Solihull Council

endorsed the progress being made on the Council's 8 SCIPs with the revenue funding allocated as part of the 2004/05 budget settlement; and

agreed to continue to receive monitoring reports.

received and endorsed the draft business plan;

agreed that the Shadow Board arrangements be  formalised and the Children’s Trust Board be created as detailed in the business plan; and

agreed that the Board be charged with ensuring the delivery of that plan .

noted the progress being made in developing neighbourhood plans for Craig Croft and the area north of Arran Way;

noted the progress being made in developing detailed proposals for first phase projects; and

agreed to consider a further detailed report on the development of the Business Plan on 2nd December 2004.

considered KPMG's attached response;

agreed that their Annual Audit Letter be reported to Resources Cabinet Decision Making Session on 13 December 2004; and

agreed that representations should be made to the Audit Commission regarding the delay in receiving this information and asking whether in future an interim Audit Letter could be issued.

(i) considered the recommendations of the Local Services Scrutiny Board , as detailed in the report and accepted the unanimous and majority recommendations of the Board;

(ii) agreed that a newsletter be distributed to homes across the Borough outlining the options considered and the Cabinet recommendation, making it clear that the recommendation still needs to go before Full Council;

(iii) agreed that a follow-up telephone survey is undertaken with a cross-section of the community to establish awareness and understanding of the issue and recommendation.  This will inform future communications activity;

agreed that this activity be in addition to the usual communications with the local media and staff;

agreed to commend the Local Services Scrutiny Board on the work they had done.

commended the  progress made in the first 6 months of 2004/05 and noted that 65 of the 70 planned actions are on-target or almost on target;

endorsed the supplementary action intended to bring 5 planned actions back on target; and,

agreed to receive a further monitoring report in due course consistent with securing consistent delivery within the performance management process that has been set in place.

(i) Noted the recommendations of the Members Panel for each project,

(ii) Enlight of additional information concerning the Heart of England proposals agreed to allocate the remaining uncommitted balances of £169,000 to this scheme; and

(iii) Authorised Officers to progress with all relevant stakeholders the solutions proposed.

i) Noted the latest position on the affordability;

ii) Approved the proposals contained in the SBC and OBC to deliver our Wave 1 BSF programme,and

iii) Authorised the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member to confirm the accompanying letters as the Council's commitment to the project

However, Treasury, DfES and Partnerships for Schools will only formally consider the applications once Cabinet approval has been confirmed. Cabinet is therefore requested to approve the final submission and authorise written confirmation of their commitment to the project.