Agenda and minutes

Councillor Johnson submitted a report that updated the Cabinet on the consultation for the proposed amalgamations of Queensmead Infant and Junior Schools and also Bendbow Rise Infant and Crescent Junior Schools.

An addendum report was also circulated to the Cabinet.

The relevant minutes extract from the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 12 May 2004 was circulated to the Cabinet.  It was noted that the Scrutiny Committee had supported the proposals.

RESOLVED:

(1)        that the publication of statutory notices to close  Queensmead Infant and Junior Schools at the end of the summer term 2005 be authorised and a new primary school on the Queensmead Infant School site at the start of the autumn term 2005, be established;

(2)       that the publication of statutory notices to close Bendbow Rise Infant and Crescent Junior Schools at the end of the summer term 2007 be authorised and a new primary school on the Bendbow Rise Infant School site at the commencement of the autumn term 2007, be established;

(3)       that the Crescent Junior and Queensmead Junior Schools Sites be offered for sale on the open market for redevelopment (subject to obtaining statutory approval for the disposal of school playing fields);

(4)       that supplementary planning guidance for the disposal of the Sites be produced prior to their marketing;

(5)       that the Town Clerk and Corporate Director for Education and Lifelong Learning, in consultation with the Cabinet Link for Resources, Access and Diversity, select the preferred purchaser and subsequently agree the detailed terms of the disposal;

(6)       that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into the formal documentation necessary to complete the disposal.<span style='m

Housing Committee – 20 October 2005                          

Affordable Housing through the Planning System

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

            Housing Scrutiny Committee - 20 October 2005

         Affordable Housing through the Planning System

The following was agreed at the above meeting. 

Councillor Metcalfe welcomed the comments of the Housing Scrutiny Committee.  It was noted that there may be wider Committee interest than just Housing and officers were asked to ensure co-ordination of any such issues.

RESOLVED:

1)that Cabinet receives a further report from the Corporate Director of Housing and the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture on how close working on affordable housing can be achieved, this to include a protocol that will:-

a)give landowners and developers certainty at an early stage of what will be required

b) set out a consistent approach on requirements

c)set out for Members the issues involved in deciding if a scheme is viable within the meaning of the Local Plan

2)that the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture and the Corporate Director of Housing discuss with Members of Housing Scrutiny Committee and Development Control Committee how they would like to be informed in future on key housing planning applications

3)that relevant Corporate Directors brief Scrutiny triumvirate members on housing and regeneration issues; and

4)that in view of the severe and increasing shortage of affordable housing in the city, forthcoming Supplementary Planning Documents must address both affordable housing and regeneration objectives.

Councillor Metcalfe submits a report informing the Cabinet of the Government’s agenda to encourage all local housing authorities to operate choice based lettings systems by 2010.  The report also describes a proposal to introduce a Choice Based Lettings scheme in Leicester.  The Cabinet is asked to delegate to the Corporate Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member, the arrangements for pursuing a joint bid with District Councils or Registered Social Landlords for ODPM finance.  The Cabinet is also recommended to agree in principle the proposal to introduce a Choice Based Lettings scheme in Leicester subject to the outcome of the ODPM bid, the position to be reviewed when the outcome of the bid is known.

The relevant minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Committee on 20 October will be circulated as soon as they are available.

Councillor Metcalfe submitted a report that informed Cabinet of the Government’s agenda to encourage all local housing authorities to operate choice based lettings systems (CBL) by 2010 and to describe a proposal to introduce a Choice Based Lettings scheme in Leicester.    A presentation was given to Members on how a Choice Based Lettings scheme worked.

The relevant minute of the Housing Scrutiny Committee on 20 October had been circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Corporate Director of Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Housing, the arrangements for pursuing a joint bid with District Councils or Register Social Landlords for ODPM finance; and

(2)that the introduction of a choice based lettings scheme in Leicester be approved in principle, subject to the outcome of the ODPM bid and the Corporate Director of Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for housing, to identify resources and agree the detailed design of the scheme and the arrangements for implementation.

Councillor Blackmore submits a report on the further development of Area Committees.  The purpose of the report is to learn from and develop current Area Committees and to roll out to the six other areas.  The Cabinet is asked to consider a number of recommendations involving the setting up of Area Committees in nine areas of the city in 2006.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report on the further development of Area Committees.  The purpose of the report was to learn from and develop current Area Committees and to roll out to the six other areas.    It was noted that three were already running and that Area 4 (Spinney and Stoneygate) would have its first meeting on 6 December and it was proposed that it would use the new approach contained in the report.

It was also noted that the proposals were agreed by the Leicester Partnership at their meeting last Wednesday.  However, as part of the discussion at that meeting, it was felt that young people should represent themselves rather than being represented by the Youth Service and Cabinet was asked to approve this amendment to the proposals in the report.

Councillor Blackmore also pointed out that the proposed terms of reference for the Committees included a provision that budget recommendations could only be made at a quorate meeting.  In addition, he proposed that there should also be a requirement that a Member be present from any Ward in which the expenditure was proposed.

Councillor Suleman also referred to representations that the Cabinet had received with regard to further membership of Area Committees and he noted that any additional membership of the Area Committee above the basic requirement was a matter for each Area Committee to determine.

RESOLVED:

that Council be recommended to agree the following:-

(1)that the Council and the Leicester Partnership set up Area Committees in nine areas of the city in 2006, as detailed in the report

(2)  That the Council aims to provide the public with coordinated opportunities for area based engagement with public service providers and to develop this aim the membership of Area Committees should consist of -

ward Councillors  (one of whom would Chair)

Police

PCT

The neighbourhood / community representative for the Leicester Partnership

2 young people

other  partners as each Area Committee sees fit.

(3)That each Area Committee should develop area plans to implement the outcomes of the Strategy for Leicester and the Local Area Agreement, with a particular focus on meeting neighbourhood renewal floor targets. These plans should:

be based on data such as performance against NRF floor targets / Local Area Agreement outcomes and local issues

be a mixture of actions to tackle city wide and local priorities;

be developed through collaboration and consultation with partners and local communities; and

include action to tackle deprivation in priority neighbourhoods

(4)  that to develop community engagement in Area Committees:

they should be advertised widely once they are set up to encourage people to attend

meetings and events associated with Area Committees are designed to attract and engage people more effectively, for example by having themed meetings,  patch walks, social events, facilitated discussions etc.   

they should work with area youth service to bring young people’s issues on to the agenda, and make links with the three Area Youth Forums

(5)  That the Council agrees an indicative package of support to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 140.

Councillor Farmer submits a report which sets out the results of the public consultation on the Proposed Modifications to the Deposit Replacement Local Plan.  The report highlights the main issues arising from the responses and proposes minor changes to the Plan.  The Cabinet is asked to recommend the report to Council for approval.

The relevant minute of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on 12 October is attached the report.

The relevant minute of the Development Control Committee on 1 November will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Farmer submitted a report which set out the results of the public consultation on the Proposed Modifications to the Deposit Replacement Local Plan.  The report highlighted the main issues arising from the responses and proposed minor changes to the Plan. 

The relevant minute of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on 12 October was attached to the report and the relevant minute of the Development Control Committee on 1 November had also been circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

that the report be recommended to Council for approval.

INFORMATION FAIR

PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS OF SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES YOU CAN TALK TO AT THIS MEETING.

- You can raise matters of concern, give any opinions and find out information which may be of use.

TABLE 1

- Ward Councillors and General Information

Talk to your local Councillors or raise general queries.

TABLE 2

- Domestic Violence

Get Information on Domestic Violence initiatives in the area

TABLE 3

- Customer Services

Get information on the City Council’s Customer Services

TABLE 4

- Leicester Link

Get Information on the Leicester Information Network

TABLE 5

- 10,000 Trees