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 to be discussed and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

No declarations were made.

The meeting stood for a minutes silence in tribute to the late Councillor Ramnik Kavia.

The Leader announced that following the election of the Labour administration by full Council on 25 November 2004,  portfolios had been allocated as follows:

Councillor Willmott – Leader and Regeneration and Property

Councillor Draycott – Deputy Leader and Resources

Councillor Kitterick – Transport

Councillor Getliffe – Social Care and Health

Councillor Corrall – Neighbourhoods and Environment

Councillor Bhatti – Housing

Councillor Waddington – Education

Councillor Connelly – Leisure

The Leader also announced that it was the intention of the Cabinet to propose six changes to current Council policy:

1)     reinstate concessionary fares before 9.30am for the elderly, disabled and unemployed by Spring 2005,

2)     removal of charges for public conveniences by Christmas 2004,

3)     reinstate community transport provision,

4)     removal of the charge for admission to the Guildhall immediately,

5)     ensure Humberstone Park Café remains open,

6)     increase the grant to the Urban Regeneration Company by £50,000 per annum, which will be matched by £50,000 each from the East Midlands Development Agency and the English Partnerships.

The Leader asked the Chief Executive for advice regarding whether the six proposals were achievable, and it was reported that in principle arrangements could be made to cover the costs for this financial year, but there would be issues regarding building the costs into the base budget from April 2005 which would need to be worked on.

The Leader also thanked his colleagues and Officers for their work since the full Council meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 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 8 November 2004, having been circulated to Members be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee – 11 November 2004

The following was agreed at the above meeting. The full minute extract and an Officer response are attached as appendix A.

Political Stands on the Highway

RESOLVED:

(1)That the Committee request that Cabinet adopt a policy which respects and upholds the right of free speech in the City, within the bounds of the Law and that any exceptions to the Council’s policy be agreed cross-party and,

(2)that a further report be submitted to the Committee when a policy on how to deal with applications is proposed

Councillor Coley to respond

Overseas Links Working Party

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

Visits Involving Overseas Contacts

RESOLVED:

(1) that clarification be sought from Cabinet about officers making overseas visits.

Councillor Mugglestone to recommend that the comments of the Working Party be noted and a full report be submitted to the next meeting of the cabinet responding to the issues raised.

Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee – 11 November 2004

The Committee resolved the following at the above meeting.

-         That the Committee requests that Cabinet adopt a policy which respects and upholds the right of free speech in the City, within the bounds of the law, and that any exceptions are agreed cross party, and

-      that a further report be submitted to the Committee when a policy on how to deal with applications is proposed.

Councillor Willmott expressed the Cabinet’s support for the proposals of Scrutiny, and asked for a report to be submitted to the next meeting of the Cabinet endorsing the right of free speech in the City, and that any exceptions to this should be agreed between all 3 political parties on the Council.

RESOLVED:

                        That a report be submitted to the next meeting for the Cabinet to endorse the right of free speech in the City.

Overseas Links Working Party – 28 October 2004

The Working Party resolved the following at the above meeting.

-         That clarification be sought from Cabinet about Officers making overseas visits.

Councillor Willmott suggested that these be considered and fed into the budget process for the next financial year.

RESOLVED:

                        That the comments of the Overseas Links Working Party on the budget be considered and fed into the budget process for the next financial year.

The Head of Audit and Governance and the Corporate Risk Manager will give a presentation on risk management.

This item was withdrawn as most of the Members had already heard the presentation.

Councillor Metcalfe submits a report providing members with an update on progress made, and the initiatives being deployed by the Housing department to increase the income to the Authority in respect of Council Tax and Business Rate payments for 2004/2005 and in future years. The Cabinet is recommended to note the progress made to date to collect the charges and endorse the initiatives taken by the Revenues service to increase the in year collection rates for 2004/2005, endorse the ongoing improvements planned to ensure collection rates increase to achieve upper quartile of the National Best Value Performance Indicators within three years, and to support a strong enforcement approach, including committal action, to facilitate the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report updating the Cabinet on progress made with the collection of local taxes owed to the Council, and the initiatives being deployed by the Housing Department to increase the income to the Authority in respect of Council Tax and Business rate payments for 2004/05 and in future years. Councillor Draycott sought the Cabinet’s support for the ongoing and proposed initiatives with the exception of the proposal to change the system of payment dates, which she felt needed further consideration.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the progress to date to collect the charges be noted,

 (2)that, with the exception of the proposed change of payment dates, the initiatives detailed in paragraph 2 of the Supporting Information to increase in year collection rates for 2004/05 be endorsed, as well as the ongoing improvements detailed in paragraph 3 of the Supporting Information, to achieve upper quartile of the National Best Value Performance Indicators within 3 years,

(3)that the strong enforcement approach, including committal action, to facilitate the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates be supported, and

(4)that the Corporate Director of Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Resources, any decision relating to changes in the date of payment collection.

Councillor Coley submits a report advising the Cabinet of waivers to Contract Procedure Rules approved by the Town Clerk, as required by paragraph 4.2(b) of these rules. The Cabinet is recommended to note the waivers.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report advising Cabinet of waivers to contract procedure rules, approved by the Town Clerk, as required by paragraph 4.2(b) of these rules.

RESOLVED:

                        That the waivers be noted.

Councillor Scuplak submits a report giving details of a 10 year management and maintenance plan for New Walk. The Cabinet is recommended to adopt the management and maintenance plan as the standard to be achieved.

The full management and maintenance plan 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 7154

Councillor Willmott submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s support for the 10 year Management and Maintenance Plan for New Walk.

RESOLVED:

                        That the Cabinet adopt the Management and Maintenance Plan accompanying the report as the standard to be achieved.

Councillor Johnson submits a report advising the Cabinet of the strategic business case for the proposed Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme which is complete in draft form, the revenue implications associated with the Capital Programme and the risks identified and the assumptions underlying the proposals and of the proposed consultation and timescale, and seek Cabinets approval to engage in a consultation process with all stakeholders. Feedback from the consultation will inform a more detailed report to Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet in early February 2005. Cabinet is recommended to authorise the Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong Learning to undertake stakeholder’s consultation, with specific regard to the affordability options referred to in the report,  request that the Corporate Director bring back a report in February 2005 detailing the results of the stakeholder consultation and request that the Corporate Director bring a report to Cabinet in February 2005 seeking approval of the strategic business case for the BSF Programme and the outline business case for phase 1 schools.  Draft consultation packs will be available in the Members area on the day of the Cabinet.

            The full supporting information 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 7154

The meeting closed at 5.25pm.