Agenda and minutes

The Leader welcomed to the meeting the two new members of the Cabinet, Councillors Kavia and Westley.

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 requested 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.

No declarations were made.

a)         Urban Regeneration Company

The Leader reported that the Leicester Urban Regeneration Company had appointed an Acting Chief Executive for the next six months and welcomed the fact that action had been taken so rapidly.

b)         Koelz Exhibition

The Leader reported that the above exhibition at the New Walk Museum had received record attendances.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21 May 2001, have been circulated and the Cabinet is asked to agree them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

                        that the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21 May 2001, having been circulated to Members, be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Cabinet Lead Member for Education and Lifelong Learning submits a report to accompany a presentation on the outcome of the recent OFSTED inspection and its key findings and judgements. The Cabinet is asked to note the OFSTED recommendations and the LEA Strategy – Post OFSTED Action Plan.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report  and introduced a presentation on the outcome of the recent OFSTED re-inspection of the LEA, including its key findings and judgements.  The Cabinet welcomed the positive outcomes of the inspection and congratulated all those who had been involved.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the content of the OFSTED inspection report and its recommendations be noted;

(2)that the LEA Strategy – Post-OFSTED Action  Plan, be noted; and

(3)that the Cabinet receive a further report and presentation at its meeting on 25 June.

The Cabinet Lead Member for Highways and Transportation submits a report seeking Cabinet approval to a new policy for traffic calming on local distributor roads and agreement in principle to a scheme which includes road humps for Wigston Lane.

Councillor Subedar submitted a report  which referred to the policy of the City Council since 1991 to introduce traffic calming in residential areas in the City.  Concerns however were expressed by the emergency services and bus operators following the introduction of the first schemes and as a result, since 1995,  the Council’s policy had been not to construct road humps on distributor roads.  It was noted however that experience of traffic calming measures in Leicester had confirmed that the most effective way of reducing vehicle speeds below 20 miles per hour was the use of road humps and these would continue to be the preferred option where justified in residential areas. 

Recently a scheme had been constructed on Wigston Lane which, as a strategic route for the emergency services, did not include humps.  However, measurement  of vehicle speeds on Wigston Lane had shown that the scheme had had little effect on vehicle speeds.  The speed of traffic continued to be inappropriate for this road given the pedestrian activity outside Montrose School and parents of pupils at the school had expressed concern about the speed of vehicles and had asked for additional features such as a pedestrian crossing and road humps.  The Cabinet was therefore asked to consider the amendment of the existing policy on traffic calming to allow the use of road humps on distributor roads in exceptional circumstances, to be determined by the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the existing Council policy that road humps will not normally be used on local distributor roads, and that, traffic calming, where proposed, will normally be implemented using other measures, such as chicanes, priority workings, pedestrian refuges and signing and lining, be confirmed;

(2)that only in exceptional circumstances, where other measures are unlikely to achieve or have not achieved the desired reductions in accidents on a local distributor road, will consideration be given to the judicious use of road humps as part of a package of measures;

(3)that, when such exceptional circumstances arise, a report requesting approval in principle of a scheme using road humps be brought to Cabinet, following initial consultations with the emergency services and bus operators; and

(4)that the scheme for Wigston Lane as detailed in the report be approved and formal consultations be undertaken with the emergency services, bus operators and local residents.

The Cabinet Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration submits a report seeking approval to Area Strategy Guidance for the St George’s Area of the City.

Councillor Kavia submitted a report informing the Cabinet that the St George’s Area of the City was experiencing increasing pressure for redevelopment and guidance was therefore needed to inform  existing landowners and potential developers about the land uses and form of new development that would be appropriate.  The Cabinet was therefore asked to consider an Area Strategy Guidance document for the Area.

RESOLVED:

that the St. George's Area Strategy Guidance be approved for adoption as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the City of Leicester Local Plan, subject to proposed amendments resulting from public consultation, the precise wording of which to be delegated to the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration.

The Town Clerk submits a report summarising the key relevant issues which have arisen during 2001/01 and indicating future action.  The Cabinet is asked to note the report and authorise the Town Clerk to use powers contained in Section 92 of the Local Government Act 2000 for dealing with Ombudsman complaints to enable local settlements where appropriate

The Town Clerk submitted a report as the Council's Monitoring Officer as defined in the Local Government and Housing Act 1989.

The purpose of the report was to highlight any significant legal or maladministration issues that had arisen throughout 2000/01 and to indicate any future action.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the report be noted and confirmed as a summary of the Monitoring Officer issues which arose in 2000/01; and

(2)that the Town Clerk be authorised to use powers contained in Section 92 of the Local Government Act 2000 for dealing with Ombudsman complaints to enable local settlements where appropriate.

The meeting ended at 5.45pm.