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 Act applied to them.

No declarations were made.

BEST PRACTICE AWARDS

The Leader reported that today he had attended the Council's annual Best Practice Awards ceremony at De Montfort Hall, which gave the opportunity to celebrate the innovative work the Council does.

Winners were picked from the 12 shortlisted and they showed the variety of work that the Council does. The deserving winner was the Cinderella Story from Domiciliary Home Care Services, with the Value for Money process from Supporting People as the runner up. Two applications were also commended: the crisis response service in children's resources, and the international development strategy from regeneration policy.

MIRIAM MULLER – SHADOWING

The Leader reported that today he had been shadowed by Miriam Muller who worked for international industry. This had been an interesting experience for all involved and a lot had been learned about work patterns in industry and local government.

The minutes of the meeting held on 12 June 2006 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 12 June 2006, having been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Spinney Hills and Stoneygate Area Committee – 22 May 2006

Highways

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

that the Cabinet be requested to consult the Area Committee prior to making any decision concerning residents parking schemes within the area.

At its last meeting the Cabinet considered the above referral and resolved:

RESOLVED:

                        that the matter be deferred to the next meeting of Cabinet to allow Ward Councillors to discuss the issue with officers. 

Councillor Mugglestone to respond.

a)            Spinney Hills and Stoneygate Area Committee – 22 May 2006

Highways

The following was agreed at the above meeting:-

that the Cabinet be requested to consult the Area Committee prior to making any decision concerning residents parking schemes within the area.

At its last meeting the Cabinet considered the above referral and resolved:

RESOLVED:

that the matter be deferred to the next meeting of Cabinet to allow Ward Councillors to discuss the issue with officers. 

Councillor Mugglestone responded that this issue had been resolved and that the request had been agreed in consultation with Ward Councillors and affected Ward Councillors.

b)            Economic and Development Scrutiny Committee - 21 June

Planning Application Statistics

The above Committee resolved:-

(1)       that Committee scrutinises the Development Control action plan at a future meeting;

(2)       that the Committee expresses its concerns to Cabinet about the performance on major planning applications; and

(3)       that the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture be requested to provide the Committee with a report detailing the additional resources needed to bring the performance of major planning applications up to a reasonable level and the effect of this on achieving the departmental budget targets.

Councillor Scuplak reported that Cabinet noted and shared the concerns of the Committee. As the Cabinet Lead he reported that he received regular updates on this issue and would continue to do so with a view to ensuring improved performance.

Councillor Smith submits a report suggesting changes to the Housing Allocation Policy. Cabinet is asked to consider the views of the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee and stakeholders, and agree the recommendations as set out in the report.

The relevant minute extract from the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Smith submitted a report which proposed changes to the Housing Allocation Policy.

The relevant minute extract of the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee on 22 June had also been circulated to Cabinet.

Councillor Smith proposed that this report be referred back to the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee for a full and frank debate because of the lack of consideration given to it at the Scrutiny Committee meeting.

RESOLVED:

that the report be referred back to the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee for a full and frank debate.

Councillor Mugglestone submits a report seeking Cabinet endorsement of the Service Plan for Food Law Enforcement 2006/2007 for recommendation to Council.

The relevant minute extract from the Environment and Culture Scrutiny Committee on 7 June is attached to the report.

The full Service Plan is attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Further copies are available on the Council's website at www.leicester.gov.uk/cabinet  or by contacting Jenny Sunderland on 252 6024.

Councillor Mugglestone submitted a report seeking Cabinet endorsement of the Service Plan for Food Law Enforcement 2006/2007 for recommendation to Council.

The relevant minute extract of the Environment and Culture Scrutiny Committee on 7 June 2006 had also been circulated to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

            that the Service Plan for Food Law Enforcement for 2006/2007, which includes participation in the Food Standards Agency's ‘Scores on Doors’ pilot initiative and the adoption of an operational policy of promoting public awareness of food safety standards and compliance within individual food business premises, be recommended to Council.

Councillor Ramsdale submits a report to raise awareness of the SNEN / 101 project. Cabinet is asked to note the report and the work underway to launch a Leicester and Rutland 101 service by late Summer 2006, support the bid to the Home Office for further funding to expand the Leicester and Rutland 101 service to include Leicestershire Districts and the County, and to support a recommendation from Corporate Directors’ Board that the Council should review its own telephone access arrangements as part of the Business Improvement Programme with a view to moving towards a single telephone number to access all council services.

The relevant minute extract from the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Ramsdale submitted a report to raise awareness of the SNEN / 101 project.

The relevant minute extract of the Community and Safety Housing Scrutiny Committee on 22 June had also been circulated to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)            that the work underway to launch a Leicester and Rutland 101 service by late Summer 2006 be noted;

(2)that it be noted that there will be a bid to the Home office for further funding to expand the service to include Leicestershire Districts and the County; and

(3)that the Council's call response arrangements, including whether they should be unified or devolved and whether the Council should move towards a single telephone number to access all its services be further considered and that a further report be brought to Cabinet and all relevant Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor Blackmore submits a report tracking the Council’s performance in delivering services to citizens and the resulting forecasted range of the Council’s CPA score for 2006/07 based on performance data to the end of March 2006. Cabinet is recommended to review the fourth quarter performance results and instigate necessary action, review the position on the key Corporate Risks, and congratulate those areas demonstrating continuous improvement in performance.

The relevant minute extract from the Resources and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

The full appendices are attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Further copies are available on the Council's website at www.leicester.gov.uk/cabinet or by contacting Jenny Sunderland on 252 6024.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report tracking the Council’s performance in delivering services to citizens and the resulting forecasted range of the Council’s CPA score for 2006/07 based on performance data to the end of March 2006.

The relevant minute extract of the Resources and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June had also been circulated to Cabinet.

Councillor Blackmore also reported that Corporate Directors had already had meetings with Cabinet Leads to discuss areas for improvement.

RESOLVED:

            (1)       that the report be noted;

(2)that those areas demonstrating continuous good performance be recognised and welcomed; and

(3)that relevant Cabinet leads for areas identified for improvement be asked to work with Corporate Directors to ensure the delivery of relevant action plans.

Councillor Gill submits a report recommending Cabinet note the Youth Justice Plan 2006/07 and its submission retrospectively to the Youth Justice Board by 30 June 2006 and to recommend approval of the Youth Justice Plan 2006/07 to Council.

The relevant minute extract from the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

The full Plan is attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Further copies are available on the Council's website at www.leicester.gov.uk/cabinet or by contacting Jenny Sunderland on 252 6024.

Councillor Gill submitted a report recommending Cabinet note the Youth Justice Plan 2006/07 and its submission retrospectively to the Youth Justice Board by 28 April 2006 and seeking approval of the Youth Justice Plan 2006/07 for recommendation to Council.

The relevant minute extract of the Community Safety and Housing Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 had also been circulated to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

that the Youth Justice Plan 2006/07 be recommended to Council for retrospective approval.

Councillor Coley submits a report advising Cabinet of works recommended to be funded from the Disability Discrimination Act Initiatives budget for 2006/07, and seeking approval to enable the programme to proceed.

Councillor Coley submitted a report advising Cabinet of works recommended to be funded from the Disability Discrimination Act Initiatives budget for 2006/07, and seeking approval to enable the programme to proceed.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the works detailed in Appendix 1 of the report including the allocation of £20,000 to the Access to Work Scheme, be approved;

(2)that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised to order the works;

(3)that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised to seek all necessary consents;

(4)that the Service Director of Legal Services be authorised to sign any contracts (if necessary) to allow the work to proceed;

(5)that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised to approve further works during the year as necessary or reassess or amend the programme, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources and Corporate Issues; and

(6)to note that a further report will be submitted to Cabinet later in the year for the recommended works for 2007/08.)

Councillor Grant submits a report which seeks approval to the business case for transformational change to the Council’s Human Resources service.

The relevant minute extract from the Resources and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

The full appendices are attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Further copies are available on the Council's website at www.leicester.gov.uk/cabinet or by contacting Jenny Sunderland on 252 6024.

Councillor Grant submitted a report which sought approval to the business case for transformational change to the Council’s Human Resources service.

The relevant minute extract of the Resources and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June had also been circulated to the Cabinet.

Councillor Grant noted the Scrutiny Committee’s comments and reported that he was satisfied that the proposed new arrangements were fit for purpose and that the change was necessary and would be delivered as painlessly as possible.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the case for change included in the business case be noted;

(2)that the views of consultees expressed on the draft business case be noted;

(3)that the business case be approved as the basis for moving forward on the proposed model; and

(4)that under the provisions of Cabinet Procedure Rule 12(d), no ‘call-in’ of the decision be allowed as a start is urgently needed on this review to realise the service benefits and savings that will result.

Councillor Blackmore submits a report providing Cabinet with a routine summary of decisions made at Corporate Director level in consultation with Cabinet Leads. Cabinet is recommended to note the summary of decisions made at Corporate Director level in consultation with Cabinet Leads during the period January to May 2006.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report providing Cabinet with a routine summary of decisions made at Corporate Director level in consultation with Cabinet Leads.

RESOLVED:

that the summary of decisions made at Corporate Director level in consultation with Cabinet Leads during the period January to May, 2006, as summarised in Appendix A of the report, be noted.

Councillor Blackmore submits a report which asks Cabinet to approve a Best Value Performance Plan for 2006/07 for recommendation to Council.

The full Best Value Performance Plan will be available from 23 June in the Members area, from Carine Cardoza on 252 6089 and on the Council's website at www.leicester.gov.uk/cabinet , 

Councillor Blackmore submitted a reporting asking Cabinet to approve a Best Value Performance Plan for 2006/07 for recommendation to Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Best Value Performance Plan for 2006/07 be recommended to Council for approval; and

(2)that the Plan be published electronically with a limited paper copy run.

Councillor Gill submits a report seeking Cabinet approval to terminate the Governing Body arrangements of the Leicester Adult Education College.

Councillor Gill submitted a report seeking Cabinet approval to terminate the Governing Body arrangements of the Leicester Adult Education College.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the proposal to terminate the current arrangements of the Leicester Adult Education College Governing Body be approved; and

(2)            that the termination date be 31 July 2006.

Councillor Coley submits a report showing the final summary outturn position comparing spending with the budget for all General Fund Services and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA). Cabinet is recommended to note the final outturn for 2005/06 for each department and the Council as a whole, note the reasons for the variances between the 2005/06 budget and the final outturn, note the position of the Council’s general reserve, note the position in respect of significant earmarked reserves, note the proposals for the use of underspends, approve the Social Care and Health Department’s contribution to the capital programme of £84k as outlined in paragraph 6.6.4, approve the establishment of new earmarked reserves (proposed in section 10.18 of the supporting report), and approve virements as detailed in section 4.2 of the supporting report.

The relevant minute extract from the Resources and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Coley submitted a report showing the final summary outturn position comparing spending with the budget for all General Fund Services and the Housing Revenue Account.

The relevant minute extract of the Resources and Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June had also been circulated to Cabinet.

Councillor Blackmore gave his thanks to the Chief Accountant and his staff for all their hard work in producing this document.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the final outturn for 2005/06 for each department and the Council as a whole be noted;

(2)that the reasons for the variances between the 2005/06 budget and the final outturn be noted;

(3)that the position of the Council’s general reserve be noted;

(4)that the position in respect of significant earmarked reserves be noted;

(5)            that the proposals for the use of underspends be noted;

(6)that the Social Care and Health Department’s contribution to the capital programme of £84,000 as outlined in paragraph 6.6.4 of the report be approved;

(7)that the establishment of new earmarked reserves as proposed in section 10.18 of the supporting report be approved;

            (8) that the virements as detailed in section 4.2 of the supporting report be approved; and

            (9) that the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services be authorised to consult the Schools Forum and decide upon appropriate action in relation to potential clawback for each school.

Councillor Coley submits a report showing the outturn position of the 2005/06 capital programme. Cabinet is asked to note the recommendations in the report.

Councillor Coley submitted a report showing the outturn position of the 2005/06 Capital Programme.

The relevant minute extract of the Resources and Corporate issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June had also been circulated to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the actual level of expenditure of £110.9 million be noted;

(2)that slippage of £6.399 million to 2006/07 be noted and that this does not include the amounts that are not being carried forward following the decision by Cabinet on 13 March to fund part of the increased cost of the Performing Arts Centre from savings from slippage on the following schemes: Bridge Refurbishment (£50,000), Watercourses (£50,000), Litter Bin Replacement (£50,000), Riverside Improvements (£50,000), Local Environmental Works (£65,000) and Water Hygiene (£230,000) and savings from uncommitted spend on Private Street Adoptions (£330,000);

(3)that the following additions to the programme to be funded from service resources be noted:

Education

Expenditure by schools on devolved projects - £351,000

Modernisation Bids - £138,400

Specialist Status - £50,000

Secondary Review - £166,000

Queensmead Amalgamation - £100,000

Childrens Centres - £290,000

Adult & Community Centres - £20,000

Social Care & Health

Butterwick House - £84,000

                        (4)             that the position relating to capital receipts be noted;

(5)that it be noted that the capital programme performance is 82% of the approved programme compared to a target of 90%;

(6)that the progress on significant schemes be noted; and

(7)that performance against the prudential indicators for 2005/06, be noted.

Councillor Coley submits a report asking Cabinet to note the Statement of Accounts for 2005/2006 and submit them to Council for approval.

Councillor Coley submitted a report asking Cabinet to note the Statement of Accounts for 2005/2006 and submit them to Council for approval.

It was noted that the accounts had been discussed robustly and in great detail on many occasions.

RESOLVED:

that the Statement of Accounts for 2005/2006 be recommended to Council for approval.

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, as amended 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 and taking all the circumstances into account, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the information as exempt outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Paragraph 1

Information relating to any individual.

Paragraph 2

Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

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 and taking all the circumstances into account, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the information as exempt outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Paragraph 1

            Information relating to any individual.

            Paragraph 2

            Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

            Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Councillor Coley submits a report.

Councillor Coley submitted a report.

RESOLVED:

(1)            that approval be given in principle of purchase in advance of all land and rights necessary for the implementation of the scheme including any additional areas of land which may be required;

(2)that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Members for Resources and Regeneration, and the Chief Finance Officer to:-

agree terms for the acquisition of land and rights (shown outlined in black on attached plan) required for the successful implementation of the scheme up to the maximum sum detailed in the report.

agree terms for the acquisition of any additional areas of land required for the scheme to be implemented; and

(3)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to prepare and execute all the necessary documentation required to purchase the land and rights required for the implementation of the Scheme.

Councillor Coley submits a report.

Councillor Coley submitted a report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the freehold disposal of 1.35 acres of land at Stenson Road to Developer A for the sum detailed in the report be approved;

(2)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into the resulting legal documentation;

(3)that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources, to approve any alteration to the terms and to take all necessary action to progress and complete the proposed disposal; and

(4)that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources to proceed with the second highest bidder in the unlikely event the highest bid does not proceed to completion.

The meeting closed at 5.53pm.