Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business to be discussed and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

Members were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda and/or declare if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillor Russell declared personal interests in Items 6, “Final report of the Scrutiny Task Group Review of the School Meals Service,” 7, “Consultation on the possible relocation of Ellesmere College to the Riverside site,” 8, “Primary school place capacities” and 9, “Investing in Our Children’s Capital Programme,” as her children attended Leicester schools and she was a Chair of Governors.

Councillor Cooke declared personal interests in Items 6, “Final report of the Scrutiny Task Group Review of the School Meals Service,” 7, “Consultation on the possible relocation of Ellesmere College to the Riverside site,” 8, “Primary school place capacities” and 9, “Investing in Our Children’s Capital Programme,” as he was a School Governor.

Councillor Dawood declared a personal interest in Items 6, “Final report of the Scrutiny Task Group Review of the School Meals Service,” 7, “Consultation on the possible relocation of Ellesmere College to the Riverside site,” 8, “Primary school place capacities” and 9, “Investing in Our Children’s Capital Programme,” as he was employed by Connexions and his wife worked as a school dinner supervisor.

Councillor Wann declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Item 21, “Sale of Land Adjacent to Narborough Road North, Leicester, as he knew the person to whom the land was to be disposed to. He agreed to leave the room during consideration of this item.

The Leader announced that there had been a significant reduction in reported shop theft in the city centre due to innovative multi-agency working through the LE One shoplifting forum. The measures taken included the first name and shame scheme in the UK and a “prevent and deter” scheme. He also stated that other information sharing schemes led by City Watch Leicester had received national recognition and the work was having a real impact on making the City Centre a safer environment. On behalf of Cabinet he commended all involved.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2011 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to approve them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet, held on 7 March 2011, be confirmed as a correct record.

There were no matters referred from Committees.

Councillor Senior, as Chair of the Task Group Review presents the Final Report of the Scrutiny Task Group Review of the Leicester City School Meals Service operated by City Catering. The Cabinet is asked to consider the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 15 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Senior, Chair of the Task Group Review, presented the final report of the Scrutiny Task Group of the Leicester City School Meals Service operated by City Catering.

She highlighted a number of issues raised in the report, including the high number of children who completed the online survey and that Leicester’s service offered value for money and compared favourably with other providers. She noted the significant financial pressures on the service and drew Members’ attention to the key recommendations in the report and the challenges and opportunities that had been identified. She thanked officers for the work they had done on the review.

Members thanked the Task Group for the work done and agreed that it was important for children and young people to have a hot meal. Concerns were raised about the potential impact of a rise in unemployment and reduction in capital funding for kitchen refurbishments.  The issue of burger vans outside schools was discussed and it was noted that the Council already had a Licensing policy to stop such vans operating near schools at certain times.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet notes the report.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that seeks to secure Cabinet approval to begin consultation on Ellesmere College relocating as part of the BSF programme to the Riverside School site when it becomes available. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 2.2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 15 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that sought to secure Cabinet approval to begin consultation on Ellesmere College relocating as part of the BSF programme to the Riverside School site when it becomes available.

It was noted that the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee endorsed the report. Members welcomed the report and stated that this would allow the school to fully take on its specialist sports status.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)         Approves the start of consultations over the possible relocation of Ellesmere College onto part of the Riverside site.

2)         Supports the development of Ellesmere College as a city-wide and regional sports and vocational centre offering facilities for disabled students as well as mainstream students.

3)         Endorses the approach to consultation on the possible relocation of Ellesmere College as the first stage in the development of a vibrant learning village on the Riverside College site offering a wide-range of educational, community and business facilities for the benefit of the local community and the whole of the City.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that alerts Members to the need to undertake further development work to ensure there will be sufficient places in City primary schools in future years. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations at 2.2 and 2.3 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 15 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that alerted Members to the need to undertake further development work to ensure there would be sufficient places in City primary schools in future years.

It was noted that the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee endorsed the report. Members welcomed the report, but stressed that interim measures were also required, as some families had difficulty taking their children to different schools. It was also stressed that any proposals should not include the use of mobile classrooms wherever possible.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     Notes the content of this Report and the need to undertake further development and consultation work upon medium term and longer-term solutions to secure sufficient primary place capacity.

2)     Endorses the “next steps” detailed in Section 5 of the Report and agrees to receive a more detailed options report in November 2011.

Councillor Dempster submits a report providing an update on the Investing in Our Children’s Capital Programme for 2010/11 and setting out an approach to capital spend for 2011/12. The Cabinet is asked to approved the recommendations at 3.2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 15 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that provided an update on the Investing in Our Children’s Capital Programme for 2010/11 and setting out an approach to capital spend for 2011/12.

It was noted that the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee endorsed the report.

Members discussed capacity issues and whether the capital programme would be used to alleviate school capacity problems. Councillor Dempster stated that once the work had been done on school capacity, this evidence could be used to make submissions to government for appropriate funding.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet recommends to Council:

1)     That the brought forward and new funding at Appendix A1 of the report be noted as the resources available for Children’s Services capital investment in 2011/12;

2)     That the schemes identified at Appendix A2 be approved as the planned spending against the new funding for Basic Need, Capital Maintenance, Devolved Formula Capital and Building Schools for the Future; and

3)     The split at Appendix A2 between schemes in Block A which can proceed without further approval and schemes in Block B which require a report to the Executive Function.

Councillor Osman submits a report that seeks Cabinet approval to adopt an Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) following a consultation period undertaken on a draft document. Cabinet is recommended to formally adopt the Affordable Housing SPD.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 17 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought Cabinet approval to adopt an Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) following a consultation period undertaken on a draft document.

It was suggested that the Council should look at setting higher targets for affordable housing and that it was important to work with developers to identify their constraints. It was felt that further discussion on the matter was needed and the report was welcomed.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet formally adopts the Affordable Housing SPD.

Councillor Osman submits a report that presents Leicester’s Third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) before submission to Full Council on 24 March 2011.  Cabinet is recommended to agree the recommendations in Paragraph 2 of the report.

The appendices to this report have been emailed to Councillors and copies have been placed in Group Rooms.  Further copies are available on the Council’s Web Site at:  http:www.cabinet.Leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Committee Services on 0116 229 8809.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 17 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Cabinet considered this report and Leicester’s Local Transport Plan 2011-2026 Capital Programme 2011/12/13 together.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that presented Leicester’s Third Local Transport Plan (LTP3) before submission to Full Council on 24 March 2011.  He reported that there had been a lot of engagement and ongoing consultation. He drew Members’ attention to the concerns of the Overview & Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB).

Councillor Grant added that he felt there was a contradiction between the approaches taken regarding new roads or trams as they were both prohibitively costly. He also expressed concern that carbon reduction appeared to be given a higher priority than road safety, as this was a continuous priority for residents. He asked why more progress had not been made on introducing 20mph zones. He stated that issues raised through petitions that had been received regarding transport issues should be included in the report. He also felt that the report did not take into account potential effects of workforce changes and fuel price increases. He also stated that OSMB recommended an investment of £4m to fully repair Leicester’s roads.

Councillor Osman responded that the issues raised by Councillor Grant had been taken into account in the report. Members stated that many carbon reduction initiatives would also increase road safety. Members were pleased that highway works for Ashton Green and access to the Speedway were included in the plan. They reiterated their commitment to implementing 20mph zones. Members stated that improvements to bus networks infrastructure would only be worthwhile if the bus companies committed to services, too. It was suggested that a bus users’ forum could be reinstated.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     Approves submission to Council, subject to minor amendments/improvements;

2)     Notes that following the recent notification of local transport plan capital allocations and the work required to ensure alignment of the Council’s revenue budget proposals and process with the capital programmes in terms of delivery of the local transport plan implementation plan, that the Integrated Transport Capital and Capital Maintenance Programme is currently being developed. The latest draft programme has been appended to the City Council Capital Programme Report which is also on the agenda of these meetings.

Councillor Osman submits a report seeking approval to the proposed Local Transport Plan (LTP) Capital Programmes detailed in the report (Appendices A and B). The Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations at 2.2 and 2.3 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 17 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought approval to the proposed Local Transport Plan (LTP) Capital Programmes detailed in the report.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     Recommends to Council the programmes of works, as set out in Appendices A and B;

2)     Authorizes the Cabinet Lead Member to vary the proposed programme, if necessary, before presentation of the report to Council.

Councillor Patel submits a report which presents a “corporate” capital programme for 2011/12. The Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations at 3.2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 17 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that presented a ‘corporate’ capital programme for 2011/12.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     Recommends to Council:

(i)                 that the schemes identified in Appendix A, as described in paragraph 5 be the corporate capital programme for 2011/12;

(ii)               the split between schemes in block A which can proceed without further approval and schemes in block B which require a report to the Executive Function;

2)     Designates the following as service resources for the purposes of this programme (being resources which fall outside the scope of the corporate programme):

(i)                 capital receipts from the sale of housing dwellings or HRA land;

(ii)               housing, education and transport supported capital expenditure (borrowing and grant) allocations;

(iii)             any other supported capital expenditure allocations awarded by central government for specific purposes;

(iv)              third party contributions for specific purposes;

(v)                divisional revenue contributions;

3)     In connection with   Financial Procedure Rules:

(i)                 recommends to Council a “higher limit” of £10m, being the amount below which the Executive Function can make changes to the programme. This “higher limit” of £10m is subject to no more than £2m of the funding in total of any scheme being financed from corporate resources. 

(ii)               approves a “lower limit” of £250,000 below which directors can vire resources;

4)     Notes that the above limits apply to the capital programme as a whole, not just the corporate capital programme;

5)     Notes that the programme leaves £0.6m unallocated.

Councillor Patel submits a report that presents a summary of performance against the priorities set out in One Leicester for the third Quarter of 2010/11. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in paragraph 2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 16 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that presented a summary of performance against the priorities set out in One Leicester for the third Quarter of 2010/11.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     Notes our performance for the third quarter;

2)     For those targets deemed to be at risk ensures that relevant strategic directors work with their Priority Boards to develop responses, and ensure Cabinet Leads are briefed accordingly.

Councillor Patel submits a report that enables Council to consider and approve proposed changes to the Constitution. Cabinet is recommended to note the proposed changes to the constitution and recommend approval to Council.

The schedule showing all the changes to the report is attached for Cabinet Members only. The fully amended Constitution has been emailed to Members and both are available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk. Copies can also be obtained by phoning Democratic Support on (0116) 229 8809.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 16 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submits a report that enables Council to consider and approve proposed changes to the Constitution.

It was noted that work was being done on the comments made by the Overview & Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) and would be reported at Council. In response to queries from Members, the Monitoring Officer reported that the Localism Bill was likely to increase the powers of elected mayors, and it was unlikely that Leicester would be required to hold a referendum.

Members suggested that scrutiny arrangements should be amended prior to 5 May 2011, particularly in relation to scrutiny of health providers. They also made suggestions that community meetings’ cycles should be changed to at least three month cycles, as considered appropriate by ward councillors, Members should be included in decisions on fees and charges and wording in the petitions scheme should be amended.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet notes the proposed changes to the constitution and asks that the comments made be noted.

Councillor Patel submits a report that shows a summary position comparing spending with the budget. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 3.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 16 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that showed a summary position comparing spending with the budget.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     Notes the changes made to the original approved budget for 2010/11;

2)     Notes the expenditure to date and the budgetary issues which have emerged so far this year;

3)     Notes the proposals put forward to ensure that spending is contained within the Divisional budgets.

Councillor Patel submits a report that shows the position of the capital programme for 2010/11 at the end of Period 9. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 3.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 16 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that showed the position of the capital programme for 2010/11 at the end of Period 9.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet notes the actual capital expenditure of £53.9m at period 9 and the relatively low level of spend at the three quarter year point;

Councillor Patel submits a report that advises Members of the progress made in implementation of the benefits improvement plan. Cabinet is recommended to approve the proposed reduction in telephone hours.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 16 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submits a report that advises Members of the progress made in implementation of the benefits improvement plan.

Concern was raised that residents were being asked to post original documents and asked whether this was necessary. The Chief Finance Officer agreed to confirm this with Councillor Osman.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approves the proposed reduction in telephone hours.

AGENDA

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO NOTE

Under the law, the Cabinet is entitled to consider certain items in private.  Members of the public will be asked to leave the meeting when such items are discussed.

The Cabinet is recommended to consider the following report in private on the grounds that it contains ‘exempt’ information as defined by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, as amended and consequently that the Cabinet makes the following resolution:-

“that the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following reports in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, because it involves the likely disclosure of 'exempt' information, as defined in the Paragraphs detailed below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and taking all the circumstances into account, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the information as exempt outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

SALE OF LAND ADJACENT TO NARBOROUGH ROAD NORTH, LEICESTER

Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMISSIONING: VOLUNTARY ACTION LEICESTER SHIRE

Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

PRIVATE SESSION

RESOLVED:

that the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following reports in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, because they involved the likely disclosure of ‘exempt’ information, as defined in the Paragraph detailed below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and taking all the circumstances into account, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the information as exempt outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

SALE OF LAND ADJACENT TO NARBOROUGH ROAD NORTH, LEICESTER

VOLUNTARY AND COMMUNITY SECTOR INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMISSIONING: VOLUNTARY ACTION LEICESTER

Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) 

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Wann left the meeting.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that sought approval to the disposal of an area of land adjacent to Narborough Road North.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet approves the recommendations in the report.

Councillor Dawood submits a report.

Councillor Dawood submitted a report that set out the background regarding the awarding of the Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) Infrastructure contract to Voluntary Action Leicester Shire (VAL) in January 2009 and the requirement for Cabinet to approve the specification.

Members expressed concern that the report had not been submitted to the Performance & Value for Money Select Committee and that the report contained no information about targets or performance monitoring. They stated that a decision should be deferred until these matters had been addressed.

RESOLVED:

                        That the report be deferred.

The meeting closed at 2.31pm.