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.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Leader thanked pupils/student, teachers and Standards Branch staff for the recent school examination results. It was noted that a record number of pupils had achieved high grades and that results were continuing to show improvement.

The minutes of the meeting held on Monday 16 August 2004, 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 16 August 2004 having been circulated to members, be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There were no matters received from Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor Coley submits a report seeking Cabinet approval of the Council’s Capital Strategy 2005/2008. The Cabinet is recommended to approve the capital strategy.

It was noted that this item had been withdrawn, and would now be taken at the meeting of Cabinet on 27 September 2004.

Councillor Mugglestone submits a report seeking Cabinet approval for the Improvement Plan arising from recommendations of the Best Value Review of Heritage Services. The Cabinet is recommended to note the recommendations of the Best Value Review of Heritage Services as previously agreed and implemented as part of the 2004/05 Departmental Revenue Strategy, and approve the Heritage Services Best Value Review Improvement Plan.

The full report is attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Copies are also available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 6022.

Councillor Coley submits a report informing the Cabinet of progress made to date with the Council’s proposed Second Generation Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA). The Cabinet is recommended to endorse the shortlist of proposals outlined in appendix one as the basis of the Council’s 2^nd Generation LPSA submission, to agree to the withdrawal of any proposal from the shortlist prior to the submission of the strategy should it fail to address concerns detailed in the report or if there are significant financial risks, and to note the areas of concern identified and the issues to consider when developing our LPSA strategy.

Councillor Coley submitted a report informing Members of progress made to date with the Council’s proposed Second Generation Local Public Services Agreement (LPSA). Subject to endorsement by the Leicester Partnership the shortlist of proposals will form the basis of our ‘Strategy for Leicester city Councils LPSA’.

It was noted that increased emphasis had been put on meeting local rather than national priorities, focusing on ‘real world’ outcomes, partnership working, better partnering by central government and regional offices and the opportunity to negotiate wider area and longer term agreements. A Performance Reward Grant of approximately £7million would be available to the Council which would normally be divided equally between the 12 service areas for improvement.

It was requested that all Ward and City Councillors should be contacted and given the opportunity to give input on the 12 service areas for improvement. It was noted that the proposals had been drawn from existing documents on which all Members had previously been consulted, including the Community Plan and the Corporate Plan. It was further requested that all Members be informed of the final 12 service areas identified.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the cabinet endorse the shortlist of proposals detailed in appendix one as the basis of the Council’s 2^nd generation Local Public Service (LPSA)  submission,

(2)that the Cabinet agree that the Corporate Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Link, withdraw any proposal from the shortlist prior to the submission of the strategy should it fail to address the concerns detailed in the report, or if there are significant financial risks, and

(3)that the Cabinet note the areas of concern identified and the issues to consider when developing out LPSA strategy.

Councillor Metcalfe submits a report proposing that Compulsory Purchase Orders are sought under the City Council’s Empty Homes Strategy on five long term privately owned vacant properties in areas of priority housing needs. The Cabinet is asked to give approval to make the land and dwellings, as outlined in the report, the subject of individual Compulsory Purchase Orders, in order to secure their improvement, proper management and occupation as residential dwellings.

Members are asked to note that as part of this report, financial information relating to the properties is attached. These papers are marked ‘NOT FOR PUBLICATION’. The information in these papers is exempt as defined in paragraphs 7 and 8 of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended. The information therefore must not be disclosed or discussed at the meeting. Should Members wish to refer to any of these details it is recommended that the meeting move into private session.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report proposing that Compulsory Purchase Orders were sought under the City Council’s Empty Homes Strategy on five long term privately owned vacant properties in areas of priority housing need. It was noted that homes which had been empty for 5 or 6 years were now being targeted to be brought back into use.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the following land and dwellings be made the subject of Compulsory Purchase Orders in order to secure their improvement, proper management and occupation as residential dwellings.:

254 Abbey Lane

69 Evesham Road

265 Fosse Road South

25 Glenbourne Road

11 Herricks Avenue

(2)that the necessary capital expenditure be authorised from the Empty Homes Strategy in line with the agreed Capital Programme.

Councillor Gill submits a report bringing to Cabinet’s attention the need to modernise and reprovide Learning Disability Day Centres. The report also briefly outlines the Social Care and Health Department’s plans to modernise/reprovide large day centres and gives an indication of financial resources required to carry out the day services reprovision and modernisation programme. The Cabinet is recommended to note the need to meet the requirement to modernise Learning Disability Day Services, enforce the modernisation of Day Services plans, note the need to modernise the Hastings Road Day Centre to provide specialist services to people with profound learning disabilities, agree the timescales outlined in the Day Services reconfiguration plan and agree to receive a further detailed report on Corporate property which will indicate how the financial requirement will be met.

Councillor Coley submitted a report bringing to Cabinet’s attention the need to modernise and reprovide Learning Disability Day Centres as per the requirements of the Government’s White Paper ‘Valuing People’. The report also briefly outlined the Social Care and Health Department’s plans to modernise/reprovide large day centres and gave an indication of financial resources required to carry out the day services reprovision and modernisation programme.

RESOLVED:

(1)That Cabinet note the need to meet the requirement of the ‘Valuing People’ paper to modernise Learning Disability Day Services by providing modern community based services,

(2)endorse the modernisation of Day Services plans which have received support from the Social Care and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee and have been agreed by the Learning Disabilities Partnership Board,

(3)note the need to modernise Hastings Road Day Centre to provide specialist services to people with profound learning disabilities, eventually on a 24/7 basis,

(4)agree the timescales outlined in the Day Services reconfiguration plan, and

(5)agree to receive a further detailed report on Corporate property by the Service Director (Property) which will indicate how the financial requirement will be met.

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.

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 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.

DISPOSAL OF LAND AT WELFORD ROAD

Councillor Ramsdale declared an interest as a member and shareholder in Leicester Tigers, and the Chief Executive declared an interest as a season ticket holder. Both left the room for the duration of discussion on the item.

Councillor Coley submits a report.

Councillor Scuplak submitted a report on the outcome of negotiations for the freehold sale of the Leicester Tigers ground and part of the adjoining former Granby Halls site, Welford Road, Leicester.

RESOLVED:

(1)That Cabinet approve the disposal of the Council’s freehold interest in the Property to Leicester Football Club in accordance with the main terms reported,

(2)that the Corporate Director of Resources, Access and Diversity in consultation with the Cabinet Link Member for Regeneration and Property be authorised to agree the final terms for the freehold disposal of the Property (including the name of the purchaser if the disposal is to an associated subsidiary company or other company vehicle to undertake the scheme), amendment or addition to the terms currently reported, and

(3)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into all necessary contracts and agreements, including a conditional contract arising out of this disposal.

The meeting closed at 5.45pm