Cabinet - Thursday 21 August 2008

Present at the meeting:

• Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion for Environment and Regeneration) (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 P Prescott (Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change)
• Councillor C Ready (Cabinet Champion for Improvement)

71 Apologies for absence: Councillor P R C Smith (Executive Leader) and Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People).

72 Welcome to Mrs Kate Ardern: The Deputy Leader on behalf of Cabinet welcomed Mrs Kate Ardern, Director of Public Health, Ashton, Leigh and Wigan Primary Care Trust to the meeting.

73 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 7 August 2008 were approved as a correct record.

74 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:-

75 Wigan’s homelessness strategy 2008/13: The Cabinet considered a report that sought Members approval to adopt and implement the Council’s new homelessness strategy, which had been developed through a significant consultation process to address homelessness issues in Wigan. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report (minute 51 refers).

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet approves the strategy now submitted.

(Councillor T W Halliwell declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Member of the Wigan and Leigh Homes Board appointed by the Council).

76 Revenue budget monitoring and treasury management report – quarter 1: The Cabinet considered a report on progress of budgets against spending to the end of June 2008, together with a projected position to the year end. The report also advised Members of the treasury management arrangements for the authority.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

• notes the report and the action being taken to contain spending within the agreed budgets where possible;
• endorses the deletion of Alliance and Leicester PLC from the authority’s lending list;
• endorses the inclusion of Leeds Building Society to the authority’s lending list; and
• agrees to increase the maximum lending limit per clearing bank to £20 million.

77 Private streets strategy – access to Pennington Park, Leigh: The Cabinet considered a report, that sought Members’ approval to a proposed assessment criteria as part of the Council’s private streets strategy. The proposal would assist the Council in the development of a prioritised programme of reconstruction works that would support the strategic priorities of the Council.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered.

A question had been received from Councillor N D Ash relating to construction works at Millingford Road, Ashton in Makerfield and the Director of Environmental Services agreed to respond to the Member concerned.

Resolved: The Cabinet:

• endorses the proposed assessment criteria to assist in the prioritisation of private street works;
• considers the outcomes of the application of the prioritisation criteria and supports the prioritisation of Pennington Avenue, Leigh;
• authorises the Director of Environmental Services and the Service Director – Borough Solicitor to enter into discussions with residents to ascertain the feasibility of implementing options c to e at paragraph 2.1 of the report;
• considers the most appropriate mechanism to fund a maximum sum of £132,000 for the works to be completed upon the conclusion of satisfactory discussions with the residents;
• authorises the Directors of Environmental and Business Support Services to investigate other funding sources as a potential contribution to this scheme; and
• agrees that the three other roads, which score 80 marks be prioritised for investment, if alternative sources of funding become available.

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

78 Questions by the public at meetings of the Council (minute 52 refers): The Cabinet considered a report which confirmed Cabinet’s view on questions by the public at meetings of the Council.

Resolved: The Cabinet re affirms its decision taken at minute 52, that:-

• the Council be recommended not to approve the motion submitted by Councillor G Wilkes as amended by Councillor P A Tushingham; and
• the initiatives to enhance the engagement with the community now outlined be developed and considered further by the Councillor Services Group.

79 Free Swimming for all proposal: The Cabinet considered a report, which sought approval to apply for Central Government funding to part fund the provision of free swimming for all sections of the population of Wigan for 2009/10 and 2010/11. The additional funding to be made available by the Primary Care Trust.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet approves the report now submitted.

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

80 Tyldesley Town Centre conservation area appraisal: The Cabinet considered a report that informed Members of the results of a consultation of Tyldesley Town Centre conservation area appraisal and management proposal. The consultation had resulted in two proposed boundary changes to the existing conservation area, in order to promote the historic development of the town and to highlight its varied industrial heritage. The Planning Committee had considered the report (minute 26 refers).

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

• adopts the revised Tyldesley Town Centre conservation area appraisal and management proposal; and
• approves the extensions of the Tyldesley Town Centre conservation area under Section 69 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990.

81 Capital programme 2008/09 – first review: The Cabinet considered a report that provided Members with a summary of spending and resources for 2008/09 to 2010/11 following the first review of the capital programme.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet notes the report.

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

82 Medium term financial plan 2009/12: The Cabinet considered a report that advised Members of the financial projections for the Council over the next three years, with specific focus on the budget and Council Tax prospects for 2009/10.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was that a substantial increase in Council Tax could result in a cap being imposed.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

• notes the forecast, the potential costs surrounding the risk areas identified; and
• considers the process for considering growth and reductions

(Councillors J B Baldwin, K Cunliffe and D T Molyneux declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because they are Board Members of Wigan Metropolitan Development Company. The Chief Executive declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because she is a Director of the Wigan Metropolitan Development Company).

83 Budget principles and timetable for 2009/10 budget: The Cabinet considered a report that informed Members of the strategic budget timetable. The report also requested Members to consider revised budget principles in line with the budget strategy.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was that an approved timetable underpinned the effective management of the statutory budget process.

Resolved: The Cabinet agrees the principles and the timetable for the 2009/10 budget process.

84 Proposed revision of delegated authority in respect of property functions and granting of leases of premises at less than market rent: The Cabinet considered a report that sought Members approval to the letting of certain properties for community use. The report also sought approval for the variation of the existing delegated authority for the granting of leases for such uses in the future.

The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered. The reason for selecting the one recommended was that the proposed lease terms represented the concessionary rental that should be offered in order to implement the Council’s policies, as well as to promote social wellbeing of the area concerned.

Resolved: The Cabinet:-

• agrees to grant a lease of 49-51 Spa Road, Atherton to the Governors of Hesketh Fletcher CE High School for a term of 5 years (with an option to extend to a 25 year term if required to secure external funding) on a full repairing basis, at a nominal rent of £10 per annum;
• agrees to grant a further 5 year lease of 6-8 Mount Street, Leigh to The Trustees of the Plank Lane Action Now Klub, on a full repairing basis, at a nominal rent of £10 per annum;
• agrees to grant Step Forward (NW) Limited a 5 year internal repairing lease (in line with commercial lettings of shops on the parade) of 93 and 99 Ridyard Street, Wigan at a nominal rent of £10 per annum, subject to planning permission being obtained for the proposed use. The lease will be excluded from the security of tenure provisions of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 and will contain a clause enabling vacant possession to be secured by giving 6 months notice; and
• delegate to the Executive Director - Business Support Services (exercisable also by the Head of Property Services) power to grant, extend, or renew leases of land and premises for initial terms of up to 7 years (extendable up to a maximum of 25 years if in support of external funding in connection with the use of the property) to charitable organisations for community uses/charitable functions at less than market rent, providing that the rent concession is less than £25,000 per annum, or such lesser figure as Members may wish to authorise.

85 Partnership agreement between Wigan Council and the 5 Boroughs Partnership Trust: The Cabinet considered a report that informed Members of a partnership that was to be established between the Council and the 5 Boroughs Partnership Trust.

The aim of the partnership would be to develop integrated management arrangements for local mental health services for adults of working age and older people with mental health problems.

There were no alternative options available for consideration.

Resolved: The Cabinet approves the signing of the partnership agreement.

(Councillor K Cunliffe declared a prejudicial interest in the above item because his wife is employed by the Five Boroughs Partnership and left the meeting during discussion thereon).

86 Reference form Committee: The Chief Executive reported that, at its last meeting (Minute 60 refers), the Overview and Scrutiny Committee made the following decision:-

Resolved: The decision taken at Minute 60 be referred back to the Cabinet with the following recommendations:-

• The Cabinet, or the Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change, be requested to visit the site, together with Ward Members and relevant Officers, prior to making its final decision;
• The Cabinet then consider investigation of further options, including doing nothing;
• The Director of Environmental Services be requested to consider how the development has been assessed against the Planning Policy Guidance 6 - Town Centres and Retail Developments (PPG6) guidance.
• The Members of the Overview and Scrutiny be informed of the outcome.

Resolved: The Cabinet:

• agrees that the Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change, be requested to visit the site, together with Ward Members and relevant Officers, prior to making its final decision; and
• agrees that a copy of the DVD, previously shown to Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee be shown to a future Cabinet meeting when this item is debated further.

87 GCSE results 2008: The Chairman of the meeting agreed to this additional item being taken as urgent, the special circumstance being the need to inform Members at the earliest opportunity. The Director of Children and Young People’s Services reported that the GCSE results 2008 showed an increase of 6% for 5 A – C grade passes from 60% to 66% 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.