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 had in the business on the agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillors Roberts and Willmott declared a ward interest in Appendix B, ‘Additional Sure Start Programmes in Leicester 2001’, as ward councillors for New Parks.  Councillor Willmott vacated the Chair during discussion on this item.

a)         One Big Sunday

Councillor Willmott referred to the above event organised by the City Council and the BBC and which was held on Victoria Park on 2 September 2001 and expressed thanks to all those involved in the organisation of the event.

b)         Exam Results

            Councillor Willmott referred to the upward trend in GCSE results in Leicester, having risen by 3.5% to 38% pass rates in band A-C, which was 7 times the national increase in this band.  He also noted that the average ‘A’ level point score in Leicester was up from 16 to 17.2 .

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 30 July 2001 have been circulated and the Cabinet is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 30 July 2001, having been circulated to Members be received, taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Draycott to give a presentation.

Councillor Draycott gave a presentation to the Cabinet on the pilot project that was being undertaken in Eyres Monsell under the ‘Resources for Communities’ initiative, aimed at the co-ordination of street cleaning and waste collection services.

RESOLVED:

                        That the presentation be noted.

Councillor Draycott submits a report for information which provides details of a successful bid which has been made to the Home Office for finance to install a further 85 closed circuit television cameras to residential areas, extensions to the Control Room building at Blackbird Road and enhancement of the communications infrastructure with video and audio communications to Police Headquarters.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report for information which provided details of a successful bid for £2,545,750 which had been made to the Home Office for finance to install a further 85 closed circuit television cameras to residential areas, extensions to the Control Room building at Blackbird Road and enhancement of the communications infrastructure with video and audio communications to Police Headquarters.  Further to the report, it was noted that correspondence had been received from Leicestershire Constabulary acknowledging the benefits of the CCTV and the communication links with Police Headquarters.

The report also detailed the revenue implications of the new facilities.  It was noted that additional funding for running costs in 2001/02 would be met from existing budgets but that funding for future years would need to be considered as a commitment  by the Council when it set its budget for 2002/03.

RESOLVED:

                        That the report be noted.

COUNCILLOR PATEL IN THE CHAIR

Councillor Getliffe submits a report informing the Cabinet of the multi-agency proposals for utilizing the Sure Start Unit invitation to submit proposals for three additional Sure Starts in Leicester City. Recommendations were made regarding these at the Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership meeting on 17 July 2001. The Cabinet is asked to note consultations on the report with the relevant Scrutiny Committee spokespersons, endorse the decision of the Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership and note that future progress will be reported to Scrutiny Committees.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report informing the Cabinet of the multi-agency proposals for utilizing the Sure Start Unit invitation to submit proposals for three additional Sure Starts in Leicester City. It was noted that the issue had been discussed at a Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership meeting on 17 July 2001 and recommendations were made regarding the areas to be approached with regard to these potential new Sure Start areas

Further to the report, a letter had been received by the Chair of the Partnership from the Sure Start Unit explaining the the Unit would not be willing to agree the three identified catchment areas, which, as a package would be well over the number of children under four, as set out in the guidance and asking the Children’s Planning Partnership to reconsider its proposal.  The letter, which had been circulated to the Cabinet,  suggested that Braunstone and Highfields only be included in the programme.  It had also been indicated by the Sure Start Unit that if New Parks was included, the rest of the bids could be delayed indefinitely and possibly rejected.  The Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership had therefore agreed to amend their proposal in line with the recommendation of the Sure Start Unit.  Although he shared the concerns of the residents of the New Parks Ward, Councillor Getliffe referred to his City wide responsibility and circulated amended recommendations.

Both Councillors Roberts and Willmott spoke as ward councillors about their and their constituents’ disappointment that the inclusion of New Parks ward in this round of the Sure Start Programme had been rejected by the Sure Start Unit and expressed their view that they could not support recommendation 1.  Councillor Roberts read extracts from a letter from the New Parks Community Partnership expressing their frustration that New Parks had been excluded again from Government funding.

Whilst sympathising with the views of the residents and ward councillors of New Parks, the Cabinet supported Councillor Getliffe’s recommendations.

RESOLVED:

(1)       that the decision taken by the Leicester Children’s Planning Partnership following further exploration and detailed discussions with the Sure Start Unit, that the 5^th wave of Sure Start would be best met in developing services for 2,400 children in areas of Braunstone and Highfields, be noted:

(2)       that the dismay of New Parks Community Parnership be noted and a letter be written to the Sure Start Unit in support of a Sure Start 6^th wave programme for the New Parks area.

(3)       that the use of future Neighbourhood Renewal Fund Monies for additional capacity building work within the New Parks Community, be approved; and

(4)       that further progess of Sure Start 5 be reported to Scrutiny Committees.

Councillors Roberts and Willmott asked for their dissent to Resolution (1) to be recorded.

Councillor Holden submits a report seeking approval for release of the Local Environmental Works programme for 2001/2002, to allow environmental works in 2001/02 in New Parks, Eyres Monsell and Mowmacre, to proceed.

Councillor Subedar submitted a report seeking approval for release of finance for the Local Environmental Works programme for 2001/02, to allow environmental schemes in New Parks, Eyres Monsell and Mowmacre to proceed.

RESOLVED:

                        That the release of the finance for the Local Environmental Works  2001/02 programme from the ‘schemes pending authorisation’ to the main Capital Programme, be approved.

The Chief Executive submits a report which considers the findings and recommendations of the external investigation in to the De Montfort Hall refurbishment scheme in the early 1990s. The report also details the Project Management Standards developed since that time to secure improvements to current and future project management arrangements across the Council. The Cabinet is asked to note the external consultant’s findings and recommendations, approve the formal adoption and implementation of the Council’s revised Project Management Standards and to refer the action plan to Scrutiny Committee to ensure full implementation of the detailed arrangements.

The Chief Executive submitted a report which considered the findings and recommendations of the external investigation in to the De Montfort Hall refurbishment scheme in the early 1990s. The report also detailed the Project Management Standards developed since that time to secure improvements to current and future project management arrangements across the Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the external consultant’s findings and recommendations be noted;

(2)that the Council’s revised Project Management Standards, as attached to the report, be formally adopted and a succinct operational summary drawn up for wider use; and

(3)that the Action Plan be referred to Scrutiny Committee to ensure full implementation of the detailed arrangements.

Councillor Willmott submits a report which seeks to ensure improved and adequate arrangements for maintaining quality services through the recruitment and retention of senior staff. The Cabinet is recommended to authorise the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader, to determine an appropriate remuneration mechanism to maintain the Council’s position in the recruitment market for senior staff and to proceed with the necessary Employees (Appointments) Committees as soon as recruitment material can be drawn up in the context of likely changes emerging from the Revitalising Neighbourhoods project.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report which sought to ensure improved and adequate arrangements for maintaining quality services through the recruitment and retention of senior staff.   The proposals in the report gave flexibility to Members to ensure that when recruiting senior staff, the remuneration package was sufficiently competitive to attract the best field of candidates.

RESOLVED:

that the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader, to:-

(a)determine an appropriate remuneration mechanism to maintain the Council’s position in the recruitment market for senior staff and

(b)proceed with the necessary Employees (Appointments) Committees as soon as recruitment material can be drawn up in the context of likely changes emerging from the Revitalising Neighbourhoods project.

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.

Sale of Land at Bursom Park

CCTV Bid for Cameras in Residential Areas City Wide

Freehold Sale of Former Coleman Infant School, The Wayne Way, Leicester, by Sealed Offer

RESOLVED:

            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.

Sale of Land at Bursom Park

CCTV Bid for Cameras in Residential Areas City Wide

Freehold Sale of Former Coleman Infant School, The Wayne Way, Leicester, by Sealed Offer

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report relating to the development of the above land.  Councillor Willmott expressed his thanks to all those who had been involved in work on this issue.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the objective set out in paragraph 5.1 of the report be supported and the recommendations detailed at paragraph 5.6.1 of the report be approved;

(2)that the implications of the above decision on the Council’s future capital resources, as set out in the report, be noted; and

(3)that, in accordance with Standing Order 42 (e), in order to allow the sales to proceed, the matter be determined as of such urgency that no objection be allowed to the decision.

Councillor Draycott submits a report.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report in relation to the installation of the new CCTV facilities in the City.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the areas in which the CCTV cameras were to be installed, be noted; and

(2)that, in order to meet the programme constraints, the Director of Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal, to act as detailed in paragraph 2.2 of the report, including the waiver of all necessary Contract Standing Orders, to allow a single tender to be sought.

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report seeking further consideration of the freehold sale of the former Coleman Infant School.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the premises be re-marketed with the inclusion of ‘planning’ conditions as covenants in the terms of sale on the following basis:-

(a)the premises shall not be used outside the hours of 0800-22.30 Mon-Sat and 10.00-1800 Sundays.

(b)there shall be no live or amplified music or amplified voice which would be detrimental to the amenities of neighbouring occupiers; and

(2)that details of the sealed offers received in respect of the re-marketing of the premises for sale, be reported back to the Cabinet for decision.

The meeting ended at 5.58 pm.