Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2014.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2014 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Leader, subject to inserting the following text under ‘Matters of Urgent Business’:

“Community Based Assets Review

It was noted that a recent Cabinet Overview Working Group had agreed to seek cross-party support that the above review would remain a Council priority until its work had been completed.”

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

None.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

The question submitted and response provided are appended to these minutes.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council Procedure Rules.

To consider any petitions that have been referred to the Cabinet under the Council’s Petition Scheme.

To note the Forward Plan, which lists all upcoming Cabinet decisions and provides notice of key decisions and those expected to be taken in private session.

RESOLVED that

(a)       the Forward Plan is noted;

(b)       a confirmed decision date for the ‘Outcome of Harlow Strategic Partnership for Educational Attainment on School Readiness, School Improvement and Post 16 Opportunities’ is included in the next Forward Plan submitted to the Cabinet.

To note recent Portfolio Holder decisions taken under delegated powers, as attached:

            RESOLVED that the following decision is noted:

          RESOLVED that

          (a)      the current polling districts remain unchanged;

(b)      with effect from 1 December 2014 the current polling places remain unchanged except for the:- 

(i)       Church Langley Ward where an interim review of the polling places shall take place in the Summer of 2015.

(ii)      designation of the Little Parndon School as the polling place for the polling district of Little Parndon and Hare Street East.

In line with the statutory requirement to review polling places, the Cabinet received a report on the latest consultation carried out in the summer. 

It was noted that ‘and the social club is used by the Labour Party as its social club’ should be deleted from Paragraph 19 of the report, as this Colt Hatch venue had not been used by them for a number of years.

Members of the Cabinet considered the representations received and the subsequent recommendations of the Council’s (Acting)/ Returning Officer.

An amendment proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan) for an interim review of the Church Langley Ward next Summer, was carried.

Proposed by Councillor Jean Clark (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan) Cabinet:

            RESOLVED that

            (a)       the current polling districts remain unchanged;

(b)       with effect from 1 December 2014 the current polling places remain unchanged except for the:- 

(i)         Church Langley Ward where an interim review of the polling places shall take place in the Summer of 2015;

(ii)        designation of the Little Parndon School as the polling place for the polling district of Little Parndon and Hare Street East.

            RESOLVED that

(a)       the Council submits a tender bid to Essex County Council (ECC) for the provision of an adult day care service at the Leah Manning Centre (LMC) for a further three years (with a possibility to extend by a further year);

(b)       authority is delegated to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Youth and Community to approve the tender submission;

(c)        it is agreed that the decisions above are (i) reasonable in all the circumstances and (ii) should be treated as urgent for the reasons specified in paragraph 7 of the report.

As Essex County Council would be ceasing the current block contract arrangements for the provision of adult social care services at the Leah Manning Centre by the end of next March, the Cabinet received a report proposing that Harlow Council entered into a commercial contract with the County Council to continue this provision with effect from 1 April 2015.

Proposed by Councillor Emma Toal (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) Cabinet:

            RESOLVED that

(a)       the Council submits a tender bid to Essex County Council (ECC) for the provision of an adult day care service at the Leah Manning Centre (LMC) for a further three years (with a possibility to extend by a further year);

(b)       authority is delegated to the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Youth and Community to approve the tender submission;

(c)        it is agreed that the decisions above are (i) reasonable in all the circumstances and (ii) should be treated as urgent for the reasons specified in paragraph 7 of the report.

RESOLVED that the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report, (and with the inclusion of “ and £6million over the Christmas period”) added to the last sentence of paragraph 33 (page 36), including the proposal to lower the counterparty rating for banks and other organisations from A(-) to BBB(+) as explained in paragraph 6 of the report, is noted and referred to Full Council for approval.

The Cabinet received a report on the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy.

It was noted that Appendix A of the report should be amended by adding “and £6m over the Christmas period.” to the last sentence in Paragraph 33.

Proposed by Councillor Jon Clempner (seconded by Councillor Tony Durcan) Cabinet:

RESOLVED that the mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report (and with the inclusion of “and £6m over the Christmas period” added to the last sentence of Paragraph 33 – page 36), including the proposal to lower the counterparty rating for banks and other organisations from A(-) to BBB(+) as explained in paragraph 6 of the report, is noted and referred to Full Council for approval.

None.

To note the following draft minutes of Cabinet appointed bodies. Minutes remain draft until approved by the relevant body.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted.

To deal with any matters of an urgent nature.

None.