Agenda and minutes

No apologies were received.

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 on the agenda.

Councillor Osman declared during the meeting, that he had a prejudicial interest in respect of Item 10, “2008/09 Capital Programme Monitoring – Outturn,” as he was Chair of Highfields Community Association. When this interest was noticed he left the meeting during consideration of the recommendations.

Councillor Willmott stated that this meeting was being held at 12noon instead of 1pm due to an essential meeting. He therefore, in accordance with Rule 8c of the Cabinet Procedure Rules of the Council’s Constitution, agreed to formally cancel the meeting being held at 1pm, to be replaced by this meeting at 12noon. This meeting would be a special meeting, convened in accordance with Rule 9 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules.

He thanked everyone for attending at the earlier time and apologised for any inconvenience.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 June2009, have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to approve them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet, held on 1 June 2009, be confirmed as a correct record.

Performance and Value for Money Scrutiny Committee – 27 May 2009

Serious Acquisitive Crime

The following was agreed at the above meeting. The full minute extract is attached at Appendix A.

“that it be recommend to the Cabinet Executive that improvements in the dissemination of information about serious acquisitive crime be identified and implemented in advance of the seasonal peak between July and August, and that particular consideration be given to further use of the Leicester Link to communicate this.”

Councillor Dawood to respond.

Meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee (PVFM) on 27 May 2009

Serious Acquisitive Crime

The above Committee agreed the following:

“that it be recommended to the Cabinet Executive that improvements in the dissemination of information about serious acquisitive crime be identified and implemented in advance of the seasonal peak between July and August, and that particular consideration be given to further use of the Leicester Link to communicate this.”

Councillor Dawood stated that he would circulate a written response to Cabinet and a response would be given to PVFM in due course.

Councillor Grant explained the reason for PVFM’s recommendation, stating that it could help residents prepare for an expected increase in burglaries in July/August.

Members of Cabinet discussed the issue, stating that a more local-based approach could be more appropriate. It was also felt that such publicity in LINK may cause undue alarm. It was stated that initiatives were already underway to address the issues in certain areas.

Councillor Willmott suggested that Cabinet should look further into PVFM’s recommendation and report back to them. He also recommended that PVFM be supplied with current information on crime and the initiatives in place.

RESOLVED:            

that Cabinet agrees to look further into the recommendation of PVFM regarding improvements to the dissemination of information about serious acquisitive crime, particularly by using Leicester LINK, and undertakes to report back to a future PVFM meeting.

Meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee (PVFM) on 17 June 2009

Review of Treasury Management Activities 2008/2009

The above Committee agreed the following:

“That it be recommended to Cabinet that the treasury management staff be commended for their cautious approach towards treasury management in an exceptionally challenging financial environment and especially in light of failings elsewhere in the region and the Country by other public service organisations.”

Councillor Patel responded that he was in absolute agreement with PVFM’s recommendation, and he acknowledged that, despite the current challenging environment, the Council’s performance in this area had been exceptional.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet endorses the recommendation of PVFM, and that the treasury management staff be commended for their approach towards treasury management in an exceptionally challenging financial environment, and especially in light of failings elsewhere in the region and the Country by other public service organisations.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that seeks Cabinet approval to the release of £82,000 from the Corporate Capital Programme in respect of the St Andrews Contact Centre. Cabinet is recommended to approve the release of £82,000 from the Corporate Capital Programme in respect of the St Andrews Contact Centre, included within Block B of the Capital Programme report approved by Cabinet on 17^th November 2008 and Council on 27^th November 2008.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee, held on 10 June 2009, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that sought Cabinet approval to the release of £82,000, from the Corporate Capital Programme in respect of the St Andrews Contact Centre, included within Block B of the Capital Programme report approved by Cabinet on 17 November 2008 and Council on 27 November 2008.

In response to the resolution of the Children & Young People’s Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Dempster stated that the improvements and asset management plan would be progressed as soon as possible.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the release of £82,000 from the Corporate Capital Programme in respect of the St Andrews Contact Centre, included within Block B of the Capital Programme report approved by Cabinet on 17^th November 2008 and Council on 27^th November 2008.

Councillor Osman submits a report that seeks to inform Members of the current situation regarding the proposal for a Joint Service Centre at Southfields Drive, providing facilities for a range of Council and health services under a Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) Scheme. Cabinet is recommended to endorse arrangements to progress the scheme, approve the revised affordability assessment and request further reports on progress at key stages of the project.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 18 June 2009, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought to inform Members of the current situation regarding the proposal for a Joint Service Centre at Southfields Drive, providing facilities for a range of Council and health services under a Local Improvement Finance Trust (LIFT) Scheme.

Members welcomed the report. Councillor Palmer outlined the potential benefits to the local area, including reinforcing a sense of identity, providing state of the art facilities and provision of a range of services in one place. Councillor Willmott stated that this project showed that the Council, even in the difficult economic climate, was still able to make a big difference to quality of life in the city.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     endorses arrangements to progress the scheme;

2)     approves the revised affordability assessment as outlined in paragraph 5.1 of the report;

3)     requests further reports on progress at key stages of the project as outlined in paragraph 4.7 of the report; and

4)     notes the proposed actions to manage the exit from the Southfield’s ‘Pork Pie’ building, when the library facility moves to the new Southfields Joint Service Centre as outlined in paragraph  4.4 of the report.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that enables compliance with the requirements of the Council’s Corporate Governance Code, reports the position regarding Local Government Ombudsman complaints and informs the Council’s Annual Governance Statement. Cabinet is recommended to review the position as summarised in this annual report together with any comments received from Audit and Standards Committees; and authorise the Director of Legal Services to produce a final form of Corporate Assurance Statement in consultation with the Council’s Leader and Chief Executive.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that enabled compliance with the requirements of the Council’s Corporate Governance Code, reported the position regarding Local Government Ombudsman complaints and informed the Council’s Annual Governance Statement.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet authorises the Director of Legal Services to produce a final form of Corporate Assurance Statement in consultation with the Council’s Leader and Chief Executive;

Councillor Patel submits a report that provides Cabinet with a summary of Contract Procedure Rule waivers. Cabinet is recommended to note the summary of Contract Procedure Rule waivers in Appendix A of the report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that provided Cabinet with a summary of Contract Procedure Rule waivers.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet notes the summary of Contract Procedure Rule waivers summarised in Appendix A of the report.

Councillor Patel submits a report that shows the outturn position of the 2008/09 capital programme. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations as set out in Paragraph 3.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance & Value for Money Select Committee, held on 17 June 2009, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that showed the outturn position of the 2008/09 capital programme. He stated that this was a very high level of performance. Some areas were revised last year in the light of the achievement of capital receipts due to the recession.

Councillor Willmott stated that the report presented good news, despite a small amount of slippage in some areas. Schemes now implemented from the capital programme covered all aspects of the Council’s services. Among these were the Braunstone Skills Centre, school amalgamations and classroom replacements.

Councillor Patel thanked the Performance & Value for Money Select Committee for their recommendation regarding their request to restrict the capital programme to items solely of a capital nature. He stated that, having considered the issue in detail, there was only little flexibility between the capital and revenue accounts, and, he would not wish to restrict this.

Councillor Grant stated that the recommendation arose from the inclusion of the One Leicester project of £566,000 capital expenditure. Councillors Patel and Willmott responded that the capital programme would not be used to support the ongoing revenue budget, but that one-off schemes would be suitable for the capital programme.

During consideration of the item, Councillor Osman identified that he had a prejudicial interest in the matter, regarding the Highfields Centre, in that he was Chair of the Highfields Community Association. As soon as this became apparent he left the meeting, and the recommendations were considered in detail in his absence.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     notes the level of expenditure for  2008/09  of £118.8 million;

2)     notes that the outturn represents 89% of the approved programme compared with the 90% target (90% including PFI schemes);

3)     notes the position relating to capital receipts;

4)     notes the prudential indicators for 2008/09;

5)     Agrees that capital funding at the Highfields Community Centre which has slipped be made available to Highfields Community Association to complete the original approved scheme. (see Para 6.4.2. e) of the report).

Councillor Patel 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 (HRA). Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations as set out in Paragraph 3.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance & Value for Money Select Committee, held on 17 June 2009, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel 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 (HRA). He thanked members and officers for their excellent work. He stated that tough decision would have to be made in the time ahead. He noted and welcomed the recommendation of the Performance & Value for Money Select Committee.

RESOLVED:

1)     that Cabinet notes the following:

a)     the final outturn for 2008/09 for each department and the Council as a whole;

b)     the reasons for the variances between the 2008/09 budget and the final outturn;

c)      the position of the Council’s General Fund and HRA balances;

d)     the position in respect of significant earmarked reserves;

e)     the proposals for the use of under spends;

f)        the progress made towards achieving the efficiency target.

2)     that Cabinet approves the following:

a)     the virements detailed in section 5.3 of the report;

b)     the creation of new reserves set out in paragraph 11.21;

c)      the earmarking of £0.5m of LABGI monies to facilitate economic regeneration as outlined in paragraph 8.4; and

d)     the use of general fund reserves to support the Capital Programme in 2009/10, as set out in paragraph 9.1; and as set out in paragraph 8.5.

The meeting closed at 12.34pm.