Agenda and minutes

Prior to the meeting the Leader, Councillor Willmott, presented gift vouchers to Mr Henderson, one of the winners of the prize draw run as part of the public consultation exercise on the budget.

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 Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Leader reported the following:-

(a)       that the presentation that had taken place before the meeting was as a result of a prize draw as part of a public consultation exercise on the preparation of the budget.  Councillor Willmott congratulated Mr. Henderson and the other two winners who were not present and thanked them and everyone who had taken part in the public consultation exercise.

(b)       two major launches that had taken place the previous week; the launch of the Urban White Paper in Leicester by the Minister of State, Mr. Charles Clark and the launch of Leicester's Community Plan which Mr. Clark had also attended.  The plan was now available to the public.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 November have been circulated and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 6 November 2000 having been circulated to Members be received, taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Presentation from Councillor Getliffe.

Councillor Getliffe, the Cabinet Member for Social Services and Personal Health gave a presentation to the Cabinet on the Community Care Service.

The shortage of occupational therapists was particularly noted by Councillor Draycott, the Cabinet Member for Housing and Councillor Getliffe reported that a report would be submitted to the Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee looking at ways of trying to address the problem.

RESOLVED:

that the presentation be noted.

Councillor Patel submits a report presenting the summary position comparing spending to date against the General Fund Revenue Budget and the Housing Revenue Account for 2000-01.  The Cabinet is asked to note the spend to date and the budgetary issues that have emerged so far this year, note the action proposed to ensure spending is contained within Departmental budgets, note the likely underspend on corporate budgets and to approve virements and the creation of a new earmarked reserve in Commercial Services for the balance on the schools buy-back fund for property maintenance.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report which showed the summary position comparing spending to date against the General Fund Revenue Budget and the Housing Revenue Account for 2000/01.  It was noted that the report was the first of this financial year showing the General Fund position against the budget of £297 million and the Housing Revenue Account position against the gross budget of £59 million and was based on the first five months spending.

It was noted that each Scrutiny Committee would receive information relation to its portfolio and make any comments it wished.  It was noted that the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee had asked that instead of receiving the budget for the whole of the Environment and Development Department, it wished to receive only the budget information which related to its portfolio.  It was noted that under current financial regulations each Director prepared a budget for the whole department; however the financial regulations would be reviewed in due course and this issue would be considered as part of the review.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the spend to date and the budgetary issues which had emerged so far this year be noted;

(2)that the action proposed as set out in the appendices to the report to ensure that spending was contained within Departments' budgets, be noted;

(3)that the likely underspending in respect of corporate budgets which would be returned to corporate reserves, be noted;

(4)that the budget virements identified in the appendices to the report, be approved;

(5)that the creation of a new earmarked reserve in Commercial Services for the balance on the schools buy-back fund for property maintenance, be approved.

Councillor Patel submits a report proposing a framework by which the Council can determine its General Fund Budget for 2001-02 and budget proposals for 2002-03.  The Cabinet is asked to recommend to Council the new framework, the distribution of savings and the budget planning figures for each department.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report proposing a framework by which the Council could determine its General Fund Revenue Budget for 2001-02 and budget proposals for 2002-03.

RESOLVED:

that the Council be recommended to approve:-

(a)the new framework for setting the budget as detailed in the report;

(b)the distribution of savings shown in Appendix 1 of the supporting information in the report;

(c)the budget planning figures for each department shown in Appendix 1 of the supporting information in the report.

Councillor Patel submits a report informing the Cabinet of the findings of the public consultation exercise that took place in September 2000.  The Cabinet is asked to note the report and address any implications arising from the report in the context of the Council's three year revenue budget strategy.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report informing the Committee of the results of an extensive public consultation exercise that had taken place in September 2000 in relation to the Council's approach to budgeting; the specific spending priorities for new money and suggested Council Tax increases.  It was noted that approximately 650 people and organisations responded to the various types of consultation which led to a wide range of views being expressed.  However there were many common themes running through the various forms of consultations and these were outlined.

RESOLVED:

that the report be noted and the implications arising from the report be addressed in the context of the Council's three year Revenue Budget Strategy and Departments' revenue strategies.

Councillor Patel submits a report showing the summary position of the 2000-01 Capital Programme.  The Cabinet is asked to approve the revised level of forecast expenditure of £49.132 million, approve slippage and reshaping of £9.074 million, note the level of expenditure to the end of August and the position relating to capital receipts and approve changes to the programme.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report showing the summary position of the 2000/01 Capital Programme.  It was noted that after five months of the year only 18% of the Capital Programme had been spent.  However, it was noted that many of the projects depended to a significant degree on development outside the control of the City Council.  The situation was being closely monitored and the current forecast was that the spend against programme would improve as the year progressed.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the revised level of forecast expenditure of £49.132 million, be approved;

(2)that slippage and rephrasing of £9.074 million, be approved;

(3)that the level of expenditure to the end of August 2000 of £9.011 million, be noted;

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

(5)that the following changes relating to the capital programmes, be approved:-

Education

(i)Nurseries - provision of nursery facilities to be funded by a capital grant of £71,165.

(ii)Laboratories - construction of new laboratories and refurbishment of existing laboratories to be funded by a grant of £184,862.

(iii)The following schemes which were approved by Education Committee in August 2000 totalling £1.202 million:-

which are all to be funded by specific capital grant or SCAs.

Housing

(iv)The revised capital programme of £23.016 million and method of funding the programme.

Town Clerks and Corporate Resources

(v)Disability Discrimination Act Programme - transfer of £20,000 from the Reference Library scheme to a scheme at Parkfield Nursery.

(vi)Town Hall Lift (Courtyard) - increase in cost of £66,000 to £389,000 to be funded from resources of £50,000 held in the capital fund (following a transfer relating to a saving from the 1999/00 Operational Property Budget) and £16,000 from the forecast underspend on the earmarked reserve for year 2000 property issues.

Social Services

(vii)Wigston Lane - increase in cost of £20,000 to £140,000, to be funded from part of the capital receipt from The Oaks which is earmarked for expenditure relating to Childrens Home.

(viii)Elderly Persons' Homes Refurbishment Programme - transfer resources arising from underspends on work at Thurncourt (£35,000) and Brookside Court (£43,000) Elderly Persons Homes to Elizabeth House Elderly Persons Home to fund additional costs relating to asbestos removal.

(6)that the use of the 2000/01 allocation of £100,000 for the Town Hall Programme of works for the refurbishment of the third floor, be approved.

Councillor Patel submits a report recommending a Capital Strategy for the Council for 2001-02.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report recommending a new capital strategy for the Council for the period 2001/02 to 2003/04.

RESOLVED:

that the Council be recommended to adopt the Strategy detailed in the report.

Councillor Patel submits a report which identifies where modification is needed to the new political management structures and seeking approval to changes to constitutional documentation where appropriate and authority for the Town Clerk to finalised the text of the documentation.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report which summarised experience since implementation of the Council's new political management structures, identifying areas where modification was needed, and recommending changes to the constitutional documentation where appropriate.  Authority was also sought for the Town Clerk to finalise the text of the documentation.

Further to the report, Councillor Willmott reported that at the Local Government (Organisations) Working Party which was an all-party group that discussed the detail of new political management structures,  Members had unanimously supported the re-establishment of the Senior Citizens Forum which the Council had abolished in August.  It was also noted that a petition and questions from members of the public had been received seeking its reinstatement.  He therefore moved that this be re-established.  In addition Councillor Willmott also moved that where there were options in the report that these be noted for discussion by all political groups prior to Council consideration.  This was seconded by Councillor Draycott.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the proposals contained within the report be approved and that where there were options, these be noted for discussion by all political groups prior to Council consideration at its next meeting;

(2)that a Senior Citizens Forum be established, the detailed constitutional arrangements to be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with the relevant Members detailed in the Council report; and

(3)that the Town Clerk be authorised to finalise the text of the constitutional documentation referred to in the report in consultation with the Local Government (Organisations) Working Party.

Councillor Patel submits a report informing the Cabinet of the statutory requirements and legal issues arising from the Local Government Act 2000.  The Cabinet is asked to approve an action plan for compliance with the Act.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report which outlined the implications of the above Act with regard to the introduction of new executive structures for political management and identifying an action plan for ensuring that the authority made appropriate and timely modifications to its current political management structures so as to comply with the Act's requirements.

RESOLVED:

that the Council be recommended to note the statutory requirements and legal issues set out in the report and approve the action plan detailed at Appendix 5 to the report.

Councillor Patel submits a report seeking approval for a framework for awarding discretionary rate relief and seeking approval to delegate the decision of granting relief to the Chief Financial Officer.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report which sought approval for a framework for awarding discretionary rate relief and requesting that authority to grant relief be delegated to the Chief Financial Officer.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the criteria detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for the awarding of discretionary rate relief, be approved and that the Chief Financial Officer be authorised to make decisions formerly vested in the Discretionary Rate Relief Panel;

(2)that the principle that relief may be reduced in subsequent years by means of a taper, where applicable, be approved; and

(3)that the Chief Financial Officer's decisions be subject to periodic scrutiny by the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Roberts submits a report setting out the planning and urban design requirements for Bede Island South and seeking approval to adoption of the Guidance as Supplementary Planning Guidance.  The comments of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee are appended to the report.

Councillor Roberts, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration submitted a report which set out the planning and urban design requirements for Bede Island South, a key riverside site situated on the west bank of the River Soar, approximately two kilometres to the south-west of the city centre.  The comments of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee were reported with responses to those comments.

RESOLVED:

that the Bede Island South site development guidance as attached to the report be approved as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Councillor Roberts submits a report setting out the planning and urban design requirements for Old Town - West (DMU) and seeking approval to adoption of the Guidance as Supplementary Planning Guidance.  The comments of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee are appended to the report.

Councillor Roberts, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration submitted a report setting out planning and urban design requirements for the area of Old Town - West which was centred on the campus of De Montfort University and included part of Castle Park, Leicester's heritage quarter.  The comments of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee were reported with the response to those comments.  Arising from these comments it was recommended that an amendment to the text be made with regard to the provision of family housing.  With regard to the comments of the Scrutiny Committee relating to the central Ring Road, Councillor Willmott proposed that in the light of the opportunities presented by the Strategic Planning Guidance of reconnecting De Montfort University to the Old Town site, officers be requested to bring forward proposals for a feasibility study on the strategic treatment of the Ring Road area.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Area Strategy Guidance for Old Town - West be approved as Supplementary Planning Guidance, as set out in the main report and with the suggested addition to the text as detailed in the addendum report; and

(2)that a further report be submitted on the possibility of carrying out a feasibility study on options for the development of the central Ring Road.

Councillor Roberts submits a report setting out the planning and urban design requirements for All Saints and seeking approval to adoption of the Guidance as Supplementary Planning Guidance.  The comments of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee are appended to the report.

Councillor Roberts, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration submitted a report detailing the planning and urban design requirements for the All Saints area which lay to the north of the city centre between Vaughan Way and Sanvey Gate.  The comments of the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee were also reported and the response to those comments.

RESOLVED:

that the All Saints Area Strategy Guidance as detailed in the report, be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Councillor Roberts submits a report asking the Cabinet to adopt the booklet 'A Design Guide for House Extensions' as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

Councillor Roberts, the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration submitted a report presenting the results and conclusions of public consultation carried out regarding the content of the booklet "A Design Guidance for House Extensions".

RESOLVED:

that the booklet, "A Design Guidance for House Extensions" be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

There were no items of urgent business.

AGENDA

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO NOTE

Under the law, the Sub-Committee 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 Sub-Committee 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, and consequently that the Sub-Committee 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.”

Paragraph 7

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).

SURE START BEAUMONT LEYS

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 paragraph detailed below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 7

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (other than the authority).

Sure Start Beaumont Leys

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities submitted a report setting out a proposal to secure a property in the Beaumont Leys area to assist with the implementation of the Sure Start Initiative.

RESOLVED:

that action be taken to secure a property in the Beaumont Leys area to assist with the implementation of the Sure Start Initiative.

The full decision is recorded in the private section of the Minutes as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information Act) 1990, that is, any terms proposed or to be proposed by or to the Authority in the course of negotiations for a contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

The meeting closed at 6.14pm.