To receive the report and to consider any recommendations to Council arising from the meetings held on 31 July, 11 September and 2 October 2008.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor RJ Phillips, presented the report of the meetings of Cabinet held on 29 May, 12 June and 10 July 2008.

In response to a question on Agenda Item 4.1 on the Review of Service Delivery Partnership, the Leader informed Council that there would be an independent consultant brought in to look at the results of the Service Delivery Review.

In answer to a question on Agenda item 5.1 Minster College Building Schools for the Future the Leader assured Council that discussions with the relevant people would take place to review the current level of provision for children with special educational needs in the county.

In response to a series of questions on Agenda Item 10.1 concerning Swimming Provision for Primary Schools in Hereford City – the LEA pool - and the decision not to reopen it, the Leader informed Council that the Herefordshire Schools Forum is a properly constituted body comprised of members of the teaching community as well as elected Councillors. The Schools Forum decision was based on the fact that they did not want to divert funds away from education provision to provide the pool.  He assured Members that the report from the call in meeting by the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee was due to be heard by Cabinet on the 20 November. He stated that the main direction of any swimming pool funding should be directed towards the HALO pools and the Council was also making a bid to offer free swimming to the under 16s as well as the over 60s.

In responding to questions relating to Agenda Item 8.2 the Edgar Street Grid (ESG) and specifically its retail development and Cattle Market site, the Leader said that the site proposed was thoroughly researched.  Other sites including land at Gaol Street or at the back of Woolworths was deemed either not large enough or had multiple landowners.  The current site was in Council ownership, close to the city centre and had considerable private sector support for the project.  He emphasised that he was committed to delivering the retail quarter as planned and that to unpick it at this stage would jeopardise investment already secured. The Leader assured Council that all members of the ESG board lived in the county, and one in fact lived within the city, so they were all able to act with the best interests of county residents in mind. He paid tribute to those who served on the board without payment.

With regard to Agenda Item 11.1 the Leader endorsed Members’ appreciation of the Treasury Management system within the Council especially considering the ongoing world financial crisis.

The Leader informed Members that he was recently appointed to a regional advisory panel to advise central government on local issues and to ensure continued sources of funding. In the past, Herefordshire had been fortunate enough to benefit from a great deal of external funding but this was not set to continue in the future.

RESOLVED:  That the reports from the meetings of Cabinet held on 29 May, 12 June and 10 July 2008 be received and the recommendation set out below be adopted:

That the Youth Justice Plan 2008/9 be approved.