Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Draycott and Wann and also from Councillor Coley, Liberal Democrat Group Leader.

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 Finance Act 1992 applied to them. 

Councillor Willmott declared a non prejudicial interest in Appendix B, ‘Health Inequalities: Supporting the Leicester City Action Plan’ as a non executive director of the Leicester City Primary Care Trust.

Belgrave Neighbourhood Centre

The Leader reported the 30^th anniversary of the above and congratulated three of its staff on 25 years’ service.

Belgrave Mela

The Leader reported that he had opened the Belgrave Mela at the weekend and congratulated all those who were involved in its organisation.

New Walk Museum

The Leader reported the additional investment of £50,000 to improve the New Walk Museum as part of a 2 year programme.  Councillor Connelly reported that the café at the Museum would be improved as well as the discovery gallery for children.

The minutes of the meeting held on 3 September 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 3 September, having been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the chair as a correct record.

There were no matters referred.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that identifies the ways in which the Local Authority will work in partnership with schools and governing bodies to raise standards and sets out the ways in which it will support, challenge and act to improve schools where this might be necessary. Cabinet is recommended to endorse the Leicester City Policy for School Improvement and request a further report detailing the funding implications.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that proposed a Policy for School Improvement.  It was noted that although responsibility for educational standards rested with schools, the LEA had a responsibility to provide support and to challenge and the proposed Policy would provide a framework for this in partnership with schools and other agencies.  The Policy had been consulted on extensively.

RESOLVED:

(1) that the Leicester City Policy for School Improvement as detailed in the report be endorsed; and

(2)that the Corporate Director of Children and Young People’s Services be requested to submit a further report detailing the funding implications of the Policy for School Improvement to enable consideration as part of the Council’s overall budget strategy.

Councillor Mrs Sood submits a report thatoutlines the key findings of a recent Health Inequalities assessment and notes the actions developed to address these issues, highlighting where Leicester City Council can support the plan. Cabinet is asked to note the report, make any comments and receive progress reports.

Councillor Mrs Sood submitted a report thatoutlined the key findings of a recent Health Inequalities assessment and noted the actions developed to address these issues, highlighting where Leicester City Council could support the plan.

The relevant minute extract of the Health Scrutiny Committee on 11 September was also circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED

That the report be noted and progress reports received.

Councillor Kitterick submits a report that asks Cabinet to agree proposals for spending the surplus income generated by the on-street parking bays and enforcement in order to improve transport in the City. Cabinet is also asked to reaffirm that it is not currently desirable to provide further off street parking.

Councillor Kitterick submitted a report that asked Cabinet to agree proposals for spending the surplus income generated by the on-street parking bays and enforcement in order to improve transport in the City. Cabinet was also asked to reaffirm that it was not currently desirable to provide further off street parking. 

It was noted that the report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) on 13 September and their comments were tabled.

Councillor Mugglestone, leader of the Conservative Group, reported that the OSMB had a substantial debate on this item and one of the main areas of concern expressed was with regard to the proposal to use some of the income to fund the rent on York House, where the Transport development section were based.  Councillor Kitterick responded that this was not a new item for funding from this source.  He also welcomed Scrutiny input into the review of bus services.  With regard to the full comments of Scrutiny he reported that he would give them full and detailed consideration, having just received them.

Revised legal comments on the report were also circulated and noted.

RESOLVED:

(1)that it be reaffirmed that it is the Cabinet’s opinion that it is not currently desirable or necessary to provide further off street parking

(2)that the proposals for spending the surplus income set out in the Appendix to the report be approved

(3)that the review of bus services be noted and the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture be authorised to decide the precise amount to be spent on these services following consultation with Cabinet, subject to funding being available; and

(4)that the delegation to the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture to vary the amounts spent on the various items referred to in the Appendix, subject to funding being available, be noted and it be agreed that this delegation be exercised in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member.

Councillor Connelly submits a report that informs Cabinet of the Braunstone Park Street Sports Project and requests approval for a capital sum of £130,000 for the project, from the £150,000 identified in the Council’s Capital Programme 2007/08 as Adventure Playground Equipment. Cabinet is recommended to approve Adventure Playground Equipment capital expenditure of £130,000 towards the project.

Councillor Connelly submitted a report that informed Cabinet of the Braunstone Park Street Sports Project and requested approval for a capital sum of £130,000 for the project, from the £150,000 identified in the Council’s Capital Programme 2007/08 as Adventure Playground Equipment.

RESOLVED:

                        That approval be given for expenditure of £130,000 towards the above project.

Councillor Bhatti submits a report thatproposes the Council tender for the procurement of external cash collection facilities to increase the range of opportunities for customers to pay Council Tax, Business Rates and Rent payments to around 400 outlets within Leicester and its immediate vicinity during extended opening hours. Cabinet is recommended to refer the matter to the relevant Task Group.

Councillor Bhatti submitted a report thatproposed that the Council tender for the procurement of external cash collection facilities to increase the range of opportunities for customers to pay Council Tax, Business Rates and Rent payments to around 400 outlets within Leicester and its immediate vicinity during extended opening hours.

RESOLVED:

That the matter be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to ask the relevant Task Group to

a)explore the implications of introducing an external payment facility, including the likely impact it will have on the Cash Offices at the Local Neighbourhood Housing Offices.

b)contact other Local Authorities using the scheme to determine the benefits it has had on tenants and tax payers using the system and to identify the impact on local Cash Offices and on the Council’s overall balances and money management systems

c)consult council tenants or tenants’ associations on the proposals

The meeting ended at 1.22 pm.