To receive apologies for absence

There were no apologies at this meeting.

To confirm the non-exempt minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2010 (attached).

The non-exempt minutes of the meeting on 18 November 2010 were confirmed as an accurate record of the meeting.

The chairman to identify any items of urgent business.

Leader of the Council, Councillor Peter Amos, informed members that Cabinet had been asked to accept one item of urgent business at the meeting.

On presenting the item, Group Manager for Customer Services, Andy Barge, said that, prior to the council meeting on 2 December 2010, all annual support and maintenance license fees exceeding £5,000 had been processed by the council’s Strategic Director and Group Manager for Finance. Following the council’s decision on 2 December 2010, to amend the Contract Procedure Rules and seek cabinet approval for single supplier expenditure over £5,000, (and anticipating that most licence fees for this purpose were likely to exceed this amount), the Group Manager suggested that a standing authorisation be put in place allowing him, (in consultation with the appropriate cabinet lead member), to approve such expenditure up to the normal tendering limits. Responding to a question from Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, the Group Manager clarified that the context of ‘single supplier expenditure’ in respect of the specific support and maintenance payments in the urgent report, referred to the platform, or the structure, (and not the content), of the council’s website.

Councillor Amos requested that a further report be considered at the cabinet meeting on 20 January 2011, regarding the renewal of IT software support and maintenance licenses for existing systems. The request was noted and cabinet,

RESOLVED to agree to consider the urgent item and approve a single supplier payment of £5,000 for the support, and maintenance of, the Forest of Dean District Council website for 2011.

To receive any declarations of interest in any matter to be discussed at the meeting.  Members and officers are requested to identify the nature of the interest and indicate whether it is personal or prejudicial.

Earlier in the meeting, Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, declared a personal interest in the item of urgent business considered under item 3 of the agenda, (Single Supplier Payment). Councillor Molyneux declared a personal interest in this item due to his business associations with the IT industry.

To consider questions from members of the public in accordance with the ‘Protocol for Public Questions at Cabinet Meetings’. For guidance on how to submit questions, please refer to the council’s website www.fdean.gov.uk.

Alternatively, please contact Democratic Services on 01594 812624 or email democratic.services@fdean.gov.uk. All questions must be submitted in writing at least two working days prior to the meeting.

No public questions were considered at this meeting.

To consider the attached copy of the cabinet forward plan and to note any changes.

Subject to the following information, the cabinet forward plan circulated with the agenda was noted and agreed.

Seeking the advice of senior officers at the meeting, Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, suggested adding the results of two forthcoming consultation exercises to the cabinet forward plan. Head of Paid Service, Sue Pangbourne, advised Councillor Molyneux that, although it was useful to offer feedback on local issues, it was not normal practice to consider the outcome of national consultation exercises at cabinet meetings. The Head of Paid Service suggested, however, that it was a matter for lead members and officers to decide whether or not the reporting of such information was of value.

Councillor Denis Riley, Cabinet Member for the Community, said that he hoped to present a report on the council’s service level agreement proposals at the cabinet meeting in February.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, to present report SD.58, detailing revisions to the council’s Management of Information and Data Quality Policy and Strategy.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, presented report SD.58, detailing revisions to the council’s Management of Information and Data Quality Policy and Strategy. Councillor Robinson informed members that the council had invested a significant amount of hard work into improving this area and was pleased to report on the good progress that had been made. Leader of the Council, Councillor Peter Amos referred to page 29 of the report and pointed out that all cabinet members had a responsibility for data quality. Cabinet noted the report and,

RESOLVED to approve the revised policy and strategy detailed at Annex A to report SD.58

Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, to present report PH.46. Cabinet to consider grant funding for the Two Rivers Housing Cornish Redevelopment Programme.

Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, presented report PH.46, requesting grant funding for the Two Rivers Housing Cornish Redevelopment Programme. Councillor Molyneux believed the proposals represented good value for money and subsequently moved the recommendation. Responding to a question from Councillor Denis Riley, Cabinet Member for the Community, Councillor Molyneux confirmed that the grant was time limited, and if not expended in five years, would be refunded back to the council. The report was noted and cabinet, 

RESOLVED to approve a grant allocation of £5,000 per new additional affordable home built, (£115,000 in total), towards the Two Rivers Housing Cornish Redevelopment Programme Schemes, (as identified in Annex A), and enable the delivery affordable housing in the district.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, to present an update on the Single Equality Scheme. Please refer to report SD.59.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, updated cabinet on the council’s Single Equality Scheme. Following a detailed overview of report SD.59, Councillor Robinson said that the scheme was regularly monitored by both officers and members and subject to formal review every 3 years. Cabinet commended the action plan on page 83 of the agenda and,

RESOLVED to approve the Single Equality Scheme detailed in Annex A of report SD.59

Councillor Martin Quaile, Cabinet Member for the Environment, to give an update on the next phase of the council’s carbon reduction activities. Please refer to report E.28.

Councillor Martin Quaile, Cabinet Member for the Environment, gave a detailed summary of the council’s performance in reducing carbon emissions during the first stages of the council’s Carbon Management Plan, (adopted by the council in 2008). Councillor Quaile also summarised the activities that have been identified by the council as priority areas during the next stage of the plan, with particular focus on activities at the council’s leisure centres.

Councillor Quaile said that the intention of reducing the councils’ carbon emissions by 25 per cent, (for the five-year period 2008 to 2013), was basically on target, (anticipated at reducing emissions by 10 per cent), and that the staff at the council offices should be applauded for such a worthy performance. Conscious of the possible void that might emerge following the recent departure of David Wells, the council’s Climate and Carbon Management Officer, Councillor Quaile said that the council was keen to explore other opportunities within the council owned estate. He also said that he was aware of the considerable amount of work yet to do.

Sustainability Team Leader, Alastair Chapman, confirmed that the focus of attention was to concentrate on reducing carbon emissions at the council’s leisure centres. In response to comments highlighting the importance of promoting activities that offered value for money, the team leader said that the council would continue to encourage options that offered a return on the council’s investment. Cabinet members welcomed this comment and,

RESOLVED to

a)     Note the contribution made by all staff in reducing carbon emissions and,

b)     Support the staff Green Champion Network’s programme of work for 2011

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, to present report F.83, seeking approval of the draft council tax base.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, presented report F.83, seeking cabinet approval of the draft council tax base. Responding to a question from Councillor Patrick Molyneux, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Planning, Group Manager for Finance, Derek Broom, confirmed that it was normal practice to assume that a small percentage of council tax, (approximately 2 per cent), will not be collected at the end of each year and that the council was currently operating within these margins. Report F.83 was noted and cabinet,

RESOLVED that, pursuant to report F.83, and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, (as amended by section 84 of the Local Government Act 2003), the amount calculated by the Forest of Dean District Council as its Council Tax Base for the year 2011/2012 shall be 29,250.92 Band D equivalent dwellings.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, to present report F.82. Cabinet to consider the council’s draft capital and revenue budgets.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, presented report F.82 and informed members that it was unlikely the council would receive confirmation of the government’s grant settlement announcement before Monday 13 December 2010.  Conscious of the budget savings already approved at the cabinet meeting on 18 November 2010, Councillor Robinson reinforced the need to make continued savings in anticipation of the government’s announcement. Councillor Robinson confirmed that the Budget Working Group continued to work hard at identifying further savings and referred members to Annex C of the report for full details of the proposed options. Outlining each of the proposals in detail, Councillor Robinson said that the projected savings equated to £218,000 and would form part of the 2011/12 budgets. A correction on page 107 of the report, (to amend the total deficit projections for 2011/12 from £470,000 to £450,000), was noted.

Head of Paid Service, Sue Pangbourne, confirmed that members and staff would be notified about the details of the grant settlement as soon as the announcement was made and that a further report, relating to the capital programme budget, would be considered at the cabinet meeting on 20 January 2011. In addition, a series of consultation meetings and information events would be held during forthcoming months, including a budget briefing for members on 15 December 2010, a Joint Scrutiny Committee meeting on 13 January 2011 and a separate briefing session for Town and Parish Councils on 25 January 2011.

Councillor Robinson reiterated the importance of public engagement and informed members that consultation would be actively promoted by press releases in local newspapers, the council’s website, face-book and twitter. Furthermore, a separate event for local businesses would also be arranged. Councillor Robinson made it clear that he would be more than happy to consider questions outside any of the meetings. Cabinet noted the report and,

RESOLVED to approve the draft revenue budget for consultation

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, to seek cabinet approval of the rental and lease agreements detailed in report F.84.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, presented report F.84 seeking cabinet approval of the rental and lease agreements detailed in the report. The report was noted and cabinet,

RESOLVED to approve the rental and lease agreements detailed in section 2 of report F.84

To consider, and if so agree, to resolvethat under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in schedule 12A of the said act.

RESOLVED that under section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for items 15 and 16 of the agenda on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in schedule 12A of the said act.

To confirm the exempt minutes of the meeting on 18 November 2010. (attached).

The exempt minutes of the meeting on 18 November 2010 were agreed and confirmed as an accurate record of the meeting.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, to present report LD.299.

Councillor Brian Robinson, Cabinet Member for an Efficient Council and Finance, presented report LD.299.

20 January 2011

20 January 2011