To Confirm the Minutes of Themeeting of the Council Held On
HERTFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL
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THE COUNTY COUNCILSUMMONS AND AGENDA
for the meeting to be held on Tuesday 24 November2009 at 10.30 a.m. in the Council Chamber, County Hall, Hertford.
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GROUP MEETINGS
Conservative Group9.30 a.m. Council Chamber
Liberal Democrat Group8.30 a.m. Group Room
Labour Group9.15 a.m. Committee Room A
PRAYERS at 10.20 a.m.
Prayers led by theReverend Jeremy Brooks of St Catherine's and St Paul's Church, Hoddesdon
PART I (PUBLIC) AGENDA
1.MINUTES
To confirm the minutes of themeeting of the Council held on
13 October 2009 (previously circulated).
- CHAIRMAN'S ANNOUNCEMENTS
3.PUBLIC QUESTIONS - STANDING ORDER 7(10)
To deal with questions from any member of the public being resident in or a registered local government elector of Hertfordshire, to the Leader of the Council and Executive Members about any matter over which the Council has power or which directly affects the county.
Mrs Gili-Ross, on behalf of the WD3 Secondary School Parents Action Group, has notified her intention to ask the following questionsof the Executive Member for Education and Skills:
“From Hertfordshire County Council's Property Performance Report it is our understanding that:
1. On page 74, HertfordshireCounty Council is generating £42m per annum from the disposal of capital assets.
2. On page 99, receipts from released property will be reinvested in the portfolio.
3. Approximately £150m per year is made available to HertfordshireCounty Council for "Building For Schools" initiative. 2008/09's area is Stevenage.
4. On page 100, Point 3 states that Hertfordshire County Council seeks to "Maximise opportunities from the DCSF's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) initiative to replace or upgrade all secondary schools from 2009". Point 3.1 states that HertfordshireCounty Council will further "Identify what needs to be done to ensure that we make the best use of the changes for the pupils in Hertfordshire."
5. On page 25, South West Herts is the 6th area identified for school improvement over the next 10-12 years.
Thus, we conclude;
1. Money is available to build a new community secondary school in for WD3 children (from disposal of assets and the BFS initiative).
2. South West Herts has already been identified as an area for improvement.
3. The Education Panel has agreed that South West Herts will not have enough school places by 2014.
4. The timeline for South West Herts' schools improvement does not coincide with the increase in school-age population. Therefore, this improvement needs to be reassessed as per page 100, point 3.1.
5. Compulsory Purchase of land is an available option, so therefore HertfordshireCounty Council should be assessing the MOST APPROPRIATE site for the needs of our children not simply council-owned land.
Please would you therefore address the following;
a. Is the schooling situation in the other areas worse/comparable to the WD3 area?
b. How can we get the Property and Education teams to agree a timeline to ensure sufficient school places by 2014 for the WD3 area?
c. Is there a procedure for "Special case" prioritisation to secure additional funds from BSF?
d. If HertfordshireCounty Council compulsory purchases land, submit plans, hold public consultation, etc, how long will it take before the school could admit its first pupils?
e. Is a report available for 2009?
f. As our Local Education Authority, it is Hertfordshire County Council that is accountable for bringing together all parties to debate, investigate and swiftly resolve the shortfall of secondary school places available to Mill End, Maple Cross and other WD3 children and to resolve its own prediction that insufficient secondary school places will exist in 2014 following. What tangible progress has been led by the Council since its last meeting of 13 October 2009 in providing a new secondary school for Maple Cross, Mill End and other WD3 children; for example, but not limited to what tangible actions will the Council pursue having met with Cllr Ann Shaw (Leader of Three Rivers District Council)?”
4.PUBLIC PETITIONS - STANDING ORDER 14
The opportunity for any member of the public, being resident in or a registered local government elector of Hertfordshire to present a petition relating to a matter with which the Council is concerned, containing 100 or more signatures of residents or business ratepayers of Hertfordshire.
REPORTS FROM THE EXECUTIVE
5. (a) LEADER OF THE COUNCIL(attached)
Including reference to the position of Key Decisions in the decision-making process shown in the latest edition of the Forward Plan. (circulated separately)
(b)Questions
6.(a) HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORT(attached)
(b) Questions
(c) Other business relevant to this portfolio
(i) RESPONSE TOHITCHIN FLYOVER TRANSPORT AND WORKS ACT, DRAFT ORDER
Report of the Director of Environment and Commercial Services (circulated separately)
7.(a) ENVIRONMENT, PLANNING AND WASTE(attached)
(b) Questions
8. (a) ADULT CARE AND HEALTH(attached)
(b) Questions
9. (a) CHILDREN’S SERVICES(attached)
(b) Questions
10.(a) EDUCATION AND SKILLS(attached)
(b) Questions
11.(a) COMMUNITY SAFETY AND CULTURE(attached)
(b) Questions
12.(a) PERFORMANCE AND PARTNERSHIPS(attached)
(b) Questions
13.(a) RESOURCES AND ECONOMIC WELLBEING(attached)
(b) Questions
14.REPORT FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
(to follow)
15.REPORT FROM THE HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
(attached)
16.REPORT FROM COUNTYCOUNCILLOR MEMBERS OF THE HERTFORDSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY
To deal with a report from CountyCouncillor members of the
Hertfordshire Police Authority, under Standing Order 7A.
(attached)
17.QUESTIONS: HERTFORDSHIRE POLICE AUTHORITY -
STANDING ORDER 7(6)
To deal with questions from members of the Council on the discharge of the functions of the Hertfordshire Police Authority, directed to a person nominated by that Authority (the Vice-Chairman of the Authority,
R H Smith).
The time allowed for oral questions is five minutes. There is no right to ask supplementary questions.
18.ITEMS OF BUSINESS REQUESTED BY MEMBERS UNDER STANDING ORDER 6 (2) (m)
None notified.
19. NOTICES OF MOTION – STANDING ORDER 8 (5)
C J White to move:
"This council notes that economic circumstances are likely to lead to a major loss of grant next year and acknowledges that it is desirable to seek efficiencies without making any reductions in front line services. Accordingly it resolves to recommend to Overview and Scrutiny Committee that it set up a topic group to review in detail major contracts to determine what additional savings can be made through improved procurement and reletting."
KATHRYN PETTITT
Chief Legal Officer
Full copies of all reports may be found on the internet at
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091124 02 cc summons & agenda