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Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Wednesday, 14th March, 2012 6.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, B79 7BZ. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  01827 709264

Items
No. Item

135.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

None

136.

Corporate Update

Title:    Health Reform

 

            Presenter:      Rob Barnes

Minutes:

The Deputy Director for Housing and Health and the District Public Health Lead for Primary Care Trust gave a presentation on Health Reform.

137.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 43 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor J Garner)

138.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (personal and/or personal and prejudicial) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

 

When Members are declaring a personal interest or personal and prejudicial interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. 

 

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

139.

Matters Referred to the Cabinet in Accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules pdf icon PDF 15 KB

(Update from the Chair of Corporate Scrutiny following the meetings of 08.02.12 and 01.03.12)

Minutes:

The Chair of Corporate Scrutiny proposed five recommendations following the meetings of 8 February 2012 and 1 March 2012:

 

(1)

Cabinet be asked to increase the budget allocation to Arts and Small Grants to bring them in line with Sports Grants over time. Small Grants to be increased by £1300pa and Arts Grants be increased by £700pa over 10 years (total £2000pa over 10 years), and

 

(2)

Cabinet be asked to add a condition to the Sports Grants terms and conditions to ask Talented Individuals to contribute in the future if they turn professional by either repaying their grant or giving their time to help future talented individuals,

 

 

(3)

Cabinet be asked to actively support the establishment of a Local Education Board and gain a place upon it as a Representative,

 

 

(4)

Cabinet be asked to look at the quotation process for Conservation Grants and how they can maximise local content in locally funded procurement, and;

 

(5)

Cabinet to be asked to look at introducing lasting visual signage, so that Tamworth Borough Council can demonstrate its contribution to the local community through its Conservation Grants scheme.

 

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:

 

1

Cllr Claymore and Cllr Pritchard (Portfolio Holder and Cabinet (Grants) Sub Committee chair) go and analyse options.

 

2

Cllr Claymore and Cllr Pritchard (Portfolio Holder and Cabinet (Grants) Sub Committee chair) go and analyse options.

 

3

Cabinet agree in principle and ask the Chair to take this to the TSP, as they are already prioritising said subject. Tony Goodwin to submit a paper to the TSP.

 

4

 Rob Mitchell is charged with looking at how we can weight scoring on grants to meet the scrutiny request.

 

5

Cabinet agrees to look at it as requested. D Cook to champion

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

140.

Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme - Virement of Budgets pdf icon PDF 25 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for the Quality of Life)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Quality of Life setting out the outturn forecast for the housing capital programmes and seeking approval for virements within the budget to address various areas of under and over spends resulting from changes in the programme to meet demands and identifying an overall overspend across the whole capital programme, caused in the main by having to undertake essential works with a higher than anticipated asbestos removal costs predominately due to changes in legislation in year was considered.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:

 

1

The anticipated housing capital programme outturn be noted, and;

 

2

The following virements be approved:

Increase Bathroom budget by £29,380

Reduce Electrical Budget by £105,980

Increase Kitchen Budget by £154,130

Reduce Roofing Budget by £6,690

Reduce Structural Budget by £27,000

Reduce Lift Installation Budget by £22,120

Reduce External Works Budget by £3,900

Increase Disabled Adaptations Budget by £72,580

Increase Insulation Budget by £3,630

 

3

The anticipated overspend of £94,030 across the whole budget be noted.

(Moved by Councillor M Oates and seconded by Councillor J Garner)

 

141.

High Rise Fire Safety pdf icon PDF 48 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for the Quality of Life)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Report of the Portfolio Holder Quality of Life setting out the Council’s response to the latest guidance commissioned by the DCLG ensuring fire safety in high-rise and flatted accommodation was considered.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:

 

1

The actions taken so far to ensure the continued fire safety for residents of the high-rise and other flatted accommodation as set out in the action plan be supported, and;

 

2

Un-planned expenditure of approximately £135,000 has been met from existing HRA repairs budget, and that the financial fore-cast at this stage is still predicting an under spend on the repairs budget be noted.

 

3

The use of contingency (up to a maximum of £100,000) to meet this unplanned expenditure should there be a risk of an over spend as the final accounts are prepared, and full and final invoices are received at year end for the required works be approved.

(Moved by Councillor M Oates and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

142.

Housing Revenue Account Business Plan pdf icon PDF 36 KB

(The Report of the Portfolio Holder for the Quality of Life)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Report of the Portfolio Holder Quality of Life seeking approval for the HRA Business Plan was considered.

 

RESOLVED:

That the HRA Business Plan be approved.

(Moved by Councillor M Oates and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

143.

Development of the Council's Approach to Private Sector Housing pdf icon PDF 30 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for the Quality of Life)

Minutes:

The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Quality of Life seeking to approve changes in the way Tamworth Borough Council engages with and intervenes in the private sector to provide a wider choice of suitable housing options for those wishing to reside in the Tamworth area was considered.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:

 

1

The extension of the landlord accreditation scheme to include managing agents be approved, and;

 

2

The development of the advice and assistance service provided to empty home owners to include the provision of lists of approved landlords, managing agents and quality tradesmen be approved, and;

 

3

In principle the development of a social lettings agency to enable the Council to increase access to private sector accommodation be approved and that a further report be submitted during 2012/2013 for final approval for the development of a social lettings agency.

(Moved by Councillor M Oates and seconded by Councillor M Greatorex)

 

144.

Think Local 4 Business: proposal to incorporate into a company limited by shares and for the Council to become a Founder Shareholder pdf icon PDF 314 KB

(The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Enterprise)

Minutes:

The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Enterprise seeking to obtain approval to proceed with the incorporation of Think Local 4 Business and to transfer the current assets of the project which are currently under the legal ‘guardianship’ of Tamworth Borough Council over to Think Local Limited, the proposed vehicle for the project’s incorporation, and to also obtain approval for Tamworth Borough Council to become a Founder Shareholder in Think Local Limited and to take up the option of a seat on the company’s Board of Directors was considered.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That:

 

1

The incorporation and asset transfer (including one-off grant funding of £10,000) to the new company as soon as reasonably practicable be approved, and;

 

2

The Council to become a Founder Shareholder in the company and to take up a seat on the company’s Board of Directors be approved.

(Moved by Councillor M Oates and seconded by Councillor M Greatorex)

 

EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC

RESOLVED:   That members of the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that the business involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 1 and 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

145.

Review of Shop Mobility Service

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services & Assets)

Minutes:

The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services and Assets advising Cabinet of the outcome of the formal review undertaken regarding the external provision of the Shopmobility Service, and seeking approval for the recommendations outlined in the report was considered.

 

RESOLVED:

 

 

That the recommendations as contained in the report be approved.

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)