Medway Council: Cabinet Decisions in 2002

The following decisions were made by the Cabinet during 2002.

Here is a list of all the meetings by date, each of which links to a list of the decisions made at that meeting:

Meetings in January:	8th January 2002	22nd January 2002
Meetings in February:	5th February 2002	19th February 2002
Previous Year:	Meetings in 2001

 

Cabinet Meeting held on 8th January 2002
Portfolio / Decision No.		Agenda Item Title / Decision Taken
Education Portfolio		Inclusive Education Strategy 2002–2005
1/2002	:	The Cabinet requested that greater emphasis be made throughout the draft Inclusive Education Strategy 2002–2005 to the following groups of pupils: minority ethnic groups, travellers, asylum seekers, refugees, gifted and talented pupils. Greater emphasis should also be given to the rôle of the youth service, how challenging behaviour would be dealt with and the rôle of parents.
2/2002	:	The draft Inclusive Education Strategy 2002–2005, as appended to the report and suitably amended to reflect the issues identified in decision 1/2002 above, was approved for the purposes of consultation subject to finalisation of the text by the director of education and leisure.
3/2002	:	The director of education and leisure was authorised to finalise the draft for the purposes of consultation, in consultation with the education portfolio holder.
4/2002	:	For the purposes of the Special Educational Needs (Provision of Information by Local Education Authorities) (England) Regulations 2001, the Cabinet approved the explanation of the special educational provision for children with SEN but without Statements which the Local Education Authority expects normally to be provided from within maintained schools‘ budget shares and the provision of those children for which the LEA expects to provide, set out in Part 2 of the draft Strategy.
Health and Community Portfolio		Capital Homelessness Initiatives
5/2002	:	That Council be recommended to approve the transfer of £1·1 million from the additional affordable housing at Strood Riverside to the following: Renovation Grants £100,000 Kent Reliance House Renovation Grant £240,000 Acquisition of street properties through Social Housing Grant £760,000
6/2002	:	That the proposal with Moat for the acquisition of ten street properties be approved, subject to a corresponding claw-back from housing capital allocations in the future.
7/2002	:	Exclusion of the Press and Public.
Finance Portfolio		Strood Riverside
8/2002	:	Exempt decision—not recorded here.
Health and Community Portfolio		Acceptance of Tender for Heating Servicing and Breakdown Cover to Council Dwellings
9/2002	:	Exempt decision—not recorded here.

 

Cabinet Meeting held on 22nd January 2002
Portfolio / Decision No.		Agenda Item Title / Decision Taken
Finance Portfolio		Budget Preparation 2002–2003
10/2002	:	The Cabinet noted the recommendations of the overview and scrutiny committees, as summarised in Table 1 and appendix A of the report for this item, and agreed to accept the following recommendations in their budget proposals: Finance and Corporate Services  Human Resources £17,000  Development and Environment  Environmental Health £40,000   Highways structural £150,000   Public transport £24,000   Tourism and events (£20,000) Education and Leisure  Libraries £88,000   Grants to voluntary organisations £20,000  Health and Community  All services £214,000  The Cabinet also agreed to give further consideration to the recommended withdrawal of the free domestic refuse sacks
11/2002	:	Management team were instructed to complete the work identified in paragraph 6.4 of the report to produce a revised draft budget in accordance with the principles of the financial strategy as outlined in paragraph 6.1.
Finance Portfolio		Revenue Budget Monitoring 2001–2002
12/2002	:	Officers were instructed, in particular in health and community services, to continue to seek savings and efficiencies to bring down forecast overspend and report back on progress to the Cabinet meeting on 5th March 2002.
Health and Community Portfolio		Quality Protects Management Action Plan 4
13/2002	:	The Cabinet approved the draft Quality Protects Management Action Plan 4 in accordance with the proposals for application of the additional grant as set out in the report for this item, for submission on a provisional basis to the Department of Health.
14/2002	:	The draft plan was referred for consideration to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the timetable set out in the report.
Education Portfolio		Education Development Plan 2002–2007
15/2002	:	The Cabinet endorsed the Education Development Plan 2002—2007, attached as an appendix to the reportfor this item, subject to minor final modifications by the Director of Education and Leisure.
16/2002	:	The Cabinet recommended to the Council on 23rd January 2002 that the Plan should be approved and submitted to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills by 31st January 2002.
Education Portfolio		Proposed Closure of Fairview Hearing Impaired Unit
17/2002	:	The Director of Education and Leisure was authorised to start consultation on the proposed closure of Fairview Hearing Impaired Unit.
Key Service Planning Portfolio		Kent and Medway Structure Plan
18/2002	:	The Cabinet approved the Policy Directions document, that was attached to the report for this item, for the purposes of public consultation.
Community Safety Portfolio		Security at the Municipal Buildings: Call-in to Support Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee
19/2002	:	The Cabinet reaffirmed its decisions on 4th December 2001 that there should be: Action taken and its effectiveness monitored with a further report being brought back to Cabinet; Additional police patrols; A meeting with the Youth Service; Evidence to be collected on all incidents with a view to proceeding with anti-social behaviour orders; Reinstatement of dog patrols; Enhanced lighting on-site

 

Cabinet Meeting held on 5th February 2002
Portfolio / Decision No.		Agenda Item Title / Decision Taken
Education Portfolio		Local Education Authority (LEA) Inspection Report
20/2002	:	The LEA inspection report was noted.
21/2002	:	A seminar be arranged for all Members to brief them on the content of the report and the next steps.
22/2002	:	Officers were instructed to prepare a post-Ofsted action plan, which is to be considered at the Cabinet meeting on 30th April 2002.
Finance Portfolio		Local Government Financial Settlement 2002–2003
23/2002	:	The final Statutory Spending Assessment (SSA) settlement was noted.
Leisure, Culture & Countryside Portfolio		Library and Information Service Best Value Review: Options Report and Improvement Plan (Revision)
24/2002	:	Strategic options That the service be invested in and developed so that libraries appeal to a wider cross section of the community, meet national standards of performance and are able to fulfil DCMS requirements in the short term (2–3 years) — that is option c) as set out on page 15 of the options report.
25/2002	:	Town centre libraries That the Cabinet awaits the outcome of the feasibility study resulting from the best value property review into the Rochester and Gillingham library premises and a further report is made to Cabinet/Scrutiny with recommendations.
26/2002	:	Community libraries Not to endorse the report on community libraries in detail, but a further report is made in conjunction with the cross-party working group of Regeneration and Community Overview and Scrutiny on the future of community libraries and the contribution they can make to meeting the DCMS standards for libraries.
27/2002	:	Staffing review That a review of the staff structure be approved so that key responsibilities and accountabilities are aligned with national and local priorities as set out on page 32 of the options report.
28/2002	:	In the medium term Chatham Library be relocated to a more suitable building consistent with the Chatham vision. Meanwhile this proposal to be subject to a full cost/benefit analysis including short term options for the existing accommodation.
29/2002	:	That the funding proposals set out in paragraph 6.1.1 of the report for this item be agreed.

 

Cabinet Meeting held on 19nd February 2002
Portfolio / Decision No.		Agenda Item Title / Decision Taken
Finance Portfolio		Revenue Budget 2002–2003
30/2002	:	The Cabinet recommended to Council on 28th February 2002 the 2002/2003 budget proposals, as summarised in table 1 and appendix 1 of the report for this item, but with the following changes: Sponsorship Add back £50,000 Absorb former Leisure, Arts and Libraries pressure Add back £100,000 Fridges and freezers disposal Add back £132,000 Abandoned vehicles directive Add back £240,000 Review of black sacks Add back £230,000 Waste contract Add back £300,000 and increase provision by an additional provision of £300,000 to allow £1·2 million in the base budget Enforcement An additional provision of £100,000, to specifically include a planning enforcement officer Flower beds and tree planting Add back £35,000 Bereavement services No increase in charges at a cost of £70,000 Achievement of DCMS standards in the library service An additional £294,000
31/2002	:	As part of the budget proposals, fees and charges were approved at an average of 5% increase except where otherwise stated during budget discussions.
32/2002	:	The Director of finance and corporate services be requested to calculate the formal requirements under sections 32 and 33 of the Local Government Finance Act 1982 for resolution by special Council on 28th February 2002.
Finance Portfolio		Capital Budget 2002–2003
33/2002	:	The Cabinet noted the final capital settlement 2002/2003.
34/2002	:	The Cabinet approved the capital programme 2002/2003 (as set out in appendix 2 to the report for this item) for recommendation to special Council on 28th February 2002.
Health and Community Portfolio		Draft Housing Revenue Account Estimates and Proposed Rents: 2002–2003
35/2002	:	The Cabinet agreed to an average £1·78 weekly rent increase based upon a 52-week year (as detailed in appendix 4 to the report for this item) to be applied from 1st April 2002. These amendments are in line with the new Guide to Social Rent Reforms issued by the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DLTR).
Corporate Services Portfolio		Electronic Government Strategy
36/2002	:	The Electronic Government Strategy be amended to incorporate the recommendations of the Support Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee as et out in section 4 of the report for this item, and then submitted to Council for approval.
37/2002	:	Exclusion of the Press and Public.
Health and Community Portfolio		Acceptance of Tender — Toilet Cleaning Contract
38/2002	:	Exempt decision—not recorded here.