Agenda and minutes

The meeting stood for a minute’s silence in memory of Princess Margaret. Councillor Patel informed the meeting that there was a book of condolence in the Town Hall and that the Lord Mayor would be sending a letter on behalf of the citizens of Leicester.

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

There were no declarations made.

The minutes of the meeting held on 28 January 2002 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to confirm them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the Minutes of the Cabinet held on 28 January 2002, having been circulated to Members, be received, taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Holden notified the Cabinet of a grant of £156,000 from the European Regional Development Fund for the Energy Advice Centre to support local Small/ Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in the Objective 2 zone. He expected this would mean that 20 companies initially would benefit and a further possible 80 companies in the longer term. These companies could receive grants of up to 15% of costs of moving towards using clean energy technologies.

Councillor Holden submits a report presenting the Council’s fourth Environmental Statement. The Statement is a requirement of the Council’s Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) to keep the public regularly informed of the City Council’s environmental progress, both in meeting its targets and it terms of day-to-day environmental management. The Cabinet is asked to approve the fourth EMAS Environmental Statement.

Councillor Holden submitted a report presenting the Council’s proposed fourth Environmental Statement. It was noted that the Statement was a requirement of the Council’s Eco Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) to keep the public regularly informed of the City Council’s environmental progress, both in meeting its targets and in terms of day-to-day environmental management.

In response to a question, the Cabinet was informed that certain sites had been allocated for development in the Draft Local Plan that were currently ‘green’. Officers stated they were working with colleagues in the Arts & Leisure Department to take forward sustainable initiatives with regard to Council owned public open space.

RESOLVED:

that the contents and format of the Council’s Fourth Environmental Statement be endorsed.

Councillor Roberts submits a report advising the Cabinet on the results of pupils in City Schools in the Summer 2001 examination results at Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and GCSE and the targets set for 2004 examination results. The Cabinet is asked to note the results for City Schools for summer 2001 and the targets for 2004.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report advising the Cabinet on the results of pupils in City Schools in summer 2001 examination results at Key Stages 1, 2, 3 and GCSE and the targets set for 2004 examination results.

Councillor Roberts noted the positive upward trend in examination results overall and the Local Education Authorities (LEA) positive position in relation to similar urban authorities. It was however recognised there was much work to be done.

RESOLVED:

that the examination results for City Schools for Summer 2001 and the targets for 2004, be noted.

Councillor Draycott submits a report which outlines plans for an extension of the voids pilot scheme, set up to address the concerns about the time taken to re-let properties. The Cabinet is asked; to approve extending the pilot scheme to Saffron, Eyres Monsell and Braunstone and to recruit the relevant staff for the scheme; to refer the report to Housing Scrutiny Committee for any future ideas on changes that may help reduce the re-let times; and to authorise the Director of Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal to follow up any ideas arising.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report which outlined plans for an extension of the voids pilot scheme, set up, in Humberstone to address the concerns about the time taken to re-let properties.

Members of the Cabinet welcomed the proposals to extend the scheme.

Councillor Draycott moved a further recommendation that the Cabinet receive a further report in six months reviewing the progress of the schemes that were in operation.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Voids Pilot Scheme be extended to Saffron, Eyres Monsell and Braunstone and staff be recruited for the scheme;

(2)that the report be referred to the Housing Scrutiny Committee for consideration and any suggested changes which may help reduce re-let times arising from this be delegated to the Director of Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal for determination; and

(3)that a further report be submitted to Cabinet in six months time to review the progress of the extension of the Voids Pilot Scheme.

Councillor Patel submits a report summarising the Authority’s revenue budget monitoring position and compares spending with the budget for all General Fund Services and the Housing Revenue Account. The Cabinet is asked to; note the spend to date and the budgetary issues which have emerged so far this year; note the action proposed, as set out in the appendices to this report, to ensure that spending is contained within the Departments’ budgets; approve one-off additional funding from corporate reserves of £0.5m, to assist the Social Services Department (£0.35m) and the Education Department (£0.15m) with the additional costs incurred as a result of an influx of EU nationals; and to consider the recommendations of the Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee which are attached to the report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report summarising the Authority’s revenue budget monitoring position and comparing spending with the budget for all General Fund Services and the Housing Revenue Account at period 8.

Councillor Patel noted the comments of the Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee requesting the Cabinet to underwrite the estimated £400,000 costs arising from the arrival of Persons from Abroad. In response to this he referred to additional funding for the Social Services and Education Departments, to be allocated from the corporate reserves as outlined in the recommendations in the report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the spend to date and the budgetary issues which had emerged be noted;

(2)that the action proposed, as set out in the appendices to this report, to ensure that spending was contained within Departments’ budgets, be noted;

(3)that approval be given for additional one-off funding from corporate reserves of £0.35m to the Social Services Department and £0.15m to the Education Department to assist with the additional costs incurred as a result of an influx of EU nationals.

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 report in private on the grounds that it contains ‘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 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 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.

LAND AT MANOR FARM, HAMILTON, LEICESTER

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 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.

LAND AT MANOR FARM, HAMILTON, LEICESTER

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report seeking approval for the way forward to market the ‘third’ site at Manor Farm, Hamilton.

Members noted the legal requirement for the Council to obtain ‘best consideration’ unless dispensation was received from the Secretary of State for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

Councillor Patel requested that a press release be produced to inform the public of the decision the Cabinet proposed to take regarding the marketing of the site.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the site be marketed on the basis of option 2 as outlined in the supporting information of the report;

(2)that the Capital Programme provision for 2002/3 be increased as detailed at Recommendation 3. (2) in the report to meet the increased estimated cost for the provision of infrastructure at Manor Farm;

(3)that in respect of the infrastructure works, the Director of Environment, Development and Commercial Services be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Finance and Resources, to accept either:

a)the appropriate tender following a re-tendering exercise, or

b)the appropriate re-negotiated tender updated from previous tendering exercise;

(4)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into the contract for the provision of the infrastructure works at Manor Farm.

The meeting closed at 5.30pm.