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

Councillor Holden declared an interest in the item entitled “Best Value Reviews – Improvement Plans – Libraries and Information Services”.

The minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 3 December 2001 and the special meeting held on 10 December 2001 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the ordinary meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 December 2001 and the special meeting held on 10 December 2001, having been circulated to Members, be received, taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

New Year Honours

Councillor Willmott offered congratulations for the New Year Honours awarded to Pat Hobbs MBE in the Housing Department for her work with the homeless and to Freda Hussein MBE from Moat Community College for her work to improve community relations in Leicester.

Asset Management Planning

Councillor Willmott also congratulated those who had ensured the Council’s Asset Management Plan and the capital strategy which had both received the highest rating from the Government Office for the East Midlands. This meant that the Council would receive an extra £100, 000 in capital funds for the forthcoming financial year.

Councillor Draycott submits a report suggesting a framework for the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) for years Two and Three. The Cabinet is asked to; approve the strategic resource allocation and priorities, criteria for schemes, the process and timetable; agree to consult with other partners within the framework of the Leicester Partnership and its sub partnerships; and agree to consult with the Leicester Strategic Partnership, its sub partnerships and request that the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Sub Group provides a score card to assess schemes.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report which proposed a framework for the allocation of the Neighbourhood Renewal Fund (NRF) for Years Two and Three.  It was noted that this differed from the method of allocation used in Year One, which had been based on competitive bidding. It was now proposed to use the partnerships in operation across the City in the six community plan themes. Consultation would take place with these partnerships and there was still an expectation that the NRF monies would be targeted tp wards with highest levels of deprivation. Concilllor Willmott noted a recent article in the Leicester Mercury in which local people recognised the importance of the Council’s priority areas, education and social services, as areas where NRF monies should be spent.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the strategic resource allocation and priorities, criteria for schemes and process and timetable, as set out in paragraphs 2.4, 4 and 5 of the report, be approved;

(2)that other partners within the framework of the Leicester Partnership and its sub partnerships be consulted;

(3)that the Leicester Strategic Partnership and its sub partnerships be consulted and the NRF sub Group provide a score card to assess schemes.

Councillor Getliffe submits a report outlining proposals for improved management and greater consistency of decision making in respect of commissioning and providing transport for service users with social care needs. The Cabinet is asked to; note the Childrens Transport Policy and Revised Eligibility Criteria for the provision of transport to those with social care needs; note the arrangements to strengthen the commissioning function within Social Services; consider the options for the future provision and procurement of transport within the changes arising from “Revitalising Neighbourhoods”; and commission a review of the charging policy for transport.

The Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee have also considered this report, at their meeting on 17 December 2001, their views will be reported at the meeting and the minute circulated.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report outlining proposals for improved management and greater consistency of decision making in respect of commissioning and providing transport for service users with social care needs.

Councillor Getliffe also noted that the Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 17 December 2001, had given its support to the proposals contained within the report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Children’s Transport Policy and Revised Eligibility Criteria for the provision of transport to those with social care needs, as contained in the report, be noted;

(2)that arrangements to strengthen the commissioning function within Social Services, as contained in the report, be noted;

(3)that options for the future provision and procurement of transport be considered within the changes arising from “Revitalising Neighbourhoods”;

(4)that a review of the charging policy for transport  be commissioned.

Councillor Roberts submits a report seeking Members approval of the progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Libraries Review 2000 report “Achieving Inclusion”. The Cabinet is asked to approve the six monthly report, noting progress to date; and to delegate to the Director of Arts and Leisure to approve any amendments to the report.

A copy of the minute from the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 1 November 2001 is also attached to the report.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval of the progress report on the implementation of the recommendations of the Libraries Review 2000 report “Achieving Inclusion”.  Councillor Roberts noted the progress made in the Library Service, where there had been a number of developments such as extended opening hours, special children’s services, a top ten bestseller feature and work done on diversity. He congratulated the Head of the Libraries Service and all her staff on the improvements made.

Members of the Cabinet also recognised the benefit of the Libraries Service to persons from all backgrounds and of all ages, particularly in developing Information Technology awareness.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the six monthly report noting progress to date, be approved; and

(2)that the Director of Arts & Leisure be authorised to approve any amendments to the plan.

Councillor Roberts submits a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval of the draft Annual Library Plan for Leicester, required by Government to be submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport . The Cabinet is asked to; approve the draft Annual Library Plan for 2001; and to delegate to the Director of Arts & Leisure, to approve any final amendments to the Plan.

A copy of the minute from the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 1 November 2001 is attached to the report.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report which sought Members approval for the draft Annual Library Plan for Leicester, required by Government to be submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.

Councillor Roberts congratulated the Head of the Libraries Service on the progress made within the libraries service.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the draft Annual Library Plan for 2001 be recommended to Council for approval.

Councillor Westley submits a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to the improvement plans from three Best Value Reviews. The Cabinet is asked to consider the individual reports on the agenda and any recommendations contained within. The Cabinet is also asked to consider whether those proposed improvement plans meet the requirements of Best Value. The following Best Value Review improvement plans are attached to the agenda in the supporting information:-

Financial Management – E1

Services to Homeless People – E2

Libraries and Information Services – E3

Councillor Westley submitted a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to the improvement plans from three Best Value reviews; Financial Management, Services to Homeless People and those Libraries and Information Services subject to assessment. He considered each improvement plan individually;

Services to Homeless People

Councillor Westley commented that the improvement plan was a thorough document which demonstrated practical ways in which improvements could be made to homeless services. He particularly noted the increased opening hours that would improve access.

Financial Management

Councillor Westley commented there were a number of positive aspects of the Financial Management service. He also noted there were areas identified for improvement by the plan. These included the re-implementation of the Financial Management Information System, the need to ensure staff are suitably qualified and further reviews to ensure the service meets the needs of the revitalising neighbourhoods project.

Libraries and Information Services

Councillor Westley commented with regard to the Record Office service, that he felt the City was not receiving best value from the joint arrangement. He felt; the location was difficult for City residents to get to, especially those to the north of the City; the service was poorly marketed and promoted; the staffing of the service did not reflect the cultural make up of the City and that the collection of resources also did not recognise the diverse nature of the City.

He recommended that the joint arrangement be renegotiated to address the issues outlined above.

RESOLVED:

                                    Services to Homeless People

(1)that the Overall Improvement Plan for Services to Homeless People be approved by redirecting resources; and

(2)that the requirement to save 2% of the budget of services having a Best Value Review be not met from this service but met from other Housing General Fund Budgets;

Financial Management

(3)that the proposed improvement plan be approved; and

(4)that the Performance Indicators, which arose from the review, as outlined in the report be noted.

Libraries and Information Services

(5)that the current joint arrangement with the Libraries Service for Education be discontinued and the savings (after the Best Value saving of £5,548) be redirected to support children’s out of school hours learning through the public library network; and

(6)that the joint agreement for records and archive services be renegotiatied (after 2% Best Value saving) with a strong emphasis on ensuring improvements for city residents to address the weaknesses identified in the review; and

(7)that the updated (November 2001) Libraries Service Improvement Plan 2001-2004, be noted.

Councillor Patel submits a report which notes the Council’s requirement to set a “taxbase” for the purposes of setting its Council Tax and for the Police Authority to set its Council Tax. The report also details the recommended taxbase for 2002/2003. The Cabinet is asked to endorse the report and propose a taxbase to Council.

Councillor Patel submitted a report outlining the Council’s requirement to set a “taxbase” for the purpose of setting its Council Tax and to enable the Police Authority to set its Council Tax. The report also detailed the recommended taxbase for 2002/2003.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the report be endorsed; and

(2)that the Council be recommended to agree a taxbase for 2002/2003 of 71,802 properties, expressed as the equivalent number of  “Band D” properties.

Councillor Patel submits a report identifying the estimated financial position of the Collection Fund Account as at 31 March 2002. The Cabinet is asked to approve the estimated collection fund surplus and to approve the estimated shares payable to the Police Authority as detailed in the report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that identified the estimated financial position of the Collection Fund Account as at 31 March 2002. The calculation of the estimated surplus or deficit for this account was a statutory requirement as the figure needed to be taken in to account during the Council Tax setting process.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the estimated collection fund surplus figure of £1.2 million be approved; and

(2)that the estimated shares payable to the Police Authority and the City Council as detailed in this report.

Councillor Osman submits a report informing Cabinet of the new policy and to seek approval for implementation. The Cabinet is requested to endorse the Attendance Management Policy enabling implementation following appropriate notice to all employees and to note the identified changes in the new policy compared to the previous policy.

RESOLVED:

that consideration of this report be deferred to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

Councillor Patel submits a report on the actions taken or being taken to implement the Key recommendations arising from the District Audit Management Letter for 1999/2000. The Cabinet is asked to note the progress being made and the key recommendations contained within the 1999/2000 District Audit Management Letter, be considered to have been completed.

Councillor Patel submitted a report informing members of the actions taken or being taken to implement the key recommendations arising from the District Audit Management Letter for 1999/2000.

Members noted that a previous issue raised by the District Auditor regarding voluntary sector funding was currently being reviewed and the Cabinet would be considering the matter at a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the progress made, be noted; and

(2)that the key recommendations contained within the 1999/00 District Audit Management Letter, be considered to have been completed.

Councillor Getliffe submits a report informing the Cabinet of the implications of the Care Standards Act 2000, in terms of the transfer of regulatory functions provided by the Council and Local Authority Provision which will be regulated and inspected externally from April 2002. The Cabinet is asked to note the contents of the report and to receive further reports on the financial implications of registration fees, work proposed  to meet the new National Standards and the implications of the enforcement powers of the National Care Standards Commission as they might be applied after April 2002.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report informing the Cabinet of the implications of the Care Standards Act 2000, both in terms of transfer of regulatory functions provided by Leicester City Council and in relation to Local Authority Provision which would be regulated and inspected externally from April 2002.

Councillor Getliffe praised staff involved for a smooth transition to the new inspection regime. He also thanked the work of the Inspection Advisory Panel which was attended by volunteers. Concern was expressed that there may be no role for these volunteers on the new commission.

RESOLVED:

                        that the report be noted.

Councillor Patel submits a report which sets out a proposal to partly lease two properties and one site in the Saffron area to enable the implementation of the Sure Start III initiative. The Cabinet is asked to approve that the City Council enter in to three separate leases with Barnados on the terms outlined in the report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report setting out a proposal to partly lease two properties and one site in the Saffron area to enable the implementation of the Sure Start III initiative.

RESOLVED:

that the City Council enter into three separate leases with Barnados on the terms outlined in the report.

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 reports in private on the grounds that they contain ‘exempt’ information as defined by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, 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 they involve the likely disclosure of 'exempt' information, as defined in the Paragraphs detailed below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.”

Paragraph 9

Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

FOMER AVALON CENTRE, DUXBURY ROAD

RESOLVED:

            that the press and public be excluded during consideration of the following report 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.

Paragraph 9

Any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

FORMER AVALON CENTRE, DUXBURY ROAD

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report regarding the freehold sale of the former Avalon Centre, Duxbury Road.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the freehold sale of the former Avalon Centre, be agreed as per the terms outlined in the report;

(2)that the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Finance and Resources, to accept , if appropriate, the second highest offer in the event that the sale to the successful bidder, for whatever reason, did not proceed;

(3)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to prepare and execute the formal documentation necessary to effect the disposal; and

(4) that the approach outlined in the report concerning the Serbian Orthodox Church be approved.

The meeting closed at 5.41pm.