Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Dawood and Dempster.

The Leader stated that, in accordance with Rule 8c of the Cabinet Procedure Rules in the Council’s constitution, he agreed to cancel the meeting due to be held at 1pm. Therefore the meeting now being held at 12 noon, was a special meeting, convened in accordance with Rule 9 of the Cabinet Procedure Rules.

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 and/or declare that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillor Grant declared a personal interest in respect of Item 8, “Leicester City Council’s Corporate Plan and Organisational Development and Improvement Plan 2009/10,” in that his partner worked for Leicester City Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 June 2009 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 22 June 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

It was reported that there were no matters referred from committees.

Councillor Palmer submits a report that seeks Cabinet’s approval to implement the summary of roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding adults. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations as set out in Paragraph 2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 9 July 2009, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Palmer submitted a report that sought Cabinet’s approval to implement the summary of roles and responsibilities in respect of safeguarding adults.

Councillor Palmer stated that both Members and officers had a responsibility to safeguard adults. He noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) felt that it would not be possible to make training for Members mandatory, but he hoped that Members would recognise the value of such training. He drew Members’ attention to the resolution of OSMB that he had agreed to provide an update of the inspection of Elderly Persons’ Homes to the Adults and Housing Task Group Leader prior to Cabinet consideration. Councillor Palmer also stated that the proposed establishment of a Safeguarding Adults panel would strengthen Member involvement and offer a further level of assurance. Enhanced training would be available for any Members wanting to be involved.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)     agrees the summary of roles and responsibilities of safeguarding adults as outlined in Appendix A of the report;

2)     agrees that all Councillors should undertake mandatory awareness training on safeguarding vulnerable adults;

3)     agrees to the establishment of a Safeguarding Adults Panel to mirror the arrangements in Children and Young People’s Services. This panel will have cross party representation and provide a quality assurance function for safeguarding activities across the estate.

Councillor Westley submits a report that considers Leicester’s Homelessness Strategy 2008 –2013, attached as Appendix A of the report. Cabinet is recommended to approve Leicester’s Homelessness Strategy and note the delivery plan.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 9 July 2009, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Westley submitted a report that considered Leicester’s Homelessness Strategy 2008-2013. He stated that the key message of the strategy was prevention of homelessness.

Councillor Westley noted that the Council was amongst the top quartile of authorities in respect of dealing with homelessness, and that differences in service costs between authorities were being investigated by officers. He noted the work that had been done by the Income Support Teams in prevention of homelessness and also stated that work would be done with the Housing Benefit Team to further assist people at risk.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves Leicester’s Homelessness Strategy and notes the delivery plan.

Councillor Willmott submits a report that presents the Council’s Corporate Plan and Organisational Development and Improvement Plan that will support Leicester City Council in delivering One Leicester and in driving service improvement over the next 3 to 5 years. Cabinet is recommended to agree the Corporate Plan and the Organisational Development Improvement Plan 2009/10.

The Corporate Plan will be circulated to Members as soon as it is available.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that presented the Council’s Corporate Plan and Organisational Development and Improvement Plan that would support the Council in delivering One Leicester and in driving service improvement over the next three to five years.

Councillor Willmott thanked the Chief Executive, officers and Members who had contributed to the plans, noting that this was the first time the Council had aimed at achieving alignment of its strategies and plans to deliver shared goals and objectives.

Councillor Grant asked how the proposed priority based budgeting would help achieve efficiencies, and what services may be affected. He also stated that there had been insufficient time for opposition groups to discuss the plans. Councillor Coley expressed concern regarding the consultation process, noting that there had been no opportunity for scrutiny, and that consultation with the Partnership had not been acknowledged in the report. Councillor Willmott responded to these comments, stating that the documents were only the beginning of the process, and they were to be submitted to Council. He welcomed comments from Members and asked that they be submitted in advance of Council so that they could be considered effectively.  With regard to priority based budgeting he stated that this was being considered in order to ensure services were being delivered in the most effective way through prioritisation, although it was too early to identify on which services this may impact.

The Chief Executive outlined the process that had been followed in formulating the plans, which included using data from the consultation for One Leicester and a review of all complaints received over the last year. It was a continually evolving process and the documents would be submitted to Council. All of the Council’s service plans would include benchmarking data in order for the Council to evaluate its performance.

In response to a question from Councillor Grant regarding the ability of the plans to adapt to possible reductions in Government financial settlements, Councillor Willmott stated that the plans enabled the Council to meet financial, social, economic and environmental challenges and would put the Council in a stronger position to deal with funding issues.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet agrees the Corporate Plan and the Organisational Development and Improvement Plan 2009/10.

Councillor Patel submits a report that considers what changes Leicester City Council will need to make, particularly in the role of Members, following the publication of “Risk and Return”, (“The Audit Commission’s report.”). Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations as set out in Paragraph 2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance & Value for Money Select Committee, held on 8 July 2009, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that considered what changes Leicester City Council would need to make, particularly in the role of Members, following the publication of “Risk and Return, (The Audit Commission’s Report.)”

Councillor Patel stated that the Council needed to respond to the report, but noted that the Council already performed well in the governance of investments. He stated that it was recommended that the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee (PVFM) should perform the key scrutiny role, rather than the Audit Committee, as they already carry out a role in this  regard. He noted that PVFM had asked that the Audit Committee be advised accordingly.

Councillor Willmott thanked officers for their clear financial stewardship.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     agrees that the Council’s appetite for risk is low in the current financial climate, but that any change in this stance will be considered as part of the annual treasury strategy;

2)     agrees that scrutiny of the treasury position will be carried out by the Select Committee, to prevent overlapping in roles with the Audit Committee;

3)     notes that the Council is tightening procedures in the light of what is expected to be forthcoming guidance, and that routine information will be provided to the Cabinet Lead for Finance and the Select Committee.

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 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 1

Information relating to any individual

Paragraph 2

Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

Paragraph 3

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

WATERSIDE, SANVEY GATE JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

OPTIONS REPORT ON THE FUND FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO BUILD NEW HOMES

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 involved 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 1

Information relating to any individual.

Paragraph 2

Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

Paragraph 3

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

WATERSIDE SANVEY GATE JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

OPTIONS REPORT ON THE FUND FOR LOCAL AUTHORITIES TO BUILD NEW HOMES (FUND TO PROVIDE 3,900 HOMES NATIONALLY, PREVIOUSLY KNOWN AS THE CHALLENGE FUND)

Councillor Kitterick submits a report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 9 July 2009, will be circulated to Members as soon as it is available.

Councillor Kitterick submitted a report that provided an update on the Waterside Sanvey Gate Junction Improvement Project and sought approval of the next steps.

It was noted that an amendment had been made to paragraph 8 of the report, which should read:

“Leicester City Council’s Full Business Case Submission to Community Infrastructure Fund - Round 2 (Report of the Corporate Director Regeneration & Culture)." It was also noted that, as per the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, the relevant ward councillors had been kept informed of the process.

REESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the recommendations as set out in paragraph 3 of the report.

Councillor Westley submits a report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 9 July 2009, will be circulated to Members as soon as it is available.

Councillor Westley submitted a report that advised Members of the options for bidding for the recently announced Fund for Local Authorities to build new houses to rent. 

Councillor Westley noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB) supported Option 2 outlined in the report. Councillor Willmott noted that concern had been raised in OSMB regarding the Government policy of Right to Buy, over which the Council had no discretion. He stated, however, that some safeguards had been written into the bids.

The Chief Finance Officer reported that he believed that pooling of any capital receipts whereby 75% was passed to Government, would not apply, and this expectation would be made clear when the bid was submitted.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the recommendations as set out in Paragraph 3 of the report.

The meeting closed at 12.40pm.