Agenda and minutes

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.

No declarations were made.

It was announced that Leicester had been asked to apply for three more Sure Start programmes across the City, bringing the total to six.  It was noted that there were no firm plans for the location of these programmes as yet and a report would be submitted to Cabinet after the relevant consultation had taken place.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 2 July 2001, 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 2 July 2001, be received, taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Patel submits a report.

The Cabinet received a presentation on the issues surrounding this development site which was allocated in the Local Plan for employment use.

It was noted that a major obstacle to the development of the site was the need for additional electricity supply as this sector of the City was exhausting the existing supply.  It was noted that as a result of the deregulation of the power industry, East Midlands Electricity Board was no longer prepared to provide an electricity sub-station when there was no guarantee that consumers would buy electricity from them.  It was noted that the Council was not in a position to fund this expenditure but the future development of the area was dependent upon it.  It was noted that the financing arrangements were a national issue and representations were being made to the Department of Trade and Industry and the East Midlands Development Agency.

Officers were asked to convene meetings as a matter of urgency including the City Council, East Midlands Electricity Board and Powergen, East Midlands Development Agency and Department of Trade and Industry, to discuss the issue.

Councillor Getliffe submits a report updating the Cabinet on the development of Leicester’s Children’s Fund proposals.  The Cabinet is asked to note the interim submission to the Children and Young People’s Unit and the current developments and commend the anticipated future direction of the Children’s Fund proposals.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report updating the Cabinet on the development of Leicester's Children's Fund proposals.  It was noted that this major Government initiative was aimed at reducing child poverty and social exclusion and comprised some £450 million over three financial years beginning April 2001.  £380 million of the Fund was targeted at providing preventive services for vulnerable 5-13 year olds and the other £70 million was a "local network" element of the fund to be administered by the Community Foundation Network and would make small grants at a local level to voluntary and community groups.  Leicester had been invited to apply for a maximum of £4.8 million from the Fund.  The Council's final submission document had been circulated to the Cabinet.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the submission to the Children and Young People's Unit and current developments be endorsed; and

(2)that the anticipated future direction of the Children's Fund proposals in Leicester, be commended.

Councillor Patel submits a report informing the Cabinet of the feedback received from the Government Office for the East Midlands with regard to the ‘dry run’ Asset Management Plan submitted in November 2000 and seeking approval to future actions.

Councillor Patel submitted a report informing the Cabinet of the positive feedback received from the Government Office for the East Midlands with regard to the "dry run" Asset Management Plan submitted in November 2000 and seeking approval to future action.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the favourable feedback from the Government Office for the East Midlands in relation to the "dry run" Asset Management Plan submission, be noted;

(2)that condition surveys be undertaken of all buildings in which the Council has a repair liability, but only subject to funding being approved, the order in which surveys are carried out to be prioritised on the basis of the desk top condition suitability and sufficiency assessments, to be carried out in consultation with service departments;

(3)that the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services be authorised, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader, to agree the scope of the condition surveys; and

(4)that the various management actions being taken, as detailed in the report, be noted.

Councillor Osman submits a report introducing the annual report of significant Health and Safety Issues and outlining action being taken to improve arrangements.

The Cabinet is asked to note the report, consider the recommendations of the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee and agree that any resourcing issues are addressed in the next budget round.

Councillor Osman submitted a report introducing the annual report of significant Health and Safety issues and outlining action being taken to improve arrangements.

It was noted that the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee had considered the report and asked that the Cabinet explore ways of rewarding staff who reported health and safety concerns and/or identified ways to address such issues.  The Cabinet took the view that the reporting of health and safety issues was already a responsibility of employees, although significant ideas for improvements should, of course, be recognised.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the issues and action being taken be noted;

(2)that departments assess the financial implications of health and safety, to be considered in the next budget round;

(3)that the comments of the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee be noted; and

(4)that a further report be submitted to the Cabinet in six months' time.

Councillor Westley submits a report that asks the Cabinet to review the outcome of the fundamental challenge stage of the review process, agree revisions to the scope and name of the review area and agree that the Service Assessment route be applied.

Councillor Westley submitted a report asking the Cabinet to review the outcome of the fundamental challenge stage of the above review, agree revisions to the scope and name of the review area and the future route of the review.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the fundamental challenge stage of the review be accepted;

(2)that the revisions to the scope for the review, as detailed in the report be agreed and the name of the review be changed to Human Resources and Personnel Services, in light of the revised scope; and

(3)that the service assessment route be applied.

Councillor Patel submits a report setting out for approval a proposal to secure a property in the St Matthew’s Area, to assist with the implementation of Sure Start.

Councillor Patel submitted a report setting out for approval a proposal to secure a property in the St. Matthew's area, to assist with the implementation of Sure Start.  It was noted that a site had been identified on St. Matthew's which was suitable for the construction of premises to house the initiative and National Children's Homes, a registered charity, had agreed to hold any lease granted in respect of this site, to organise the design and build of the scheme and be the accountable body for the channelling of Central Government funds for the initiative.  It was proposed that National Children's Homes be granted a lease for a term of 99 years on a nominal rent basis.  It was noted that normal policy was not to grant leases as less than best consideration and where the Council wished to support a group or project by paying for the cost of accommodation, the appropriate department normally did so by grant funding to cover the rental cost.  However an exception was recommended in this case as the National Children's Homes was only taking a lease to enable funding to be drawn down for the construction of the premises.  The premises would then be used to deliver services to vulnerable children, many of which would be Council services.

It was also noted that there were a number of issues surrounding the Sure Start Initiative which had not yet been determined and therefore it was requested that authority be delegated to the Director in consultation with the Cabinet Lead on Finance and Resources to agree any additional terms to be included in the lease.

RESOLVED:

(1)that approval be given for the City Council to enter into a lease with National Children's Homes on the terms detailed in the report; and

(2)that the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead on Finance and Resources, be authorised to agree any additional terms to the lease that may be required arising from outstanding issues.

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, 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.”

Paragraph 9

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.

Surrender and Grant of New Lease – Scraptoft Golf Club

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 9

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.

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report setting out a proposal to accept a surrender of the area presently let to Scraptoft Gold Club and grant a new lease in respect of a reduced area.

RESOLVED:

that the surrender of lease be accepted and a new lease granted, on the terms set out in the report.

The meeting ended at 6.20pm.