POLICY AND RESOURCES COMMITTEE
Minutes of the proceedings at a meeting of the Committee held in the
Council Chamber, South Lakeland House, Kendal, on Tuesday,
26 September 1995, at 10.30 a.m.
Present
Councillors
S.B. Collins (Chairman)
E. Proctor (Vice-Chairman)
P.E. Ball M.C. Bentley R.K. Bingham
R.N. Bolton Mrs E.M. Braithwaite D. Butterworth
C.J. Crane C. Gardner Mrs G.S. Hubbard
H.S. Lewis P.L. Lister C.S. Reynolds
N.R. Spendlove W. Stewart J. Swift
D. Vatcher
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors I.S. Gordon and
J. Studholme.
806 MINUTES
RESOLVED - That the Chairman sign, as a correct record, the minutes of
the meeting of the Committee held on 7 September 1995.
807 PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
RESOLVED - That it be noted that no questions, deputations or
petitions had been received.
808 PROGRESS REPORT
The Clerk and Chief Executive presented a progress report covering the
meetings of the Committee held on 11 and 24 July, 29 August and
7 September 1995. Appended was a report by Councillor
Mrs J.E. Jenkinson on the work of the Barrow-in-Furness Public Safety
Scheme - Local Liaison Committee and the Management Committee of the
Ulverston and North Lonsdale Citizens' Advice Bureau during the
previous 12 months.
RESOLVED - That the reports be received.
809 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 - EXCLUDED ITEMS
RESOLVED - That the items in Part II of the agenda be dealt with
following the exclusion of the press and public.
810 POLICY AND RESOURCES EMERGENCY SUB-COMMITTEE
RESOLVED - That
(1) the minutes of the meetings of the Sub-Committee held on
10 August and 6 September 1995 be received; and
(2) the disposal to a Housing Association of No. 2, Yard 31 (Old
Police Yard), Finkle Street, Kendal, for conversion to four
residential units be approved.
811 PERFORMANCE REVIEW SUB-COMMITTEE
RESOLVED - That
(1) the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 14 August
1995 be received; and
(2) the advice contained in Minute 498(2) be noted.
812 PERSONNEL SUB-COMMITTEE
The Committee considered the minutes of the meetings of the
Sub-Committee held on 11 July, 16 August and 11 September 1995.
In discussing the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September, Members
underlined the requirement for tight control on recruitment
(as spelled out in Minute 739) until such time as the new staffing
structure was in place. They also believed it would be beneficial if
all Members of the Council could be supplied with a schedule of salary
scales and, in due course, a breakdown of establishments showing the
numbers on each particular point of scale.
Attention was also focussed on the decision not to take any action on
the reinstatement of a Woodland Officer on a three year temporary
contract through the Cumbria Broadleaves Initiative. In considering
the notes of the Environment Working Party, later in the meeting, the
Commitee would be asked to reconsider the Personnel Sub-Committee's
decision.
RESOLVED - That
(1) the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held on 11 July,
16 August and 11 September 1995 be received and the recommendations
contained in the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September be
forwarded to the Council for approval;
(2) Members of the Council be supplied with schedules of the staff
salary scales; and
(3) the issue over the reappointment of a Woodland Officer be debated
further, when the notes of the meeting of the Environment Working
Party held on 13 September 1995 are discussed.
813 COMPETITION AD-HOC SUB-COMMITTEE
RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting of the Sub-Committee held
on 10 August 1995 be received.
814 FINANCE AND PROPERTY SUB-COMMITTEE
The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting of the
Sub-Committee held on 13 September 1995 and, in particular, Minutes
771(2) (the requirement under Standing Order 32(3) that the Chairman
and Vice-Chairman of every Standing Committee and Sub-Committee shall
be Members of the Council) and 774 (amenity land at East View,
Kendal).
Members believed that Standing Order 32(3) should remain, but
recognised that, in the particular circumstances surrounding the
appointment of the current Vice-Chairman of the Lake Administration
Sub-Committee, the waiver of that Standing Order had been appropriate.
Some concern was expressed over the decision contained in Minute 774,
though Members were reassured to learn that the Ward Member was
unlikely to agree to the decision and that consequently the land at
East View, Kendal, was likely to be debated further by the Finance and
Property Sub-Committee.
RESOLVED - That
(1) the minutes of the meeting of the Finance and Property
Sub-Committee held on 13 September 1995 be received and the
recommendations contained therein be forwarded to the Council for
approval; and
(2) Standing Order 32(3) be retained, on the understanding that if
circumstances, similar to that outlined in Minute 771, occur again in
the future, such cases might be dealt with on their own merits.
815 COMMUNITY CHARGE COMMITTALS PANEL
RESOLVED - That
(1) the minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 13 September 1995
be received; and
(2) the request contained in Minute 795(2) be approved.
816 EMPLOYER SAFETY BOARD
RESOLVED - That
(1) the minutes of the meeting of the Employer Safety Board held on
11 September 1995 be received;
(2) the request contained in Minute 728(2) be acknowledged; and
(3) the satisfactory resolution of the problem, referred to in Minute
727, at a meeting of the Board earlier in the day, be noted.
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY WORKING PARTY
817 Notes
RESOLVED - That the notes of the meeting of the Working Party held on
6 September 1995 be received.
818 Membership
By Minute 19 (1995/96), the Committee had appointed Councillor
C.A. Mayho to the Information Technology Working Party. Councillor
Mayho had given notification that he wished to resign from membership
of the Working Party and a replacement was therefore required.
RESOLVED - That Councillor R. Leach be appointed to membership of the
Working Party.
819 ENVIRONMENT WORKING PARTY
In considering the notes of the meeting of the Working Party held on
13 September 1995, Members concentrated on the issue which had been
raised earlier in the day (Minute 812) over the decision not to
reinstate the Woodland Officer's post.
The Working Party had asked that the decision be reconsidered, bearing
in mind that the Forestry Authority was likely to fund 50% of the cost
of the post.
In the event of the Personnel Sub-Committee's decision being
reaffirmed it was also asking the Committee to give urgent
consideration as to how the allocation of the duties appropriate to
the post should be undertaken.
The Chairman of the Personnel Sub-Committee explained that although
the Sub-Committee had recognised the wish of Members to see a
continuation of the post of Woodland Officer, its immediate
reinstatement would have been contrary to the policy established
pursuant to Minute 739 (1995/96). He felt that there might be scope
to reconsider the post once the departmental restructuring exercise
had been completed.
The Clerk and Chief Executive understood that as a condition of
funding 50% of the Post, the Forestry Authority was asking for it to
be filled by December 1995. He suggested that the Chief Leisure
Services Officer should verify just how stringent that timescale was,
with a view to reporting to the Personnel Sub-Committee on 20 November
1995 as to whether it would be practicable to reconsider the matter
following the departmental restructuring exercise.
RESOLVED - That
(1) the Working Party's notes be received;
(2) the Personnel Sub-Committee be asked to consider, at their
meeting on 20 November 1995, whether there might be scope for
reviewing their decision regarding a Woodland Officer;
(3) the Environmental Focus scheduled for March 1996 be used as the
vehicle for presenting a proposed timetable for the launch of "Local
Agenda 21" and to report on the issues which will need to be addressed
etc., with the launch itself taking place at a further focus event
later in the year; and
(4) the Association for the Conservation of Energy be supported in
its attempt to secure legislation which will reduce the VAT payable on
energy saving materials to the same rate as that paid on fuel
supplies.
CAPITAL PROGRAMME
820 Monitoring Report
The expenditure monitoring report, which had been prepared by the
Capital Programme Officer Group, was presented.
RESOLVED - That the report be received.
821 Usable Capital Receipts - Temporary Changes
Referring to Minute 1951 (1994/95), the Treasurer reported that the
Government (by Regulation) had confirmed its proposal to increase from
50% to 90% the usable proportion of capital receipts arising from the
sale of retail property in the year from 1 September 1995.
The effect was to increase the Council's capital spending ability by
¨540,000 (i.e. 40% of ¨1,350,000 being the sale price of the freehold
of the Westmorland Shopping Centre, Kendal, less 10% deposit).
Completion of that transaction had taken place on 7 September 1995.
RESOLVED - That the additional opportunity to incur capital
expenditure, albeit without any additional revenue resources, be
noted.
822 Capital Programme Working Party
The minutes of the meeting of the Working Party held on 12 September
1995 were presented. They included decisions by the Working Party to
revise the monitoring procedures, based on proposals by the Capital
Programme Officer Group; to ask the Housing Committee to consider the
likely size of future annual Housing "Customer Choice" Programmes in
order that workloads could be planned efficiently; to endorse the
general principle of compulsory purchase/ opportunity purchase under
the housing enabling role; and to make revisions to the Capital
Programme.
The Working Party was also asking the Committee to recommend approval
to reserve schemes being brought forward in the event of delay or
failure to obtain planning permission for the School Knott Housing
Scheme development at Windermere, and to the retention of ¨100,000 in
contingencies once provision had been made for the Low Mill Tannery
Land Reclamation Scheme, Ulverston.
Appended to the Working Party's minutes was a revised Financial
Model/Capital Programme. It reflected the decisions made by the
Working Party and continued assumptions that the Council's Basic
Credit Approval and Supplementary Credit Approval limit for Renovation
Grants for the years 1996/97 onwards would be unchanged from the
1995/96 figures. The Committee was asked to consider the revised
Financial Model/Capital Programme with a view to recommending it to
the Council for approval.
The attention of Members was drawn to a footnote to the revised
Model/Programme which stated that the Council had agreed that the
first call on usable capital receipts from the sale of the Westmorland
Shopping Centre would be in respect of Grange-over-Sands Swimming Pool
(at least ¨300,000) and that the second call would be for a CCTV
scheme for Kendal.
The Chief Technical Officer reported the results of the survey of the
existing pool at Grange, and on a feasibility study for an indoor pool
and associated revenue earning facilities on the site of the Pool.
Both aspects had been discussed by the Grange-over-Sands Recreation
Working Party on 25 September 1995 and at a meeting which the Working
Party had held with interested parties/organisations later that same
day.
The Clerk and Chief Executive also gave a progress report on steps
which were being taken to secure additional funding for the CCTV
scheme for Kendal.
RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meeting of the Capital Programme
Working Party held on 12 September 1995, and the officers' reports be
received.
* RECOMMENDED - That
(1) in the event of delay or failure to obtain planning permission
for the School Knott Housing Development, Windermere, approval be
granted to Oak Street, Windermere and Sparrowmire Phase VI and part of
Phase VII, Kendal, being brought forward and thereby taking up the
capital allocation to the School Knott scheme in 1995/96;
(2) ¨100,000 be retained in Contingencies (P&R 5.2) for "other
purposes" once provision has been made for Low Mill Tannery Land
Reclamation Scheme (the inclusion of which is qualified until the
availability of all grants towards the scheme is confirmed);
(3) the revised Capital Programme appended to these minutes (Appendix
A) be approved; and
(4) all other bids/amendments which have been considered by the
Working Party, but not included in the Revised Programme, be held in
abeyance for the time being.
823 Capital Estimate - Kendal Town Hall Stonework (LT5.11)
Further to Minute 1955 (1994/95), the Treasurer sought approval for a
capital estimate for remedial work at Kendal Town Hall.
The work was to be carried out at the same time as urgent revenue
repairs to the Band Room roof, enabling a saving of ¨3,250 to be made
on the revenue scheme, which had been originally estimated at ¨52,000.
It would however, require the closure of Lowther Street for a period
of 22 weeks from 9 October 1995.
RESOLVED - That the undermentioned capital estimate be approved:-
Revenue Consequences
Total Capital 1995/96 1996/97 1997/98
Estimate/Cost Estimate Estimate Forecast
¨ ¨ ¨ ¨
Remedial work -
Kendal Town Hall
Stonework (LT5.11)
together with fees. 107,500 5,700 11,500 11,500
Capital Financing
costs (20 years)
STRATEGIC BUDGETING
824 Priority Rating Exercise
The Clerk and Chief Executive reported that he had circulated elected
Members with a questionnaire, in the same way as he had done the
previous year, designed to help define the Council's priorities.
In view of the somewhat indifferent response from Members he had
deduced that the questionnaire form was not a suitable vehicle on
which to base strategic decisions. He had however analysed the 20
replies received, and the results were presented to the Committee,
together with a report by the Treasurer on the Medium Term Commitment
Plan and other financial issues which had a bearing on strategic
budgeting.
Members considered possible reasons for the poor response to the
questionnaire. These included failure to consult the Strategic
Budgeting Working Party over the content of the questionnaire, the
complexity of the questionnaire, and newly elected Members not having
received any induction training in relation to strategic budgeting.
The Chairman of the Committee felt that there was a need to consult
more widely (i.e. outside the Council), over the Council's priorities.
The poor response to the questionnaire exercise and Members desire for
a more simplified procedure, further consultation with the Strategic
Budgeting Working Party and wider consultation cast doubts on whether
a strategic budget for 1996/97, based on the 1995 exercise, was a
viable proposition. Against that was balanced the timescale for
settling the budget and other influencing factors (e.g. departmental
and committee restructuring).
* RECOMMENDED - That
(1) the Strategic Budgeting Process be continued; and
(2) no further priority consultation exercise be undertaken with
elected Members in order to formulate a strategic budget for 1996/97.
RESOLVED - That in order to formulate a strategic budget for 1997/98
(1) a meeting of the Strategic Budgeting Working Party be convened to
assist with the production of a simplified and more easily understood
questionnaire (possibly incorporating the use of pie charts and a
service grouping approach);
(2) a seminar on strategic budgeting be held for the benefit of all
Members; and
(3) approval in principle be given to a wider consultation exercise
(possibly with Town and Parish Councils/Meetings, local organisations
and the general public), once the areas over which consultation is
required have been defined.
825 General Budget Issues
The Treasurer presented the Council's Medium Term Commitment Plan and
drew attention to other financial issues which had a bearing on
strategic budgeting.
The costs of continuing with the existing level of service had been
identified in the Plan's figures, which had been approved by all
Committees. They were compared with possible capping levels, and it
had been assumed the capping rules would continue to apply in
subsequent years, merely allowing annual 0.5% increases. The figures
did not however allow for the effects of departmental restructuring,
nor the probability of National Park levies having to be met within
the cap. Nevertheless the projections in the Plan pointed to the fact
that the Council's Revenue Budget would be under-resourced in 1996/97
and 1997/98. Substantial reductions would therefore have to be
contemplated to the figures in the forecasts.
At a national level, the Department of the Environment, together with
the Local Authority Associations, were examining a number of possible
revisions to the Standing Spending Assessment (SSA) formula.
Included amongst them were the downgrading of the sparsity factor
(from which the District Council, as a sparsely populated area,
benefitted) and enchancements to the weightings given to the London
local authorities in recognition of the special circumstances which
pertained in the Capital. The North West Regional Association had
drawn attention to some of the obscure technical reasons for those
proposed enhancements and to the way that other local authorities
outside London would be subsidising the London authorities if those
enhancements were ratified.
With regard to the Government's capping règime, although speculation
about its removal was rife, the Treasurer was recommending that the
Council should plan on the assumption that it would be retained for
future years. Even if the caps were removed, the District Council
would have to consider carefully the extra burden on its Council Tax
payers were it to set its expenditure at the level predicted in the
Medium Term Commitment Plan, bearing in mind what might be precepted
by Cumbria County Council and the Police Authority and levied by the
National Parks.
Members shared the Treasurer's concerns, and believed that pressure
should again be brought to bear on the Government for a more realistic
recognition within the SSA formula, of the impact of day visitors on
the District and hence on the District Council's services.
RESOLVED - That
(1) the attention of Local Members of Parliament be drawn to the
threat of a down-grading of the sparsity factor and the impact of the
London area cost adjustment factor within the SSA formula and the
effect that these would have on the District Council;
(2) in order to reinforce the District Council's case, officers be
asked to gather together evidence about the additional costs involved
in providing services in rural areas and to forward that evidence to
the Association of District Councils and to the Department of the
Environment; and
(3) the case concerning the day visitor factor within the SSA be
again taken up with the Government via the Association of District
Councils.
826 ADJOURNMENT OF MEETING
The meeting adjourned for lunch at 12.56 p.m. and reconvened at
2.00 p.m. when the same Members were present.
FUTURE OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SOUTH LAKELAND
827 Future of South Lakeland Working Party
The Committee considered the notes of the meeting of the Working Party
held on 22 August 1995, from which it was noted that there was
continuing dialogue with representatives of Cumbria County Council
over improvements to the two tier structure, that the Chairman of the
Working Party and the Clerk and Chief Executive had given their views
to the County Council's Select Committee E on the County Council's
proposals for devolution, and that the Working Party had given limited
support to the Friends of Real Lancashire in putting forward a case to
Cumbria County Council in furtherance of the campaign for recognition
of Cumbria's historic counties.
RESOLVED - That the notes be received.
828 Committee/Departmental Restructuring
As a consequence of the adoption by the Council of the "Minimum
Disturbance Option" and the "Commissioner/Provider Split", the
Committee considered the various instructions which had been given to
the Future of South Lakeland Working Party (pursuant to Minutes 453
and 479 (1995/96)) and the Working Party's response, as contained in
the notes of its meeting held on 22 August.
With regard to Committee restructuring the Working Party had
considered three issues:-
(a) the possibility of establishing a Rural Communities Group;
(b) the detailed functions of each Committee under the "Minimum
Disturbance" decision; and
(c) the workload of the Policy and Resources Committee and the
potential for delegation to its main Sub-Committees.
The Working Party's view on (a) was that, on balance, it would not be
in the best interests of the Council to create a Rural Communities
Group.
On (b) it had made minor revisions to the detailed functions of
certain Committees.
Under (c) it was recommending a substantial revision of the delegated
powers of the Policy and Resources Committee and the Finance and
Property Sub-Committee (which should be renamed Finance and General
Purposes Sub-Committee to reflect its wider role) and no changes to
the terms of reference and delegated powers of the Personnel
Sub-Committee.
Members considered whether certain detailed functions had been
allocated to the appropriate committees, but recognised that there
would be an opportunity to "fine tune" these at a later stage, in the
light of experience. They also discussed the implementation date for
the "Minimum Disturbance" decision and recognised that it would be
beneficial for it to coincide with the Annual Meeting of the Council
in May 1996.
As to Departmental Restructuring, the Working Party was recommending
that the timetable presented to the Committee on 24 July 1995 be
approved, subject to it being recognised that, whilst restructuring
could be implemented on 1 April 1996 only Central Support Departments
could "go live" on that date and that a further year may be required
to implement change involving the creation of business units from the
Environmental Health, Leisure Services and Planning Departments.
A special meeting of the Committee would be held in October 1995 to
consider recommendations by the Clerk and Chief Executive and the
three Directors (designate) for the new staffing structure of the
Council.
* RECOMMENDED - That
(1) the Committee structure outlined at Appendix B to these minutes
and the changes referred to in 3(a), (b), (c) and (d) below be adopted
and implemented from 14 May 1995;
(2) a Rural Communities Group be not established;
(3) (a) the reserved powers and duties of the Council (as contained
in paragraph A1 of the existing Scheme of Delegation) be amended
by the deletion of sub-paragraph (r) "the allowing of food shops
in the Westmorland Shopping Centre, Kendal" in view of the sale
of the freehold of the Centre;
(b) the Finance and Property Sub-Committee be renamed the
Finance and General Purposes Sub-Committee;
(c) the delegated powers and terms of reference of the Policy
and Resources Committee be amended and revised into the format
shown at Appendix C(1) to those minutes;
(d) the delegated powers and terms of reference of the Finance
and General Purposes Sub-Committee be as set out at Appendix C(2)
to these minutes; and
(e) no changes be made to the terms of reference and delegated
powers of the Personnel Sub-Committee; and
(4) the departmental restructuring timetable being recommended by the
Future of South Lakeland Working Party be approved.
829 Improvements to the System of Local Government Within South Lakeland
District
As part of its remit of examining ways of improving the system of
local government in the District, the Future of South Lakeland Working
Party had considered a Code of Practice on working with local councils
in Cumbria. The Code had been produced by Cumbria County Council in
liaison with the Cumbria Association of Local Councils.
The County Joint Committee had also considered the Code, and had
resolved that it should be presented to appropriate district council
committees. The County Council's Chief Executive had also suggested
that the District Council might like to consider adopting it (suitably
adapted) as a base document from which to develop working
relationships with local councils in South Lakeland. The Future of
South Lakeland Working Party supported that approach and were
submitting the Code to the Committee for consideration, together with
a consultation document from the County Council on "Working Together:
Towards a Voluntary Sector Strategy for Cumbria County Council".
RESOLVED - That
(1) a Code of Practice on Working with Local Councils, based on the
County Council's Code of Practice, be drawn up by the Future of South
Lakeland Working Party;
(2) Cumbria County Council be informed that the Committee welcomes
its document on "Working Together: Towards a Voluntary Strategy for
Cumbria County Council" and that the District Council will in turn be
producing its own document; and
(3) the content of that document be drawn up by the Future of South
Lakeland Working Party.
830 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ASSOCIATION
Further to Minute 410 (1995/96), a Joint Policy Circular from the
three local authority associations had been received, formally
inviting the District Council to join the Local Government
Association. The invitation to join was on the basis of the proposals
set out in "One Voice for Local Government" as modified by the revised
proposals reported to the Committee on 11 July 1995.
A timetable, setting out key dates and actions leading to the creation
of the Local Government Association, had been included with the Policy
Circular. The Committee's attention was drawn to the first meeting of
the Shadow General Assembly of the new Association, which was to be
held in Central London on 30 November 1995. There was an invitation
to nominate a named representative to attend the meeting.
The Clerk and Chief Executive referred to Minute 1550 (1994/95) and
reminded the Committee that the Council had registered the strongest
possible protest against any proposal to include it within a regional
structure, under a new Local Authority Association, which was based on
the Northern Region; furthermore it had made it known to the local
authority associations, that unless it was positioned within the
Region which was based on the Government's Integrated Offices for the
North West, it would be forced to reconsider its position regarding
support for a new single Local Authority Association. Although the
Clerk and Chief Executive had received written assurances via the
Association of District Councils that the Council's wishes would be
accommodated, he was not aware that the constitution of the new
Association reflected those wishes.
* RECOMMENDED - That
(1) subject to the incorporation of a rider which safeguards the
Council's position regarding its membership being conditional upon it
being positioned within the regional structure based on the
Government's Integrated Offices for the North West under the New Local
Authority Association, the Secretary of the Association of District
Councils be advised that the District Council will join the Local
Government Association; and
(2) Councillor Mrs E.M. Braithwaite be appointed as the Council's
representative to attend the inaugural meeting of the Shadow General
Assembly of the Association on 30 November 1995.
831 A CHOICE FOR ENGLAND: A CONSULTATION PAPER ON LABOUR'S PLANS FOR
ENGLISH REGIONAL GOVERNMENT
The Labour Party had published a consultation paper setting out its
proposals for English regional government. A copy of the introduction
and summary was presented to the Committee for comment.
The Association of District Councils (ADC) had suggested that as the
debate about regional government was an important issue for all member
authorities (whatever their political control), it was keen to receive
member authorities' comments on the paper so that it could develop a
full and considered response.
The ADC was also holding a one day seminar in London on 26 October
1995 to assist authorities consider the issue.
RESOLVED - That
(1) a response, on the Council's behalf, be made to the Consultation
Paper;
(2) the Future of South Lakeland Working Party be asked to make that
response; and
(3) no delegate be appointed to attend the seminar in London on
26 October 1995.
APPOINTMENT OF REPRESENTATIVES TO SERVE ON OUTSIDE BODIES
832 Cumbria Rural Citizens' Advice Bureau
By Minute 407 (1995/96), the Committee had appointed Councillor
Mrs J.S. Borer as the Council's representative on the Management
Committee of the Cumbria Rural Citizens' Advice Bureau.
Mrs Borer had subsequently stated that due to other major commitments
she was unable to give the work of the Bureau the attention and
support required and could not therefore accept the appointment.
RESOLVED - That Councillor Mrs G.S. Hubbard be appointed as the
Council's representative on the Management Committee of the Cumbria
Rural Citizens' Advice Bureau.
833 Sandgate Pool, Kendal - Consultative Committee
At its meeting on 28 April 1992, the Committee had appointed
Councillor B. Todd as the Council's representative to serve on the
Consultative Committee for a four year term (expiring 1996).
Councillor Todd had indicated that he wished to resign as the
Council's representative.
The Committee was asked to appoint a replacement to serve out the
remaining year of the term of office.
RESOLVED - That Councillor W. Stewart be appointed as the Council's
representative to serve on the Sandgate Pool Consultative Committee.
834 GRANTS TO ORGANISATIONS
The Treasurer reported that a balance of ¨1,685 remained unallocated
from the 1995/96 budget of ¨63,790.
Further to Minute 403 (1995/96), he re-submitted applications from
YMCA Lakeside - Princes Trust for Volunteers and The Granary,
Ulverston, together with further financial information about those
organisations.
He also reported that applications for grant aid had been received
from NSPCC - South Cumbria Centre and the Portia Trust.
RESOLVED - That
(1) a grant of ¨1,000 be made to the NSPCC - South Cumbria Centre,
together with one of ¨685.00 to The Granary, Ulverston, towards their
ongoing work; and
(2) the applications from YMCA Lakeside - Princes Trust for
Volunteers and the Portia Trust, towards setting up costs for
projects, be not granted.
835 COMMEMORATION OF THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF VJ DAY
RESOLVED - That the action of the Chairman of the Policy and Resources
Emergency Sub-Committee in authorising a VJ Day Commemorative Event
grant of ¨50.00 to the King's Own Border Social and Recreation Centre,
Ulverston, following a late application, be confirmed.
PUBLIC OFFICES
836 Ulverston Town Hall - Office Accommodation
As a result of the split of the former Housing Department into client
and contractor the office accommodation at Ulverston Town Hall used by
the Department had been divided between the two. However, the space
allocated to the contractor was insufficient, and the Clerk and Chief
Executive presented proposals for a short-term solution.
It was recognised, however, that a development plan for the Town Hall
was in the course of preparation and that the Working Party, appointed
pursuant to Minute 1164 (1994/95), was likely to be reporting its
findings and recommendations to the Committee on 5 December 1995.
RESOLVED - That no action be taken for the time being on the proposals
for a short-term solution to the office accommodation problems at
Ulverston Town Hall, and the report of the Working Party be awaited.
837 MEMBERS' TRAINING DAY: "PUBLIC RELATIONS - WHAT VALUE?"
Each year Members from the six District Councils and the County
Council were invited to attend a training event organised by their
training officers.
The subject for the 1995 event was "Public Relations - What Value to
Local Authorities?". The event would be held on 24 October 1995 at
Higham Hall, Bassenthwaite.
Each of the District Councils and the County Council were being
invited to send up to six Members. The Chief Executives and one other
officer from each authority with responsibility for Public Relations
were also being invited.
The Committee was asked to approve the attendance of up to six Members
and to authorise attendance at the event as an Approved Duty for the
payment of Attendance, Travelling and Subsistence Allowances, as in
previous years.
Group Leaders had already been asked to nominate one Member each from
their respective Groups; that left the Committee with the task of
appointing two more delegates.
RESOLVED - That
(1) the attendance of up to six Members at the training day be
approved;
(2) in addition to the four Members appointed via the Group Leaders,
Councillors Mrs E.M. Braithwaite and S.B. Collins be also appointed to
attend; and
(3) the attendance of the Members be authorised as an Approved Duty
for the payment of Attendance, Travelling and Subsistence Allowances.
Note:- In accordance with Section 100(4)(b) of the Local Government
Act 1972, the Chairman allowed the following item of business, which
required an urgent response.
838 DISTRICT AUDIT CONFERENCE - "ADDING VALUE LOCALLY"
District Audit was organising a series of Value for Money launch
conferences, under the title of "Adding Value Locally". They were
specifically targeted at local authority Members, Chief Executives and
other Chief Officers.
The District Auditor had issued an invitation for the Council to be
represented at the launch conference at Leyland on 16 October 1995.
RESOLVED - That Councillor E. Proctor be appointed as the Council's
elected Member delegate to the launch conference at Leyland, and his
attendance be authorised as an "Approved Duty" for the payment of
Attendance and Travelling and Subsistence Allowances.
839 COMPULSORY COMPETITIVE TENDERING (CCT)
Finance Services and Information Technology
Referring to Minute 1247 (1994/95), the Treasurer reported Regulations
(effective from 20 August 1995) which confirmed the proposals
contained in the consultation papers considered by the Committee on
3 January 1995.
There was however confusion about how the percentage of work, which
local authorities must subject to CCT, would be calculated.
Different interpretations were being proffered by the Department of
the Environment, the Audit Commission and CIPFA. A meeting with the
District Auditor was being sought to try and clarify the situation.
RESOLVED - That the Regulations be noted and a further report be
presented to the Committee as the position develops and, hopefully,
clarifies.
840 PRESS AND PUBLIC
RESOLVED - That, under Section 100(A)(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 involve the
likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 8, 9,
1, 12 and 9 respectively, of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
841 DIRECT SERVICES DEPARTMENT
Building Division
Further to Minutes 1973 (1994/95) and 396 (1995/96), the General
Manager of the Direct Services Department presented a report on the
operations of the Building Division. Given the encouraging signs, the
progress made, and recognising that the Division was providing a good
service to the Council, whilst saving it substantial costs, the Direct
Services Management Board was recommending that the Building Division
be retained and given every encouragement to succeed.
RESOLVED - That
(1) the recommendations of the Board be wholeheartedly supported; and
consequently
(2) the Building Division of the Direct Services Department be
retained.
842 Losses
Referring to Minute 397 (1995/96), the Clerk and Chief Executive
presented a further report, containing his observations and actions
taken or proposed in relation to the issues raised in the findings of
the Panel appointed pursuant to Minute 1239 (1994/95).
RESOLVED - That the report be noted.
843 APPOINTMENT OF ACTING CHIEF PLANNING OFFICER AND ACTING CHIEF
TECHNICAL OFFICER
Further to Minute 739(1) (1995/96), whereby it had been reported that
the Chief Technical Officer and the Chief Planning Officer had
accepted Voluntary Redundancy terms, the Clerk and Chief Executive
stated that the two officers would retire with effect from
30 September 1995. As no new appointments would be made to the posts,
the respective Deputy Chief Officers were being asked to stand in
until the Council was restructured on 1 April 1996. Given the
circumstances which surrounded the cases and the longer than usual
period of cover required, the Committee was asked to approve the
appointment of Mr M.P. Jayne (Deputy Chief Planning Officer and
Director (designate) of Operations) as Acting Chief Planning Officer
and Mr J. Tait (Deputy Chief Technical Officer) as Acting Chief
Technical Officer.
The Treasurer reported on the financial implications of the Chief
Officer retirements and the Acting Chief Officer appointments, and on
possible sources from which to fund them.
RESOLVED - That the aforementioned officers be appointed,
respectively, as Acting Chief Planning Officer and Acting Chief
Technical Officer for the period 1 October 1995 to 31 March 1996 on a
salary commensurate with the lowest point of Chief Officer Scale 5.
* RECOMMENDED - That the revenue consequences (¨23,800) of the
retirements/re-designations in 1995/96 not covered by savings within
the two departments concerned, be financed out of the revenue funds,
totalling ¨648,800, which have been earmarked for capital purposes.
844 PUBLIC OFFICES
South Lakeland House - Heating and Ventilation Problems
The Clerk and Chief Executive reported on the ongoing problems with
the heating and ventilation system in South Lakeland House and sought
approval to the appointment of a consultant engineer specialising in
heating and ventilation design. The consultant had previously been
engaged to discuss with the designers of the system problems which had
been identified at an earlier stage and the proposals for dealing with
those problems. Another report from her had also been commissioned
with regard to investigations into the background of the installation
of the system.
If ratified, her further appointment would cover work in assessing the
suitability of any additional remedial work proposed by the
designers. In the event of failure to reach agreement over the scope
of that work, she would be asked to prepare a report on the system,
which would compare the standard of its design with the standard
expected from a reasonably competent engineer. It was anticipated
that her fees might be recoverable.
RESOLVED - That Linda Austin of Philip Rockhill and Associates be
appointed to act on the Council's behalf in the above matter.
* RECOMMENDED - That a supplementary Revenue Estimate of up to ¨10,000
be approved to cover the cost of her fees.
845 APPLICATION FOR BUILDING AT SOUTHFIELD, MILNTHORPE ROAD, KENDAL
The Committee considered an application for the granting of consent to
a breach of a covenant restricting the building of houses at
Southfield, Milnthorpe Road, Kendal.
RESOLVED - That the application be refused.
The meeting ended at 5.42 p.m.