Agenda and minutes

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 to be discussed and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillor Coley declared a non-prejudicial interest in Report A, 'Revenue Budget Strategy 2004/05 to 2006/07', as his daughter was employed in a city school.

Councillor Mugglestone declared a non-prejudicial interest in Report A, 'Revenue Budget Strategy 2004/05 to 2006/07', for matters relating to advice services.

Councillor Hunt declare a non-prejudicial interest in Report A, ''Revenue Budget Strategy 2004/05 to 2006/07', as he was a Council appointed member of the Leicester Regeneration Company board and of the Haymarket Theatre Board.

Councillor Blackmore declared a non-prejudicial interest in Report A, ''Revenue Budget Strategy 2004/05 to 2006/07' as he was a Council appointed member of the boards of the Leicester Shire Economic Partnership and Leicester Shire Promotions.

Councillor Coley submits a report requesting the Cabinet’s approval for a three year corporate budget strategy, three year departmental revenue strategies for each department and a general fund budget for 2004/05; and to recommend these to Council.

The relevant minutes extracts of the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 13 January 2004, the Highways and Transportation Scrutiny Committee held on 14 January 2004, the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 15 January 2004, the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 15 January 2004, the Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee held on 21 January 2004, the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 22 January 2004 and the Arts, Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee held on 28 January 2004 are attached to the report.

The relevant minute extracts from the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 10 February 2004, the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 12 February 2004, the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 18 February 2004 and the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 19 February 2004 will be circulated as soon as they are available.

Councillor Coley submitted  a report requesting Cabinet's approval for a three year corporate budget strategy, three year departmental revenue strategies for each department and a general fund budget for 2004/05 and to recommend these to Council.

The Cabinet received all the relevant minute extracts from all the Scrutiny Committees, Area Forums, and Working Parties which considered the budget throughout the consultation process. Other responses to consultation had been made available for Members.

Councillor Coley outlined in detail the budgetary position the Council was in when the administration embarked on the process of formulating the budget. He noted that there had been considerable consultation on the budget and he thanked all those who had contributed and said that the comments received had been useful. He noted that as a result of the consultation a number of proposed cuts would be reinstated. He also outlined a number of other amendments to the budget and made particular reference to a proposed £600,000 fund for a community cohesion strategy. He informed the meeting that the Council's part of the Council tax bill would rise by 8.7%, but noted that the police and fire precepts of the total bill were both above 10% and in particular the police had increased tax by 60% over the last three years.

Councillor Coley referred to the original proposals regarding the voluntary sector, and outlined the Cabinet’s present proposals, following consultation, which saved funding for some of them and created a small transition fund to help others become self financing.

Councillor Coley detailed a number of the comments received on the budget proposals, in particular those received from Scrutiny Committees and Trade Unions and he noted that there were no comments from the business community.

Councillor Coley also stated that consideration had been given to the impact on race equality of the budget reductions and that Cabinet’s proposed budget took this into account.

Councillor Scuplak spoke about the priority areas for the budget which were to focus on core services and the maintenance and quality of Council facilities. He felt the previous administration had expanded the range of services too thinly with inadequate funding. He also spoke about the need to address the job evaluation system and his opposition to Government capping.

Councillor Hunt noted the Council's financial problems were exacerbated by the low rate of increases in Government grant it had received since 1996/1997 which meant it was £20 million worse off than it would have been had it received just an average increase. He also spoke about the funding available from a wide variety of different organisations which were better placed than the Council to fund much of the work of the voluntary sector. He pledged to work with the groups receiving cuts to help them obtain funding from other sources.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the views expressed in relation to the budget strategy during the consultation period be noted and taken into account, including:

(i) responses as summarised in the report and in documents lodged in the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 202.

Councillor Metcalfe submits a report considering the allocation of the previously agreed 2004/05 £100,000 growth budget for crime and disorder. The Cabinet is asked to consider the bids as detailed in the report and agree that £60,000 should be allocated to the Community Safety Team to improve corporate co-ordination of crime and disorder and £40,000 be allocated to employ a Partnership Manager for Leicester Partnership Against Crime and Disorder both as outlined in the Crime and Disorder Best Value Improvement Plan.

The relevant minute extracts from the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 12 February 2004 will be circulated as soon as they are available.

The Chair invited the Corporate Director of Housing to submit the report in Councillor Metcalfe's absence.

The Corporate Director of Housing submitted a report considering the allocation of the previously agreed 2004/05 £100,000 budget for crime and disorder. Four detailed bids were recieved from; the Community Safety Team, Leicester Partnership Against Crime and Disorder, the Youth Offending Team and Leicestershire Anti-Social Behaviour Partnership. The bids were considered by Corporate Directors Board which supported the bids made by the Community Safety Team and Leicester Partnership Against Crime and Disorder.

The Cabinet also gave its support to these bids.

The relevant minute extract from the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 12 February 2004 was circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

that £60,000 be allocated to the Community Safety Team to improve corporate co-ordination of crime and disorder and £40,000 be allocated to employ a Partnership Manager for Leicester Partnership Against Crime and Disorder, both subject to the approval of the Crime and Disorder Best Value Improvement Plan.

The meeting closed at 6.00pm.