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.

There were no declarations made.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 24 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 24 September 2001, having been circulated to Members be received, taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

a)         Urban Renaissance Task Force

Councillor Willmott referred to a meeting which he and the Chief Executive had attended in London as part of the Urban Renaissance Task Force headed up by Lord Falconer. The aim of the meeting, which involved 24 towns and cities was to take forward consultation on the progressing of social and physical regeneration of towns and cities and focusing on a vision for the next 10-20 years.

b)            Cohesive Communities Review

Councillor Willmott requested that Councillor Osman brief the Cabinet on the recent part played by the City Council in the above review. Councillor Osman reported that he had chaired a meeting of community representatives in Leicester, details of which were forwarded to the Cabinet Office in London and which had received favourable responses.  It was noted that Leicester had been chosen to take part in the review because of its multicultural status and it’s record of good community relations.

Councillor Getliffe to give a presentation.

This item was deferred to a future meeting.

Councillor Holden submits a report seeking member consideration and approval for the development of a Cultural Quarter in St George’s south area of the City Centre. The views of the Cabinet on the report are requested.

Councillor Holden submitted a report seeking the Cabinet’s consideration and approval for the development of a Cultural Quarter in St George’s south area of the City Centre. He commented that this issue had been widely reported in the local media and that various funding agencies such as East Midlands Arts and East Midlands Development Agency had already pledged support for the Cultural Quarter.

Various Cabinet Members spoke of their support for the project, noting the positive benefits for the City such as forging new cultural identity, the development of a brownfield site, and as a catalyst for regeneration and job creation.

The Cabinet noted that a commitment to Phase 1 of the project would result in a financial commitment of £6.6 million being made from the Council’s capital resources over the period to 2005/06. 

The Cabinet Lead for Arts, Leisure and Environment circulated a number of recommendations.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the concept of a Cultural Quarter in the St George’s south area of  the City Centre, comprising a new centre for the performing arts (with music venue), film and media centre, contemporary visual arts gallery and creative production facilities, be endorsed;

(2)that the first phase of development consisting primarily of the Centre for the Performing Arts and the Creative Industries Production Facilities, at an estimated cost to the Council of £6.6 million, be approved, subject to compliance with the agreed Strategy for Management of risk, described in Appendix 2 of the supporting documentation to the report;

(3)that the Director of Arts and Leisure, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Arts, Leisure and Environment, be authorised to procure Project Direction and Management support;

(4)that the Council’s contribution to the 1^st phase of development be capped at £6.6 million and that project management be required to secure the delivery of the concept within that figure;

(5)that within the £6.6 million, not more than £250,000 be spent on feasibility studies for later phases and £300,000 on the Creative Industries team, with the balance to be spent on the development of new facilities;

(6)that the Director of Arts and Leisure be requested to negotiate a specification with the governing organisation to be created for the Centre for the Performing Arts, including certain conditions with regard to: -

-flexible pricing structure to facilitate greater access

-developing outreach work within educational and community settings to increase participation and attendance

-active recruitment of disabled people and training for local people to enable them to effectively compete for new jobs created.

(7)that a commitment to the development of affordable housing within the Cultural Quarter be approved and  the Director of Arts and Leisure negotiate with the Director of Housing and private developers how this would be determined;

(8)that it be noted that an increased contribution to revenue budget provision, estimated at £250,000 per annum from 2005/06 would be likely, to support the Performing Arts Centre (and the development of incubator units), acknowledging this is subject  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

Councillor Subedar submits a report which responds to a petition submitted to full Council on 30^th November 2000 by Councillor Sood on behalf of the members and users of the Great Unitarian Church, East Bond Street. The Cabinet is recommended to have regard to the recommendation of the Highways and Transportation Scrutiny Committee but take no further action and to instruct Officers to inform the petitioners of the outcome.

Councillor Subedar submitted a report which responded to a petition submitted to full Council on 30 November 2000 by Councillor Sood on behalf of the members and users of the Great Meeting Unitarian Church, East Bond Street who were requesting that the three parking bays in front of the Chapel be removed.  Councillor Subedar outlined for the Cabinet the reasons, as detailed in the report, why the Director proposed to take no action in response to the petition. He particularly noted there were processes which currently operated successfully for the Methodist Church on Bishop Street, to suspend parking bays outside those premises when such events as weddings and funerals were taking place and the view of officers was that a similar arrangement could operate for the Great Meeting Unitarian Chapel.

It was noted that the Highways and Transportation Scrutiny Committee, at it’s meeting on 5 September, had supported the petitioners’ and requested that the parking bays be removed, double yellow lines reinstated and the parking bays moved to the other side of the road.  However, it was noted that the footway was not wide enough on the other side of the road to enable this.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the views of the Highways and Transportation Scrutiny Committee be noted but no further action be taken in response to the petition, and

(2)that the petitioners be informed of the outcome.

Councillor Patel submits a report seeking approval to the granting of two consecutive leases of Braunstone Hall together with the adjoining stable block and walled garden to the Braunstone Community Association. The Cabinet  is asked to; approve the terms for the 5 year building lease and 125 year occupational lease, as set out in the report; delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Members for Strategic Planning and Regeneration and Finance and Resources to finalise the terms of the lease and to authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter in to the relevant agreements/ leases.

Councillor Patel submitted a report seeking approval to the granting of two consecutive leases to the Braunstone Community Association of Braunstone Hall together with the adjoining stable block and walled garden.

Councillor Willmott commented on the positive relations the Council had developed with the Braunstone Community Association and how the Government funding that their involvement attracted had enabled work to be carried out that the Council would not have been able to afford to fund.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the terms for the 5 year building lease and the 125 year occupational lease, as set out in the report, be approved;

(2)that authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Members for Strategic Planning and Regeneration and Finance and Resources, to:-

(a) vary the terms reported in the event of circumstances arising which necessitate such a variation.

(b)take a lease back from the Braunstone Community Association, if required, to secure the continued occupation of part of the property for grounds maintenance depot or other operational purposes.

(c)to agree terms for an Agreement to Lease, if requested by the  Braunstone Community Association; and

(3)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter in to the various agreements / leases referred to above.

Councillor Getliffe submits a report introducing the recent White Paper ‘Valuing People: A New Strategy For Learning Disability for the 21^st Century’. The report also outlines the need to set up a Learning Disability Partnership Board for Leicester. The Cabinet is asked to; agree that there be an all party representation on the Learning Disability Partnership Board, Chaired by the Cabinet Lead Member for Social Services and Personal Health; note an interim board meeting has already considered the terms of reference for the board; note the draft terms of reference; and note that The Learning Disability Partnership Board will be a sub-group of the Health Partnership Executive Board within the framework of the Local Strategic Partnership.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report introducing the recent White Paper ‘Valuing People: A New Strategy For Learning Disability for the 21^st Century’. The report also outlined proposals to set up a Learning Disability Partnership Board for Leicester.

It was noted that the Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee had recommended that there should be all party representation on the Board and that the Chair should be a Councillor.

RESOLVED:

(1) that there be all party representation on the Learning Disability Partnership Board consisting of two Labour Members, 1 Liberal Democrat Member and one Conservative Member and that the Board should be Chaired by the Cabinet Lead for Social Services and Personal Health;

(2)that it be noted that, in order to meet the requirement to set up a Learning Disability Partnership Board for Leicester by 31October 2001, an interim Board meeting to discuss draft terms of reference was held on 18 October 2001;

(3)that the draft terms of reference be noted; and

(4)that it be noted that The Learning Disability Partnership Board would operate as a sub-group of the Health Partnership Executive Board within the overall framework provided by the Local Strategic Partnerships.

Councillor Kavia submits a report on progress towards developing an Objective 2 programme in Leicester. The Cabinet is asked to; note the role of the Leicester Regeneration Agency in developing an Objective 2 Programme in Leicester; endorse the Outline Action Plans set out in the report; and to delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Strategic Planning and Regeneration, to submit fully worked up Action Plans to the Government Office for the East Midlands. 

Councillor Kavia submitted a report on progress towards developing an Objecitive 2 programme in Leicester. He outlined for the Cabinet the key four Draft Expressions of Interest for Action Plans as endorsed by the Leicester Regeneration Agency, noting the St Georges Regeneration Strategy as being a priority.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the role of the Leicester Regeneration Agency in developing an Objective 2 Programme in Leicester, be noted;

(2)that the Outline Action Plans set out in the report, be endorsed; and

(3)that authority be delegated to the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Cabinet lead for Strategic Planning and Regeneration, to submit fully worked up Action Plans to the Government Office for the East Midlands.

Councillor Subedar submits a report with regard to the Council submitting a joint bid with other agencies to be part of the national rollout of enforcement cameras from April 2002. The Cabinet is asked to agree; that the Council will act as treasurer for the Leicestershire Police Area Safety Camera scheme, that a joint bid be submitted to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), and that a further report be submitted once a decision is received from DTLR about the success of the bid; that the provisional programme for introducing additional cameras within the City, to be included in the bid document, and that any requests for safety cameras outside the programme will be assessed for inclusion in future programmes of work.

Councillor Subedar submitted a report regarding a proposal that the Council submit a joint bid with Leicestershire and Rutland County Councils, the Chief Constable, the Highway Agency, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Courts, to be part of the national rollout of enforcement cameras from April 2002.

Cabinet Members welcomed the opportunity to contribute to reducing the number of accidents on the City’s roads.

RESOLVED:

(1) that approval be given for Leicester City Council to act as treasurer for the Leicestershire Police Areas Safety Camera scheme;

(2)that a joint bid, to be part of the rollout programme for additional safety cameras for the Leicestershire Police Area, to be funded from fine income from April 2002, be submitted to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), and that a further report be submitted once a decision is received from DTLR about the success of the bid, and

(3)that a provisional programme for introducing additional cameras within the City as set out in Appendix 2 of the report, be included in the bid document, and that any requests for safety cameras outside the programme would be assessed for inclusion in future programmes of work.

Councillor Patel submits a report seeking approval to undertake consultations arising from DfEE Circular 3/99, in connection with the proposed disposal of the site. The Cabinet is asked to; agree to the extent of the area for consultation as referred to in the report; note the extent of the Green Wedge and the intention that this remains predominantly open and of a green nature; give views on the proposed consultation arrangements arising from DfEE Circular 3/99 and to the consultation process commencing as soon as possible; and request a further report on the results of the public consultation.

Councillor Patel submitted a report seeking approval to undertake community consultations as required by DfEE Circular 3/99, in connection with the proposed disposal of the former John Ellis Community College site.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the extent of the area for consultation as referred to in paragraph 1.8 of the Supporting Information of the report, be approved;

(2)that the proposed consultation arrangements as set out in the report be approved and the consultation process commence as soon as possible; and

(3)that a further report on the outcome of the public consultation be submitted to a future meeting.

Councillor Roberts submits a report seeking approval to the tender process for a new Computerised Library Management System following Cabinet’s approval in principle in the report to Cabinet in January on ‘Achieving Inclusion’. The Cabinet is asked to; authorise the expenditure of £385,000 for the replacement Library Management System; delegate authority to the Director of Arts & Leisure in conjunction with the Cabinet Lead Member for Education and Lifelong Learning to procure the system; and to delegate authority to the Head of Legal Services to enter into and sign all the necessary agreements arising from the purchase and maintenance of the replacement Computerised Library Management System.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report seeking approval to the tender process for a new computerised Library Management System following Cabinet’s approval in principle in the report to Cabinet in January on ‘Achieving Inclusion’.

The Director of Arts of Leisure confirmed that full training of staff using the system would take place.

RESOLVED:

(1)that expenditure of  £385, 000 for the replacement Library Management System, to be funded from a variety of sources as outlined in the Financial Implications paragraph of the report, be approved;

(2)that authority be delegated to the Director of Arts and Leisure, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, to procure the system; and

(3)that authority be delegated to the Head of Legal Services to enter into and sign all necessary agreements arising from the purchase and maintenance of the replacement Computerised Library Management System.

Councillor Roberts submits a report providing a brief summary of the progress made to establish a partnership to deliver the Connexions service for young people aged 13-19 in Leicester and Leicestershire. The Cabinet is recommended to; note the arrangements proposed for the establishment of the new legal entity for the Connexions service; support the involvement of the Chief Executive in the appointment of the independent Chair of the partnership and the Chief Executive of the proposed new company or propose alternative City Council representation; request further reports on the establishment of the Connexions service and its implications for relevant services of the Council.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report which, provided a brief summary of the progress made towards establishing a partnership to deliver the ‘Connexions’ support service for young people aged 13-19 in Leicester and Leicestershire.  The report also set out the steps that needed to be taken to establish the new legal entity and the continuing role of Leicester City Council’s Chief Executive, acting in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member.

The Cabinet Lead for Education and Lifelong Learning circulated a new proposal for recommendation (b) of the report.

Councillor Osman raised a concern regarding the transfer of staff from the Careers Service to the Connexions Service.  In reply the meeting was told that TUPE regulations would apply to any staff transfer, but this was the responsibility of the Careers Service not the City Council.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the arrangements proposed for the establishment of the new legal entity for the Connexions service in Leicester and Leicestershire, be noted;

(2)that the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Education and Lifelong Learning, to carry out the Council’s role in the appointment of the independent Chair of the partnership and the Chief Executive of the proposed new company; and

(3)that further reports be requested on the establishment of the Connexions service and its implications for relevant services of the Council.

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.

PROJECT DIRECTOR / PROJECT MANAGER ARRANGEMENTS – BRAUNSTONE LEISURE CENTRE

Paragraph 8

The amount of expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

Paragraph 12

Any instructions to counsel and any opinion of counsel (whether or not in connection with any proceedings) and any advice received, information obtained or action to be taken in connection with:

a)         any legal proceedings by or against the authority; or

b)         the determination of any matter affecting the authority,

(whether, in either case, proceedings have been commenced or are in contemplation).

GLASS AND GLAZING COMPLIANCE AT NEW COLLEGE: WAIVER OF STANDING ORDERS

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.

PROJECT DIRECTOR / PROJECT MANAGER ARRANGEMENTS – BRAUNSTONE LEISURE CENTRE

Paragraph 8

The amount of expenditure proposed to be incurred by the authority under any particular contract for the acquisition or disposal of property or the supply of goods or services.

Paragraph 12

Any instructions to counsel and any opinion of counsel (whether or not in connection with any proceedings) and any advice received, information obtained or action to be taken in connection with:

a)any legal proceedings by or against the authority; or

b) the determination of any matter affecting the authority,

(whether, in either case, proceedings have been commenced or are in contemplation).

GLASS AND GLAZING COMPLIANCE AT NEW COLLEGE: WAIVER OF STANDING ORDERS

Councillor Holden submits a report

Councillor Holden submitted a report recommending the appointment of consultants to provide project direction and management for the delivery of the Braunstone Leisure Centre and the Cultural Quarter.  The report dealt specifically with the costs associated with the Leisure Centre.

RESOLVED:

(1)that approval be given for the appointment of MACE Limited and Focus Consultants (UK) to deliver Project Direction and fundraising strategy services, and the appointment of MACE Limited to deliver Project Management services for the Braunstone Leisure Centre;

(2)that authority be delegated to the Director of Arts and Leisure, in consultation with the Cabinet Working Group on the Leisure Centre to secure and finalise project director/ project manager arrangements; and

(3)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into the contracts for the services.

Councillor Roberts submits a report.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report outlining urgent action taken by the Director of Education to secure immediate safety improvements..

RESOLVED:

                        that the action of the Director of Education be noted.

The meeting ended at 5.40pm.