Meeting documents

Cabinet
Thursday 2 September 2010 5.30 pm

Date:
Thursday, 2nd September, 2010
Time:
5.30pm
Place:
Reception Room, Civic Centre, Arnot Hill Park, Arnold
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
40 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.
Business for item 40
 
41 TO APPROVE AS A CORRECT RECORD THE MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 5 AUGUST 2010.
 RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
42 DECLARATION OF INTERESTS.
Business for item 42
 
43 GOVERNMENT CONSULTATION ON LOCAL REFERENDUMS TO VETO EXCESSIVE COUNCIL TAX INCREASES
Business for item 43
RESOLVED:

To agree the proposed response to the consultation as attached at Appendix A to the report.
44 ABOLITION OF AUDIT COMMISSION
Business for item 44
RESOLVED:

To note the information.
45 MEMBERS' QUESTIONS TO PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
Business for item 45
 
46 BUDGET CONSULTATION/SATISFACTION SURVEY 2010
Business for item 46
RESOLVED:

To note the report.
47 REGULATION OF INVESTIGATORY POWERS ACT 2000 (RIPA)
Business for item 47
RESOLVED:

1. That the amended Policy and Procedure attached at Appendix 1 to the report be adopted by the Council with the new Codes of Practice appended to it.

2. To note the content of the Annual RIPA audit for April 2009 - March 2010.
48 ANNUAL REVIEW LETTER - LOCAL GOVERNMENT OMBUDSMAN
Business for item 48
RESOLVED:

To note the report.
49 PLANNING FOR THE HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT - SUMMARY
Business for item 49
RESOLVED:

To note the report.
50 PROGRESS REPORTS FROM PORTFOLIO HOLDERS
Business for item 50
RESOLVED:

To note the reports.
51 ANY OTHER ITEMS WHICH THE CHAIRMAN CONSIDERS URGENT.
Business for item 51
RESOLVED:

To note the information.
52 PRUDENTIAL CODE INDICATOR MONITORING 2010/11 AND QUARTERLY TREASURY ACTIVITY REPORT
Business for item 52
RESOLVED:

To note the Prudential Indicator Monitoring at Appendix 1 to the report, and the Treasury Activity Report at Appendix 2.
The meeting closed at 6.10pm.

Attendance Details

Present:
A.S. Bexon, W.J. Clarke, A.J. Gillam, W.H. Golland, R.J. Nicholson, J.M. Parr, R.J. Tait, G.E. Withers

Officers in attendance: P Murdock, H Barrington, M Kimberley, S Bray.

Business

Business
ItemBusiness
40Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Spencer and Pepper.
42None
43The Head of Strategy and Performance reported that the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) had published a consultation paper on proposals for local referendums to veto excessive Council Tax increases. The key elements of the proposals were set out in the report.
44The Head of Corporate Services submitted details about the abolition of the Audit Commission.
45None
46The Head of Strategy and Performance informed Members of proposals to consult with residents about satisfaction with the Council's services and future budget options.

A questionnaire would be produced in a special edition of "Contacts" magazine in mid-September. A draft copy of the questionnaire element was attached to the report. Minor amendments to the questionnaire were verbally reported to the meeting.
47The Head of Democratic and Community Services reported that it was proposed that the current RIPA policy be amended and updated in line with the new Codes of Practice and legislation, thereby implementing an annual reporting system to Cabinet on RIPA authorisations, changes in legislation and policy and quarterly reports to Portfolio Holder for Safe and Sustainable Neighbourhoods or the Leader of the Council. The new policy would also identify the Head of Democratic and Community Services as the "responsible officer" overseeing the RIPA process.

Any amendments or updates required to materials appended to the main Policy document including updates to the RIPA Codes of Practice or RIPA authorisation forms would be approved by Head of Democratic and Community Services and reported back to Cabinet in the annual RIPA report. The Cabinet report to include the number of applications made as well as authorities granted.
48The Head of Democratic and Community Services informed Members of the receipt of the Annual Review letter from the Office of the Local Government Ombudsman. There were no findings of maladministration against the Council.
49The Head of Planning & Environment & Strategy & Performance informed members of the publication of Planning Policy Statement 5: Planning for the Historic Environment (referred to as ‘the Statement'). The Statement would inform the development of future planning policy and would be a material consideration when determining planning applications.
50The following progress reports on items within their remit were received from Portfolio Holders:

Leisure & Wellbeing
i. Problems re surfacing at Church Lane playground.
ii. Queens Bower play area feedback
iii. Gedling Show 5 September.
iv. Carlton Forum surfacing.

Direct Services
i. Future Jobs Fund - 6 employees taken on.

Development & Enterprise
i. Arnold FC conditions discharged.
ii. Work of Economic Development officer.
iii. Balmoral House sold at auction.

Strategic Planning
i. Core strategy briefing.
51It was reported that agreement had been reached with traders regarding car park charging.
52The Head of Corporate Services informed Members of the performance monitoring of the 2010/11 Prudential Code Indicators, and advised Members of the quarterly treasury activity as required by the Treasury Management Strategy.