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 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 applied to them.

Councillors Getliffe and Roberts declared an interest in Appendix A, ‘Housing Options in Braunstone’, as council tenants and referred to their dispensation from the Secretary of State to speak and vote.

Race Relations

Three ways in which the Council was actively involved locally and nationally in promoting harmonious community relations at the present time were announced:-

a)         Councillor Willmott referred to a meeting that he and the Chief Executive had attended in London, with 11 other Local Authorities, to discuss race relations issues in the light of the recent unrest in Oldham, Bradford and Burnley.  The meeting was attended by Angela Eagle, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Barbara Roche, Minister of State at the Cabinet Office, Gurbux Singh, Chair of the Commission for Racial Equality and Sir Jeremy Beecham, Chair of the Local Government Association.

b)         Councillor Willmott reported that the City Council was about to receive a visit form the Community Cohesion Task Force, as an Authority with examples of good practice in race relations.

c)         Councillor Willmott reported that a member of staff in the Social Services Department, as a result of their expertise and experience,  had been seconded to the Home Office to co-ordinate a helpline in relation to the recent terrorist attacks in the United States.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 September 2001 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to confirm them as  a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 September 2001, having been circulated to Members be received, taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Kavia to give a presentation.

Councillor Kavia introduced a presentation on the work carried out by the Council with regard to Conservation Areas in the City.

RESOLVED:-

                        That the presentation be noted.

Councillor Draycott submits a report detailing two options for the above streets in North Braunstone.  The Cabinet is asked to delegate to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal, the authority to produce consultation material and commission a ballot on the two options and adopt the majority decision of the ballot as Council policy.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report detailing two options for the above streets in North Braunstone.  It was noted that a decision had been taken in principle by the Cabinet on 8 May 2001, to demolish the above area arising from the results of a ballot of tenants.  However, since then, further discussions had taken place between the Braunstone Community Association and residents to develop an alternative proposal and a petition had also been received signed by 98 local households requesting that their homes not be demolished.  It was proposed therefore to ballot tenants on the two options and the Cabinet was asked to delegate to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal, the authority to produce consultation material and commission a ballot on the two options and adopt the majority decision of the ballot as Council policy.

The Director of Housing clarified the position with regard to the ‘Right to Buy’ and rights of succession of Council tenants.  It was noted that if a resident remained as a Council tenant, they would continue to have rights of succession and ‘Right to Buy’.  However, if the ‘redevelopment’ option was chosen and the tenant wished to move back to a redeveloped property with a Housing Association landlord, rights to succession and ‘Right to Buy’ would be lost.

It was noted that the ballot would be carried out by an independent body and that tenants would receive full information on the proposals prior to the ballot to allow time to absorb the information and ask questions if necessary.  It was also noted that both the Council and the Braunstone Community Association had agreed to abide by the majority decision of the ballot.

RESOLVED:

(1)       that the Director of Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal, to:-

a)         produce balanced consultation material to enable residents to make an informed choice and commission a ballot of all tenants, residents and shop lessees in the affected area, on the two options

b)         adopt the decision of the ballot as Council policy and proceed with the detailed work and negotiations to take forward the winning proposal

(2)       that the decision be based on a simple majority of the ballot.

Councillor Roberts submits a report presenting the post OFSTED Action Plan which has been submitted to the DfES and OFSTED.  The Cabinet is asked to receive the plan as a basis for action required to address the recommendations in the OFSTED report.

The full Plan has previously been circulated to all Members of the Council.  Further copies are available from Frances Wake, Committee Secretariat on 252 6028.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report presenting the post OFSTED Action Plan which had been submitted to the DfES and OFSTED.  The Cabinet was asked to receive the plan as a basis for action required to address the recommendations in the OFSTED report.

RESOLVED:

That the post OFSTED Action Plan be received as the basis for the action required to address the recommendations in the OFSTED report. 

Councillor Holden submits a report presenting the Annual Review of the EMAS Action Programme with the progress made on actions and the new actions designed to move the Council forward in meeting the targets it has set for environmental improvement.  The Cabinet is asked to endorse the revisions to the EMAS Action Programme and consider referring it to the Arts, Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee for monitoring of implementation.

Councillor Holden submitted a report presenting the Annual Review of the EMAS Action Programme with the progress made on actions and the new actions designed to move the Council forward in meeting the targets it has set for environmental improvement.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the revisions to the EMAS Action Programme be endorsed; and

(2)that the Action Programme be referred to the Arts, Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee for monitoring of implementation.

Councillor Kavia submits a report informing the Cabinet of the findings of the Inspector’s Report into the above Plan and seeking approval to proposed responses to the Inspector’s recommendations and consequent amendments to the Plan.

Councillor Kavia submitted a report informing the Cabinet of the findings of the Inspector’s Report into the above Plan and seeking approval of proposed responses to the Inspector’s recommendations and consequent amendments to the Plan.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Statement of Response to the Inspector’s report  and the proposed modifications to the Deposit Draft Waste Local Pan, be approved, for publication, subject to agreement being given by Leicestershire County Council and Rutland County Council; and

(2)that the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration, to make any editing or other non material changes that do not alter the principles in the Plan.

Councillor Holden submits a report detailing the progress made regarding the proposed refurbishment of Saffron Lane Sports Centre athletics track and seeking approval to proceed with the submission of a Stage 1 Lottery Bid to Sport England.

Councillor Holden submitted a report detailing the progress made regarding the proposed refurbishment of Saffron Lane Sports Centre athletics track and seeking approval to proceed with the submission of a Stage 1 Lottery Bid to Sport England.

RESOLVED:

                        That the progress be noted and approval be given for a Stage 1 Lottery Bid to be submitted.

Councillor Roberts submits a report seeking approval to a revised 2001/02 Capital Programme following notification of new grant funding since the original Capital Programme was set.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report seeking approval to a revised 2001/02 Education Capital Programme, following notification of new grant funding since the original Programme was agreed.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the action of the Director, taken in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, in respect of the Schools Access Initiative; Condition Focussed Capital – Health and Safety works; and Minor Works – mobile classrooms, be noted;

(2)that the additional Capital allocations from the Department for Education and Skills, be noted; and

(3)that the revised Capital Programme of £23.031 million, as detailed in the report, be approved.

Councillor Patel submits a report explaining the process by which the Council’s 2002/03 base budget is being prepared and summarising the principles supporting this process.  The Cabinet is asked to endorse the framework, subject to any changes it wishes to make following scrutiny committee and approve the cash limits for departments.

Councillor Patel submitted a report explaining the process by which the Council’s 2002/03 base budget was being prepared and summarising the principles supporting this process.  The Cabinet was asked to endorse the framework and approve the cash limits for departments.  It was noted that the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunites Scrutiny Committee had endorsed the report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the framework for base budget preparation, be endorsed; and

(2)that the cash limits for each department, be approved.

Councillor Patel submits a report seeking approval to a risk management policy statement and a risk management strategy for the Council.

Councillor Patel submitted a report seeking approval to a risk management policy statement and a risk management strategy for the Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Risk Management Policy, as detailed in the report, be adopted; and

(2)that a Risk Management Strategy, as detailed in the report, be approved.

The Chief Executive submits a report enclosing his annual report on the performance of the Social Services Department’s registration and inspection functions for submission to the Department of Health’s Social Services Inspectorate.  The Cabinet is asked to receive the report.

The Chief Executive submitted a report enclosing his annual report on the performance of the Social Services Department’s registration and inspection functions for submission to the Department of Health’s Social Services Inspectorate.

It was noted this was the final year of such reports as from 1 September 2001 the Inspection process for under 8s would be carried out by OFSTED and from 1 April 2002, inspection services for adults and children’s residential care would be carried out by the National Care Standards Commission.

It was noted that the Registration and Inspection Team had successfully completed all its statutory inspection targets.  The Chief Executive thanked the Children’s and Adults Advisory Panels, service providers, Voluntary Action Leicester, lay assessors and independent persons and all the staff involved, for their contribution to improvements in service.

RESOLVED:

that the report be received.

Councillor Patel submits a report submitting the Statement of Accounts 2000/01 for approval, prior to audit and inspection.  The Cabinet is also asked to note any comments of the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee.

The full Accounts are attached for Members of the Cabinet only.  Further copies are available for Andy Morley, Financial Services, Town Clerk’s Department on 252 7404.

Councillor Patel submitted a report submitting the Statement of Accounts 2000/01 for approval, prior to audit and inspection.

RESOLVED:

That the Council’s Statement of Accounts for 2000/01, be approved.

The Town Clerk reports that the Political Conventions, introduced in 1998, require updating to reflect the Council’s Cabinet/Scrutiny/Regulatory model of local governance.  This updating process has been the subject of considerable and in-depth discussion, with final consideration by the Organisations Working Party, at it’s meeting on 20 September 2001.  It is therefore RECOMMENDED:-

That the revised Political Conventions, incorporating the General Principles and the Model Code, be put to the September full Council meeting for consideration and adoption.

The Town Clerk reported that the Political Conventions, introduced in 1998, required updating to reflect the Council’s Cabinet/Scrutiny/Regulatory model of local governance.  This updating process had been the subject of considerable and in-depth discussion, with final consideration by the Organisations Working Party, at it’s meeting on 20 September 2001.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Political Conventions, incorporating the General Principles and the Model Code, be put to the September full Council meeting for consideration and adoption.

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.

FORMER MUNDELLA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

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.

FORMER MUNDELLA COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Councillor Patel submits a report.

The meeting ended at 6.40pm.