approved was progressed, then it was unlikely that there would be a site available within the area for a new school if required, and therefore it was unlikely that any community facilities would be provided in the area.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- approves the revised development brief; and
- instructs the Head of Property Division to continue marketing the site.
9 Introducing a fee policy for adult and community learning: The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to introduce a fee policy for the Learning and Skills Council funded adult learning provision.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to continue to receive Learning and Skill Council funding.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves that a fee policy for adult learning provision is introduced in July 2008 as detailed within the report.
10 Things to do, Places to go strategy: The Cabinet considered a report that sought Members approval of the Council’s Things to do, Places to go strategy. The strategy requested identification of a Member to support the implementation of the strategy.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- endorses the Things to do, Places to go strategy; and
- appoints Councillor Mrs S Loudon as the strategy champion.
(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust).
11 Nursery admission numbers: The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval of the proposed nursery admission numbers for local authority maintained nursery schools and units.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was so as not to deny parental preference for maintained nursery provision in schools which had current and future robust pupil numbers.
Resolved: The Cabinet agrees the proposed admission numbers for maintained Wigan nurseries for 2008 intake.
(Councillor D T Molyneux declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a school governor at Ince C of E Primary School).
12 Parking penalty charge notice cancellation policy: The Cabinet considered a report that sought approval to adopt a cancellation policy for parking penalty charges.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet agrees to adopt the cancellation policy for parking penalty charges as now submitted.
13 Capital programme 2007/09 – provisional outturn: The Cabinet considered a report that informed Members of the provisional outturn of 2007/08 capital programme and its funding. The Executive Director, Business Support Services updated Cabinet on the progress of the commercial elements of the Leigh Sports Village development and the village green application for part of the Westwood Park site.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the outturn position;
- agrees to increase the budget on Leigh Sports Village by £1 million and grant budget release; and
- agrees to review the £500,000 underspend on the Disabled Persons’ Adaption budget is to be reviewed at the half year.
(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust and a Board Member of Wigan Metropolitan Development Company. Councillors Cunliffe, D T Molyneux and PRC Smith declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because they are Board Members of Wigan Metropolitan Development Company).
14 Final accounts 2007/08 – summary of provisional revenue outturn: The Cabinet considered a report on the provisional spending position for 2007/08. The figures remained subject to further validation work to ensure compliance with statutory requirements and proper accounting practices.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet accepts the report.
15 Adult Services commissioning strategy: The Cabinet considered a report on the progress that had been made in implementing the Adult Services Commissioning Strategy 2007/10. The Adult Service Panel had endorsed the report (minute 5 refers).
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet notes the report.
16 Admission arrangements for specialist provision: The Cabinet considered a report that informed Members of the introduction of the admissions policies for the range of specialist provision in Wigan. The report commended the adoption of admissions arrangements for specialist provision. The Children and Young People’s Panel had endorsed the report (minute 5 refers).
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- adopts the admissions arrangements for specialist provision; and
- delegates any future changes to the Director of Children and Young People’s Services.
17 Primary strategy for change: The Cabinet considered a report that dealt with the revised primary strategy for change. The report also sought approval of its contents prior to submission to the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The Children and Young People’s Panel had endorsed the report (minute 15 refers).
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- approves the primary strategy for change, including the proposed capital expenditure on individual projects; and
- requests that a further report be presented to Cabinet and the Children and Young People’s Panel on individual projects as they progress.
(Councillor P R C Smith declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a school governor at Leigh Central Primary School. Councillor K Anderson declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a school governor at Christ Church C of E Primary School).
18 Remediation of contaminated land at Ince Central Estate (Minute 265 January 2008 refers): The Cabinet considered a report on grant funding from Defra for a further phase of work at the abovementioned site and a review of the current overall project funding position. The report sought decisions on the extent of further work to be undertaken.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to safeguard the health of residents of the estate, whilst balancing the benefits of improving the appearance and image of the estate against competing claims on resources.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- agrees budget release for phases 4, 5 and 6 to allow the immediate preparation of plans to speed up the works with associated savings;
- requests the Director of Environmental Services to develop details of a suitable environmental and security package for the properties where levels of contamination are below the legal threshold, and that the decision on the extent of that package, within a cost envelope of £250,000, be delegated to the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council;
- approves the reduced depth of remediation for those groups of properties where it would be in accordance with nationally agreed guidance;
- approves the continuation of the contracts with the existing appointed contractor and engineering consultants for the duration of the remainder of the project; and
- agrees that the costs borne by the Council should fall equally on the HRA and the General Housing Capital Programme.
20 Retirement of Linda Jackson, Head of Personnel: The Executive Leader reported the impending retirement of Linda Jackson, Head of Personnel.
Resolved: The Cabinet places on record its appreciation of the significant contribution made by Linda Jackson to the work of the Cabinet and Council and extends best wishes to her for a long and happy retirement.
