Cabinet - Thursday 26 June 2008

Present at the meeting:

  • Councillor P R C Smith (Executive Leader) (In the Chair)
  • Councillor J B Baldwin (Cabinet Champion for Cultural)
  • Councillor K Cunliffe (Cabinet Champion for Healthier Communities and Older People)
  • Councillor J Hilton (Cabinet Champion for Lifestyle)
  • Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People)
  • Councillor P Prescott (Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change)

 31 Apologies for absence: Councillors K Anderson (Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhood), T W Halliwell (Cabinet Champion for Equality), D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion for Environment and Regeneration) and C Ready (Cabinet Champion for Improvement).

32 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 June 2008 were approved as a correct record.

33 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  Hindley High School refurbishment of Block S  45  3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) 
E2 Primary School modernisation  46  3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) 
E3  Job evaluation  47  3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) 

34 Parks and Greenspaces strategy: The Cabinet considered a joint report seeking approval for a strategy for the management and development of those parks and green spaces that were managed by the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust on behalf of the Council. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at minute 23 and had requested Cabinet to refer the strategy to all Members of the Council.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was because the strategy would help to focus resources and to achieve a greater impact.

Resolved: The Cabinet approves the Parks and Greenspaces strategy as now submitted.

(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust appointed by the Council).

35 Wigan South Central masterplan: The Cabinet considered a report dealing with the strategic masterplan for Wigan South Central and seeking approval to progress actions identified in the delivery plan.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to realise the opportunity for substantial future regeneration activity in this area of Wigan.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

  • agrees the strategic masterplan for Wigan South Central;
  • authorises the Director of Environmental Services to prepare briefs for initial priority tasks within the action plan, and also to prepare and submit funding applications to support this activity; and
  • authorises the Director of Environmental Services to undertake further work in considering an appropriate delivery mechanism for Wigan South Central and to report back to Cabinet at the earliest opportunity.

36 Review of Advisory Panels and Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees: The Cabinet considered a joint report seeking Members’ views on a proposed review of the roles of Advisory Panels and Overview and Scrutiny Select Committees.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to enable the Council to deliver services in a modern way which reflected the key drivers identified within the report.

The Cabinet considered it appropriate to include the Advisory Panels in the consultation exercise.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

  • endorses the proposals set out in the report now submitted; and
  • authorises the Service Director, Borough Solicitor and Service Director - Business Transformation to seek the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee and the Advisory Panels and to report back to the Cabinet.

37 Townships and participation in decision making: The Cabinet considered a report on the progress which had been made in developing new ways of working in partnership with local people in communities. The report also informed Members of developments in this area and set out proposals on how the Council and its partners could develop ways of working in the future.

Members expressed the view that the Council needed to be clear about the role and functions of the Townships. Members also considered that the Council should give clear, consistent guidance and commitment to the Townships across the Borough.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to comply with changes in legislation as to the way local authorities were required to work.

Resolved: Subject to the incorporation of Members’ views and concerns in an amended report, the Cabinet:-

  • endorses the proposals set out in the report now submitted;
  • authorises the Service Director - Business Transformation to seek the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Audit Governance and Improvement Review Committee and to report back to the Cabinet; and
  • authorises the Service Director - Business Transformation to arrange a seminar for all Members of the Council on the proposals for the Townships and the participation in decision making and thereafter to consult with and seek the views of the Townships and the Wigan Borough Partnership.

38 Rollout of Partnerships and Communities Together: Further to minute 347, March 2008,the Cabinet considered a report setting out the methodology which had been used to recommend the order of rollout for Partnership and Communities Together (PACT). The report sought agreement to the order of rollout for the implementation of the complete PACT programme.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

  • agrees the methodology used to recommend the order of rollout for the PACT programme; and
  • approves the order of rollout for the implementation of the complete PACT programme as set out in the report now submitted.

39 Building schools for the future – response to consultation: The Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to submit a response to the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) consultation regarding the management of building schools for the future waves 7 to 15.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to provide an opportunity for the Council to express its views on bringing Wigan’s projects into an earlier wave.

Resolved: The Cabinet approves the response to the consultation as set out in the report now submitted.

40 The Association of Greater Manchester Authorities – new governance arrangements: The Cabinet considered a joint report seeking approval to the proposed new governance arrangements for the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities (AGMA).

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at minute 31 and had requested Cabinet to consider that the three members appointed to the Scrutiny Pool were Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the political balance rules.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet

  • recommends the Council to approve the Operating Agreement and Constitution for the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities attached as Appendix 1 to the report now submitted and to authorise the Service Director, Borough Solicitor to execute the agreement; and
  • agrees that the three members appointed to the Scrutiny Pool are Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the political balance rules.

41 Wigan Pier Quarter project budget: The Cabinet considered a report seeking approval to the revised budget for the Wigan Pier Quarter (phase 3) Foundation EDZ regeneration project. The budget, accompanied by a rewritten business plan, would be submitted to Government Office North West (GONW) and the North West Development Agency (NWDA) for their final approval.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to deliver the identified regeneration activities within the Wigan Pier Quarter as detailed within the report.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

  • agrees to ring fence the capital receipt received for the reassignment of the lease of ‘The Way We Were’ for use in the Pier Quarter;
  • agrees that the Council’s finance introduced into the Pier Quarter budget replacing ERDF is allocated to various initiatives, so as to achieve correct balances of match funding as follows:-
    • Trencherfield Mill development £1,292,590
    • Mayors Boatyard and Pottery Road depot £29,520
    • Public realm/Public art £19,390
    • Revenue costs £28,500
    • Total £1,370,000;
  • agrees that in the above allocations, £29,520 is allocated to British Waterways for the refurbishment of one building on the Mayors Boatyard, to ensure it’s continued use as a boat chandlery;
  • approves a grant of £160,000 to John Stuart, Managing Director of Construction Design Practice, for the redevelopment of the principal building on the Mayors Boatyard; and
  • agrees to submit the revised budget for the Wigan Pier Quarter (phase 3) Foundation EDZ regeneration project to Government Office North West (GONW) and the North West Development Agency (NWDA) for their final approval.

(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust appointed by the Council).

42 Annual minimum revenue provision (MRP) statement 2007/08 and 2008/09: The Cabinet considered a report informing Members of new regulations which came into force on 31 March 2008, which required the Council to adopt a new policy on minimum revenue provision.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet recommends the Council to adopt the minimum revenue position policy statement as now submitted for 2007/08 and 2008/09.

43 Annual efficiency statement – Gershon backward look 2007/08: The Cabinet considered a report seeking approval of the provisional efficiency gains for 2007/08.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

  • approves the provisional efficiency gains for 2007/08 as now submitted; and
  • delegates to the Executive Director, Business Support Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive, the final submission of the return based on the report now submitted.

(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust appointed by the Council).

44 Corporate plan performance report 2007/08: The Cabinet considered a report informing Members of the Council’s performance against key performance indicators (PI’s) for 2007/08.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet notes the Council’s position in relation to the key performance indicators and the proposed action as detailed in the report now submitted.

(Councillor J B Baldwin declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Board Member of the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust appointed by the Council).

45 Hindley High School refurbishment of S block: The Cabinet considered a report and form CPR1 seeking approval for the acceptance of the lowest tender for the refurbishment of Block S at Hindley High School.

There were no alternative options for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

  • accepts tender No.1 (the lowest) in the sum of £239,500.00 submitted by Link Contracting Services Ltd. for the refurbishment of Block S at Hindley High School; and
  • grants budget release in the sum of £278,874.00 and an amendment to the capital programme.

46 Primary School modernisation: The Cabinet considered a report and forms CPR1 seeking approval for development works at the Wood Fold Primary School, Standish, Parklee Primary School, Atherton, St James CE Primary School, Wigan and Winstanley Community Primary School.

The report also sought Cabinet approval to delegate authority to the Director of Children and Young People’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People, to accept tenders and grant budget release for the development works as detailed within the report.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to deliver the best value options for the Schools.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

  • approves the development works at Wood Fold Primary School, Standish; Parklee Primary School, Atherton; St James CE Primary School, Wigan and Winstanley Community Primary School as set out in the report now submitted; and
  • delegates authority to the Director Children and Young People’s Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People, to accept in respect of the development works at:-
    • Wood Fold Primary School - the agreed maximum price negotiated with the partner constructor Carefoot plc within the sum of £572,000 and to grant budget release within the total sum of £700,000 and an amendment to the capital programme;
    • Parklee Primary School - the successful tender, within the sum of £1,000, 000 and to grant budget release within the total sum of £1,200,000 and an amendment to the capital programme;
    • St James CE Primary School - the successful tender, within the sum £1,262,000 and to grant budget release within the total sum of £1,500,000 and an amendment to the capital programme; and
    • Winstanley Community Primary School - the successful tender, within the sum of £1,279,000, and to grant budget release within the total sum of £1,500,000 and an amendment to the capital programme.

47 Job evaluation: The Cabinet considered a report updating Members on the job evaluation project plan and risk log. The report also informed Members of the identification of additional resources needed to respond to the job evaluation process and a proposal for a Member Committee to assist with the process.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered in view of the strategic significance for the Council.

Councillor Baldwin updated the Cabinet on the proposed industrial action on 16 and 17 July 2008 by Members of Unison in support of their pay claim.

Resolved: (1) The Cabinet:-

  • notes the progress made on the job evaluation and equal pay process;
  • approves the proposal for additional resources as outlined in table 1 of the report now submitted to be drawn from the increased balances resulting from 2007/08 underspend.

48 Retirement of Harry Webster: The Leader informed Members that Harry Webster, Acting Democratic Services Manager, would be retiring on 31 July 2008 and that this would be his last meeting of the Cabinet. Harry had served as an officer of this Council and the former Wigan County Borough Council for almost 44 years.

Resolved: The Cabinet places on record its sincere appreciation of the work undertaken by Harry Webster, Acting Democratic Services Manager, to the Cabinet and to the Council and extends to him best wishes for a long and happy retirement.