To approve as a correct record, the Minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 25 June 2013.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2013 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

To receive any matters of communication from the Chairman.

The Chairman congratulated the Adult Social Care teams and local health services who had collaborated in an exceptional way to move residents from the privately run Meppershall Care Home that had been closed by the Care Quality Commission.

The Council had received a grant of £1.7m from the Homes and Communities Agency towards the Dukeminster development in Dunstable.

The Chairman was pleased to announce that Redbourne Upper School had received a capital grant of £422,000 towards the School’s expansion.  This grant had been secured as a result of an application made by the Council on behalf of the Academy to the Education Funding Agency to meet the need for additional Post 16 places as a result of demographic growth.

To consider petitions received in accordance with the Scheme of Public Participation set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received.

To respond to general questions and statements from members of the public in accordance with the Scheme of Public Participation set out in Appendix A of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No members of the public had registered to speak.

To receive the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 September 2013 to 31 August 2014.

That the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 September 2013 to 31 August 2014 be noted subject to the following amendment:

• item 8 – the award of the preferred bidder for the BEaR Project will be considered at a special meeting of the Executive on 8 October 2013; and
• item 24 – refers to the creation of a Sustainable Urban Drainage Advisory Board; this should be the Sustainable Urban Drainage Approval Board.

RESOLVED

that the Forward Plan of Key Decisions for the period 1 September 2013 to 31 August 2014 be noted subject to the following amendments:

• item 8 – the award of the preferred bidder for the BEaR Project would be considered at a special meeting of the Executive on 8 October 2013; and

• item 24 – refers to the creation of a Sustainable Urban Drainage Advisory Board; this should read the Sustainable Urban Drainage Approval Board.

The report proposes the medium term financial planning framework for 2014-2015 through 2017-2018.

1.         That the risks and uncertainty surrounding the 2015 General Election and the likelihood of further austerity measures in the years following be recognised.

2.         That the proposed framework for updating the Medium Term Financial Plan and the preparation of a budget for 2014/15 be endorsed.

3.         That the timetable for the consultation process be endorsed.

The Executive considered a report from the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources that proposed the medium term financial planning framework for 2014/15 through to 2017/18. 

The Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources highlighted the outcome of the Government’s recent Spending Review.  It was anticipated that the final Local Government Finance Settlement would not be known until December 2013.

In response to a question, the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources explained that he did not anticipate that the Council would allocate grants to the town and parish councils in 2014/15 as this would need to be financed from the Council’s own resources, but this would become clearer when the Executive put forward its draft budget proposals in December.

Reason for decision:  To put in place a planning framework to meet the financial challenges faced by Central Bedfordshire Council over the medium term.

RESOLVED

1.      that the risks and uncertainty surrounding the 2015 General Election and the likelihood of further austerity measures in the years following be recognised;

2.      that the proposed framework for updating the Medium Term Financial Plan and the preparation of a budget for 2014/15 be endorsed; and

3.      that the timetable for the consultation process be endorsed.

To outlines the benefits and implications of a new East West rail route and set out the contribution required of the Council to support the delivery of the East West Rail (Western Section) Project, following discussions with Network Rail, Department for Transport and the East West Rail consortium.

1.         That the Council supports the East West Rail Western Section project, with a preference for a new Bedford to Oxford/Reading rail service to include a stop at Ridgmont station.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.         That the Council’s contribution to the East West Rail Western Section project of an estimated £5.180 million be included in  future updates of the Capital Programme.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Sustainable Communities for Strategic Planning and Economic Development that outlined the benefits and implications of a new East West rail route.  The report also set out the contribution required of the Council to support the delivery of the East West Rail (Western Section) Project, following discussions with Network Rail, the Department for Transport and the East West Rail consortium. 

In response to a question, the Council would seek to monitor in particular any proposed works to the level crossing in Woburn Sands, as this might have an impact on the residents of Woburn.

The Executive Member for Sustainable Communities – Strategic Planning and Economic Development explained the reasons for promoting a stopping point at Ridgmont.  Ridgmont Station had better parking facilities and was closest to, for example, Cranfield University. 

Reason for decision:  For the Council to fulfil its obligations to support the delivery of the East West Rail Western Section project.

RESOLVED

1.            that the Council supports the East West Rail Western Section project, with a preference for a new Bedford to Oxford / Reading rail service to include a stop at Ridgmont station.

RECOMMENDED to Council

1.      that the Council’s contribution to the East West Rail Western Section project of an estimated £5.180 million be included in future updates of the Capital Programme.

This report seeks approval to commence three projects within the Council’s New School Places Programme 2013/14 – 2017/18 where local pressures of demographic growth require new school places to be provided from September 2014.

1.   (i)         That the procedures established by The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 as amended by The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 and The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2009, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposal to expand Church End Lower School, Marston as outlined in this report.

      (ii)        That the representations received in respect of the Church End Lower School proposal to the statutory notice as set out in Appendix B to the report, issued on the 17 June 2013 under Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be noted following consideration.        

      (iii)       That the statutory proposal to expand Church End Foundation Lower School from a 270 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 to a 450 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 be approved through the creation of a new second campus on a new site with an implementation date of September 2014.  The school would have an admission number of 60 for the Church Walk site and an admission number of 30 at the new Marston Park site;

(iv)              That the detailed business case attached at Appendix C to the report be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 February 2014.

2.         That the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix D to the report to expand the Academy of Redborne Upper School from its current capacity of 1450 places to provide 1649 places with an implementation date of September 2014 be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 February 2014.

3.         That the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix E to the report to expand the Academy of Alameda Middle School from its current capacity of 600 places to provide 720 places with an implementation date of September 2014 be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 February 2014.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that sought approval to commence three projects within the Council’s New School Places Programme 2013/14 – 2017/18, where demographic growth required new school places to be provided from September 2014.  These were at the following schools:

• Church End Lower School, Marston
• Academy of Redborne Upper School; and
• Academy of Alameda Middle School.

Church End Lower School was a Council maintained school and required the decision of the Executive following consideration of the representations received, whereas Redborne Upper School and Alameda Middle School Academies could only be invited to expand, as their proposals would need to be submitted to the Secretary of State for approval. 

Members noted that the proposal for Stratton Upper School had been withdrawn to enable the Academy sufficient time to respond to recent Ofsted recommendations.

Reason for decision:  To ensure the Council continues to meet its statutory obligations to provide sufficient school places and also to meet the legal requirements placed on the Council by the Education and Inspections Act 2006 regarding proposals to expand maintained schools.

RESOLVED

1.   (i)      that the procedures established by The Education and Inspections Act 2006 (EIA 2006) and The School Organisation (Prescribed Alterations to Maintained Schools) (England) Regulations 2007 as amended by The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2007 and The School Organisation and Governance (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2009, have been complied with in bringing forward the proposal to expand Church End Lower School, Marston as outlined in this report;

(ii)         that the representations received in respect of the Church End Lower School proposal to the statutory notice as set out in Appendix B to the report, issued on the 17 June 2013 under Section 19(1) of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 be noted following consideration;

(iii)       that the statutory proposal to expand Church End Foundation Lower School from a 270 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 to a 450 place lower school for pupils aged 4+ to 9 be approved through the creation of a new second campus on a new site with an implementation date of September 2014.  The school would have an admission number of 60 for the Church Walk site and an admission number of 30 at the new Marston Park site;

(iii)       that the detailed business case attached at Appendix C to the report be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 by 1 February 2014.

2.      that the detailed capital business case attached at Appendix D to the report to expand the Academy of Redborne Upper School from its current capacity of 1450 places to provide 1649 places with an implementation date of September 2014 be approved, thereby approving the commencement of the project and related expenditure, subject to the grant of planning permission under Part 3 of the Town and Country Planning  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

This report sets out the changes to the funding arrangements for schools for 2014/15, the consultation process that the Council is required to carry out with schools and the steps which are being taken to meet the requirements of the Department for Education (DfE) and the Education Funding Agency (EFA). 

1.         That the consultation process with schools be approved.

2.         To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children’s Services, to commence consultation with the schools.

3.         To delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children’s Services, to submit to the Department for Education the final application for variations and exclusions by 30 September 2013, and to submit the draft pro-forma with factors consulted on by the Schools Forum by the 31 October 2013, following consultation with schools.

The Executive considered a report from the Executive Member for Children’s Services that set out the changes to the funding arrangements for schools for 2014/15, the consultation process that the Council was required to carry out with schools and the steps which were being taken to meet the requirements of the Department for Education and the Education Funding Agency.

Reason for decision:  To meet the timescales set out by the Department for Education.

RESOLVED

1.         that the consultation process with schools be approved;

2.         to delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children’s Services, to commence consultation with schools; and

3.         to delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Children’s Services, in consultation with the Executive Member for Children’s Services, to submit to the Department for Education the final application for variations and exclusions by 30 September 2013, and to submit the draft pro-forma with factors consulted on by Schools Forum by the 31 October 2013, following consultation with schools.