Cabinet - 29.10.02

CAERPHILLY COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCIL

CABINET

MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD AT THE COUNCIL OFFICES, TREDOMEN ON TUESDAY, 29TH OCTOBER 2002 AT 2.00 P.M.

PRESENT:

Councillor L.G. Whittle - Chairman

Councillors:

P.J. Bevan (Education and Leisure), R. Gough (Objective 1 and Regeneration), Mrs. K. Gwynne (Best Value and Business Manager,) D. Jones (Environmental and Housing), C.P. Mann (Finance & Resources), Mrs. J.A. Pritchard (Social Services), J. Taylor (Transportation and Planning)

Together with:

M. Davies (Chief Executive), S. Rosser (Deputy Chief Executive), D. Hopkins (Director of Education and Leisure), R. Webb (Director of the Environment), J. Howsam (Director of Social Services)

Also present:

C. Burns (Head of Policy and Central Services), A. Isaac (Head of Corporate Finance), B. Hopkins (Head of Planning and Strategy), D. Williams (Chief Engineer), G. Cogswell (Gwent Consultancy), N. Liversuch (Principal Planning Officer), S. Pugh (Public Relations), H. Davies (Media Assistant) and D. Phillips (Committee Services Officer)

APOLOGY

An apology for absence was received from Councillor A.J. Pritchard who was representing the Chairman at the funeral of Mr Jack Dance, a former Islwyn Borough councillor.

1481 MINUTES

RESOLVED that subject to the time in minute number 1470 being amended to read “8.00pm” the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday, 15th October 2002 (minute nos 1470 on page nos 592/598) be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

CONGRATULATIONS

The Chairman reported that a local teacher, Mr Martin Williams from St Cenydd School had been successful in winning the national ‘Teacher of the Year’ award. It was agreed that a letter of congratulations be sent to him.

599 Cabinet - 29.10.02

MATTERS ON WHICH EXECUTIVE DECISIONS WERE REQUIRED

1482 BASIC NEED ACCOMMODATION

The purpose of the report was to determine the allocation of Basic Need capital monies for 2003/04.The Directorate had received bids from schools in excess of £2.5million which were analysed into 8 categories and outlined in the appendix to the report.

It was noted that more exact figures would be provided when the contracts are put out to tender.

RESOLVED that for the reasons contained in the report:-

(i) the following categories of Basic Need Capital Monies be approved: Category 1 - £155k Category 2 - £100k Category 3 - £55k Category 4-7 - To be considered as bids to the National Assembly (SBIG) for 2003/04; Category 8 - £155k

(ii) where possible these works be completed and finance committed during the financial year 2002/2003;

(iii) once the capital programme has been determined and the precise allocation for Basic Need has been resolved, additional schemes be considered.

1483 SPORTSLOT APPLICATIONS - SENGHENYDD/ABERTRIDWR & NEW TREDEGAR

The report informed members of the progress to date of the Senghenydd/Abertridwr and New Tredegar leisure schemes and sought approval for match funding for the Senghenydd/Abertridwr Leisure Scheme.

Sportlot agreed in October 2001 to a part 1 application for the development of facilities at Senghenydd/Abertridwr and New Tredegar. The Council in support of the two Sports Associations progressed the two schemes to the point of applying for Part 2 approval.

The New Tredegar application included a bowls pavilion, six team changing room, multi use games area and new layout of pitches with improved drainage.

The Senghenydd/Abertridwr application included floodlight multi use games area, new football pitch, improved drainage to the cricket pitch, a bowls pavilion and four team changing room.

The New Tredegar scheme is being funded through the Sportlot Social Inclusion Fund and no capital funding is required to match the scheme.

In respect of the Senghenydd/Abertridwr scheme only part funding is being provided through the Sportlot fund. A successful bid had been made to the Community Trust Fund and an application has also been submitted to the new Key Fund for Community Planning.

It is proposed therefore that a grant of £45k be set aside for the scheme from the Lifelong Learning and Leisure Capital Budget for 2003/2004 with the figure reduced if the bid is successful.

RESOLVED that for the reasons contained in the report:-

(i) the contents of the report be noted;

(ii) a grant of £45k be made towards the Senghenydd/Abertridwr scheme, the final amount subject to the outcome of the funding bid to be agreed;

600 Cabinet - 29.10.02

(iii) a further report be presented to Cabinet and Council in respect of the outcomes of the tenders and the Part 2 bids to Sportlot.

1484 DEVELOPMENT OF CHANGING ROOMS, PARK/YSTRAD MYNACH COLLEGE

The report informed members of the present changing room problems at Ystrad Mynach Park and sought approval to fund new/refurbished changing rooms on the Ystrad Mynach College site (old Lewis School building).

Discussions have been held with the Principal of Ystrad Mynach College on the possibility of joint use agreement for the changing rooms and playing fields .The college are prepared to refurbish their existing provision and totally refurbish the former canteen area for changing rooms. The agreement would allow the public to use the changing rooms provided by the college and the college would in turn benefit from the increased use of the playing fields.

It was agreed that a joint use agreement with the college should achieve a much needed permanent community facility at a fraction of the cost of developing separate duplicated provision.

RESOLVED that for the reasons contained in the report:-

(i) the contents of the report be noted;

(ii) a joint use agreement be entered into with the college (the final details to be agreed);

(iii) funding of £60-£70k be granted to the college upon completion of the sale subject to the usual financial controls and regulations.

1485 CORPORATE PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

The report outlined a finalised list of proposed “high level” corporate indicators, as part of the process following the Peer Review and as a key element in the authority’s overall Performance Management Framework.

By establishing a clear set of “top level “ indicators, the Cabinet and Corporate Management Team will be clearly signaling the importance of this type of effective management throughout the authority and establishing a method and standard for others to follow .A list of the corporate indicators was attached as appendix 2 to the report.

RESOLVED that for the reasons contained in the report the list of Corporate Indicators be endorsed and the results be presented quarterly in the manner outlined in the report.

1486 FURTHER REPORT ON REVIEW OF TEACHING LANGUAGES AND LITERACY IN PRIMARY SCHOOLS

It was noted that the report had been withdrawn pending further information.

601 Cabinet - 29.10.02

1487 POST 16 DEVELOPMENTS - PARTNERSHIP

The report outlined to members potential developments in post-16 education (other than in schools) and also the proposal for a college presence at Rhymney.

Officers and members of the authority have been meeting with the Principal of Ystrad College in relation to significantly enlarging the present Rhymney College (run under the auspices of Ystrad Mynach College Corporation) on a new site.

Draft heads of terms have been agreed but not yet put formally to members.

In order to move the project forward, there is a need to secure funding to enable a planning application with suitably detailed designs and drawings to be submitted.

It is proposed that the authority moved to agreeing formally with Ystrad Mynach College and Rhymney Comprehensive School for a development to take place and officers meet with all interested parties to agree details. It was noted that the Cabinet members for Education and Leisure and Economic Development and Regeneration are members of the Steering Group so there will be a continuing officer-member interface.

Costs to achieve planning to be borne in part from funds set aside by the Capital Strategy Group and in part by the College in such proportions as agreed by the partners.

RESOLVED that for the reasons contained in the report the proposals to move the Rhymney Post 16 development to a planning stage to be in a position to submit bids for grants be agreed.

1488 STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS

A previous report submitted to Cabinet on 17th September 2002 had recommended to Council that the Social Services overspend of £178k be funded from future budgets.

The Social Services Scrutiny Committee had considered the recommendation made by Cabinet and agreed that the issue be referred back to Cabinet to reconsider its recommendation.

It was noted that Special Council at it’s meeting on 25th September 2002 agreed that the Social Services overspend of £178k be funded from future budgets and Cabinet endorsed that decision.

1489 CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/2003

The report gave an update on the Capital Programme 2002/2003 and listed the items that have resulted in substantial increases since April.

A table outlined the original budget, a revised budget reflecting the additional spend and the spend to date.

A scheme-by-scheme analysis of expenditure and timescales is outlined in the appendix to the report.

RESOLVED that for the reasons contained in the report Directors and Heads of Service review progress with the Capital Programme to ensure that spending plans are achieved.

602 Cabinet - 29.10.02

1490 N J C PAY AWARD 2002/2003

The report outlined the outcome of the national negotiations on the NJC Pay Award and considered options for financing the settlement.

The report detailed the financial effects of the two-year pay settlement and the proposal that additional costs of the NJC pay award be met by services from within existing budgets.

Members noted the potential extra cost of any Fire Service Settlement on this authority.

RESOLVED that for the reasons contained in the report:-

(i) the NJC Pay Settlement be noted and the shortfall in budgetary provision be met from within existing budget;

(ii) the position with regard to other settlements/negotiations be noted.

MATTERS WHICH REQUIRED A RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL

1491 LOCAL ACCESS FORUM

Members received a report seeking approval for the appointment of two new members to the Caerphilly Local Access Forum.

The appointment of Councillor John Taylor as Chair and Miss Lorraine Howells as deputy Chair meant there were effectively two vacancies on the Forum. It is proposed that the council’s representative should be another councillor and that the commoners association be invited to nominate a member.

Owing to work commitments it is also proposed that Norman Liversuch take on the role of Secretary and Phillip Griffiths the role of Assistant Secretary.

The Cabinet recommend to the Council that for the reasons contained in the report:

(i) Councillor D. Cullen be appointed to serve on the Local Access Forum as the Council’s representative;

(ii) that officer’s action in contacting local commoners associations be confirmed;

(iii) that any nominations received from local commoners association for the vacancy created by the election of Deputy Chair should be considered by the Local Access Forum and the new member chosen by them;

(iv) that Norman Liversuch, Principal Planner, Countryside and Landscape Section be secretary and Philip Griffiths, Senior Planner be assistant secretary respectively to the Forum.

EXEMPT MATTER

In accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public were excluded from the remainder of the meeting because of the likely disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 8 & 9 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

603 Cabinet - 29.10.02

1492 SIRHOWY ENTERPRISE WAY

Members considered a report on the proposal to recommend two Consortia to take forward to the next stage of procurement and to update members on the progress of the Sirhowy Enterprise Way. The report outlined the evaluation summary, affordability restraints, and value for money

The Cabinet recommend to the Council that for the reasons contained in the report:

(i) the revised calculations still give the PFI solution as the better Value for Money option and confirm the action being taken to secure an increase in credits to £44m be noted;

(ii) a letter be sent to the National Assembly for by CCBC confirming that the Authority will not seek additional costs above the £44m credit level barring unforeseen events outside the Authority’s control;

(iii) the Director of the Environment (in consultation with the Deputy Chief Executive and Finance and Resources and Transportation and Planning Cabinet members be given delegated authority to conduct negotiations on behalf of the Council to secure the most economically advantageous bid proposal;

(iv) Subject to 2 and 3 above the two firms with the best evaluations be taken forward to BAFO i.e. NRO and Vinci Investments once approval has been received from the Assembly for increased credits to £44m;

(v) Council, in due course, be requested to:

(a) Approve the appointment of a preferred bidder following the evaluation by the Project Team of the BAFO submission.

(b) Give its agreement to enter into the contract following negotiations with the preferred bidder, subject to approval of the Full Business Case by the Welsh Assembly Government.

The meeting closed at 3.15 pm.

Approved as a correct record by the Cabinet at its meeting on Tuesday, 12th November 2002

______CHAIRMAN

604