CONFIDENTIAL
(Confidential, because formal status is as minutes for a
group meeting. Copies to be restricted
to members of the Liberal Democrat Group at the discretion of the Executive
Leader, and to officers on a ‘need to know’ basis at the discretion of
Directors. Non-sensitive information on
individual items may, of course, need to emerge more widely in the course of
normal Council business or in response to a request for information under the
Freedom of Information Act 2000).
EXECUTIVE BRIEFING MEETING
Meeting: 28 February 2005
At: 3.00
pm
PRESENT:
Executive
Councillor Mark Hunter (Leader of the
Council) in the chair; Councillors Shan Alexander (Education), Martin Candler
(Social Care and Health), Sue Derbyshire (Infrastructure), David Goddard (Regeneration),
Pam King (Leisure and Culture), Hazel Lees (Environment), Brian Millard
(Resources) and Mark Weldon (Community Development).
Officers
John Schultz – Chief Executive
Ged Lucas – Deputy Chief Executive and Director of
Community Services
Ed Blundell – Director
for Education Services
Ted Lush – Director of Finance and Property Services
Elaine McLean – Director
of Environment and Economic Development Services
Nic Cox – General Manager, Stockport
Direct Services
Ken Horton – Strategic Head of e-Services
Carol Summers – Assistant
Director (Corporate Property Services), Finance and Property Services
Len Narborough – Assistant Director (Strategic Housing),
Environment and Economic Development Services
James Newell – Head
of Traffic Services, Environment and Economic Development Services
Dave Bryant – Planning
Policy Manager, Environment and Economic Development Services
Ron Lofkin – Principal
Adviser (Secondary Schools), Education Services
Marcus Bowell – Political
Assistant to the Liberal Democrat Group
David Clee – Committee
Manager, Chief Executive’s Services
Apologies
Apologies for absence were
submitted on behalf of Councillor John Pantall and Andrew Webb.
1. EARLY BRIEFING/GENERAL
BUSINESS
(a) The Future of Corporate Property
Services
Issue
Carol Summers gave a briefing in connection
with the options for the future of Corporate Property Services and updated
Executive Councillors on the work which had currently been carried out.
Outcome
·
Position
noted.
·
Issue
to be considered further at a future Leader’s Briefing Meeting.
(b) Decriminalised
Parking Enforcement
Issue
James Newell gave a briefing in connection
with the preparatory work which had been undertaken prior to the Council having
the legal powers, as from 4
April 2005, to enforce all parking offences within the borough.
Outcomes
·
Position
noted.
·
Leaflet
produced advising members of the public of the introduction of Decriminalised
Parking Enforcement to be sent to all Councillors.
(c) Strategy
and Mechanisms for Tackling the Under-Performance of Secondary Schools at Key
Stage 4 (See Minute 1 of 7 February 2005)
Issue
Ed Blundell and Ron Lofkin gave a briefing
in connection with raising standards at Key Stage 4.
Outcomes
·
Position
noted.
·
The
Leader of the Council, Executive Councillor (Education) and the Director for
Education Services to meet with secondary school headteachers to discuss
further.
(d) Overview
of Housing Act 2004 and recent Housing Policy Announcements from the Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister
Issue
Len Narborough gave a briefing in
connection with the provisions contained in the Housing Act 2004 and other
housing-related announcements made by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister
in January this year.
Outcomes
·
Position
noted.
·
Revised
briefing note to be circulated to all Councillors.
2. KEY AND NON-KEY DECISIONS
SCHEDULED FOR 14 MARCH AND 4
APRIL 2005 EXECUTIVE MEETINGS
Issue
·
List
of key and non-key decisions scheduled for consideration at future Executive
Meetings submitted.
·
Briefing
given in respect of:-
Unitary
Development Plan Update and Related Issues – the introduction of Housing
Phasing Policy HP1.5 (RGN 89)
Outcome
Issues to be considered further at Leader’s
Briefing Meeting on 3 March
2005.
3. BUDGET
Issue
Ted Lush reported that a report would be
submitted to the next Executive Briefing Meeting on the implications for
2006/07 of the 2005/06 Revenue Budget, and linking the budget in more detail to
the Council Plan and the consultation which had been undertaken. He further reported that an Efficiency
Statement was required by mid-April.
Outcome
·
Position
noted.
4. COMPREHENSIVE PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT/JOINT
AREA REVIEW PROGRESS
Issue
John Schultz reported that the Council was
expecting to be advised by the Audit Commission early next month of the date of
the Corporate Performance Assessment and Joint Area Review.
5. NOTE OF MEETING HELD ON 7 FEBRUARY 2005
Outcome
·
Note
approved as a correct record.
6. DEPARTMENT FOR EDUCATION AND SKILLS’ TARGETED
CAPITAL FUNDING (See
Minute 6 of 7 February 2005)
Issue
Ed Blundell
reported that the Department for Education and Skills had confirmed that
Targeted Capital Funding would be available in 2005/06. A bid would, therefore, be made by the
Council in accordance with the Executive’s preferred option for a new Romiley Primary School.
Outcome
·
Position noted.
The meeting
closed at 5.02 pm.
g:\mnutes.feb\Exec
Briefing 28 Feb
