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 Governent Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillor Getliffe declared a personal interest in the report Revenue Budget Strategy 2005/06 2007/08 in view of him being a Council tenant. Councillor Draycott also declared a personal interest in the report as a member of her family was a Council tenant.  However under paragraph 10 (d) of the Members’ Code of Conduct, they regarded themselves as not having a prejudicial interest as long as the discussion did not relate to individual tenancies.

The Leader announced that the Cabinet would shortly be receiving a report evaluating the operation of tenants associations and assessing their impact and effectiveness in the City.

The Leader also announced that it was the intention of the Cabinet to move Members and associated services from the New Walk Centre to the Town Hall. The Town Hall would need to be completely modified to provide suitable meetings accommodation, and the resulting space at New Walk Centre could then be used to house the Customer Services Centre. It was noted that a feasibility study would come to Cabinet in due course.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2005, 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 24 January 2005, having been circulated to Members be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Special Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee – 7 February 2005

The Committee agreed the following at the above meeting.

Voluntary and Community Sector Consultation

-That the Committee express concern that the questions which had previously been asked had not been sufficiently answered,

-express their concern that the decisions taken by Cabinet on 24^th January 2005 in relation to the voluntary sector were not contained in the report,

-express the view that the recommendations in the paper were not sufficiently developed,

-that the Committee recommend to Cabinet that more work is done to develop procedures, including the work of the proposed Commission,

-that the Committee express to Cabinet that it takes the view that value for money is an essential part of decision making about funding,

-that the Committee express to Cabinet that it takes the view that more information is needed about what the voluntary groups do, and

-that the Committee receive a further report on the Commission at their meeting on 17 March 2005.

Councillor Willmott welcomed the close involvement of Scrutiny in the development of the proposals.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet welcome and note the views of the Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee and refer them to the Voluntary and Community Sector Commission for consideration in producing its recommendations.

Councillor Draycott submits a report requesting the Cabinet’s approval for a provisional three year corporate budget strategy, three year departmental revenue strategies for each department and a general fund budget for 2005/06;and recommends that Cabinet recommend these to Council for approval.

The full revenue budget strategy is attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Copies are also available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk, in the Members Area or by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 7154

Councillor Getliffe declared a personal interest in the report Revenue Budget Strategy 2005/06 to 2007/08 in view of him being a Council tenant. Councillor Draycott also declared a personal interest in the report as a member of her family was a Council tenant.  However under paragraph 10 (d) of the Members’ Code of Conduct, they regarded themselves as not having a prejudicial interest as long as the discussion did not relate to individual tenancies.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report requesting Cabinet to approve a provisional three year corporate budget strategy, three year departmental revenue strategies for each department and a general fund budget for 2005/06. The key elements of the budget were outlined, and it was noted that under the proposals there would be a 4.3% increase in the City’s Council Tax, with the precepts for the Police and Fire Authorities likely to be between 4.5% and 4.955%.

Minute extracts from each of the Scrutiny Committee and the comments from Unison were also circulated. It was noted that there had been no comments from the business sector.

It was noted that Scrutiny Committees had been generally supportive of the proposed budget. With regard to the specific comments made by the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee relating to the proposals to delete the post of an Exclusions Officer, 2 Team Leaders in Early Years and freeze vacancies in the Youth Service, it was noted that these comments had been considered and would now be deleted from the proposed budget.

The Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee had recommended that the proposed funding of broadband for all Members should be deleted, and it was noted that this was now being funded for all Members for one year from alternative funding sources.

It was also reported that Cabinet had acknowledged the views of the Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committees regarding their proposals to delete the proposals to remove the charges for toilets and the proposals relating to the reinstatement of free charges to the Guildhall but that these proposals would remain in the budget as a previous commitment had been given that charges for these services would be removed. In particular, it was felt that the people of Leicester should be encouraged to access the City’s Museums and charging for this was therefore inappropriate.

Councillor Corrall expressed his concern regarding the potential cost of CCTV cameras on Great Central Way, as a budget had only been provided for one camera which would not cover the whole area. Concern was also expressed regarding the cost of alley gates, and it was agreed that issues around the value for money of the gates should be explored.

Cabinet thanked Officers in Financial Services for their work on the Revenue Budget Strategy, and the Scrutiny Committees for their comments. It was also Cabinet’s view  that the comments of Scrutiny were very important in the process and that their views had been taken on board.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the provisional corporate budget strategy for 2005/06 to 2007/08,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 176.

Councillor Waddington submits a report to enabling Cabinet to decide whether to approve the establishment of a City Academy on the site of the former Mary Linwood Secondary School by the Church of England and their industry partner. The report also sets out a number of other updates on the proposals. Cabinet is recommended to consider a number of proposals outlined in the report.

The relevant minute extract of the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 11 January 2005 is attached.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report asking Cabinet to decide whether to approve the establishment of a City Academy on the site of the Mary Linwood Secondary School by the Church of England and their industry partners. The minute extract from the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 11 January 2005 had also been circulated.

It was reported that the outcome of negotiations with the DfES on the proportion of any proceeds of the sale of Southfields/Newry schools that the Council keep for outdoor sports facilities were still not known.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the establishment of a City Academy on the site of the former Mary Linwood School be supported,

(2)that the transfer of the Mary Linwood site to the sponsors subject to detailed negotiations and agreement be supported,

(3)that as Cabinet wished to support the proposal, and had approved the transfer of the Mary Linwood Site to the sponsors, that subject to the Council obtaining the necessary statutory disposal consents, Cabinet agree that::

(i)                 the Town Clerk be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Regeneration and Property and the Corporate Director for Education and Lifelong Learning, authority to negotiate and agree appropriate terms for the transfer of the site and the proposed joint use arrangements for the Linwood playing fields to the Academy (or the vehicle formed for the purposes of holding this site for Academy purpose)

(ii)               that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into the formal documentation necessary to complete the disposal,

(4)that the disposal of the Southfields/Newry Schools site be approved as follow:

(i)                 to offer the site for sale at a nominal undervalue, to the Leicester Lift Company having first option to purchase the site for primary care facilities, and

(ii)               if satisfactory cannot be agreed with the Leicester Lift Company the site be offered on the open market, after the preparation of supplementary planning guidance for the disposal of the site prior to marketing,

(iii)             delegate to the Town Clerk and Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong Learning, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Finance and Regeneration and Property to select the preferred purchaser and subsequently agree the detailed terms of the disposal,

(iv)              authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter into the formal documentation necessary to complete the proposal,

(v)                delegate to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Education, to agree with the DfES the relevant proportion of the capital receipt from the sale of the site that can be used to provide sports facilities for the local community and/or the Academy, and

(5)that Cabinet make support for the Academy conditional upon the DfES allowing the Council to retain an acceptable proportion (to be decided by the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Education) of the proceeds of sale of Southfields/Newry to invest in outdoor sports facilities,

(6)that officers be authorised to work with Aylestone Park Football  ...  view the full minutes text for item 177.

Councillor Draycott submits a report outlining a project seeking to improve the efficiencies of the Council’s back office operations. Cabinet is recommended to support a review to improve back office efficiencies, approve a pilot review of personnel administration, authorise a release of £40,000 of the £400,000 set aside for the purposes of the support services review, but no more until a subsequent report is considered by Cabinet and request a further report on completion of the pilot work.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s support for a project seeking to improve the efficiency of the Council’s back office operations. It was noted that concern had been expressed regarding the cost of carrying out the previously proposed review, and the potential impact on staff; and that therefore a review would be undertaken in personnel administration first.

RESOLVED:

(1)That a review to improve support services, subject to a successful pilot exercise, be supported,

(2)that a pilot review of personnel administration be approved,

(3)that the release of £40,000 of the £400,000 set aside for purposes of the support services review be approved, but no more until a subsequent report is submitted to Cabinet, and

(4)that a further report on completion of the pilot work described above be requested.

Councillor Bhatti submits a report advising Cabinet of the outcome of consultation with Members of the Housing, Strategic Planning and Regeneration, Resources and Equal Opportunities and Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committees, and seeks approval on the way forward for Energy Services in the City. The Cabinet is recommended to consider the report, and advise on a number of options contained in the report.

Members are asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

The meeting is asked to note the general interests of Members as governors as follows:

The meeting closed at 5.53pm.