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 Government Act applied to them.

No declarations were made.

PAUL WINSTONE

The Leader paid tribute to Paul Winstone from the City Council’s Policy and Performance team who died last week. He noted the extensive knowledge Paul had of the varied communities in Leicester and his contribution to community cohesion in the city.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 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 26 June 2006, having been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

There were no matters referred from Committees.

Councillor Sandringham submits a report seeking approval to spending proposals by Area Committees.

Councillor Sandringham submitted a report seeking approval to spending proposals by Area Committees.

RESOLVED:

(1)            that the proposed expenditure as set out in Appendix A to the report be approved; and

(2)that a decision be deferred on the Braunstone Park & Rowley Fields, Westcotes and Western Park Area Committee recommendation in relation to Dulverton Road, to await the detailed report from the Transport Development Group.

Councillor Suleman submits a report which briefs Cabinet on the current position of the East Midlands Broadband Consortium and seeks approval to the establishment of new arrangements to provide broadband connectivity and related services to Leicester City schools post March 2007 when the contract with the current contractor expires.

The relevant minute extract of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Suleman submitted a report briefing Cabinet on the current position of the East Midlands Broadband Consortium and seeking approval to the establishment of new arrangements to provide broadband connectivity and related services to Leicester City schools post March 2007 when the contract with the current contractor expires.

The relevant minute extract of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July 2006 had also been circulated to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

                        (1) that Leicester City remains part of a regional broadband consortium in order to provide connectivity to Leicester City Schools post March 2007;

                        (2) that Leicester City becomes a member of a new company limited by guarantee established to act as a vehicle for the East Midlands Broadband Consortium to procure a new supplier contract;

                        (3) that the method of procurement through the East Midlands Broadband Consortium company, as described in this report be approved and that contract procedure rules be waived accordingly;

                        (4) that the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services be authorised, in consultation with the lead Cabinet member for Children and Young People's Services and the Town Clerk, to take any action they consider necessary to give effect to these decisions, such authority to include the power to:-

a)Agree the members agreement to be entered into between the members of the company

b)Make funds available to the company which will represent the City’s proportion of the procurement cost of approximately £30,000 to allow the company to run the procurement exercise

c)Agree the contracts for post March 2007 for core  broadband connectivity and services including the setting up of framework agreements for related services.

                        (5) that a cross cutting Local Authority group be established to work together to ensure that at the end of this contract Leicester City are in a position of strength to move forward, to ensure the best solution for Broadband connectivity and access to the National Education Network for Leicester City schools.

Councillor Suleman submits a report which informs the Cabinet about two new funding streams; the Youth opportunity Fund and the Youth Capital Fund.  The Cabinet is asked to approve acceptance of these two grant funds and receive further reports on their development and expenditure

The relevant minute extract of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Suleman submitted a report informing Cabinet about the two new funding streams; the Youth Opportunity Fund and the Youth Capital Fund. These funds were resources designated for young people to control and to decide how they should be spent.

The relevant minute extract of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July 2006 had also been circulated to Cabinet.

Councillor Suleman noted the Scrutiny Committee’s comments.

The importance of full representation of communities on the panel of young people was also emphasised.

RESOLVED:

that the acceptance of the two grant funds be approved and further reports be received on their development and expenditure.

Councillor Mugglestone submits a report explaining the proposal to submit a Transport Innovation Fund pump-priming bid to fund a regional transport study into current and potential future congestion on the highway network in the context of the Central Leicestershire Local Transport plan and the long term Transport Strategy.  The Cabinet is asked to approve the submission of the bid and to commit match funding from the Integrated Transport Capital Allocations from 2006-2009 to pay for the study should the Bid be successful.

Councillor Mugglestone submitted a report explaining the proposal to submit a Transport Innovation Fund pump-priming bid to fund a regional transport study into current and potential future congestion on the highway network in the context of the Central Leicestershire Local Transport Plan and the long term Transport Strategy.

RESOLVED:

(1)that approval be given for Leicester City Council to be a partner in the 3 Cities and 3 Counties Transport Iniative Fund Pump-priming Bid due to be submitted to the Department for Transport in late July 2006;

(2)that approval be given for the Council providing its share of the match funding for the pump-priming study from the Local Transport Plan Integrated Transport capital programmes 06/07, 07/08 and 08/09 should the Pump-priming Bid be successful; and

(3)that it be noted that this bid does not commit the City Council to the introduction of any particular congestion reducing scheme.

Councillor Smith submits a report seeking an agreement over the future of two surplus properties.

Councillor Smith submitted a report seeking an agreement over the future of two surplus properties.

An addendum report was also circulated which sought Cabinet approval of a spending proposal by the Spinney Hills and Stoneygate Area Committee in respect of 166 Evington Road.

It was noted that to assist the efficient management of staff and services, all staff would move out of the Evington Road and Melbourne Road offices to Ross Walk as soon as possible and would return to these offices on a surgery basis as previously agreed.

RESOLVED:

(1)that Notice be given in August 2006 to determine the lease on the Renewal Office at 166 Evington Road under the break clause provisions on its anniversary date in February 2007;

(2)that until the lease expires in February 2007, approval be given to the Stoneygate Ward Community Alliance using the Evington Road office for this temporary 6 month period with the necessary finances up to £6,000 being funded from the Spinney Hills and Stoneygate Area Committee budget and that consideration be also given to piloting a Customer Services Surgery at this site;

(3)that a decision on the future of the Renewal Office at 99 Melbourne Road be deferred; and

(4)that in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Procedure Rule 12 (d) no call-in be allowed on this decision, the grounds for urgency being the date required for giving notice of the termination of the lease on the Evington Road office.

Councillor Gill submits a report on the recommendations of the scrutiny investigation into the Transport Efficiency Review.

Councillor Renold, Chair of the Operational Transport Review Group will present the findings and give a presentation of up to 5 minutes, following which Cabinet Members will have an opportunity to ask questions.  When Councillor Renold has withdrawn from the table, the Cabinet may choose to hold a discussion on the Report.

The relevant minutes extracts of the Adult and Community Services Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2006 and of the Resources & Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 are attached to the report. The relevant minute extract of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July will be circulated as soon as it is available.

The full report 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 on the recommendations of the scrutiny investigation into the Transport Efficiency Review and invited Councillor Renold, the Chair of the Operational Transport Review Group to present the Group’s findings to Cabinet.

The relevant minute extracts of the Adult and Community Services Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2006, the Resources & Corporate Issues Scrutiny Committee on 22 June 2006 and the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July 2006 had also been circulated to the Cabinet.

Councillor Gill noted the Scrutiny Committee’s comments.

Councillor Renold, Chair of the Operational Transport Review Group presented the findings of the Operational Transport Review Group to Cabinet. He emphasised the lessons learnt and that such reviews should be adequately resourced and not rushed.

Councillor Gill thanked Councillor Renold for all the work he had done on this report and also thanked the work of the previous chair of the working group, Councillor John Blackmore. The Leader also thanked all Members who had taken part in the working group.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the recommendations in the main report of the Working Group (p8 and 9 Appendix A) be approved, subject to the following amendments and additions.

Recommendation Two – To be applied to significant budget changes as a result of organisational reviews, not all budget changes as some reviews only directly affect single or a few officers and small amounts of budget.

Recommendation Four – Different parts of the Operational Transport process (and different officers within it) have different informational needs and finding a one size fits all solution will be difficult. Prior to seeking a software solution in the market place Operational Transport should review practices in other local authorities and see how the most cost effective Authorities organise, manage and fulfil their information needs.

Recommendation Five –  The expertise and setting of the standards regarding the Council’s duties on ‘safeguarding children and adults’ is a function of the two client departments (Adults and Community and Children and Young People). These departments need to agree the standards they expect, what activity will then satisfy those standards, setting out the potential financial and other implications. The Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture will ensure that the required activities are undertaken within the budget made available.

Recommendation Six – The management and location of Operational Transport is in the same department – Regeneration and Culture. However, two further departments (Adults and Community and Children and Young Peoples’) are also closely involved. These departments request all journeys and services from operational transport and have a day-to-day operational relationship with the Transport team. Options on the future location of Operational Transport will be included in the report to Cabinet in September 2006.

(2)that officers in Adult and Community Services be asked to explore how they can manage the £700,000 shortfall in funding for transport without impacting on front line services;

(3)that the report in September 2006 should include a position statement on the continuing work to find efficiency savings within the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

Councillor Suleman submits a report which details the current financial position and options with regard to the Workplace Nursery.

The relevant minute extract of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Suleman submitted a report detailing the current financial position and options with regard to the Workplace Nursery.

It was noted that the Nursery had been operating at a loss for some time while at the same time there was now much greater childcare provision in the city than when the Nursery was first opened.

Councillor Suleman also referred to a petition with 548 signatures which had been handed to him in support of the continuation of the Workplace Nursery, as well as 28 expressions of interest from people who would send their children to the Nursery. He wished to be supportive of staff but explained that the current position was not sustainable.

The relevant minute extract of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 20 July 2006 had also been circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Workplace Nursery provision with staff transferral be offered to existing staff and users to be operated as a not for profit co-operative venture able to offer nursery services to City Council employees and other organisations;

(2)that subject to such an organisational framework being agreed, the Council undertake to waive all rental costs for the remainder of this financial year;

(3)that in the event of such an organisation not becoming operational by 10 September 2006:-

(a)               agree to the closure of the Nursery;

(b)               that a short-term transitional action plan be agreed to support staff, parents and children, and identify alternative childcare provision;

(c)               that formal redeployment/redundancy discussions take place with staff and unions;

(d)               that the building be disposed of; and,

(e)               as part of a recruitment and retention policy, the Children’s Information Service develop a childcare advice service for staff.

(4)that in accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Procedure Rule 12 (d) there be no call-in of these decisions, the grounds for urgency being to provide staff certainty, to ensure the delivery of the budgetary provision and to reflect the need for clarity associated with the start of the new school year.

Councillor Scuplak submits a report outlining a proposed Supplementary Planning Document for the proposed “Abbey Meadows” area of the city and in particular the recently completed public consultation exercise.  The Cabinet is recommended to adopt the document as Supplementary Planning Document to the City of Leicester Local Plan, subject to the amendments set out in Section 6 in the Supporting Information.

The relevant minute extract of the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2006 is attached to the report.

The full Document 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 Coley submitted a report outlining a proposed Supplementary Planning Document for the proposed “Abbey Meadows” area of the city and in particular the recently completed public consultation exercise.

The relevant minute extract of the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2006 had also been circulated to the Cabinet.

Members welcomed the provision for new affordable housing as well as the need to retain the skills of graduates educated in the city.

RESOLVED:

that the Abbey Meadows Strategic Guidance document be adopted as Supplementary Planning Document to the City of Leicester Local Plan, subject to the amendments set out in Section 6 in the Supporting Information.

Councillor Mugglestone submits a report that brings before Cabinet the documents that are shortly to be issued for public consultation in relation to the Leicestershire and Leicester Waste Development Framework.  The Cabinet is asked to agree to the publication, for the purposes of public consultation, the reports that comprise the current stage of the Leicester and Leicestershire Waste Development Framework:

The relevant minute extract of the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2006 is attached to the report.

Councillor Mugglestone submitted a report that brought before Cabinet the documents that were shortly to be issued for public consultation in relation to the Leicestershire and Leicester Waste Development Framework.

The relevant minute extract of the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee on 21 June 2006 had also been circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)that approval be given for the publication, for the purposes of public consultation, of the following reports that comprise the current stage of the Leicester and Leicestershire Waste Development Framework:

Core Strategy and Development Control Policies-Preferred Options Report;

                                    Site Allocations - Preferred Options Report;

                                    Sustainability Appraisals;

                        (2) that, at the request of the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee, officers be asked to investigate the possibility of a joint scrutiny committee to consider the Waste Development Framework with the County Council; and

                        (3) that at the suggestion of the Economic Development and Planning Scrutiny Committee, further consideration be given to the opportunities for recycling building waste onsite.

Councillor Coley submits a report which updates the Cabinet on the progress of the city wide Allotment Strategy.  In order to complete the Strategy, authority is sought for an increase in the Capital Programme of £1,045,000 for the remaining closure and consolidation costs and planned improvements to the retained allotments, this sum to be funded from earmarked receipts from disposals of land released by the Strategy.

Councillor Coley submitted a report updating the Cabinet on the progress of the city wide Allotment Strategy.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the progress to date on the city wide Allotment Strategy be noted;

(2)that in order to carry out the works identified in Appendix 1, the Council be recommended to authorise an increase in Regeneration and Culture’s Capital Programme of £1,045,000 to be funded from earmarked receipts as a first call on the sale of surplus allotment land;

(3)that additional Prudential Borrowing of up to £250,000 be approved to allow front loading for the most urgent works included in Appendix 1, such borrowing to be repaid in full when the next receipt  from allotment land is received; and

(4)that subject to (2) and (3) above the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture be authorised to commission the necessary works and report to the Allotment Users Consultative Committee with the details and timetable.

Councillor Blackmore submits a report outlining the current LGA/I&DeA Local Government Reputation campaign, highlighting the work Leicester City Council is already doing in many of the areas covered by this campaign, identifying what other opportunities the City Council may wish to take up and recommending that Leicester City Council signs up formally to the campaign.

Councillor Blackmore submitted a report outlining the current LGA/I&DeA Local Government Reputation campaign, highlighting the work Leicester City Council is already doing in many of the areas covered by this campaign, identifying what other opportunities the City Council may wish to take up and recommending that Leicester City Council signs up formally to the campaign.

RESOLVED:

that the Council support and sign up to the LGA/IDeA Reputations project and note the financial implications will be considered during normal budget planning processes.

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 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 Paragraph 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 3

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

Councillor Gill submits a report.

Councillor Gill submitted a report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that approval be given to the Council entering into a “Lease Plus” arrangement with LIFTCo subject to any necessary consents being received and that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Link for Resources, to approve the detailed terms of the proposed lease;

(2)that a sum of Capital Receipts from the sale of the Charnwood site, as detailed in the report, be earmarked towards the set-up costs of the new facility at Charnwood; and

(3)that further reports be received on the progress of the project.

Councillor Coley submits a report.

Councillor Coley submitted a report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the changed financial circumstances regarding disposal of the former John Ellis school site for the Leicester Science and Innovation Park be noted and not withstanding this change the 2004 and 2005 decisions to dispose of the site be reaffirmed;

(2)that following the developer procurement and selection process undertaken to date and the outcome of other stakeholder consultation, bidder 2 be selected to deliver Phase 1 of the Leicester Science & Innovation Park on the site for the former John Ellis School site;

(3)that approval be given for the disposal of the site on a long leasehold basis, on terms to be agreed, with the preferred developer to promote the delivery of the vision of the Phase 1 of the Leicester Science & Innovation Park;

(4)that approval be given to the establishment of and participation in a Strategic Partnering Body with other stakeholders to facilitate the longer term delivery of property development for science and innovation within the Abbey Meadows area;

(5)that the Director of Resources be authorised in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Resources to agree the detailed terms for the disposal of the property to the preferred developer;

(6)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into all necessary contracts and agreements in respect of the disposal of the site to the preferred developerto include appropriate conditions to promote the future development of the site for science park purposes; and

(7)that the emerging proposals for a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) to deliver market leading ICT connectivity to the various phases of the Leicester Science & Innovation Park in Abbey Meadows, be noted.

The meeting closed at 6.12pm.