EXECUTIVE

 

MINUTES of the Meeting held in the Council Chamber, Swale House, East Street, Sittingbourne on Wednesday 22nd May 2002 from 7.00 p.m. to 7.45 p.m.

 

PRESENT: 

 

Councillor Bowles

Leader (Chairman)

Councillor Chris Boden

Executive Member for Finance and Administration

Councillor Jordan

Executive Member for Development and Planning

Councillor Brenda Simpson

Executive Member for Environment

 

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE: Councillors Brown, Adrian Crowther, Stuart Davidson, Goodger, Harrison, Elvina Lowe, Mulhern, Prescott, Stanford, Roger Truelove, Alan Willicombe, Jean Willicombe, Woodland and Worrall.

 

OFFICERS PRESENT: Ms Fitch, Messrs. B. Bell, Buckett, Radford and Russell.

 

APOLOGY FOR ABSENCE:  Councillor Gerry Lewin – Executive Member for Community.

 

27        MINUTES

 

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 27th March 2002 (Page Nos. 785 – 794) were taken as read, confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

28        SWALE FESTIVAL PANEL

 

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 15th May 2002 (Page Nos. 13 – 14) were noted.

 

(Councillors Stuart Davidson and Mulhern were invited to speak on this item.)

 

'B' MINUTES FOR INFORMATION

 

29        AUDIT COMMISSION – COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT PLAN (CPA)

 

Executive Member – Finance and Administration

 

The Management Team submitted a report which advised Members of the imminent introduction of the use of Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA) by the Audit Commission to measure the current and likely future effectiveness of management (political and officer) of the Council.  The result of the CPA assessment was likely to have profound implications.  Management Team had completed a self assessment of organisational management performance and their conclusions were set out for Members' consideration.

 

RESOLVED  (1)        That the Management Team's Self Assessment Review (Annex A to the report) and the report itself be noted.

 

                        (2)        That the Management Team's Self Assessment Review be endorsed.

nMT

 

                        (3)        That  Management Team be authorised to progress and report back to the August meeting of the Executive on:-

 

                                    (a)        those areas of management development/activity in the assessment within the organisation which are not dependent upon the resolution of political issues.

 

                                    (b)        a process by which the questions relating to the demonstration of political leadership can be explored and agreed within the content and recommended timeframe as set out in Annex A to the report

nMT

 

(Councillor Roger Truelove was invited to speak on this item.)

 

30        REFERENCE FROM SHEPPEY AREA COMMITTEE – 26TH MARCH 2002

 

*Countryside Agency – Market Town Healthcheck (Minute No. 935/3/02)

 

Executive Member – Development and Planning

 

A copy of the Economic Development Manager's report to the meeting of the Sheppey Area Committee on 26th March 2002 was circulated with the Agenda.  It was noted that, under current delegated powers, no decision was required from the Executive to implement the proposed secondment of the Assistant Economic Development Officer, which in consultation with Management Team had since been implemented.

 

RESOLVED  That the Countryside Agency's offer of funding to undertake a Market Town Healthcheck on Sheerness and rural Sheppey be accepted and supported by:-

 

                        (a)        supporting the formation of a steering group representing both the urban and rural interests of the Island.

 

                        (b)        noting the secondment of the Assistant Economic Development Officer into the post of Rural Projects Manager for a period of three years and nine months to co-ordinate and deliver the initiative.

nEDM

 

(Councillor Brown was invited to speak on this item.)

 

'A' MINUTES FOR CONFIRMATION

 

31        CHANGES TO THE OPERATION OF THE EXECUTIVE AND PORTFOLIOS

 

Executive Member - Leader

 

The Executive considered the report of the Leader of the Council.  The Leader of the Council explained that recommendations would be submitted to the July 2002 meeting of the Council to implement the proposed delegations to Executive Members and Officers.  He stated that his aim was to give the Executive a strategic focus.

 

RECOMMENDED    (1)        That the report be noted.

 

                                    (2)        That the Co-ordinating Scrutiny Panel be requested to consider, as a matter of urgency, requesting the Economy Scrutiny Panel to produce a report on the policy implications of the proposed Sittingbourne Northern Distributor Road and Swanstree Avenue extension.

nDCSGS

nALSM

 

(Councillor Harrison, Stanford and Worrall were invited to speak on this item.)

 

32        ATTENDANCE AT CONFERENCES AND SEMINARS

 

Executive Member - Leader

 

A.        LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2002

 

It was reported that three places had been booked for Members at the LGA Conference and Exhibition which was being held in Bournemouth from 3rd – 5th July 2002.  The Leader proposed that, being mindful of how resources were used within the authority, and after looking at the programme for the Conference and Exhibition, for this year no action be taken to send either Officers or Members to attend the Conference, achieving a saving of at least £1,200.

 

RECOMMENDED    That no Officers or Members attend the LGA Annual Conference and Exhibition 2002, and that provisional bookings made be cancelled.

nALSM

 

B.        Rural Commission and Conference – 12th to 13th September 2002

 

The Rural Commission were holding their Annual Conference on Friday 13th September 2002 at Robinson College, Cambridge.  It would be preceded by a meeting of the Rural Commission on Thursday 12th September 2002.  The cost per delegate was £213.83 including VAT, plus accommodation.

 

RECOMMENDED    That the two Council representatives (not substitutes) on the Rural Commission be authorised to attend the Rural Commission meeting and

Annual Conference on 12th to 13th September 2002 and that attendance be classed as an approved duty as defined in Section 175 of the Local Government Act 1972.

nALSM

 

(Councillor Worrall was invited to speak on this item.)

 

'B' MINUTES FOR INFORMATION

 

33        LOCAL GOVERNMENT (ACCESS TO INFORMATION) ACT 1985

 

RESOLVED  That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 7 and 9 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

 

34        *DISPOSAL OF LAND ADJOINING 35 SEASIDE AVENUE, MINSTER

 

Executive Member – Finance and Administration

 

The Engineering Services Manager submitted a report which set out the offers received for the above building plot following its marketing.

 

RESOLVED  That, as the land was not producing revenue for the Council, the highest offer be accepted to produce a capital receipt, and that the Administration and Legal Services Manager be authorised to carry out the necessary legal formalities.

nALSM

 

35        *SALE OF LAND AT RUSSELL STREET, SHEERNESS

 

Executive Member – Finance and Administration

 

The Engineering Services Manager submitted a report which set out the offers received for a small vacant plot of land, possibly suitable for commercial infill development at Russell Street, Sheerness, close to the town centre.

 

The Director of Community, Development and Environmental Services informed Members that, under the Urban Capacity Study which was being carried out by the Borough and County Councils, this site had been defined as having potential for residential development.  The Council's Valuation Officer had confirmed that, in his opinion, the offer that had been received for commercial use of the site was not likely to be exceeded by any offer in relation to residential development of the site.

 

A Member sought assurances that conditions would be applied to ensure that the site was developed within a reasonable period.

 

RESOLVED  That the highest offer for the sale of the site be accepted, and that the Administration and Legal Services Manager be authorised to complete the legal formalities.

nEngSM

nALSM

 

(Councillor Worrall was invited to speak on this item.)

 

36        *LEASE OF 81 PRESTON STREET, FAVERSHAM

 

Executive Member – Finance and Administration

 

The Engineering Services Manager submitted a report which set out the terms and conditions provisionally agreed for the grant of a lease of 81 Preston Street, Faversham for the Faversham Community Café and Resource Centre.

 

It was noted that, although the rent was lower than the best market rent, the material consideration of the benefit to the community had been taken into account.

 

RESOLVED  That the grant of a lease of the building to the Faversham Community Café and Resource Centre on the terms set out in the report be approved, and that the Administration and Legal Services Manager be authorised to proceed with the legal formalities.

nEngSM

nALSM

 

(Councillor Brown was invited to speak on this item.)

 

37        *TENDER FOR REVENUE SOFTWARE

 

Executive Member – Finance and Administration

 

The Revenue Services Manager submitted a report which gave details of the tenders received for the proposed Revenue and Benefits computer program, and the action that had been taken to approve the necessary supplier.

 

RESOLVED  That the action of the Emergency Committee in approving the appointment of Academy as the supplier of the preferred software for the Revenue and Benefits program be noted.

nRSM

 

38        *PROPOSED MAYOR'S/LEADER'S/MEMBERS' PERSONAL ASSISTANT

 

Executive Member – Finance and Administration

 

The Executive Member for Finance and Administration introduced a report which had been requested at the meeting of the Executive on 27th March 2002 (Minute No. 956/3/02 refers) which proposed that the reinstated post of Leader's/Members' Personal Assistant be amalgamated with the post of Mayor's Personal Assistant.

 

The Executive Member for Finance and Administration stated that, in future, Members would expect all reports that contained requests for redundancy to contain the following information:-

 

Age of postholder, gender of postholder, number of years in post, number of years worked in Local Government and at Swale Borough Council, what attempts had been made to avoid compulsory redundancy, i.e. attempts to redeploy with training as necessary, and in the worst case scenario, Human Resource's attempts to find alternative appointment outside of the authority.

 

RESOLVED  That consideration of this matter be deferred until the meeting of the Executive on 26th June 2002, to enable a full report to be submitted containing the information requested by Members.

nCE

 

(Councillor Harrison was invited to speak on this item.)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chairman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Published : 28th May 2002

 

NOTES1.195