Meeting documents

Dear Member,

Council Executive: Wednesday 7th February 2007

You are invited to attend a meeting of the Council Executive to be held on Wednesday 7th February 2007 at 10:00 am in the Council Chamber, Guildhall, High Street, Bath.

The agenda is set out overleaf.

Yours sincerely

Col Spring

for Chief Executive

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The decisions taken at this meeting of the Council Executive are subject to the Council's call-in procedures. Within 5 clear working days of publication of decisions, at least 10 Councillors may signify in writing to the Chief Executive their wish for a decision to be called-in for review. If a decision is not called-in, it will be implemented after the expiry of the 5 clear working day period.

If you need to access this agenda or any of the supporting reports in an alternative accessible format please contact Democratic Services or the relevant report author whose details are listed at the end of each report.

NOTES:

1. Inspection of Papers: Any person wishing to inspect Minutes, reports, or a list of the background papers relating to any item on this Agenda should contact Col Spring who is available by telephoning Bath (01225) 394358 or by calling at the Riverside Offices, Keynsham (during normal office hours).

2. Public Speaking at Meetings: The Council has a scheme to encourage the public to make their views known at meetings. They may make a statement relevant to what the meeting has power to do. They may also present a petition or a deputation on behalf of a group. Advance notice is required not less than two full working days before the meeting (this means that for meetings held on Wednesdays notice must be received in Democratic Services by 4.30pm the previous Friday).

The public may also ask a question to which a written answer will be given. Questions must be submitted in writing to Democratic Services at least two full working days in advance of the meeting (this means that for meetings held on Wednesdays, notice must be received in Democratic Services by 4.30pm the previous Friday). If an answer cannot be prepared in time for the meeting it will be sent out within five days afterwards. Further details of the scheme can be obtained by contacting Col Spring as above

3. Details of Decisions taken at this meeting can be found in the minutes which will be published as soon as possible after the meeting, and also circulated with the agenda for the next meeting. In the meantime details can be obtained by contacting Col Spring as above.

Appendices to reports are available for inspection as follows:-

Public Access points - Riverside - Keynsham, Guildhall - Bath, Hollies - Midsomer Norton, and Bath Central, Keynsham and Midsomer Norton public libraries.

For Councillors and Officers papers may be inspected via Political Group Research Assistants and Group Rooms/Members' Rooms.

4. Attendance Register: Members should sign the Register which will be circulated at the meeting.

5. THE APPENDED SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ARE IDENTIFIED BY AGENDA ITEM NUMBER.

6. Emergency Evacuation Procedure

When the continuous alarm sounds, you must evacuate the building by one of the designated exits and proceed to the named assembly point. The designated exits are sign-posted.

Arrangements are in place for the safe evacuation of disabled people.

7. Officer Support to the Executive

Council Executive meetings will be supported by the Director's Group.

8. Recorded votes

A recorded vote will be taken on each item.

1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

2. EMERGENCY EVACUATION PROCEDURE

The Chair(person) will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 6.

3. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

4. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive any declarations from Members/Officers of personal or prejudicial interests in respect of matters for consideration at this meeting.

5. TO ANNOUNCE ANY URGENT BUSINESS AGREED BY THE CHAIR(PERSON)

6. QUESTIONS FROM PUBLIC AND COUNCILLORS

At the time of publication, notice had been received of 1 item.

7. STATEMENTS, DEPUTATIONS OR PETITIONS FROM PUBLIC AND COUNCILLORS

At the time of publication, notice had been received of 1 item.

8. MINUTES: WEDNESDAY 10TH JANUARY 2007

To be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

9. CONSIDERATION OF SINGLE MEMBER ITEMS NOW REQUISITIONED TO COUNCIL EXECUTIVE

This is a standard agenda item, to cover any reports originally placed on the Weekly list for single Member decision making, which have subsequently been the subject of an Executive Member requisition to the full Council Executive, under the Council's procedural rules.

10. CONSIDERATION OF MATTERS REFERRED BY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY BODIES

This is a standing agenda item (Constitution rule 21, part 4D - Executive Procedure Rules) for matters referred by Overview and Scrutiny bodies. The Chair(person) of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny body will have the right to attend and at the discretion of the Leader to speak to the item, but not vote.

11. APPLICATION BY THE GUILDHALL MARKET TRADERS TO RUN A MARKET ON THE GUILDHALL CAR PARK FOR THE PERIOD OF THE CHRISTMAS MARKET 2007, 2008 AND 2009

This report is presented following the request made by the Executive at their meeting in October 2006 as to whether the Council (as landowner) allow the Guildhall Market Traders Association (GMTA) permission to run a market in the Guildhall Car Park for the period of the Christmas Market in 2007, 2008 and 2009.

12. TRANSFER OF CONNEXIONS TO A LOCAL AUTHORITY CONTROLLED COMPANY

Connexions West of England currently delivers a range of services to 13-19 year olds on behalf of the Secretary of State for Education and Skills. The key statutory functions delivered by the service are: Providing career education and guidance; Encouraging participation in education and training; Supporting post 16 transition for young people with learning difficulties and disabilities.

13. TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY STATEMENT AND ANNUAL INVESTMENT STRATEGY 2007/08

The Local Government Act 2003 requires the Council to `have regard to' the Prudential Code and to set Prudential Indicators for the next three years to ensure that the Council's capital investment plans are affordable, prudent and sustainable. The Act therefore requires the Council to set out its treasury strategy for borrowing and to prepare an Annual Investment Strategy; this report sets out the Council's policies for managing its investments and for giving priority to the security and liquidity of those investments.

14. COUNCIL REVENUE AND CAPITAL BUDGET 2007/08

This report presents the Council Executive's draft revenue and capital budgets for the 2007/08 financial year together with a proposal for a Council Tax level for 2007/08.

15. PROJECT MANAGEMENT HANDBOOK

The introduction of a project management handbook is part of introducing rigour to project management and creates standardisation of project management processes and tools throughout the project lifecycle. An essential element of the project management handbook is to provide projects with a high degree of predictability.

16. WEST OF ENGLAND ECONOMIC STRATEGY

The West of England Partnership has agreed a draft Economic Strategy for consultation with stakeholders. This report sets out proposed comments on the Strategy for submission to WEP.

17. PUBLIC INTEREST TEST: COMBE DOWN STONE MINES - QUALITY AND PRICE EVALUATION

Agenda Item 18, Appendix 2 documents a Public Interest Test relating to Agenda Item 18, Appendix 1 Quality and Price Evaluation. The Council Executive will be asked to agree that information contained within Appendix 1 falls within paragraph 3 of the amended Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) - and that disclosure of the information would be contrary to the public interest.

18. COMBE DOWN STONE MINES PROJECT - APPOINTMENT OF MAIN SCHEME CONTRACTOR

The Combe Down Stone Mines project has been doing Emergency and Enabling Works since 2001. It is now moving into the main phase of the project and a procurement process has been carried out to appoint a contractor for this phase. 4 contractors have been appointed to a framework. This report presents the results of the tender assessment, identifies the Best Value solution and outlines the future strategy for the project. The Best Value tender offers a shorter programme and a lower price.