To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor H Bramer.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

6. DILWYN CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL: DETERMINATION OF PROPOSAL TO CONTINUE.

Councillor AJM Blackshaw, Personal, School Governor of Canon Pyon CE Primary School.

6. DILWYN CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL: DETERMINATION OF PROPOSAL TO CONTINUE.

Councillor RJ Phillips, Personal, School Governor of Pembridge CE Primary School.

6. DILWYN CHURCH OF ENGLAND PRIMARY SCHOOL: DETERMINATION OF PROPOSAL TO CONTINUE.

Councillor WLS Bowen, Personal, School Governor of Kingsland CE Primary School.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2010.

RESOLVED that:      

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2010 be approved as correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide Cabinet with an overview of performance in the first half of the year against the Joint Corporate Plan 2010-13.

Cabinet received a report which provided an overview of performance in the first half of the year against the Joint Corporate Plan 2010-13.

RESOLVED that:

Cabinet considers performance to the end of September 2010 and the measures being taken to address areas of underperformance.

To approve the executive response.

The Cabinet Member Corporate Customer Services and Human Resources introduced the report which sought approval to the Executive’s response to the scrutiny review of communication with the public about services and access to those services.  Cabinet was advised that the recommendations were in line with those of Grant Riches, who had undertaken a formal review of the wider public relations and communications team.

The Deputy Chief Executive stated that the work undertaken by Grant Riches had provided much interesting benchmarking information which confirmed that, in comparison with others, Herefordshire was doing more with less in relation to communications and public relations.  The corporate approach would progress to centralise budget and consolidate activities.  It was emphasised that communications was the responsibility of all members and officers.  The importance of good communications, both in terms of delivery on strategy and day to day was highlighted.

The Chairman of the Review Group commented on the positive synergies of both the scrutiny review and the Grant Riches work, even though their remits focussed on different aspects of the communications work.  The group had been surprised by the sheer volume of leaflets and had commented on the use of language which was considered to be unfriendly in some cases.  Responding to the recent headline in the local press about webcasting of meetings, the Chairman of the Review Group was pleased to take the opportunity to emphasise that the recommendation of the Group had been that a trial be undertaken to assess its merits and demerits.

In discussion the following points were raised:

• It was encouraging to note that Herefordshire Matters was considered a confident media source by 92% of those responding.
• Comments were made that Herefordshire Matters’ political neutrality should be reviewed as it was stated that there was too much emphasis on the administration’s view.  In response, it was sated that this was not accepted as; Herefordshire Matters was a joint publication with NHS Herefordshire; articles were checked for political bias and revised as necessary; and that a section on scrutiny matters was included in each publication.  Officers regularly sought relevant and appropriate articles for inclusion in future editions.

RESOLVED that:

The Executive response be approved.

To consider a report on responses to the statutory notice to discontinue Dilwyn Church of England Primary School (Dilwyn School) and to determine if the school should close with effect from 31 August 2011. 

The Cabinet Member ICT, Education and Achievement presented the report on Dilwyn Church of England Primary School and highlighted the following points:

• All evidence concluded that Dilwyn School was not a stand alone viable and sustainable educational facility within the Herefordshire framework of schools.  The evidence had not changed since the closure notice was debated at Cabinet on 12 July 2010.
• The local authority had, over the last eighteen months, supported and assisted Dilwyn School in looking at ways to work with others and in maintaining the level of provision at the school.  The federation proposal prepared by the Headteacher of St Mary’s Roman Catholic (RC) School, Lugwardine, with the support of school governors, was the only hope of keeping Dilwyn School open.
• Following the notice of closure of Dilwyn School as agreed at Cabinet a period of consultation had taken place.  The local authority received support from many people in the Dilwyn area which placed an emphasis on allowing the federation to be given a chance.
• Significant time and effort had been put into updating the federation proposal by St Mary’s RC School which had been supporting Dilwyn School for some time at their own cost.
• The submission of the new proposal was supported by the Governors of St Mary’s RC School, so long as it received unanimous support from both the Diocese of Hereford and the Arch Diocese of Cardiff, and that the viability and sustainability of provision was ensured so that St Mary’s RC School would not be placed in a position whereby financial assistance would have to be given.
• The Diocese of Hereford, the Arch Dioceses of Cardiff, and the Governors of St Mary’s RC School were not now in support of the federation proposal.

The Interim Director of Children’s Services informed Members of recent events and formally introduced a joint statement signed by representatives from the Diocese of Hereford, the Arch Diocese of Cardiff, the Governors of St Mary’s RC School and the local authority on 22 November 2010, which had been circulated at the meeting.  Cabinet was specifically directed to the points outlined in the key consideration section of the report, which set out the process, issues raised and the response to the issues raised.  The following points were highlighted:

• The statutory notice, published on 9 September 2010, invoked a six week period during which time anyone could comment on or object to the proposal.
• All the 67 responses to the statutory notice objected to the proposal and the points raised considered in the development of the report. 
• The responses indicated strong support to the continuation of the school both for educational reasons and to ensure the sustainability of the community. 
• The majority of the respondents favoured the proposal to federate with St Mary’s RC school.  In several responses the view was expressed that such a proposal would attract more pupils as currently the pupil numbers were low as parents had chosen alternative schools due to the long term perceived threat of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

To report the forecast financial position for both revenue and capital to 31 March 2011 and provide an update on Directorates’ recovery plans instigated to address projected overspends.

Cabinet considered a report on the forecast financial position for both revenue and capital to 31 March 2011 and were updated on the Directorates’ recovery plans instigated to address projected overspends.  Additionally the report provided information on treasury management activities in the first six months of 2010/11 and the number and amounts written off for individual debts exceeding £1,000 covering the period 1 April 2010 to 30 September 2010.

The Cabinet in discussion make the following comments:

• The finance team was congratulated on clearer budgeting and reinvestment. 
• The rise in write offs was noted as a feature of the current economic climate, but needed to be monitored.
• Whilst appreciating that the pattern of reported overspend was as in previous years, the action from JMT on recovery plans and the reduction in discretionary spend was welcomed.
• 2010/11 would be the last year that local government would be financed to the current degree.  Future years would be different and challenging.  It was essential to explain to the public how the council would deliver its obligations in such changing times.
• Particular note was given to the council’s treasury management expertise in dealing with short term borrowing and liquidity management as well as the council’s AAA rating.  A 50 year borrowing term of 3.9% was highlighted as being very beneficial to the council.  Responding to a concern about borrowing exposure, assurance was provided that, as indicated in the treasury management interim report, the council’s borrowing exposure was conservative.
• It was recognised that financial issues relating to the Integrated Commissioning Directorate would remain.  A further £2billion had been announced from Government to support local government over the next four years as the acute need of Adult Social Care had been acknowledged as an issue across all local authorities.

In responding to comments and questions, the Director of Resources stated that:

• In managing of the council’s finances it was essential to balance risk against opportunity.  Assurances were provided that policies were in place to ensure that sound decisions were made, however no decision would ever be risk free.
• In recognising that there had been some concerns about collecting information across systems, the council would be implementing the Agresso system across all Directorates from April 2011. 

RESOLVED that:

a)      the report and the forecast deficit position of £2.4m be noted;

b)     the Chief Executive’s requirement that Directors deliver recovery plans to support delivery of balanced revenue budget be noted; and

c)      it be noted that 66 debts totalling £185k be written off.