MEMORANDUM Date: 10 July 2006

______

To:All Members of the Panel
Executive Member (Performance & Resources)
C J White
Tony Comer
Alan Warner
Members’ Secretariat
Jim Dalton
Cc: All officers named for ‘actions’ / From:CountySecretary’s Department
Ask for:Emma Lund
Ext:25563
My ref:
Your ref:

RESOURCES PANEL

4 JULY 2006

M I N U T E S

ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL

S A Batson, C Berry, K J Coleman, D S Drury, P V Goggins, D Hewitt, I H Laidlaw-Dickson (substituting for D E Billing), J Lloyd, J R Morton, D T F Scudder, A M R Searing (Chairman), R H Smith, I E M Tarry, R A G Thomas

Upon consideration of the agenda for the Resources Panel meeting on 4 July 2006 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and are recorded below:

Note: No conflicts of interest were declared by any member of the Panel in relation to the matters on which conclusions were reached at this meeting.

PART 1

ACTION
1. /

remit and membership of the resources panel

[Officer Contact: Emma Lund, Democratic Services Officer, Tel: 01992 555563]
1.1 / Members noted the remit and membership of the Resources Panel.
2. / MINUTES OF THE PROPERTY PANEL – 21 JUNE 2006
2.1 / The minutes of the meeting of the Property Panel held on Wednesday 21 June were noted.
3. / BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE
[Officer Contact: Jim Dalton, Head of Access and Participation
Tel: 01992 555862]
3.1 / Jim Dalton presented a report which updated Members on the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative. The report included details on the background to the initiative, methods of procurement, national partnership arrangements, a guide to the project stages and next steps in the process.
3.2 / Jim Dalton advised that confirmation had recently been received from the DfES that Stevenage will fall in Part B of the programme, meaning that funding will be received in the financial years 2008/09, 2009/10 or 2010/11 depending on whether it is included within wave 4, 5 or 6 of Part B. Jim Dalton advised Members that the DfES has asked authorities, if they wish to be included in waves 4, 5 or 6, to submit proposals by 13 October 2006. He also outlined reasons why it was considered beneficial for the County Council to try to obtain funding as early as possible.
3.3 / Jim Dalton advised that monies totalling approximately £750,000 arecurrently held within the capital budget for works in Stevenage which have not been used pending BSF. The Panel was asked to consider recommending to Cabinet that these resources be used to fund the initial work to develop the BSF project in Stevenage, of which approximately £50,000 will be needed to prepare a business case to demonstrate the County Council’s readiness to deliver.
3.4 / In discussion, the need for Member involvement in monitoring the progress of the project was highlighted, together with the need to ensure sufficient safeguards in respect of the financial stability of the private sector partner, the need to ensure high standards of quality and design, the need to ensure that buildings are not refurbished at high cost when rebuilding would prove a more cost-effective option and the need to consider the BSF project in Stevenage in conjunction with school reviews and developments towards fewer but larger secondary schools.
Conclusion:
3.5 / The Panel agreed to recommend to Cabinet that the capital resources earmarked for Stevenage which have not been used pending BSF be used to fund the necessary work to develop the BSF project for Stevenage. / John Harris
3.6 / The Panel also recommended that Cabinet should give consideration to establishing a structure which will ensure Member involvement in monitoring the project. / John Harris
3.7 / The Panel requested that progress updates be brought to future meetings and that both the Resources Panel and the Education Panel should be kept apprised of developments. A further report will be brought to the November meeting of the Resources Panel. / Lindsay Martin/
Emma Lund/Neil Terry
4. / DATE OF NEXT MEETING
[Officer Contact: Emma Lund, Democratic Services Officer, Tel: 01992 555563]
4.1 / The next meeting will take place on Tuesday 26 September 2006 at 2pm in the Ashbourne Room. / All to note
4.2 / This replaces the dates previously set for the September meetings of the HR Panel (7 September at 10.00) and the Efficiencies and IT Panel (12 September at 2pm). / All to note

Andrew Laycock

County Secretary

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060704 Minutes