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.

Councillor Mugglestone declared a personal and prejudicial interest in Appendix B1, ‘Leicester Theatre Trusts Business Plan for the Operation of the Performing Arts Centre’, as a Director of the Leicester Theatre Trust.  Councillor Mugglestone left the meeting during discussion of this item.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 April 2007 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to approve them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting held on 2 April 2007, having been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

a)            Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee – 28 March             2007

Expansion of 2002 Street Drinking Ban and Potential Implications On Anchor Centre Dover Street

The following was agreed at the above meeting.  The full minute extract is attached at Appendix A1.

“that Cabinet be asked to review funding of the scheme and consider possible sources of funding for an additional project worker”. 

Councillor Sandringham to respond.  

b)                 Castle and Knighton Area Committee – 26 March 2007

Responses to Public Questions Raised at the Last Meeting

The following was agreed at the above meeting.  The full minute extract is attached at Appendix A2.

“that Cabinet be requested to consider developing a policy which is more sympathetic towards promoting local specialist shopping areas by the erection of Brown Signs”

Councillor Scuplak to respond.

Housing and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee – 28 March 2007

Expansion of 2002 Street Drinking Ban and Potential Implications On Anchor Centre Dover Street

The following was agreed at the above meeting.

“that Cabinet be asked to review funding of the scheme and consider possible sources of funding for an additional project worker”.

Councillor Smith responded to the referral and proposed to monitor the number of referrals to the Anchor Centre and other similar centres over the next 6 months.  He also reported that the issue of funding would be considered at the next meeting of the Safer Leicester Partnership. 

Castle and Knighton Area Committee – 26 March 2007

Responses to Public Questions Raised at the Last Meeting – Brown Signs

The following was agreed at the above meeting.

“that Cabinet be requested to consider developing a policy which is more sympathetic towards promoting local specialist shopping areas by the erection of Brown Signs”.

Councillor Mugglestone responded to the referral.  He noted that standard directional signs were usually used for shopping areas and that for ‘brown signs’ to be used, suitable parking needed to be available.  Until recently, sufficient parking had not been available at Stoneygate Shops, which was the shopping area that the Area Committee were concerned with.  However, it was noted that meter parking had recently been installed in the area giving an increase in the number of parking spaces over a day.  Visitor numbers would be monitored and in light of the information gathered this issue would be looked at in July.

Councillor Sandringham submits a report that seeks Cabinet endorsement of spending proposals by Area Committees.  Cabinet is recommended to agree the expenditure proposals in Appendix A.

Councillor Sandringham submitted a report that sought Cabinet endorsement of spending proposals by Area Committees.

Councillor Blackmore stated that a late paper had been circulated that detailed spending proposals by the Abbey and Beaumont Leys and Belgrave, Latimer and Rushey Mead Area Committees, which had met after the Cabinet papers, had been finalised.  He suggested that since the recommendations had not been circulated widely that although Cabinet were minded to support them, there should be further public involvement regarding the proposals prior to submission to the next meetings of the relevant Area Committees.

RESOLVED:

(1)               that the expenditure proposals in Appendix A be agreed; and

(2)               that the additional proposals contained in the Supplementary Report be approved subject to further public involvement regarding these proposals prior to being ratified by the next meeting of the respective Area Committees.

Councillor Coley submits a report that summarises the work of the auditor in respect of the previous financial year (2005/06), and provides the auditor’s views on the Council’s performance, accounts, financial management arrangements, and arrangements for delivering value for money.  Cabinet is recommended to consider the report, and consider any comments made by the Standards and Audit Committee.

The relevant notes from the Informal Meeting of the Standards and Audit Committee on 28 March 2007 is attached.

The full Annual Audit Letter is attached for Members of the Cabinet only.  Further copies are available on the Council’s Web Site at:  http:www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 6021.

Councillor Coley submitted a report that summarised the work of the auditor in respect of the previous financial year (2005/06), and provided the auditor’s views on the Council’s performance, accounts, financial management arrangements, and arrangements for delivering value for money.

The relevant notes from the Informal Meeting of the Standards and Audit Committee on 28 March 2007 had been circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)            that the Annual Audit Letter be welcomed; and

(2)that the Standards and Audit Committee be thanked for their concern and the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture be asked to consider whether any further action needs to be taken in respect of training community representatives involved in regeneration partnerships.

Councillor Blackmore submits a report that provides an overview of the Council’s performance in delivering services to citizens over the last quarter (October, November and December 2006).  Members are recommended to congratulate those areas demonstrating continuous improvement in performance and review the third quarter performance results and consider the need for any special action on areas of concern.

A colour copy of the supporting information is attached for Members of the Cabinet only.  Further copies are available on the Council’s Web Site at:  http:www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 6021.

The relevant minute extract from the Resources and Corporate issues Scrutiny Committee on 15 March 2007 is attached.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report that provided an overview of the Council’s performance in delivering services to citizens over the last quarter (October, November and December 2006).

Councillor Blackmore paid particular thanks to those staff in the Housing Benefits and Planning Management and Delivery Sections whose performance had significantly improved over the last quarter.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the current initiatives to drive improvement across the Council be maintained; and

(2)that those areas demonstrating continuous improvement in performance be congratulated.

Councillor Scuplak submits a report recommending the adoption of the Waterside Supplementary Planning Document, as a supporting document to the City of Leicester Local Plan 2006. 

A copy of the Draft document is available for viewing by Members in the Members' Area.  Further copies are available by contacting Deborah Rose on 0116 252 7202.

Councillor Scuplak submitted a report that recommended the adoption of the Waterside Supplementary Planning Document, as a supporting document to the City of Leicester Local Plan 2006.

RESOLVED:

that the Waterside Supplementary Planning Document be adopted as supplementary to the City of Leicester Local Plan 2006.

Councillor Suleman submits a report that advises Cabinet of the outcome of consultations on proposals to increase the size of Taylor Road Primary School, seeks Cabinet’s views on whether they wish to publish formal proposals to increase the size of the school and if so, to what size.  Cabinet is recommended to agree a number of recommendations in relation to this proposal as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report. 

Councillor Suleman submitted a report that advised Members of the outcome of consultations on proposals to increase the size of Taylor Road Primary School; that sought Members’ views on whether they wished to publish formal proposals to increase the size of the school and if so, to what size.

Councillor Suleman noted the hard work of those who had contributed to extending the size of the school.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the outcome of the consultations be noted.

(2)that in response to the consultation carried out and the needs of the community, proposals be published to establish a 3 form entry (630 pupils + 45 place nursery)

(3)that the implementation of the statutory process for the above be authorised; and

(4)that subject to the satisfactory completion of the statutory approval process, the Corporate Director be authorised to procure the works and implement the project. 

Councillor Gill submits a report that brings to Cabinet’s attention the problem of the reduced allocation of Specified Capital Grant (SCG) for 2007-08 and makes recommendations for future actions.  Cabinet is recommended to agree a number of recommendations as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report. 

This item was withdrawn by the Corporate Director.

Councillor Coley submits a report that reviews progress made towards implementing the Council's Corporate Risk Management Strategy and considers the challenges ahead and seeks the agreement and support of the Cabinet for the revised Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Strategy.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Strategy and endorse the action plan contained in the Supporting Information, confirm that the Cabinet Member for Resources should be the Lead Member for Risk Management and actively participate in the development of the Risk Management Strategy and associated action plans and support the delivery of risk briefing for members.

The relevant notes from the Informal Meeting of the Standards and Audit Committee on 28 March 2007 is attached.

Councillor Coley submitted a report that reviewed progress made towards implementing the Council's Corporate Risk Management Strategy and considered the challenges ahead andsought the agreement and support of Cabinet for the revised Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Strategy.

The relevant notes from the Informal Meeting of the Standards and Audit Committee on 28 March 2007 had been circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)               that the Risk Management Policy and Risk Management Strategy be approved and the action plan in the Supporting Information be endorsed.

(2)               that it be confirmed that the Cabinet Member for Resources should be the Lead Member for Risk Management and actively participate in the development of the Risk Management strategy and associated action plans.

(3) that the delivery of risk briefing for Members be supported.

Councillor Coley submits a report that informs Cabinet that following consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet Lead Member for Regeneration and Culture, Leicester has submitted a bid to host the National Special Olympic Games in Leicester in 2009.  Cabinet is recommended to endorse and support Leicester’s bid to host the 2009 Special Olympic Games and allocate the sum of £200,000 over 3 years to support the appointment of a Games Director and Fundraiser and to demonstrate commitment from the City Council.

Councillor Coley submitted a report that informed Cabinet that, following consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet Lead Member for Regeneration and Culture, Leicester had submitted a bid to host the National Special Olympic Games in Leicester in 2009.  The Cabinet were extremely supportive of this event and the huge benefits it could bring to the City.

RESOLVED:

that Leicester’s bid to host the 2009 Special Olympic Games be endorsed and supported, and the sum of £200,000 be allocated from the capital programme over 3 years to support the appointment of a Games Director and Fundraiser and to demonstrate commitment from the City Council.

The Chair announced that this was to be Councillor Scuplak’s final Cabinet meeting, and thanked him for his contribution to the Council.

The Monitoring Officer submitted a report that drew together various strands of work relating to standards and ethical governance for Members.

The Head of Democratic Services commented that there was a lot of work currently in progress with regard to Standards and Ethical Governance. In reference to Appendix one in the report the Head of Democratic Services mentioned that a number of changes that had been suggested had been implemented already.  A table in the report listing the work being done in relation to Standards and Ethical Governance was referred to.

The Chair queried whether the Code of Conduct training was compulsory for Members. A Member of the Committee stated that the training should be compulsory as Members had to sign the Code of Conduct and queried how could the Code of Conduct be signed if they had not undertaken the training.

The Chair commented that it should be decided that if someone became a Councillor then they would have to undertake training. A Member of the Committee stated that most new Councillors would be willing to undertake the training. The Chair suggested that the report be brought back and see if Code of Conduct training could be made compulsory. A Member of the Committee suggested that the recommendations be taken to Whips. The Chair commented that if compulsory training was brought in, the enforceability and what would happen if individuals did not undertake the training would have to be looked into.  (Amended following 12 November 2008 meeting): The Chair stated that, as it was difficult to enforce attendance at training, Members should be encouraged as far as possible to take part in training on a voluntary basis. The Monitoring Officer commented that he would look into the issue and see if could be included in the Political Conventions.

RESOLVED:

1)       that Members note the recommendations to form the Council’s CPA report relating to the Standards Committee.

2)       that Members note the “Good Governance in Local Government” action plan summary containing items relating to the Standards Committee.

Councillor Mugglestone submits a report.

The relevant minute extracts from the Environment and Culture Scrutiny Committee on 14 March 2007, the Resources and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 15 March 2007 and the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee on 22 March 2007 are attached.

Councillor Coley submitted a report that informed Members about Leicester Theatre Trust’s Business Plan for the operation of the Performing Arts Centre for the period 2007-2022 and sought endorsement of the plan.

RESOLVED:

(1)               That the Business Plan prepared by Leicester Theatre Trust for the operation of the Performing Arts Centre for the period 2007 – 2011 be endorsed; and

(2)               That any variations to the business plan that require Council endorsement be delegated to the Corporate Director for Regeneration and Culture in Consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Council.

The meeting closed at 5.53pm.