Present at the meeting:
- Councillor P R C Smith (Executive Leader)
- Councillor K Anderson (Cabinet Champion for Neighbourhood)
- Councillor J B Baldwin (Cabinet Champion for Cultural)
- Councillor G M Bretherton (Cabinet Champion for Equality and Young People)
- Councillor K Cunliffe (Cabinet Champion for Healthier Communities and Older People)
- Councillor Mrs S Loudon (Cabinet Champion for Children)
- Councillor P Prescott (Cabinet Champion for Lifestyle)
- Councillor C Ready (Cabinet Champion for Improvement)
- Councillor F B Walker (Cabinet Champion for Efficiency)
Officers in attendance
- Trish Anderson - Service Director - Strategy and Commissioning
- Christine Charnock- Jones - Principal Committee Services Officer
- Ashley Crumbley – Chief Executive of Wigan and Leigh Housing
- Kay Cullen – Trainee Committee Clerk
- Rodney Hill – Chief Executive, Wigan Leisure and Culture Trust
- Alison Hughes – Head of Organisational Development
- Sue Johnson – Deputy Chief Executive
- Kevin Lawson – Service Director, Borough Solicitor
- Peter Layland – Head of Housing and Community
- Joyce Redfearn – Chief Executive
- David Smith – Executive Director of Business Support Services
- Louise Sutton - Service Director, Personalisation and Community Services
- Ken Wardale - Service Director - Regeneration And Communities
Please note that where a resolution is in bold, then this determines that the report involved a key decision.
57 Welcome to Officers: The Executive Leader extended a warm welcome to Mrs Trish Anderson, Service Director - Strategy and Commissioning and Mrs Alison Hughes, Head of Organisational Development who were attending their first meeting of the Cabinet.
58 Apologies for absence: Councillor D T Molyneux (Cabinet Champion for Environment and Regeneration).
59 Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 13 August 2009 were approved as a correct record.
60 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 |
School Admissions Appeals Panel Member |
69 |
1 (Information relating to any individual)
2 (Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual) |
61 Wigan Borough Housing strategy: The Cabinet considered a report, which was presented by the Head of Housing and Community, Peter Layland, on Wigan Council’s Housing strategy. The strategy set out the housing contribution to the wider Borough Sustainable Communities strategy. The strategy identified a series of housing issues that would be addressed on three main themes, quantity, quality and people.
The report set out details of the alternative option. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to avoid delays in tackling wide ranging housing issues in the borough.
Members asked a number of questions and commented on private landlords and properties, which had been abandoned by the owner.
The Economy, Environment, Culture and Housing Scrutiny Committee had considered this report (minute 15 refers) and had supported the proposals.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves the Wigan Borough Housing Strategy:-
(Councillor K Anderson declared a personal and non prejudicial interest in the above item because he is a private landlord).
62 Adult Services Charging Policy: The Cabinet considered a report, which was presented by the - Service Director, Personalisation and Community Services, Louise Sutton, on a recommended change to the charging policy for non residential services. This would affect the individuals who receive personal injury awards, where part of the award was specifically made to provide for future care needs. These individuals could now pay an increased charge for services.
The report set out details of the alternative option. The reason for selecting the one recommended was that maintaining the existing charging policy could mean that individuals receiving personal injury awards, where part of the award was specifically made to provide for future care needs, paid the same level of charge as individuals without the benefit of such an award without reference being made to the award.
Members asked a number of questions and commented on the various aspects of the report.
The Adult Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee had considered this report at its meeting held (minute 18 refers) and a copy of the minute extract was appended to the report.
Resolved: The Cabinet approves the revisions to the charging policy as outlined in the report as follows:-
(1) In all cases where a personal injury award is or has been made, which has an element specifically to provide for future care needs, the income derived from that part of the award is taken into account in the financial assessment;
(2) that the income arising from the personal injury award is assessed at 100% rather than being subject to the 58% taper as is the case with other sources of income;
(3) that each case is considered on an individual basis taking into account the nature of the award for personal injury; and
(4) that the Executive Director; Health and Well Being be requested to liaise with the media and communications team regarding the consequences of the revision to the charging policy.
63 Decision making model for primary schools 2009: The Cabinet considered a report, which was presented by the Service Director - Strategy and Commissioning, Trish Anderson and which informed Members of the results of the assessment of primary schools against the model for 2009 and requested the approval of necessary amendments to the model.
The report set out details of the alternative option. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to identify the schools within the report as being within the category of the decision making model ‘urgent review of provision required.’
Members asked a number of questions and commented on the various aspects of the report.
Resolved: That Cabinet:-
(1) accepts the report; and
(2) requests the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services to:-
- continue the action agreed within the Primary Strategy for Change for School A;
- continue to monitor pupil numbers at school B closely; and
- amend the decision making model for future years to take into account the new Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) floor targets.
64 An introduction to the Organisational Development Strategy: The Cabinet considered a report, which was presented by the Head of Organisational Development, Alison Hughes and which sought approval for a new organisational development (OD) Strategy for Wigan Council.
The Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee had considered a report at its meeting (minute 9 refers) and had supported the proposals.
The report set out details of the alternative option. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to ensure that the organisation remains ‘fit for purpose’ in the modern world by having an effective organisational development (OD) strategy.
Members asked a number of questions and commented on training, culture and in particular the diagnostic tool kit. Members were keen to ensure that there were measureable targets to assess the effectiveness of the strategy.
Resolved: That Cabinet approves the strategy and suggests that the Cabinet and the Overview and Scrutiny Co-ordinating Committee receive regular updates on the progress in delivering the strategy.
65 Children’s Social Care Revenue Budget Monitoring as at 31 July 2009: The Cabinet considered a report, which was presented by the Executive Director of Business Support Services, David Smith, on the budget monitoring position for Children’s Social Care Services as at 31 July 2009.
The Service Director - Strategy and Commissioning re-assured the Cabinet of the steps being taken within the fundamental review and concern was expressed that there had been an increase of 46% of children who had been accommodated, together with a shift in the age range of the children.
The report set out details of the alternative option. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to alert Members to potential problems at an early stage by use of monthly monitoring.
Members asked a number of questions and commented on the costs involved. The Executive Leader referred to a piece of work previously undertaken by the Association of Manchester Authorities (AGMA) in this area.
Resolved: That Cabinet:-
(1) notes the report and the robust budget monitoring proposal; and
(2) requests the Executive Director of Business Support Services to prepare a report on the costings involved.
66 Comprehensive Area Agreement (CAA)(Minute 264 – April 2009 refers): The Deputy Chief Executive, Sue Johnson, presented a verbal report and updated the Cabinet on the position in relation to the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA), which was a new approach that examined how effectively local public services were performing and improving the lives of the people they serve.
She reminded Members that the CAA was made up of two elements and these were, area assessment and organisational assessment. The Audit Commission had given early indications that in relation to the area assessment and the Use of Resources element of the organisational assessment.
The CAA process would be that the Council would receive the full narrative and score in October 2009 with the final scores being published on 10 December 2009.
Members asked various questions on the presentation and gave their views.
Resolved: The Cabinet notes the report and awaits further reports.
67 Councillor Services Group Minutes – 17 June 2009: The minutes of the meeting of the Councillor Services Group from the 17 June 2009 were submitted for information.
The Chairman of the Councillor Services Group (Councillor G M Bretherton) referred to minute 4 (Car Insurance requirements for Elected Members), which emphasised the use of business use car insurance. The Cabinet Champion for culture (Councillor J B Baldwin) referred to the insurance cover for Elected Members using public transport.
Concern was expressed that the Cabinet had only recently received the minutes of the meeting which had taken place in June 2009.
Resolved: The Cabinet:-
(1) notes the minutes now submitted;
(2) requests that the Officers submit the minutes (in draft form if necessary) on a more frequent basis to Cabinet.
(3) requests that the Executive Director of Business Support Services to check the insurance cover for Elected Members travelling on public transport and to report back to Members accordingly.
68 Feedback from Scrutiny Committees (if any): There was none.
69 School Admissions Appeals Panel Member: The Cabinet considered a report, which was presented by the Service Director – Borough Solicitor, Kevin Lawson, requesting Cabinet to appoint School Admission Appeals Panel Members as referred to within appendices 1 and 2 of the report.
The report set out details of the alternative option. The reason for selecting the one recommended was to have a pool of properly appointed Panel Members to serve on the relevant Appeals Panels.
Members asked a number of questions and commented on the various aspects of the report.
Resolved: That Cabinet agrees to appoint:-
(1) the persons identified in Appendix 1 as Lay Members for Admission Appeals Panels in accordance with the Education (Admissions Appeals Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2002; and
(2) the persons identified in Appendix 2 as Non Lay Members for Admission Appeals Panels in accordance with the Education (Admissions Appeals Arrangements) (England) Regulations 2002.
70 GCSE results 2009: The Executive Leader agreed to this additional item being taken as urgent, the special circumstance being the need to inform Members at the earliest opportunity.
The Cabinet Champion for Children (Councillor Mrs S Loudon) reported that the GCSE results 2009 showed an increase in 5 A* – C grade passes (including English and Maths) from 46% in 2008 to almost 50% in the Authority’s schools: and an increase in overall 5 A*-C passes from 66.4% in 2008 to 70.4% in 2009. She also reported that she had been present at Rose Bridge High School, Ince when the children were collecting their results. The Service Director - Strategy and Commissioning reported that the three percentage points increase could be above the national average increase.
Resolved: The Cabinet accepts the report and requests the Executive Director of Children and Young People’s Services to pass on to the staff and pupils its congratulations on their significant achievement.
