Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Coley.

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.  The following personal, non-prejudicial declarations were made:

Councillor Osman declared a non-prejudicial interest in Appendix E, Policy for Transfer of Assets for Community Governance as Chair of the Highfield Centre Governing Body.

Councillor Mrs Sood declared a non-prejudicial interest in Appendix J, ‘Contracting Voluntary Sector “Grant Aid Contracts” as her mother was a service user of Carers of Leicestershire Advocacy & Support Project (CLASP).

There were no leaders announcements.

The minutes of the meeting held on 18 February 2008, 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 18 February 2008, having been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Special Meeting of the Audit Committee – 12 February 2008

Outcomes from Audit Work – Update Report – Second Four Months 2007/8

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

RESOLVED:

                        That the Cabinet be asked to request the Head of ICT to remove from service all mobile computing devices found to be without encryption software from 31/12/2008.

Councillor Willmott to respond.

a)            Special Meeting of the Audit Committee - 12 February 2008

            Outcomes from Audit Work – Update Report – Second Four Months             2007/8

            The above Committee agreed as follows:

            That the Cabinet be asked to request the Head of ICT to remove from service all mobile computing devices found to be without encryption software from 31/12/2008.

            Councillor Willmott thanked the Audit Committee for their comments and stated that he understood that the service director (information) was addressing this issue and asked her to report back direct to the Audit Committee.

Councillor Draycott submits a report that seeks Cabinet endorsement of spending proposals by the Belgrave, Latimer and Rushey Mead Area Committee.  Cabinet is recommended to agree the expenditure proposals in Appendix A. 

Councillor Draycott submitted a report that sought Cabinet endorsement of spending proposals by Area Committees.

RESOLVED:

That the expenditure proposals by Area Committees as detailed in Appendix A be approved.

Councillor Draycott submits a report that informs decisions about Neighbourhood Management for 2008-09 in the context of the city’s wider strategic direction on neighbourhood working, including the development of Ward Community Meetings.  Cabinet is asked to approve a number of recommendations as listed in paragraph 3 of the report.  

Councillor Draycott submitted a report that informed decisions about Neighbourhood Management for 2008-09 in the context of the city’s wider strategic direction on neighbourhood working, including the development of Ward Community Meetings.

Councillor Draycott stated that the Cabinet was to receive an update on neighbourhood working in 12 months.

RESOLVED:

(1)that for 2008-09 the three neighbourhood management schemes based in St Matthews/ St Marks, Saffron and New Parks receive funding of £137,600 each to support a Neighbourhood Manager, and an Assistant Neighbourhood Manager (total cost £82,000) and a non staffing revenue budget of £55,600 each.

(2)   These three schemes are evaluated towards the end of 2008-09 to inform future decisions.

(3)               That the St Matthews and St Marks scheme be split into two separate arrangements.

(4)               That the boundary of the New Parks Neighbourhood Management area be amended to include the lower super output area around Tatlow Road etc. which is now in the bottom 5% of the IMD 2007 and to exclude the Stokes Drive area.

(5)               That the St Peters and the Beaumont Leys/Stocking Farm/Abbey Rise neighbourhood management schemes be wrapped into their respective Ward Community Meetings from 2008-09; and

(6)That lessons learnt from the neighbourhood management pilots (set out in section 4.4 of this report) be carried forward into the development of wider neighbourhood working in the city, particularly the ward community meetings.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that asks Cabinet to agree to continue with publication and subsequent launch of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board Participation Strategy.  

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that asked Cabinet to agree to continue with publication and subsequent launch of the Children and Young People’s Strategic Partnership Board Participation Strategy. 

RESOLVED:

(1)               that the contents of the report be noted; and

(2)               That the continued publication and subsequent launch of the document be agreed.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that proposes an addendum to the existing framework for the Disposal of Property to deal with requests for transfer of assets for community governance.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the proposed addition to the Framework for the Disposal of Property of the Policy for Transfer of Assets for Community Governance. 

The relevant minute extract from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 11 December 2007 is attached.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that proposed an addendum to the existing framework for the Disposal of Property to deal with requests for transfer of assets for community governance. 

The relevant minute extract from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 11 December 2007 had been circulated to the Cabinet.

Councillor Willmott stated that this policy enabled the authority with the ability and power to transfer it’s assets to community organisations.  He explained that the authority had been successful in its application to be part of the ‘Advancing Assets for Communities’ pilot programmes and that the Highfield Centre, the Outdoor Pursuits Centre and Cort Crescent Community Centre had been operating as pilot projects and looked forward to bringing reports on these to Cabinet.  He emphasised that it was vital that the interests of both the authority and the community organisations were protected. 

Councillor Follett stated that it would be in the interests of all if the authority assisted those receiving the asset transfer.  He also felt that a level of flexibility was needed around the best consideration principle. , but accepted that transparency was important.

Cabinet Members spoke of their positive experiences around working with the Development Trusts Association and wished to explore working with them again.

RESOLVED:

                        That the proposed addition to the Framework for the Disposal of Property of the policy for Transfer of Assets for Community Governance be approved, subject to amending 3.5.3 to make clear Leicester City Council would assist in the identification of funding sources where it was appropriate.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that updates Members on the progress of the level of capital expenditure on the capital programme for to the end of December (period 9) and the forecast spend of the year.  Cabinet is asked to approve a number of recommendations as listed in paragraph 3.1 of the report.

The relevant minute extract from the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee to be held on 21 February 2008 will be circulated to Members as soon as it is available.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that updated Members on the progress of the level of capital expenditure on the capital programme for to the end of December (period 9) and the forecast spend of the year.

The relevant minute extract from the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee to be held on 21 February 2008 had been circulated to the Cabinet. 

RESOLVED:

(1)   that a revised level of programmed expenditure of  £118.7 million be approved.

(2) that the level of expenditure to the end of December  2007 of £74.3 million be noted.

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

(4)that it be noted that the forecast capital programme performance is to spend 95% of the approved programme (excluding any additions or expenditure brought forward) compared to a target of 90%;

(5)               that an additional sum of £238,000 be approved for Centrally Located Admin Buildings and that this be released from the original approval of £29.676 million, and that a further £200,000 committed from this sum for the Data Centre by the Director of Resources under the urgent action procedure be used to minimise the risk to business continuity; and

(6)that the prudential indicators for 2007/08 be noted.

Councillor Willmott submit a report that shows a summary position comparing spending with the budget.  Cabinet is asked to agree a number of recommendations as set out in paragraph 3.1 of the report.

The relevant minute extract from the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee to be held on 21 February 2008 will be circulated to Members as soon as it is available.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that showed a summary position comparing spending with the budget. 

The relevant minute extract from the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee to be held on 21 February 2008 had been circulated to Cabinet members.

The Chief Finance Officer explained that the report cross-referenced performance matters contained in a separate report on the agenda.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the changes made to the original approved budget for 2007/08 be noted;

(2) that the expenditure to date and the budgetary issues which have emerged so far this year be noted;

(3)that the proposals put forward to ensure that spending is contained within the Departments’ budgets be noted;

(4)that other action necessary to prevent departments from overspending be considered;

(5)that the progress made towards achieving the Business Improvement Programme savings targets for 2007/08, as outlined in Section 8 of the report, be noted; and

(6)that the establishment of an earmarked reserve as outlined in paragraph 8.7 of the report be approved.

Councillor Draycott submits a report that presents the performance of the Council and its partners in delivering services to citizens during the third quarter of 2007/08.  Cabinet is asked to review the third quarter performance results and consider the need for any special action on areas of concern, receive the corporate risk register and receive regular reports on actions taken to mitigate the identified risks as part of the regular performance management process.

The relevant minute extract from the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee to be held on 21 February 2008 will be circulated to Members as soon as it is available.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report that presented the performance of the Council and its partners in delivering services to citizens during the third quarter of 2007/08.

The relevant minute extract from the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee to be held on 21 February 2008 had been circulated to Members of the Cabinet.

Councillor Draycott reported that the percentage of items of equipment and adaptations delivered within 7 working days had increased and that the target set of 94% was due to be exceeded. 

With regard to housing benefits, Councillor Draycott stated that there had been a decline in performance, but that the issue had been quickly identified and staff had been redirected from other functions to deal with new cases.

In relation to staff sickness levels, Councillor Draycott reported that a project board, which included UNISON had been assembled to discuss this issue.  She stated that she was to bring to Cabinet a full report in March that gave a clear strategy to tackle the matter. 

RESOLVED:

(1)               that those areas demonstrating continuous improvement in performance be congratulated;

(2)               that the third quarter performance results be reviewed and the need for any special action on areas of concern be considered;

(3)            that the corporate risk register be received; and

(4)            that regular reports on actions taken to mitigate the identified risks be received as part of the regular performance management process.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that proposes minor changes to the decision making framework for the Council’s treasury management activities.  Cabinet is recommended to ask Council to approve the revised Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Management Practises included in the report. 

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that proposed minor changes to the decision-making framework for the Council’s treasury management activities. 

RESOLVED:

                        That Council be asked to approve the revised Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Management Practises.

Councillor Willmott submits a report regarding the arrangements for extending the “grant aid contracts” due to expire on 31 March to enable reprovision to take place.  Cabinet is asked to approve a number of recommendations as set out in paragraph 2 of the report. 

Councillor Willmott submitted a report regarding the arrangements for extending the “grant aid contracts” which were due to expire on 31 March to enable re-provision to take place. 

The Assistant Head of Legal Services explained that the figure in the box on Page 3 relating to the contracts around services and support to Children, Young People and their carers should read £1,490,000.

It was agreed that recommendation 6 be amended to refer to the fact that the Cabinet wished for a further report to be considered that gave detail of where officers felt areas of risk lied. 

RESOLVED:

(1)that it be noted that officers had anticipated renewing contracts expiring on 31^st March 2008 following the appropriate monitoring, evaluation and consultation with the exception of those identified in Appendix 2 where service reviews and temporary extensions have been put in place.

(2)That Contract Procedure Rules as to competition be waived and that the relevant Corporate Director be authorised to offer extended contracts the providers concerned in the case of the contracts identified in the table in this report.

(3)That extensions be given for up to 12 months from 1 April 2008.

(4)   That a consultation exercise be implemented with the Voluntary and Community Sector involving both the process of reprovision and the contract documentation.

(5)   That a further report about the approach to reprovision be presented following consultation with the Voluntary and Community Sector; and

(6)That the further report be considered by the Cabinet that gave detail of where officers felt areas of risk lied. 

The meeting closed at 1:30pm.