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.

Reading World Record

The Leader reported that he had taken part in the ‘Everybody’s Reading’ World Record attempt. He thanked all those involved.  The forms signed by those involved had been sent to the Guinness World Record regulators for checking.

Green Flag Awards

The Leader reported that 4 of the City’s parks had been awarded Green Flag Awards; Abbey Park, Knighton Park, Watermead Park and Evington Park.  He extended congratulations to all staff involved in achieving this award.

Green Apple Award

The Leader reported that the Council had received the above Energy Efficiency Award. He particularly thanked Valerie Knittel from De Montfort University who had been instrumental in achieving this award.

Saffron Lane Sports Track

The Leader reported that there would be a new running track at Saffron Lane Sports Centre next season following a £400,000 refurbishment.

Riverside Festival

The Leader reported that the above Festival would take place on 10 and 11 September, celebrating Leicester’s waterfront with a weekend of events and activities.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 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 25 July, having been circulated to Members be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee – 4 August 2005

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

Project Management (Improving Services For Children And Young People And For Adults)

 RESOLVED:

(1)That the Committee express to Cabinet the view that the costs of the recruitment process should be kept as low as possible, with as much of the work as possible being carried out in house, and

(2)that concern be expressed that the high level of salary advertised may deter potentially able candidates applying for the post  who may feel, because of their current level of earnings,  that this job is ‘beyond their reach’.

Councillor Blackmore to respond.

Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee – 4 August 2005

The Committee resolved at the above meeting:

Project Management (Improving Services For Children And Young People And For Adults)

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Committee express to Cabinet the view that the costs of the recruitment process should be kept as low as possible, with as much of the work as possible being carried out in house, and

(2)that concern be expressed that the high level of salary advertised may deter potentially able candidates applying for the post  who may feel, because of their current level of earnings,  that this job is ‘beyond their reach’

Councillor Blackmore reported that in this particular case, consultants had been considered necessary as the burden on existing staff would otherwise have been too great.  With regard to the Scrutiny Committee’s concerns about the salary level of the posts, it was noted that the Employees Committee that had agreed the recruitment arrangements, had raised the same point and asked the consultants to look at the salary range.

Councillor Blackmore thanked the Scrutiny Committee for its comments.

Councillor Vincent, Chair of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee submits a report which presents the conclusions and recommendations of the in depth investigation into the night-time economy of Leicester that was carried out by the Leicester Night-time Economy Review Group on behalf of the Committee.  The report asks the Cabinet to consider the recommendations of the Review Group. 

Councillor Vincent will give a presentation of up to 5 minutes, following which Cabinet Members will have an opportunity to ask questions.  When Councillor Vincent has withdrawn from the table, the Cabinet may choose to hold a discussion on the Report.

Councillor  Blackmore asked Councillor Vincent, the Chair of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee, to present the report of the Committee on the investigation it carried out into the nightime economy of Leicester. 

Councillor Vincent thanked all those that had been involved, including Members, officers and participants.  He felt that this investigation could provide a baseline to help shape the future of Scrutiny.  He briefly described the process of evidence gathering and highlighted the key recommendations. 

The Cabinet welcomed the report and commended it as a way forward for Scrutiny.

RESOLVED:

(1) that the exemplary work done by Scrutiny be warmly welcomed and thanks be extended to all the interested people who gave evidence and took part in the meetings;

(2) that the work of Scrutiny and the recommendations of the report on the night time economy and the resourcing implications of these be considered as part of the report on the City Centre Strategy and action plan due to be presented to Cabinet in the autumn; and

(3) that other scrutiny committees be encouraged to use this model to explore thematic explorations of the work of the Council and its partners.

Councillor Suleman submits a report seeking Cabinet approval to engage an agency to conduct consultation on options for the management of the delivery of adult learning provided by the City Council.

The relevant minute of the meeting of the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee on 1 September will be circulated as soon as it is available

Councillor Suleman submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval to engage an agency to conduct consultation on options for the management of the delivery of adult learning provided by the City Council.

The relevant minute of the meeting of the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee on 1 September had been circulated.  Councillor Suleman referred to the comments made by the Scrutiny Committee and recommended that officers take on board those comments as part of the consultation process.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the proposal to conduct a consultation on options for management arrangements for the delivery of Adult Learning provided by the City Council, to be carried out between September 2005 and October 2005, be endorsed;

(2)that the expenditure from within the Adult Learning budget be approved, all costs to be met within existing resources;

(3)that the Deputy Chief Executive be authorised to seek tenders for the project and accept the most appropriate tender;

(4)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to conclude a formal contract;

(5)that the agency be requested to consult with the Learning and Skills Council on this matter;

(6)that a report be submitted from the agency on completion of the consultation setting out options and recommendations for management arrangements for the adult and community learning provision secured by the Council; and

(7)that officers take on board the comments made by the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee, as part of the consultation process.

Councillor Mugglestone submits a report which seeks Cabinet’s views in relation to the Council’s Street Trading Policy.

The relevant minute extract from the Licensing Committee on 8 September 2004  is attached to the report.

Councillor Mugglestone submitted a report which sought Cabinet’s views in relation to the Council’s Street Trading Policy.

The relevant minute extract from the Licensing Committee on 8 September 2004 had been circulated with the report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that there be a continuation of the present ban on street trading, with a programme of enforcement action in keeping with the resources available;

(2)that full Council be recommended to seek to promote a local act of parliament relating solely to street trading that could provide the Council with a more effective means of controlling street trading, along the lines of additional powers similar to those secured by other local authorities, at a cost of approximately £50,000; and

(3)that officers explore the possibility of the use of Anti Social Behaviour Orders in appropriate circumstances.

Councillor Blackmore submits a report updating Cabinet on progress since January.  The Cabinet is asked to confirm its agreement, in principle, to develop a Compact in partnership with the voluntary and community sector and to the establishment of a Compact Consultative Forum and other supporting mechanisms to enable the development of a Compact; to agree that the Council seeks the involvement in the development of the Compact of other public sector organisations, as appropriate and to authorise the Assistant Chief Executive to decide whether to call a meeting of the Commission and its nature, if called, following consultation with the Consultative Forum.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report updating the Cabinet on progress in developing a ‘compact’ between the City Council and the Voluntary Sector.

RESOLVED:

(1) that the input of representatives of voluntary and community sector organisations at the Compact Consultative Conference held on 16 July, be welcomed;

(2) that agreement be confirmed, in principle, to develop a Compact in partnership with the voluntary and community sector;

(3) that agreement be confirmed to the establishment of a Compact Consultative Forum and other supporting mechanisms to enable the development of a Compact;

(4) that agreement be given to the Council seeking the involvement in the development of the Compact of other public sector partner organisations as appropriate;

(5) that the Assistant Chief Executive be authorised to decide whether or not to call a Commission, and its nature if called, following consultation with the Consultative Forum and the Leader of the Council; and

(6)that each political party be invited to nominate a ‘Compact’ champion to engage with the development process.

Councillor Gill submits a report which presents action plans produced in response to recent joint inspection of Older People’s Services.  The Cabinet is asked to endorse the Action Plans.

The relevant minute extract of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held on 3 August is attached to the report.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report which detailed action plans produced in response to recommendations made by the recent joint inspection of older person’s services, conducted by the Healthcare Commission, the Commission for Social Care Inspection and the Audit Commission.

The relevant minute of the Social Services Scrutiny Committee held on 3 August had been circulated with the report.

RESOLVED:

(1) that the outcome of the joint inspection be noted and all officers in Council departments and external organisations involved in providing services for older people, be thanked;

(2)that the Social Care and Health Department be commended for its services to older people, noting the excellent rating resulting from the inspection;

(3)that the action plans attached as appendices 1 and 2 to the report developed to address the recommendations of the inspection be endorsed; and

(4) that a further report be received in early 2006, updating on progress with the action plans.

Councillor Suleman submits a report which seeks Cabinet approval to the acceptance and expenditure of Disability Discrimination Act compliance grant from the Learning and Skills Council.

Councillor Suleman submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval to accept and spend a Disability Discrimination Act compliance grant from the Learning and Skills Council.

RESOLVED:

that this grant be accepted and its expenditure according to the schedule attached to the report, be approved.

Councillor Suleman submits a report which seeks to demonstrate that ICT is an integral component for achieving education transformation through the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) programme and proposes that the most effective way of making a step change is to invest in ICT through a Managed Service contract for Secondary Schools.  The Cabinet is asked to approve the procurement of a managed service provision for ICT for the Leicester BSF programme.

Councillor Suleman submitted a report which sought to demonstrate that ICT was an integral component for achieving education transformation through the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ (BSF) programme and proposed that the most effective way of making a step change was to invest in ICT through a Managed Service contract for Secondary Schools.   It was noted that a ‘managed’ service was a long term contract with a private sector partner who would not only contract to procure and install the equipment but also maintain and refresh the equipment for an agreed period of time.  It was proposed to seek variant bids based on different levels of service.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the contents of the report be noted and the importance of ICT within the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme, particularly the importance associated with the use of ICT in aiding the transformation of teaching and learning in Leicester’s schools;

(2)that the inclusion of variant bids from the market to cover different levels of schools’ budget spending on the ICT managed service be noted; and

(3)that the procurement of a managed service provision for ICT for the Leicester BSF programme be approved.

Councillor Suleman submits a report which provides a broad picture of the implications on staff of the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ project.  The Cabinet is asked to agree a number of actions in relation to staff matters

Councillor Suleman submitted a report outlining the broad implications of the ‘Building Schools for the Future’ programme on staff, together with options for dealing with those implications.  It was noted that client side structure was required so that the Council would have a clear relationship with the Leicester Education Partnership and maintain its capacity for its other functions and priorities. 

It was also noted that the consultation had taken place and was ongoing with the Unions.

RESOLVED:

(1)            that the position on TUPE and TUPE equivalent transfers be noted, and in particular that the “extended” TUPE plus period of 3 years is agreed;

(2)            that a “prior consideration” procedure be negotiated with the Leicester Education Partnership and the providers of the facilities management service;

(3)            that discussions take place with the Leicester Education Partnership (once formed) as to the possibility of  short term task based secondments; and

(4)            that initial client side organisational structures be produced, noting that workforce remodelling may be needed and a report submitted to a future meeting of the Cabinet.

The meeting ended at  5.56pm.