Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 November 2007 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman.

(1)       Mr Hill updated Members on the following issues:-

Library Users Survey

(2)       Mr Hill reported that the Library Users Survey had been carried out and had shown a positive increase over the past two years against the background of a national reduction in service use.  Mr Hill undertook to bring to the Committee national comparative figures on user satisfaction rates for libraries when these were available so that these could be compared with the local figures.

Opening of the Margate Library/Gateway

(3)       Mr Hill informed the Committee that the Margate Library/Gateway had opened on 7 January 2008 and it was proving very successful.  A large number of people had visited on the opening day and the formal opening will take place on 15 February 2008.  This was the first of the Library/Gateways and it would be replicated when the opportunity arose.

Ashford Youth Club

(4)       Mr Hill reported that the Ashford Youth Club opened on 7 January 2008; this was a new build following a PFI at the school.

Kent School Games

(5)       Mr Hill informed the Committee that on 27 November 2007 the Kent School Games had been launched and 300 young people had involved in this event.

Adult Education Centre - Folkestone

(6)       Mr Hill reported that the new Adult Education Centre would be opening in Folkestone in March which would create links between Adult Education, the Library Service and the Creative Quarter.

Turner Contemporary

(7)       Mr Hill stated that on 20 February 2008 the planning application would be considered by Thanet District Council. When this process had been completed, the project would be submitted to SEEDA and the Arts Council for funding.

(8)       Mr Hill undertook to submit to a meeting of this Committee, information on the regeneration benefits of the Turner Contemporary Project and what effect it would have on the local area.

Young Consumer of the Year

(9)       Mr Hill reminded Members that the Young Consumer of the Year for Kent Final was being held at County Hall that day and invited Members to attend.

Alcohol Seminar

(10)     Mr Hill informed Members of an Alcohol Seminar, led by the Stronger and Safer Communities Group, during which a number of issues been raised relating to the services that Community provided and steps would be taken to address these.  There was a strong feeling that KCC and its partners should take a national lead on this issue.

(11)     Ms Honey introduced Mr D Cloake the new Head of Emergency Planning.

(12)     Ms Honey updated the Committee on the following issues:-

Youth Service

(13)     Ms Honey informed Members that the line management of the Youth Service would be moving from the Director of Community Cultural Services to the Director of Youth Offending and Substance Misuse with effect from 1 April 2008.

Youth Offending Service – Inspection

(14)     Ms Honey informed Members that the Youth Offending Service inspection had been held during the week of 7 January 2008. It had been carried out by 13 inspectors and had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

(1)       The Committee received their regular report on the forecast outturn against the budget for the Community Services Portfolio.  In paragraph 3.1 of the report, Mr Shipton highlighted the main variances.

(2)       Members of the Committee were given the opportunity to make comments and ask questions which included the following issues:-

·                    Adult Education enrolment – concern was expressed about the drop in enrolment for adult education.  Officers undertook to submit a report to the next meeting of the Policy Overview Committee on the drop in enrolments for Adult Education including the impact of increasing prices compared to the national picture.

·                    In relation to the Gravesend Library, Mr Hill undertook to ensure that local Members were involved in the development of proposals.

·                    Concern was expressed about the timing of the monitoring reports and the time that elapsed between them being produced and being submitted to the Policy Overview Committees.

·                    In relation to page B2:7 –Youth Offending Services Grant for the Youth Justice Board, it was confirmed that this was an annually renewable grant although it was anticipated that it would be at a stand still figure with no increase for inflation.

·                    It was suggested that it might be helpful to use youth centres to promote the Freedom Pass which would make them more accessible for young people.

·                    Page B2:16 –Ashford Library and Learning and Information Centre – in relation to the disposal costs mentioned, it was clarified this was for the disposal of a site purchased for a specific project and did not relate to the library itself.

(3)       RESOLVED that:-

(a)       that the  projected outturn figures for the directorate as at the at the second quarter be noted;

(b)       a report would be submitted to the next meeting of the POC on Adult Education

(1)       The Committee received a report which summarised “in year” performance information in advance of the annual review of performance which would be reported to the Committee in June 2008.  Members were invited to ask questions and make comments on the information provided.  These included following issues:-

·                    Members were informed that special funding provisions were being made for both disabled and able bodies sports men and women in the form of special grants in preparation for 2010.  It was confirmed that there were restrictions in relation to attracting sponsorship for the Olympics until after the next Olympic games had been held.

·                    Concern was expressed by Members about the different cycles running for Towards 2010 and the annual plan monitoring and that it would be helpful to have these two timetables running at the same time.

(2)       That the report and comments made by Members be noted.

(1)       The Committee considered the Communities Directorate’s Draft Budget proposals set out in the Draft Budget 2008-09 and the Draft Medium Term Financial Plan 2008-2011 and also the report which was circulated specifically relating to the key areas of these documents for Communities. 

(2)       The Cabinet Member and Officers introduced each section of the Revenue Budget and Capital Budget for the Communities Directorate and answered questions raised by Members of the Committee.

(3)       Mr Hill, Ms Honey, Mr Shipton, Mr Crilley, Ms Slaven, Mr Bainbridge and Ms Edwards answered questions from Members about the following issues:-

MTP 2008/09 to 2010/11

(a)     Base Budget Transfers to and from other Portfolios

(4)       In a response to a question from Mr Christie, Mr Shipton confirmed that after the start of 2008/09 it would not be necessary to transfer funds from other Portfolios to Communities as the transition to the new Communities Directorate would be complete.  In reply to a question from Mr Law, Mr Shipton confirmed that £92,000 transfer for 2008/09 was a net figure which included gross expenditure and income.

(5)       In response to a question from Mr Maddison, Mr Shipton confirmed that the loan to the Adult Education service for the 2006/07 over spend was an internal arrangement between the Finance and Communities portfolios 

(b)       Pay and Prices

(6)       In response to a question from Mr Christie, Mr Shipton explained that 2.5% had been provided for in the 2008/09 Budget for all pay groups (including staff in the Kent Scheme and national schemes) and in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2% has been provided for 2009-2010 and 2010-2011.  The amount for 2010/11 is more than 2009/10 to take account of the cumulative effect. 

(c)        Service Strategies and Improvements

(7)       In response to a question from Mr Chell, Mr Shipton confirmed that for the specific grants transferring into the main grant settlement i.e. food hygiene, enforcement of intellectual property rights, and animal feed, officers had only been able to identify the same amounts as received in the current year.  There was no increase for inflation or additional responsibilities.  In relation to enforcement of intellectual property rights, Mr Bainbridge confirmed that nationally £5m of grants were allocated in the current year and the Government has stated this will be increased to £7m next year.  However, it has not been possible to identify any additional money in the Revenue Support Grant settlement.  There was also meant to be additional money to implement energy performance certificates but it has not been possible to identify this either.

(8)       In response to a question from Mr Christie, Mr Shipton explained that the cost of early retirements following the restructuring of the library service have been netted off against the saving while the early retirements following the restructuring of the Cultural Development Unit are shown separately.  He explained that the reason was the Library saving represented a reduction in net expenditure for the portfolio while the Cultural Development saving was offset against reduced income and was no net  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

(1)       The Committee received a report which updated them on the progress of the Select Committee on Alcohol Misuse and the Select Committee Topic Review Work Programme.  Members were advised that the topic put forward by this Policy Overview Committee, “Provision of Activities for Young People” would be considered by the Policy Overview Co-ordinating on 14 February 2008 for inclusion in the work programme.  The Committee emphasised their strong support for this topic being prioritised in the Select Committee Topic Review Work Programme.

(2)       RESOLVED:-

(a)       the progress on the Select Committee for  Alcohol Misuse be noted; and

(b)       it be noted that an update on the topic “Provision of Activities for Young People” will be submitted to the Policy Overview Co-ordinating Committee on 14 February 2007 and that this Committee strongly supports its inclusion in the work programme.