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.

New Administration

Councillor Willmott announced that in view of the intention of the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Groups to form a coalition at the Council meeting on 19^th May 2005, the meeting would be the final one with a Labour Cabinet.

The Leader detailed the achievements of the Administration since it came to power in November 2004, and detailed the plans it had had for the future. Councillor Willmott, together with other Members of the Cabinet, expressed his disappointment that the Administration would not be able to continue with this work, and stressed the importance of the continuation of the regeneration of the City for the future, and his hope that this would continue.

Councillor Willmott and the Cabinet expressed the need for stability in the City Council in order that it could move forward with a number of important regeneration schemes, and retain the confidence of external partners and agencies. In order for this to happen, and for the issue of political control to be determined, the Labour group was offering to resign all of its seats on the Council if other political parties did the same, in order for there to be a fresh election to allow the chance for one party to win an overall majority.

British Union for Abolition of Vivisection

Councillor Willmott announced that he had written to the British Union for Abolition of Vivisection, and that they were looking at the feasibility of having a definition of products which were not tested on animals specifically for Local Authorities.

Lifelong Learning Budget Review

Councillor Willmott asked the Chief Executive when the report from financial advisors Robson Rhodes into this matter in Education and Lifelong Learning would be available, and was informed that this would be available in draft form this week, and would need to be checked for accuracy before decisions were made on what could be made public.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2005, have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet asked to approve them as a correct record.

Councillor Kitterick clarified the costs of replacing road humps in Melbourne Road and surrounding side streets should read as follows:

Melbourne Road

Speed Humps - £216,000

Carriageway Reconstruction – £600,000

Surrounding side streets

Speed humps - £1,700,000

Carriageway Reconstruction - £2,300,000

RESOLVED:

That, subject to the above amendment, the minutes of the meeting held on 25 April 2005, having been circulated to Members be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

As a matter arising from the minutes, Councillor Connelly asked for an update on the work requested at the last meeting on improving the signage for disabled access to Jewry Hall museum, and was informed that this would be sent to him after the meeting.

Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee (Social Care Stream) – 7 April 2005

The following was agreed at the above meeting. The full minute extract and the report that was submitted to the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee is attached.

Electronic Social Care Records

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet be urged to ensure that sufficient funding is put in place to ensure that an adequate back-up system for the Electronic Social Care Records can be put in place.

Councillor Getliffe to respond.

Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee ( Health Stream) – 27 April 2005

The following was agreed at the above meeting. The full minute extract and an Officer response is attached as appendix A2.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet be asked to identify ways to ensure that the consideration of health provision and services is included in the consultation process for future residential developments in the City.

Councillor Willmott to respond.

Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee (Social Care Stream) – 7 April 2005

The Committee resolved the following at the above meeting.

Electronic Social Care Records

- That Cabinet be urged to ensure that sufficient funding is put in place to ensure that an adequate back up system for the Electronic Social Care Records can be out in place.

Councillor Getliffe thanked the Scrutiny Committee for their comments and agreed that this system was crucial to the department and that it was important that an adequate back up system was in place.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet give a further commitment that as a priority the necessary budgetary provision should be put in place to ensure the procurement of an adequate back up system.

Health and Social Care Scrutiny Committee (Health Stream) – 27 April 2005

The Committee resolved the following at the above meeting.

Primary Care Trust Budgets 2005/2006

- That Cabinet be asked to identify ways to ensure that the consideration of health provision and services is included in the consultation process for future residential developments in the City.

Councillor Willmott submitted a response describing the work undertaken to ensure the provision of health services within proposed residential developments.

RESOLVED:

                        That the range of work being undertaken by the Planning Service with regard to this matter be noted, and that this continue within the current working arrangements.

Councillor Willmott submits a report covering the preparation of the Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to the Local Plan, for the St George’s North and South areas of the City Centre, the new community Leicester Regeneration Company area. Cabinet is recommended to adopt this guidance as supplementary guidance to the City of Leicester Local Plan.

The relevant minute extract of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 9 May 2005 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

The full supporting information is available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk, in the Group Rooms in the Members’ Area or by telephoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 7154.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report covering the preparation of Supplementary Planning Guidance (SPG) to the Local Plan for the St George’s North and South area of the city centre, the new community Leicester Regeneration Company intervention area. It was noted that the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee had considered the report and supported the strategy, and the minute extract of the meeting held on 9^th May had been circulated.

Councillor Willmott stated that he believed that this was an excellent piece of work, and that it should be endorsed and approved with two changes detailed below.

RESOLVED:

                        That the guidance be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the City of Leicester Local Plan, subject to the following additions:

Add new paragraph 8.2.2

Linear Park

The Leicester Regeneration Company Development Framework also indicates two new green spaces, one on Wharf Street south and one between Bedford Street south and Dryden Street. These, together with existing green spaces and appropriate environmentally improved linking streets, could form the basis of a linear park, flowing through the area and giving improved access northwards to Abbey Park. Opportunities will be taken to bring this idea forward through the use of developer contributions and other funding sources. An indicative route is shown on Map 14.

Delete existing text of paragraph 8.3.2 and replace with the revised text

Lee Circle

As noted in Section 4, Lee Circle Car Park itself is visually intrusive, with the surrounding road inconsistent with and disruptive of the historic street pattern. It is the intention of the City Council to work towards the removal of Lee Circle Car Park and to see it replaced with an appropriate and well designed mix of open space and new development together with a new road alignment.

Councillor Corrall submits a report providing an overview of the community safety strategy for the period 2005-08 produced by the Leicester Partnership against Crime and Disorder, and outlines key objectives of the strategy in order to ensure that all partners contribute to reducing crime and the fear of crime within Leicester. Cabinet is recommended to endorse the Community Safety Strategy for recommendation to Council.

The full supporting information is available on the Council’s website at www.cabinet.leicester.gov.uk, in the Group Rooms in the Members’ Area or by telephoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 7154.

Councillor Corrall submitted a report providing an overview of community safety strategy for the period 2005-06 produced by the Leicester Partnership Against Crime and Disorder (LAPCD). The report further outlined the key objectives of the strategy in order to ensure that all partners contribute to reducing crime and the fear of crime within Leicester.

It was noted that a partnership approach was key to the success of this strategy, and it was hoped that the Crime and Disorder Partnership would continue to meet formally under the new administration.

RESOLVED:

                        That the Community Safety Strategy (April 2005 – March 2008) be endorsed and recommended to Council for approval.

Councillor Kitterick submits a report recommending that the City Council submits an application for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DFE) powers to the Secretary of State, these powers will enable the Council to take over responsibility from the Police Traffic Warden service for enforcement for of all the parking restrictions in Leicester. Cabinet is recommended to approve making an application to the Secretary of State seeking DPE powers to enable taking over responsibility from the police for enforcement of all the parking restrictions within the City, approve awarding a contract to the approved specialist DPE consultant that meets specification and provides best value for money, authorise the Service Director for Highways and Transportation, in liaison with the lead member for Highways and Transportation, to enter into contracts and undertake all other activites necessary to implement DPE, and authorise prudential borrowing of up to £735,000, this amount to be drawn down to cover expected spends on the set up costs and initial expenses over the 3 years from 2005/06, estimated at £640,000, together with a contingency of up to 15%.

The relevant minute extract of the Special Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee (Highways and Transportation Stream) held on 11 May 2005 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Draycott submits a report seeking Cabinet’s approval for the Regeneration and Culture schemes in the Corporate Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08 that required further details for approval. Cabinet is recommended to consider and approve implementation of the schemes detailed in the supporting papers.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report seeking Cabinet’s approval for the Regeneration and Culture schemes in the Corporate Capital Programme 2005/06 to 2007/08 that required further detail for approval.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the implementation of the three year programmes for Festive Decorations, Riverside and Replacement Astroturf Pitches as detailed in the supporting papers be approved, and the total Riverside allocation of £359,000 be noted,

(2)that the first year (2005/06) programme for Local Environmental Works as detailed in appendix one be noted, and that before committing further expenditure a further report be requested (for Scrutiny for consideration and then Cabinet for a decision) detailing options for a full 3 year local environmental works programme,

(3)that the implementation of the first year (2005/06) of the Bridge refurbishment and Kickabout areas as detailed in the supporting papers be approved, and that the programmes for the following two years be agreed in principle, subject to further papers providing appropriate detail,

(4)that the implementation of the first year (2005/06) of the Adoption of Private Streets as detailed in appendix one be approved, and that that it be agreed that in year two of the programme that the remaining private streets on the waiting list for adoption be completed, and in year three any streets on the waiting list unable to have been completed in year two will be finished and any further new private roads will be adopted, and

(5)that the schemes proposed for the city centre development detailed in appendix 4 be noted, and that the expenditure on preliminary design work for all the city centre schemes, together with the expenditure for the delivery of the schemes in Market Street, Hotel Street, St Martins, Loseby Lane forming part of the extension of New Walk totalling £1.74 million, and that further reports be submitted to future meetings of Scrutiny and Cabinet providing more detail on the schemes and tier programming and approval for spend for the two years 2006/07 – 2007/08.

Councillor Getliffe submits a report seeking approval of the proposals for the maintenance and improvement of Older Persons Homes as requested at the Council meeting on 31 March 2005. Cabinet is recommended to confirm the release of £250,000 for the maintenance and improvement of Older Persons Homes in the 2005/06 Capital Programme, and request a further report detailing proposed expenditure for 2006/07 and 2007/08 as and when additional funding becomes available.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval of the proposals for the Maintenance and Improvement of Older Persons Homes as requested at the Council meeting on 31 March 2005.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the release of £250,000 for the maintenance and improvement of Older Persons Homes in the 2005/06 Capital Programme be confirmed, and

(2)that a further report be requested detailing proposed expenditure for 2006/07 and 2007/08 as and when additional funding becomes available.

Councillor Draycott submits a report detailing all the Council’s trading organisations and their 2005/06 budgets. The report also proposes an update to the schedule of determinations to Finance Procedure Rules, which govern the percentage of surpluses the trading organisations are allowed to retain. Cabinet is recommended to approve the 2005/2006 budgets for the Council trading organisations, approve the revised level of surplus retention of housing maintenance at 100%, other organisations at 50%, subject to the approval of the above, amend the schedule of determinations to the Finance Procedure Rules and note the proposed policies in respect of the use of retained surpluses for each department.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report detailing all the Council’s trading organisations and their 2005/06 budgets. The report also proposed an update to the schedule of determination to Finance Procedure Rules, which governs the percentage of surpluses the trading organisations are allowed to retain.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the 2005/2006 budgets for the Council’s trading organisations be approved,

(2)that the revised level of surplus retention be approved as follows

-         Housing Maintenance 100%

-         Other Organisations 50%

(3)that the schedule of determinations to the Finance Procedure Rules be amended to reflect (2), and

(4)that the proposed policies in respect of the use of retained surpluses for each department be noted.

Councillor Willmott submits a report providing details of the Make Poverty History campaign and sets out possible ways in which the Council could facilitate their work in Leicester to increase awareness of international development issues. Cabinet are recommended to express their support for the aims of the Make Poverty History campaign, facilitate the work of the campaign in Leicester in the ways set out in the report as far as is practicable and ask the Overseas Links Working Party to consider whether the Council should encourage Strasbourg and Krefeld to write to their national governments urging them to place international development higher up on the agenda.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report providing details of the Make Poverty History campaign and set out possible ways in which the Council could facilitate their work in Leicester to increase awareness of international development issues. Councillor Willmott also stated that he would be writing to all Groups to gain cross party support for the campaign.

The aims of the campaign were fully supported and it was moved by Councillor Waddington that all Councillors and Chief Officers be asked to contribute a days pay to the campaign, as well as reminding staff of the ability to make donations through payroll deductions.  

RESOLVED:

(1)That support for the Make Poverty History campaign be expressed,

(2)that the Council’s facilitation of the work of the campaign in Leicester be supported, as far as is practicable, on the basis that the campaign is non political,

(3)that the Overseas Links Working Party be asked to consider whether the Council should encourage Strasbourg and Krefeld to write to their national governments urging then to place international development higher up the agenda,

(4)that all Councillors and Chief Officers be asked to donate a days pay to the campaign, and a report on how donations could be implemented come to the next meeting of Cabinet, and

(5)that the Leader write to all political groups on the Council to gain cross party support for the campaign.

Councillor Waddington submits a report advising Cabinet of the strategic challenges facing the Education and Lifelong Learning property portfolio with a view to prioritising available resources. Cabinet is recommended to consider a number of consider a number of recommendations outlined in the report, and make recommendations to Council.

The relevant minute extract of the Special Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 12 May will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Waddington submits a report asking Cabinet to consider revised proposals for the revised proposals for the new Primary Schools project, in particular the revised accommodation requirements and the revised costs, and the proposal to change one school location from the original site at Benbow Rise Infant School site to the Crescent Junior School site. Cabinet is recommended to consider a number of options outlined in the report and make recommendations to Council.

The relevant minute extract of the Special Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 12 May will be circulated as soon as it is available.

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.

Councillor Willmott submits a report.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report seeking Cabinet consent for the release of the first phase of funds to carry out repairs and strengthening of the Glenfield Tunnel to ensure the publics health and safety.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the release of funds detailed in the 2005/06 capital programme be approved, for the clearance and inspection of the airshafts and re-measurement if the tunnel alignment, and

(2)that Property Services then pursue options for the disposal of the tunnel, and in the event that these are unsuccessful seek the release of the additional funds in the 2006/07.

The meeting closed at 6.25pm.