Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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.

Councillor Mugglestone declared an interest in Appendix B, ‘Children & Young People’s Services Capital Strategy and Programme – 2007/08 to 008/09’, as a governor of a school affeceted by the programme.  Councillor Coley declared an interest in the same item as a director of the Interim Executive Board of New College.  Councillors Follett and Osman declared an interest in Appendix E, ‘Revenue Outturn 2006/07’ as a member of the Highfields Community Association. 

The Leader asked Councillor Wann to address the issue of the media coverage of a potential travellers’ site in Ratby Lane.  Councillor Wann emphasised that a decision on the location of a travellers’ site had not been made.  He also clarified that it would take approximately 6 months to complete any works on a site and not, as reported, that there would be a site on Ratby Lane in 6 months’ time.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2007 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 29 May 2007, having been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Cabinet is asked to approve the following dates for meetings of Cabinet in 2007. 

9 July 2007                            29 October 2007

23 July 2007                          12 November 2007

3 September 2007               26 November 2007  

17 September 2007               10 December 2007

1 October 2007

15 October 2005               All meetings to start at 5pm.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet meetings be held on the following dates in 2007, meetings to start at 5pm:- 

9 July 200715 October 2007

                        23 July 2007                        29 October 2007

3 September 200712 November 2007

17 September 200726 November 2007

1 October 200710 December 2007

There were no matters referred from Committees.

Councillor Wann submits a report that seeks Cabinet approval of the regulatory approach that officers will take in dealing with smokefree related regulation and enforcement in Leicester.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the Smokefree Regulation Policy and delegate authority to the corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture to amend the policy in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Environment and Sustainability using national guidance and local experience.

Councillor Wann submitted a report that sought Cabinet approval of the regulatory approach for officers to take in dealing with smokefree related regulation and enforcement in Leicester.  Councillor Mrs Sood referred to the health implications of smoking and Cabinet welcomed the ban and its health benefits.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Smokefree Regulation Policy attached to the report, be approved; and

(2)that the Corporate Director of Regeneration & Culture be authorised to amend the Policy in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Environment and Sustainability using national guidance and local experience.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that explains the background to proposals for expenditure for capital resources allocated for 2007-08 and seeks approval for the programme and its implementation.  Cabinet is recommended to consider the report and consider how it wishes to frame its proposed capital programme to Council.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that explained the background to proposals for expenditure for capital resources allocated for 2007-08 in Children and Young People’s Services and sought approval for the programme and its implementation.  It was noted that the programme amounted to £36.5 million over the two years, £29.9 million of which had already been approved in previous year’s programmes.  It was also noted that Council on 31 May approved the addition of £60.8 million to the Children and Young People’s Services Capital Programme for Phase 1 of the the Building Schools for the Future programme, the latter of which was not included in the report but which would be the subject of a further report to Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That the capital programme detailed at Appendix 2 of the report be approved for recommendation to Council.

Councillor Draycott submits a report that reports on this year’s Best Value Performance Plan (BVPP).  Cabinet is recommended to approve the Best Value Performance Plan for 2007/08 and recommend it to Council and agree that the plan is primarily made available electronically with a limited paper copy run.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report on this year’s Best Value Performance Plan which the Council was required to publish each year, no later than 30 June.

RESOLVED:

(1)             That The Best Value Performance Plan for 2007/08 be recommended to Council; and

(2)That the Plan be primarily made available electronically with a limited paper copy run.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that shows the outturn position of the 2006/07 capital programme.  Cabinet is recommended to agree a number of recommendations as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report.  

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that showed the outturn position of the 2006/07 capital programme.  He reported that the Cabinet was concerned about slippage and had commissioned reports on how performance in this area could be improved.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the actual level of expenditure of £96.634 million be noted;

(2)that slippage of £6.42 million to 2007/08 be approved;

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

(4)that it be noted that the capital programme performance is 85% of the approved programme compared to a target of 90%;

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

(6)that performance against the prudential indicators for 2006/07 be noted.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that shows the final summary outturn position comparing spending with the budget for all General Fund Services and the Housing Revenue Account.  Cabinet is recommended to agree a number of recommendations as set out in paragraph 2.1 of the report. 

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that showed the final summary outturn position comparing spending with the budget for all General Fund Services and the Housing Revenue Account for 2006/07.  He congratulated officers on spending within the budget.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the final outturn for 2006/07 for each department and the Council as a whole be noted;

(2)that the reasons for the variances between the 2006/07 budget and the final outturn be noted;

(3)the position of the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account balances be noted;

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

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

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

(7)that virements as detailed in section 4.3 of the supporting report be approved;

(8)that the transfer to the Children and Young People’s departmental Reserve of the planned contribution of £0.5m and the under spend of £0.4m, to contribute to the costs of the ongoing transformation of Children’s Services as outlined at paragraph 6.2.3 of the supporting report be approved;

(9)that the transfer to the Capital Fund as outlined in paragraph 7.2 of the supporting report be approved;

(10)that the stock write off proposed in paragraph 6.3.7 of the supporting report be approved; and

(11)that the funding of £0.1m for a steam cleaning machine for paving in the city centre from reserves, as detailed in paragraph 9.5 of the supporting report, be approved.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that details all the council’s trading organisations and their 2007/2008 budgets in accordance with Finance Procedure Rules.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the 2007/2008 budgets for the Council’s trading organisations, to note the proposed policies in respect of the use of retained surpluses for each department and amend the determinations to Finance Procedure Rules allowing the Resources and regeneration and Culture departments to retain budgeted surpluses as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the supporting information.  

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that detailed all the Council’s trading organisations and their 2007/08 budgets and outlined policies in respect of the use of any retained surpluses of the trading organisations.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the 2007/08 budgets for the Council’s trading organisations be approved;

(2)that the proposed policies in respect of the use of retained surpluses for each department be noted; and

(3)that the determinations to Finance Procedures Rules be amended, allowing the Resources and Regeneration & Culture departments to retain budgeted surpluses, as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the supporting information.

Councillor Willmott submits a report. 

The approval of the Council’s statement of accounts is a function reserved to Council. The Audit Committee is responsible for approving a Statement on Internal Control (which also forms part of the accounts), for reviewing the statement of accounts, and making comments for consideration by Council. The accounts will be presented to Council on June 28^th. Cabinet, at its meeting on June 25^th, will be asked to note the accounts, and to submit them for approval to Council.

The work required to produce the statement of accounts before the statutory deadline of the end of June is such that it is not available for circulation with the papers for the Cabinet.  The statement and the covering report will be dispatched to Members on Monday 18 June.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report which detailed the Statutory Statement of Accounts 2006/07 which required approval by full Council.  He noted that these had already been subject to robust debate.  The Chief Finance Officer reported that although the accounts looked different to the revenue and capital outturn reports, this arose only from the presentation style required and there was no difference of substance.

It was noted that the Audit Committee had considered the Statement and had made no observations to Council. 

RESOLVED:

That the Statutory Statement of Accounts 2006/07 be submitted to Council for approval.

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 any 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 report in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, because it involves 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 any individual.

Paragraph 3

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

Councillor Bhatti submits a report.

Councillor Bhatti submitted a report.

RESOLVED:

(1)That the Council accept Lovell Partnership’s revised offer, as detailed in the report, subject to the minimum sum detailed in the report, with an anticipated payment date of 1^st October 2007; and

(2)that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised in consultation with the Corporate Director of Adults & Housing and the Cabinet Members for Community Safety and Housing and Strategy, Finance, Property and Communications to negotiate and agree the necessary terms in respect of the strip of land at 90/92 Bishopdale Road, site E and any consequential or incidental matters necessary to implement the Beaumont Leys Redevelopment Scheme (or any varied scheme which is materially the same).

The meeting ended at 5.30pm