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.

Leicester Riders

Councillor Blackmore announced that the Leicester Riders were now back in the City, and had begun training at the John Stanford Sports Centre in preparation for their first match at the weekend.

Cabinet Link for Social Care and Health

Councillor Blackmore announced that Councillor Gill had now resigned as Cabinet Link Member for Social Care and Health, and thanked him for the work that he had done in this role.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2004 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet asked to approve them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

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

Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee (Social Care Stream) – 1 September 2004

Revenue Outturn 2003/04

The following was agreed at the above meeting. The full minute extract and officer response is attached.

RESOLVED:

            That the committee:

(1)               Notes the final outturn for the Social Care and Health Department budget for the 2003/2004 financial year; and

(2)               Congratulates the department on its achievement in ensuring that the budget has been brought in within the cash limit; and

(3)      Asks that its concern that the Councils overall budget for 2003/04 was under spent be bought to the attention of the Cabinet, given the financial pressures on the Social Care and Health Department.

(4)      Asks that the committees concerns over the transport budget are brought to the Cabinets attention, given that the Departments costs are not fully funded

Councillor Gill to respond

Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny – 14 September

Lifelong Learning and Community Development Premises Review

Update

The following was agreed at the above meeting. The full minute extract and officer response is attached.

RESOLVED:

1.That the Cabinet be asked to stop the Premises review and divisional organisational review with immediate effect and to reinstate those made redundant;

2.That a report be brought back to the meeting on 7 October outlining the impact of the reviews on staff and service users;

3.That the whole issue of the premises and organisational reviews be considered together.

Councillor Suleman to respond

A) FIRE STATION, LANCASTER ROAD

Planning Application 20081625 & Listed Building Consent 20081623

Internal & external alterations

It was noted that the Panel made observations on alterations to the building in August. The Director said that the application was a revised scheme for the proposed alterations.

The Panel supported the revised canopy and the replacement windows provided that they were exact replicas. 

The Panel recommended conditional approval on this application.

B) 1 WEST WALK

Planning Application 20081471

Extension & new offices

The Director said that the application was for a two storey extension to the rear of the office building and a new three storey office building in the adjacent 'garden' space.

The Panel thought that the new build looked quite interesting and showed some imagination but commented that the first floor balcony looked as though it was in front of the building line. The Panel also thought the building would be a bit overpowering from some angles and would obscure the view down West Walk.  They requested that the building be set back and more glazing added to reduce the bulk. 

The Panel were less keen on the rear extension which they felt should complement the design of the new build better. They were satisfied with the proposed height but commented that the elevation facing Princess Road East needed to be improved. They requested that the extension be altered to form part of the new build in an L shape instead and that the rear elevation of the existing building be restored.

The Panel recommended seeking amendments to this application.

C) 136 WESTCOTES DRIVE

Planning Application 20081464

Change of use to 15 flats

The Director said that the application was for the conversion of the nursing home to 15 self-contained flats. The proposal involved a new extension to the rear replacing the existing flat roof extension and external alterations to the existing 1960s extension.

The Panel thought that this was a particularly attractive site and Westcotes Drive was very distinctive. The Panel opposed the extra extension to the rear and the reworking of the existing extension. They felt that the 1960s part did not detract from the main building but only the windows did. They also stated that the new proposals created an over-intensive development on the site that would not enhance the conservation area. The Panel opposed the loss of the rear garden space for the new extension however they did support the change of use to flats.

The Panel recommended refusal on this application.

D) UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER

Planning Application 20081427

Extensions to student union

The Director said that the application was for extensions to the Percy Gee Building.

The Panel thought that the new extensions would completely alter the appearance of the building, but agreed that it needed improving. Some members thought the end result would be more interesting than the drawings suggested.

The Panel recommended approval on this application.

E) 20 – 22 GRANBY STREET

Planning Application 20081447, 20081404, 20081642

Signage, new shop front, change of use of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

Councillor Coley submits a report to enable compliance with the requirements of the Council’s Corporate Governance Code by carrying out an annual review of Corporate Governance arrangements for the year 2003/04, and to enable the Council’s Leader and Chief Executive to sign a Corporate Assurance Statement. The Cabinet is recommended to review the current position and authorise the Service Director (Legal Services) to finalise a form of Corporate Assurance Statement to be signed by the Council’s Leader and Chief Executive to be published on the Councils website.

The relevant minute extract from the Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 16 September 2004 will be circulated when it is available.

Councillor Coley submitted a report enabling compliance with the requirements of the Council’s Corporate Governance Code by carrying out an Annual Review of Corporate Governance for the year 2003/04.

The relevant minute extract from the Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee on 16 September 2004 had been circulated, which recommended that the consultation strategy be reviewed in light of the recent judicial review. Councillor Coley responded that this was already happening.

RESOLVED:

                        That the Service Director (Legal Services) be authorised to finalise a form of Corporate Assurance Statement to be signed by the Council’s Leader and Chief Executive, and to be published on the Council’s website.

Councillor Scuplak submits a report seeking authorisation for the release of capital monies to the Central Maintenance Fund for health and safety works identified in the report. Cabinet is recommended to approve the release of the allocated funds of £300,000 within the Capital programme to the Central Maintenance Fund for the implementation of the works.

Councillor Scuplak submitted a report seeking authorisation for the release of capital monies to the Central Maintenance Fund for health and safety works as identified in the report.

RESOLVED:

                        That the release of the allocated funds of £300,000 within the Capital programme, to the Central Maintenance Fund, for the implementation of work detailed in the report, be approved.

Councillor Ramsdale submits a report outlining the Aalborg Commitments which will provide a useful framework within which to develop the Leicester Partnership’s new Community Strategy and to deliver key sustainability outcomes in the Council’s Corporate Plan. The Cabinet is recommended to endorse Leicester Partnership’s signing of the Aalborg commitments.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report asking the Cabinet to endorse the signing of the Aalborg commitments by the Leicester Partnership. It was noted that the Commitments would provide a useful framework within which to develop the Leicester Partnership’s new Community Strategy, and to deliver key sustainability outcomes in the Council’s Corporate Plan.

RESOLVED:

                        (1)       That the Leicester Partnership’s signing of the Aalborg commitments be endorsed, and

                        (2)       that to demonstrate the Council’s support for commitment no.10 regarding sustainable development and climate protection, we would expect to embrace item 5 (inter city sharing) of commitment 10 by exchange of information and good practice by electronic means wherever possible, thereby avoiding travelling overseas or within the UK.

Councillor Suleman presents a report recommending term dates for 2005/06 and a strategy for determining dates for 2006/07 and 2007/08. The Cabinet is recommended to support the term dates for 2005/06, note the date patterns proposed by the School Terms and Holiday Dates Working party for 2006/07 and 2007/08 and agree to receive further recommendations from the Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong Learning with respect to 2006/07 and 2007/08 upon completion of further research, consultation and reflection by the Working Group and Corporate Director.

The relevant minute extract form the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 14 September 2004 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Suleman submitted a report recommending term dates for 2005/06 and a strategy for determining dates for 2006/07 and 2007/08. It was reported that these proposed dates mirrored those of the County.

The minute extract form the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 14 September 2004 had been circulated.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the term dates for 2005/06 as detailed in appendix A be supported,

(2)               that the views of the School Terms and Holiday Dates Working Party, Scrutiny Committee and stakeholder groups be noted, and

(3)that the Cabinet receive further recommendations from the Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong Learning with respect to 2006/07 and 2007/08 upon completion of further research, consultation and reflection by the Working Group and Corporate Director on this matter.

Councillor Ramsdale submits a report seeking approval for schemes under the Capital Programme 2004/05. The Cabinet is recommended to approve the schemes set out in the supporting information of the report and endorse funding from the Capital Programme for these schemes from the Conservation and Heritage Initiatives and Riverside budgets.

Councillor Scuplak submitted a report seeking approval to schemes under the Capital Programme 2004/05. It was noted that the Riverside Festival had been held over 2 days this year and had proved to be a great success, attracting twice as many boats as the previous year and that the riverside was an area which should be promoted.

RESOLVED:

(1)               That the schemes set out in the supporting information be approved; and

(2)that approval be given for funding from the Capital Programme for these schemes form the Conservation and Heritage Initiatives and Riverside budgets.

Councillor Coley submits a report explaining the process by which the Council’s 2005/06 base budget is being prepared, and summarises the principles supporting this process. The Cabinet is recommended to endorse the framework for base budget preparation and approve the cash limits for each department.

Councillor Coley submitted a report explaining the process by which the Council’s 2005/06 base budget was being prepared, and summarised the principles supporting this process.

RESOLVED:

(1)               That the framework for base budget preparation be endorsed and;

(2)       that the cash limits for each department be approved.

Councillor Coley submits a report seeking Cabinet approval of the Council’s Capital Strategy 2005/2008. The Cabinet is recommended to consider the draft capital strategy, and whether it wishes to seek the views of partner organisations and consider whether it wishes to recommend its adoption to Council.

The minute extract from the Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 16 September 2004 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Coley submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval of the Council’s Capital Strategy 2005/2008. The relevant minute extract from the Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee on 16 September 2004 had been circulated.

It was noted that the Council’s current 3 year capital strategy ran up to 2004/2005, and the capital programme for 2004/05, which was derived from the existing strategy was the final year of that 3 year programme, subsequent programmes would be based on the new capital strategy which would run from April 2005 to March 2008.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the Cabinet endorse the capital strategy, as a draft for consultation with key parties,  subject to-

-         deletion of provisions whereby housing capital receipts can be retained for corporate purposes;

-         insertion of a provision requiring a predetermined level of housing resources to be treated as corporate each year.

(2)that the Cabinet request that the Chief Finance Officer makes amendments to give effect to the above,  and submit the strategy for Council approval in November, together with the comments of the consultees.

Councillor Coley submits a report presenting the work done to date, and consequent recommendations, of the efficiency review of procurement. The Cabinet is recommended to note the progress of the efficiency review so far, endorse the continued mandatory requirement to use ESPO and the proposed actions for ensuring this is enforced, note the finding of the review of IT procurement, note the findings of the review of stationary and paper, note the findings of the review of vehicle and plant procurement and consider the options for translating procurement savings into budget reductions and provide a view on how this should be done.

Councillor Coley submitted a report presenting work done to date, and consequent recommendations of the efficiency review.

It was noted that the review of procurement was one of three efficiency reviews set up as a consequence of the 2004/05 budget, which together aimed to make savings of £3.5m per annum by 2006/07.

RESOLVED:

(1)               That Cabinet note the progress of the efficiency reviews so far,

(2)               endorse the continued mandatory requirement to use ESPO (except for recognised exceptions) and the proposed actions for ensuring this is enforced; and in particular to seek a routine report to members of the Cabinet (Efficiency Review) Sub Group on future non use of ESPO after a period of grace,

(3)               note the findings of the review of IT procurement, and to endorse its recommendations, in particular to delegate to the Town Clerk (in consultation with the lead member for the review) authority to conclude a sole supplier agreement for the future provision of PCs and to determine the scope of services provided within the agreement,

(4)to note the findings of the review of stationery and paper, and endorse its recommendations,

(5)               to note the findings of the review of vehicle and plant procurement, and endorse its recommendations,

(6)               to approve a policy of reducing inflation allowances in future budgets where departments have been purchasing from non approved suppliers, and delegate to the Chief Finance Officer authority to devise a specific scheme, and

(7)               to seek a report back from the Chief Finance Officer on the translation of savings from all three efficiency reviews into budget savings.

Councillor Coley submits a report seeking approval to upgrade the existing Wide Area Data Network to give a 5 fold increase in performance and at the same time reduce revenue costs for line rentals. The upgrade will also incorporate a redesign of the network to provide greater resilience. The Cabinet is recommended to approve an investment of £600,000 to improve the speed of wide area network to be funded by prudential borrowing under the ‘spend to save’ rules.

Councillor Coley submitted a report seeking approval to upgrade the existing Wide Area Data Network to give a 5 fold increase in performance and at the same time reduce revenue costs for line rentals. The Cabinet noted that the upgrade would also incorporate a redesign of the network to provide greater resilience.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That an investment of £600,000 to improve the speed of wide area network, increase resilience and reduce revenue costs to be funded by Prudential borrowing under the ‘Spend to Save’ rules be approved; and

(2)       that the Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee be informed that ‘Spend to Save’ had been used in this way.

Councillor Coley submits a report showing a summary position comparing spending with the budget for all General Fund Services. The report is the first in the regular cycle of reports for the 2004/05 financial year showing budget issues which have surfaced so far. The Cabinet is recommended to note the changes made to the original approved budget for 2004/05, note the expenditure to date and the budgetary issues which have emerged so far and note the proposals put forward to ensure that spending is contained within the Departments budgets.

Councillor Coley submitted a report showing a summary position comparing spending with the budget for all General Fund Services. The report was the first in the regular cycle of reports for the 2004/2005 financial year showing budget issues which had surfaced so far.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the changes made to the original approved budget for 2004/05 as approved by the Cabinet on 21 June 2004 be noted,

(2)       that the expenditure to date and the budgetary issues which have emerged this year so far be noted, and

(3)       that the proposals put forward to ensure that spending is contained within the Departments budgets be noted.

Councillor Suleman submits a report seeking approval for the establishment of a Partnership Board to oversee the development of a strategic plan and development of recommendations regarding the engagement of the community in the governance of Highfields Youth and Community Centre. The Cabinet is recommended to request that the Corporate Director for Education and Lifelong Learning set up a Partnership Board to oversee the next stage of development of the Highfields Youth and Community Centre, comment on the proposed membership of the Board and request that the Corporate Director bring a report back to Cabinet setting out recommendations from the Partnership Board for the future direction of the Centre.

Councillor Suleman presented a report seeking approval for the establishment of a Partnership Board to oversee the development of a strategic plan and development of recommendations regarding the engagement of the community in the governance of Highfields Youth and Community Centre.

The Cabinet noted that the Highfield Youth and Community Centre was an important part of the Council’s services in Highfields, and that in partnership with the Highfields Community Association £5million of Council and external funding had been secured to create a state of the art facility in one of City’s most disadvantaged communities.

It was also noted that a new Partnership Board was being set up to consider proposals for the community governance of the centre, and that the proposed membership was detailed in the report.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Corporate Director be requested to set up a Partnership Board to oversee the next stage of development of the Highfields Youth and Community Centre,

(2)       that the Cabinet delegate responsibility to the Corporate Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Link member for Education and Lifelong Learning, to finalise membership of the Partnership Board, and

(3)       that the Corporate Director be requested to bring a report back to Cabinet setting out recommendations from the Partnership Board for the future direction of the Centre.

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 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.

UPPERTON ROAD VIADUCT – PURCHASE OF LAND IN ADVANCE OF SCHEME

Councillor Scuplak submits a report.

Councillor Scuplak submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval to acquire property interests required for the Upperton Road Viaduct Scheme in advance of making a Compulsory Purchase Order, and to undertake any prudential borrowing which may be required to finance these acquisitions.

RESOLVED:

(1)       That the Corporate Director of Resources, Access and Diversity be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Link Members for Finance, and Regeneration, Planning and Property and the Chief Finance Officer (in respect of prudential borrowing only) to agree terms for the acquisition of land or rights required for the successful implementation of the Scheme and to undertake prudential borrowing up to a maximum of £2.88 million to finance these acquisitions,

(2)       that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to prepare and execute all the necessary documentation required to purchase the land and rights required by the scheme, and

(3)       that implementation of the scheme only begin after consultation with all members of the Cabinet on means to minimise traffic disruption.

The meeting closed at 6.10 pm.