Councillor R J Patterson in the Chair; Councillors A R Bowlas, G M Elliott, A Hughes, E I Hunter and J D Lockie.
IN ATTENDANCE :
Councillor F I Simpson.
306 APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors D G R Buckle, G P Horsburgh, C M Liddell-Grainger, D McClymont, L W Robson and J E Smith.
307 1. DECLARATION OF INTEREST 1
No declarations were made.
[Note : The Chairman proposed and it was agreed to amend the agenda running order to bring forward Item 14 : Development Services Unit – Service Improvement Plan, to Item 3 on the agenda].
308 2. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF POLICY (CORPORATE SERVICES AND REGENERATION) COMMITTEE HELD ON15TH SEPTEMBER 2004 1
DECISION: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Policy (Corporate Services and Regeneration) Committee held on 15th September 2004.
309 14. DEVELOPMENT SERVICES UNIT - SERVICE IMPROVEMENT PLAN 17
DECISION: That Members agree the action plan set out in this report, including the appointment of three additional posts within the Development Services Unit, as described, and funded from within the Town Planning budget.
310 3. REVIEW OF IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DISABILITY DISCRIMINATION ACT IN BERWICK BOROUGH COUNCIL 1
DECISIONS: (i) To accept the review; (ii) to agree to implement its recommendations to ensure the Council’s compliance with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, and to make Berwick-upon-Tweed an accessible Borough; and (iii) to thank Councillors S J Anderson and F I Simpson for their work on this item.
311 4. PILOT TAXI VOUCHER SCHEME FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES IN BERWICK BOROUGH 3
DECISION: To agree to contribute £3000 to the scheme for the first year of its operation subject to a suitable virement.
312 5. UNION OF THE CROWNS 5
DECISIONS: (i) To welcome the successful completion of the Union of the Crowns 400; and (ii) to agree to delay the invoicing of the remaining £11,000 or the proportion of that which can be covered by funding until those funds have been received
DECISIONS: (i) To note and endorse the work of the counter fraud investigation section for 2003/04 and for the first six months of 2004/05; and (ii) to request that the Head of Finance prepares a budget bid to bring fraud investigation resources up to a higher level.
DECISION: To note the report and consider whether there are any issues on which they require further investigation in order to fulfil responsibilities in relation to Corporate Governance.
316 9. RATE RELIEF APPLICATIONS 10
DECISION : To grant mandatory and discretionary relief to the applicant on the basis described in the report for the period until 31st March 2005.
317 10. BUDGETARY CONTROL REPORT – CAPITAL PROGRAMME EXPENDITURE 2004/05 12
The Head of Finance reported that since the report had been written officers responsible for specific capital projects had indicated that there had been progress with these in terms of expenditure. Most should be regarded as works in progress.
With regard to the North Road Industrial Estate extension, discussions with Northumberland County Council in respect of the method of delivering the scheme were ongoing.
DECISION: To note the budgetary control report to the 30th September 2004.
318 11. CITIZENS’ ADVICE BUREAU FUNDING 14
DECISIONS: (i) To maintain the Council’s core-funding of the Berwick Citizen’s Advice Bureau at the current level; and (ii) to request that officers scope out the resource implications of undertaking a comprehensive organisational review of the Bureau by Council officers with a view to helping the Bureau achieve efficiencies and continued delivery of core services within the community.
319 12. THE MALTINGS THEATRE AND ARTS CENTRE : URGENT WORKS 15
DECISION: To agree the works as detailed in the report and include the costs in the capital programme.
320 13. EXTERNAL AUDIT SYSTEMS REPORT AUGUST 2004 17
DECISION: To note the Systems Report from Deloitte dated August 2004.
321 15. MOVING FORWARD – THE NORTHERN WAY 23
DECISIONS: (i) That Members receive this report for information; (ii) that officers continue to work closely with ONE NorthEast and other local authorities on the Northern Way Strategy, as it is developed; and (iii) that the Council is well represented at the Sustainable Communities summit proposed for January 2005, and ensures that rural and agricultural issues in particular are given sufficient coverage at this event.
322 ADDITIONAL ITEM : TOURISM ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 23
DECISION: To agree to delegate to the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Director of Regeneration and Development, responsibility for formulating a response to the consultation on the TEAM report.
[Note : Copies of the TEAM report will be circulated to all Members for comment in due course; their comments will be included in the response].
323 16. EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC 26
DECISION:
To exclude under Section 100 A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and the public from the Meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that it was likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act:
Minute 324: Paragraph 9: Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.
324 17. LAND AT CORNHILL ROAD, TWEEDMOUTH 26
DECISIONS: (i) To request that the Borough Solicitor establishes ownership of the land in question by making an application to the Land Registry; and (ii) to agree in principal to the sale of land, if it can be proved that the land lies within the Council’s ownership, subject to valuation and a restrictive covenant as to development of the land.
