To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors: LO Barnett, Cabinet Member Adult Social Care Health and Wellbeing, H Bramer, Cabinet Member Resources and JP French, Cabinet Member Corporate & Customer Services and Human Resources.

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

6. RESPONSE TO CALL IN OF DILWYN SCHOOL CLOSURE.

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

6. RESPONSE TO CALL IN OF DILWYN SCHOOL CLOSURE.

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

6. RESPONSE TO CALL IN OF DILWYN SCHOOL CLOSURE.

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

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2010.

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2010 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Note:   The Leader of the Council advised Cabinet that the local government settlement had been received on Monday 13 December.  He reminded Cabinet that an all Member seminar was to be held on Monday 10 January 2011 to address the issues of the settlement as the cut in funding had been 13.3%, which was a larger cut than had been expected. The Leader added that a general press release would be made to the local papers today, 16 December

To brief Cabinet on the support being given to the Office for National Statistics (ONS) as it prepares for the national census on 27 March 2011.

The Leader advised Cabinet of the need to raise public awareness of the forthcoming Census and how essential it was to the authority for future funding from central government.

A Senior Research Officer presented the report to Cabinet and the following comments were made/questions raised:

• Herefordshire Council was working closely with the Office for National Statistics.
• Cabinet was reminded of the hand book that had been sent to all Councillors regarding the Census and Census day was 27 March 2011.
• Reminded Cabinet of the need for all Councillors to raise the issue in their ward as there would not be the same degree of national publicity as in previous years.
• There had been a 94% response for the last Census and it was hoped to increase the response rate as the authority could lose out in future government funding if the detail was not gathered through the Census - current funding is based on 2001 statistics.
• There would be door to door visits to all households that didn’t respond by post or online to gather the Census information.
• Currently there was a campaign to get Census collectors to carry out these visits for ONS – 100 needed for the county.
• Assistance would be provided for anyone with a language difficulty and posters would be available in different languages to raise awareness.

RESOLVED

                        THAT Cabinet:

a)      recognised the importance of supporting the Office for National Statistics to ensure the 2011 Census response is maximised in Herefordshire;

b)     noted the ongoing liaison activities; and

c)      encouraged all Members to use the information in the Office for National Statistics Councillor Handbook to help spread the work in their communities.

To approve the Joint Capital and Asset Management Strategy (JCAMS) for 2010-2013.

The Head of Financial Services presented the report to Cabinet and reminded Cabinet that it was a joint strategy for both the Council and NHS Herefordshire for the approach to capital investment and disposal over the short and long term to deliver core service priorities. 

Cabinet discussed the following points:

• The priorities for Herefordshire both current and future.
• Noted that the assessment of assets and joint management approach by Herefordshire was a forerunner at to how other authorities would need to proceed in the future.
• In assessing assets held by the authority, it was noted that some buildings were old and would require considerable maintenance and in line with this the authority needed to be mindful of its requirement to reduce its carbon footprint.
• Cabinet was reminded that Herefordshire was a net beneficiary of business rates and any changes to the scheme could have considerable impact for the county.
• This local government settlement only covers a two year period.  Any proposal to change the business rates scheme was currently out for consultation.  Herefordshire would be asking questions on the proposals through the consultation process to try to ensure a sound system was brought in place of the current system.
• Cabinet was reminded that not only salaries in the county were low, but also profit levels of some businesses.
• Following reference to the new livestock market and the interest by those companies wishing to relocate to the units available, Cabinet was advised there was a mixture of current companies wishing to relocate and new companies wishing to take up units to make the new market the agricultural hub for the county.
• Cabinet was reminded that it was clear through the local government settlement that funds would not be available for capital programmes and therefore, funding needed to be found through asset disposal.
• In referring to capital costs in locality working, Cabinet was advised this would be looked at on a case by case basis and through the recycling of assets.
• Discussion was held on the Localities Bill and the issues that would be raised because of it.  A request was made that further information on the bill be provided to Members at the earliest opportunity.

RESOLVED: That the Joint Capital and Asset Management Strategy be approved.

To consider the outcome of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee meeting on 10 December 2010 which will review the Cabinet decision of 25 November 2010 that Dilwyn Church of England Primary School be discontinued from 31 August 2011.

Cabinet was provided with an extract from the minutes of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee meeting, which resolved that, the Committee accepted the decision of Cabinet with no further comment.

It was noted that the Cabinet decision of 25 November would take effect and that Dilwyn Church of England Primary School be discontinued on 31 August 2011.