Present at the meeting:
- Councillor P R C Smith (Executive Leader) (In the Chair)
- Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion for Environment and Regeneration)
- Councillor K Anderson (Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhood)
- Councillor J B Baldwin (Cabinet Champion for Cultural)
- Councillor T W Halliwell (Cabinet Champion for Equality)
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Cabinet Champion for Children and Young People)
- Councillor P Prescott (Cabinet Champion for Organisational Change)
- Councillor C Ready (Cabinet Champion for Improvement)
131 Apologies for absence: Councillor K Cunliffe (Cabinet Champion for Healthier Communities and Older People and Councillor J Hilton (Cabinet Champion for Lifestyle).
132 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16 October 2008 were approved as a correct record, subject to the deletion of the following resolution in minute 124:-
- ‘Requests the Social Inclusion Policy Officer to consider the wording of the report.’
133 Exclusion of the public - section 100a Local Government Act 1972: Resolved: The public is excluded from the meeting when the Cabinet discusses the following item for the reason 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 |
Wigan Joint Service Centre (JSC), draft final business case and financial costs |
146 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) |
| E2 |
Belong Wigan – Care Home Fees |
147 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) |
| E3 |
Shevington Z bends carriageway widening – CPO |
148 |
3 (Information about the financial or business affairs of any person or organisation, including the council) |
134 References from Council: The Chief Executive reported that at its last meeting, (minute 54 refers), the Council had referred the following motions to Cabinet for consideration and report back:- Motion 1 Council notes the widespread litter associated with takeaway outlets in Wigan Borough which:-
- reinforces negative images of the borough;
- spills over into adjacent streets, blighting the lives of local residents ; and
- encourages the spread of vermin (notably rates) and increases risks to public health.
Council believes that a new initiative is needed to address this problem including:
(a) Positive steps to reduce the amounts of waste generated by these outlets, including a 'Green' standard for limiting wrapping materials and promoting the installation and use of new on site recycling facilities;
(b) A rolling programme of street action by Environmental Health and Neighbourhood Services to visit fast food outlets and promote green practices, improved bin storage and discouraging dumping of trade waste; and
(c) Education and enforcement targeting young people in schools and colleges discouraging litter, including consideration of targeted late night enforcement action against people dropping litter outside or near fast food outlets. (submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley)
Motion 2 This Council notes with deep concern that violence against women causes more deaths and disability worldwide amongst women aged 15 - 44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war.
This Council believes that Wigan Council and its partners should consider women's safety as part of their routine risk assessment.
Some policies contain an obvious potential impact such as the physical environment; street lighting, planting along paths, the use and location of CCTV cameras; house building and provision, estate design and the routing of pedestrian walkways; the availability of public transport, particular for women who need to travel after dark.
However, this Council believes that many less obvious policies would also benefit from this inclusion in their risk assessment.
(For the avoidance of doubt, this Council recognises that men can also be the victims of violence. This Council further believes that measures which will help to keep women safe will also keep men safe and so does not believe this as a divisive motion).
This Council reconfirms its commitment to the safety of women and calls upon Wigan Council and its partners to ensure that all that all policy makers consider the impact of their decisions on women's safety. (submitted by Councillor R M Bleakley)
The Cabinet considered the motions and were of the opinion that further information was necessary in respect of each motion.
Resolved: The Cabinet agrees:-
- to receive a further report in respect of motion 1 on initiatives currently being pursued; and
- to receive a further report in respect of motion 2 on the work already done by the Council in respect of physical violence and looking at any outstanding areas of concern.
135 Scrutiny Select Committee 2 – Reputation Management: The Cabinet considered a report and received a presentation from the Overview and Scrutiny Select Committee No 2 (Reputation Management) on its findings and recommendations. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee (minute 73 refers) had approved the report and referred it to Cabinet for detailed consideration.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Members asked questions, to which the Policy Officer responded. Comments were raised on the success of ‘Borough Life’ and the possibility of additional editions and the re branding of the Council’s services.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- accepts the report now submitted and congratulates the Select Committee and the Officers on such a comprehensive report;
- endorses the recommendations set out within the report and the need to respond adequately to them; and
- congratulates the Chief Executive on being voted into the top 50 most influential people in the Country.
136 De-registration of the Gerard Unit as a Pupil Referral Unit: The Cabinet considered a report, which informed members of the de-registration of the Gerard Unit (pregnant schoolgirls and young mums) as a pupil referral unit.
Members were advised that the proposal was to de-register the Gerard Unit as soon as appropriate after consultation had taken place and if possible by January 2009, with the aim of bringing it once more under the umbrella of services provided by Alternative and Complementary Education (ACE), but still operating within the Pupil Referral Service (PRS).
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
The report was considered by the Children and Young People’s Panel (minute 35 refers).
Resolved: The Cabinet approves that from January 2009, the Gerard Unit is de-registered as a Pupil Referral Unit with the Department for Children Schools and Families (DCSF).
137 Draft municipal solid waste management strategy: The Cabinet considered a report, which advised Members on the updated Council’s Municipal Solid Waste Management Strategy (MSWMS), which brought the 2006 strategy in line with the revised Waste Management Strategy for England and Wales 2007 (WSE2007)
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- approves the draft MSWMS which will be issued for consultation; and
- agrees that the strategy to be brought back to Cabinet after the consultation with recommendations for amendment, if required and approval for adoption.
138 Review of Provision and Use of Resourced Schools: Consultation on the provision of resourced places at Tyldesley Garrett Hall Primary School: The Cabinet considered a report, which informed Members of the outcome of Stage 1 consultation on the proposal to provide resourced places at Tyldesley Garrett Hall Primary School for up to 10 children with special education needs.
The proposal included children who may require observation and assessment and those who required support for specific speech and language difficulties and/or low severity Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Members were advised that Implementation of the proposal would be with effect from 1 September 2009.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
The report was considered by the Children and Young People’s Panel (minute 34 refers).
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the content of this report; and
- requests the Director of Children and Young People’s Services to proceed to the next stage of the statutory consultation.
139 St Helens Local Development Framework core strategy: The Cabinet considered a report, which advised Members that the Council had been recommended to submit a representation to St Helens Council on the contents of the emerging core strategy approach for the development of an intermodal freight terminal at ‘Parkside’ to the east of Newton-le-Willows.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves the report now submitted, as the basis for Wigan Council’s representations on St Helen’s emerging Core Strategy.
140 Bickershaw Country Park – progress update: The Cabinet considered a report, which updated Members on the work that had been undertaken to re-name and re-brand Bickershaw Country Park. The report also sought Cabinet’s agreement as to a new name for the Country Park.
The Executive Leader suggested that the logo could be used to represent the Country Park.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the work that has been undertaken to promote a new name for the Country Park; and
- agrees on the adoption of ‘The Rushes’ as the preferred name.
141 Local employment partnerships: The Cabinet considered a joint report, which sought Members support in helping potential recruits, locally, to move from welfare to sustained employment within the Council in partnership with Job Centre Plus.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
The Chief Executive referred to an employers event to be held in Leigh on 21 November 2008.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves the initiative to partner with Job Centre Plus in maximising opportunities for locally unemployed people.
142 Capital Programme 2008/09 – 2 review: The Cabinet considered a report, which provided Members with a summary of spending and resources for the 2008/09 to 2011/12 following the second review of the capital programme.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the second review and the decline in the net resource position on the overall programme; and
- awaits a report on the ways to deal with the current imbalance as part of the budget setting process for 2009/10.
(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).
143 Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA): The Cabinet considered a report, which informed Members of the Direction of Travel Self Assessment 2008, which was produced by the Council and submitted to the Audit Commission on the 8 October 2008.
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).
144 Annual Review of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust (2007-2008) - summary of Delivery Plan (2008-2009): The Cabinet considered a joint report that summarised the performance of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust in 2007/08 and its plans for action 2008/09. The report also provides a progress report on the future commissioning arrangements.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
Members asked questions, to which the Director of Adult Services as client officer responded. Comments were raised in relation to the free services provided by the Council that were at a cost to the Council, together with litter picking and grass cutting issues.
Councillor J B Baldwin wished to place on record the appreciation to the Board of Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust for their commitment over the last five years.
The report was considered by the Regeneration Panel (minute 32 refers).
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust’s performance in 2007/08 and the priorities for action for 2008/09; and
- requests the Executive Director Business and Service Development within the Trust to take on board the comments of the Cabinet.
(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).
145 Revenue budget monitoring and treasury management report – quarter 2: The Cabinet considered a report that informed Members on the progress of budgets against spending to the end of September 2008. The report also provided a review of the operation and exercise of delegated treasury management powers. In addition the report also reviewed the credit rating of the organisations with which the Authority could place its surplus funds.
There were no alternative options available for consideration.
The Executive Leader reported that the Leigh Sports Village had been handed over the previous week, however there was still issues relating to raining in at one corner of the ground and that these issues would have to be eradicated prior to the issuing of the grounds safety certificate.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes the report and the action being taken to contain spending within the agreed budgets where possible;
- endorses the deletion of Britannia, Principality and West Bromwich Building Societies from the Authority’s lending list;
- agrees the reintroduction of monthly monitoring for the Children and Young People’s Services budget; and
- agrees that the issue of raining in defects at the Leigh Sports Village be pursued with some urgency in view of planned fixtures.
(Councillor P R C Smith declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is a Director of the Manchester Airport company appointed by the Council. Councillor T W Halliwell declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in this item because he is employed by Wigan and Leigh College).
146 Wigan Joint Service Centre - draft final business case and financial costs: The Cabinet considered a report, that informed Members of the progress on the Joint Service Centre (JSC) PFI project since the appointment of the preferred bidder, Access Consortium, in February 2008. The report outlined the key commercial considerations and decisions required to achieve financial close by December 2008. The report also sought delegated authority to allow officers to bring the project to financial close.
The report set out details of the alternative options to be considered.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
- notes progress on procuring the Joint Service Centre (JSC);
- delegates authority to the Service Director, Business Transformation, Service Director, Borough Solicitor and Service Director, Corporate Services to agree the final terms and enter the project agreement and all other related documentation to bring the Joint Service Centre project to financial close within the financial limits described in the report;
- agrees to receive further reports at future meetings; and
- congratulates the Officers on a comprehensive 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).
147 Care Home fees: The Cabinet considered a report, that advised Members on the potential requirement to pay additional fees for residents at a CLS home when the facility re opens in January 2009.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
Resolved: The Cabinet:
- approves the payment of additional transitional fee of £100 per resident on top of Wigan’s standard care home rate for existing residents who transfer to the new home; and
- agrees that for any new residents wanting to be placed in the new home, then the Council will only pay its standard fee rate.
(Councillor P Prescott declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the above item because his wife is employed at a care home and left the meeting thereon).
148 Shevington Z bends carriageway widening – CPO: The Cabinet considered a report, that sought approval to make a Compulsory Purchase Order in respect of the land and new rights required to construct the carriageway widening, ground stabilisation along with the incorporation of a shared footway/cycleway at Wigan Road (B5375) Shevington.
The report set out details of the alternative option to be considered.
Resolved: The Cabinet agrees that the Executive Director of Environmental Services:-
- Take all necessary steps are taken to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of a Compulsory Purchase Order under the provisions of Sections 239, 240, 250 and 260 of the Highways Act 1980 and the Acquisition of Land Act 1981 as amended and all other powers thereby enabling it in respect of the land, including working areas, shown edged red on the plan attached to this report, and including the publication and service of all notices and the presentation of the Council’s case at any Public Inquiry.
- acquire interests in land and new rights within the Compulsory Purchase Order area either by agreement or compulsorily; and
- authorise negotiations with land owners setting out the terms for the acquisition of all necessary interests and rights to continue.
149 Credit crunch: The Chairman agreed to this additional item being taken as urgent, the special circumstance being the need to obviate any delay. The Executive Leader informed the Cabinet that he had received three presentations on the issues surrounding the credit crunch and suggested that a report for Cabinet would be useful in the current climate.
Resolved: The Cabinet requests the Service Director – Customer Transformation to prepare a full report for a future meeting, on the affects of the credit crunch.
Leader
