Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dempster, Councillor Follett and Sheila Lock, Corporate Director of Children and Young People.

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 tobe discussed and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government

Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

No declarations were made.

There were no announcements.

The minutes of the meeting held on 26 November 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 26 November, having

been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the

Chair as a correct record.

Overview and Scrutiny Management Board - 8 November 2007

Petition Concerning Additional Parking For Residents In Coleman Road

The following was agreed at the above Committee.  The full minute extract is attached at Appendix A1.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet be requested to include the provision of additional lay bys on Coleman Road as part of the Local Environmental Works Programme.

Councillor Kitterick to respond.

Overview and Scrutiny Management Board - 8 November 2007

Petition – Pedestrian Crossing Coleman Road 

The following was agreed at the above Committee.  The full minute extract is attached at Appendix A2.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Cabinet be requested to review the list of priority of justified crossing cases; and

(2)that concern be expressed to Cabinet at the length of time taken to respond to the petition.

Councillor Kitterick to respond.

Overview and Scrutiny Management Board - 8 November 2007

Petition – Crossing Outside Green Lane School 

The following was agreed at the above Committee.  The full minute extract is attached at Appendix A3.

RESOLVED:

                        that the Cabinet be asked to review the decision of the Service Director and subsequently consider installing a crossing system and traffic calming and that this be included in the forthcoming year’s Transport Capital Programme.

Councillor Kitterick to respond.

a)            Overview and Scrutiny Management Board - 8 November 2007

                Petition Concerning Additional Parking For Residents In Coleman Road

            The above Committee agreed as follows:

            “that Cabinet be requested to include the provision of additional lay bys on Coleman Road as part of the Local Environmental Works Programme.”

            Councillor Kitterick responded to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board by explaining that the Council already provided a number of lay-bys on Coleman Road and stated that the use of these cannot be controlled unless a residents’ parking scheme was introduced in this area.  He added that officers were currently looking at other plots of land as possible parking opportunities for Coleman Road

b)            Overview and Scrutiny Management Board - 8 November 2007

            Petition – Pedestrian Crossing Coleman Road

            The above Committee agreed as follows:

“(1)      that the Cabinet be requested to review the list of priority of justified crossing cases ; and

(2)             that concern be expressed to Cabinet at the length of time taken to respond to the petition”.

Councillor Kitterick responded to this referral by informing Cabinet that following an assessment carried out by officers, it was deemed that this area was a top priority for installing traffic calming, and that any further measures taken would be decided when developing the Transport Capital Programme 2008.

In response to the second recommendation, Councillor Kitterick agreed that the length of time that it had taken to respond to petitions was unacceptable and welcomed the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board to suggest an appropriate maximum length of time in which petitions had to be responded to.  Furthermore, Councillor Draycott stated that a paper was being developed on managing petitions and this would be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board.

C)            Overview and Scrutiny Management Board - 8 November 2007

            Petition – Crossing Outside Green Lane School

            The above Committee agreed as follows:

            “that the Cabinet be asked to review the decision of the Service Director and subsequently consider installing a crossing system and traffic calming and that this be included in the forthcoming year’s Transport Capital Programme”.

Councillor Kitterick stated that the Service Director’s decision was justifiable and informed the meeting that a crossing outside Green Lane School was ranked 13^th on the list of priorities.  He again explained that any decision on installing traffic calming or a crossing would be decided when constructing the Transport Capital Programme 2008.

Councillor Draycott submits a report that seeks Cabinet endorsement of spending proposals by Area Committees. Cabinet is recommended to agree the expenditure proposals and note the funding report in Appendix B to the report.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report that sought cabinet endorsement of

spending proposals by Area Committees.

RESOLVED:

(1) that the expenditure proposals in Appendix A be agreed;

and

(2) that the funding report in Appendix B be noted.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that recommends Cabinet to approve the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) self assessment.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that recommended Cabinet to approve the Comprehensive Performance Assessment (CPA) self assessment.

RESOLVED:

That the self-assessment be approved

Councillor Willmott submits a report that seeks the agreement of Cabinet on how the performance reward grant relating to the Council’s second generation Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) will be distributed. Cabinet is recommended to agree option (iii) set out in paragraph 4.10 of the report for distribution of the LPSA reward grant based on the outcome of consultation.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that sought the agreement of Cabinet on how the performance reward grant relating to the Council’s second generation Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA) would be distributed.

Councillor Willmott recommended that option (iii) for the distribution of the reward grant be approved.  This was to pool the revenue element of the reward grant into Leicester’s Area Based Grant (Local Area Agreement pooled funding) to enable the commissioning of services to deliver priority outcomes as set out in Leicester’s sustainable community strategy and Local Area Agreement.  And, to manage the capital element through the City Council’s corporate capital programme, consulting through Leicester Partnership on spending proposals.  It was stated that this option did not preclude an element of direct reward grant to those responsible for delivering targets. 

RESOLVED:

that based on the outcome of consultation, option (iii) for distribution of the reward grant be approved.

Councillor Kitterick submits a report that advises Cabinet on the new provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 relating to dog control orders, and to seek approval to start the legal process to introduce them in the city. Cabinet is recommended to endorse the broad framework for implementation of the Act, consider the controls and offences outlined in paragraph 5.7 of the report and endorse them if appropriate for the City, request the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture to commence consultation as out lined in paragraph 4.9 of the report, and request the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture to provide a further report for Members once the consultation has been completed.

Councillor Wann submitted a report that advised Cabinet on the new provisions of the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 relating to dog control orders, and sought approval to start the legal process to introduce them in the city.

RESOLVED:

(1)               that the broad framework for implementation of the Act be                   endorsed

(2)               that the controls and offenses outlined in paragraph 5.7 of             the report be considered and endorsed if appropriate for                   the City

(3)               that the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture                      commence consultation as outlined in paragraph 4.9 of             the report; and

(4)               That the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Culture                      provide a further report for Members once the                                           consultation has been completed.

Councillor Kitterick submits a report that seeks Cabinet approval to the adoption of the Employment Land Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which has been revised following public consultation. Cabinet is recommended to agree that the SPD attached as Appendix 1, is adopted as City Council policy and seen as supplementary to the Adopted Local Plan 2006.

The full Supplementary Planning Document is attached for Members of the Cabinet only.  Further copies can be obtained by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 2298112.

The relevant minute extract from the Planning and Development Control Committeeheld on 19 June 2007 is attached.

Councillor Kitterick submitted a report that sought Cabinet approval to the adoption of the Employment Land Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), which had been revised following public consultation.

The relevant minute extract of the Planning and Development Control Committee held on 19 June 2007 had been circuited to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

that the Supplementary Planning Document (SPD)  attached as Appendix 1 be adopted as City Council policy and seen as supplementary to the Adopted Local Plan 2006.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that provides Cabinet with details on the work of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) to co-ordinate inter-agency work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, and to monitor the effectiveness of what relevant organisations do, individually and collectively to safeguard children. Cabinet is recommended to note the contents of this report.

The relevant minute extract from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 8 November 2007 is attached.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that provided Cabinet with details on the work of the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Local Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) to co-ordinate inter-agency work to safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people, and to monitor the effectiveness of what relevant organisations do, individually and collectively to safeguard children.

In the absence of Councillor Dempster, Councillor Willmott presented the report.

The relevant minute extract of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 8 November 2007 had been circuited to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that provides Cabinet with a summary of decisions made at Corporate Director level in consultation with Cabinet Leads. Cabinet is recommended to note the decisions as summarised in Appendices A and B.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that provided Cabinet with a 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, as summarised in appendices A and B of the report be noted.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that introduces the council’s e-transforming Leicester programme 2007 – 2011. Cabinet is recommended to support the programme as outlined in this report and consider whether or how they want to receive the detailed strategies listed in section 5.0.

Te relevant minute extract of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 10 December 2007 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that introduces the council’s e-transforming Leicester programme 2007 – 2011.

The relevant minute extract of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 10 December 2007 had been circulated to the Cabinet and Councillor Willmott thanked the committee for their comments and supported them.  He proposed that the individual strategies referred to in section 5.0 of the report be also submitted to Cabinet as they become available.

RESOLVED:

(1)               That the e-transforming Leicester programme as outlined in the report be supported.

(2)That the detailed strategies listed in section 5.0 be received by Cabinet as they become available.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that seeks Cabinets approval to release funding for modernising the existing arrangements of the Council’s data centre. Cabinet is recommended to note that Pilot House is no longer considered suitable as a location for the council’s data centre, to recognise the need to modernise the environmental controls in the existing data centre and support the use of CLABs funding with a contribution from the council’s risk management fund to meet the costs and to ask officers to approach Northgate (our ICT partners for BSF) and offer them the option of LCC hosting the BSF data centre, with any income gained to be refunded to the CLABz budget

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that sought Cabinet’s approval to release funding for modernise the existing arrangements of the Council’s data centre.

RESOLVED:

(1)     that it be noted that Pilot House is no longer considered as a suitable location for the Council’s data centre.

  (2)  that the need to modernise the environmental controls in the existing centre be recognised and the use of CLABs funding, with a contribution from the council’s risk management fund to meet the costs, be supported.

The Leader reported that the date of the next meeting would be Monday 7 January 2008 at 1.00pm in the Council Chamber.  He explained that dates for the rest of the municipal year would be agreed at this next meeting.

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 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).

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 3

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

Councillor Kitterick submits a report.

Councillor Kitterick submitted a report that sought Members approval to a new delivery strategy for the Leicester Science Park (LSP) and to the appointment in principle of Blueprint, the public private development partnership, as the lead developer for the former John Ellis Community College site (JE site). 

RESOLVED:

(1)         that the progress of the proposed Leicester Science Park be noted; and

(2)         that it be noted that the two principle options have been identified for the future of the John Ellis site as part of the Leicester Science Park, and that these are:

(i)The re-marketing of the site to identify a developer capable of delivering the original vision on the JE site of a first phase of a science, innovation and technology park (the Leicester Science Park) in the Abbey Meadows area of the city.

(ii)               The appointment of Blueprint as the lead developer, without the necessity of re-marketing, subject to the outcome of detailed negotiations and satisfying the Council’s financial and legal requirements.

(3)That the new delivery mechanism with the appointment of Blueprint as the lead developer be approved subject to the outcome of detailed negotiations and satisfying the Council’s financial and legal requirements.

(4)That authorisation be given to the Corporate Director of Resources, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Resources, to agree the detailed terms for the disposal of the property.

(5)That authorisation be given to the Service Director - Legal Services to enter into all necessary contracts and agreements in respect of the disposal of the site to the developer to include appropriate conditions to ensure the future development of the site for science park purposes.

Councillor Willmott submits a report.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that informed Cabinet of the urgent action taken by the Corporate Director of Resources in consultation with the Leader and Chair and Vice-chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board

RESOLVED:

That the urgent action taken by the Corporate Director of Resources in consultation with the relevant members in releasing the amount from the report from the CLAB’s review budget to fund the work of specialist advisers on office review strategy be noted.

The meeting closed at 1.31pm