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.

No declarations were made.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 20 May 2002 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to approve them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting held on 20 May 2002, having been circulated to Members, be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Carers’ Week

Councillor Willmott reported that week commencing 10 June 2002 was National Carers’ Week, designed to promote the major contribution made by the 6 million unpaid carers in the United Kingdom.  He noted that as part of the campaign, Carers were being encouraged to write to the Leader of their local Council explaining their contribution and needs.  He extended an invitation to Carers to write to him and asked Councillor Getliffe, Cabinet lead member for Social Services and Personal Health, to bring a report to a future meeting of Cabinet, summarising the content of the letters and outlining what the Council is doing to support Carers.

Councillor Roberts submits a report seeking approval of the 2002/2003 Adult Learning Plan.  The LEA is required to submit an Adult Learning Plan to the Local Learning and Skills Council in order to secure funding for non-accredited adult learning.  The Plan outlines the priorities for this element of adult learning and proposes a target of 21,000 learners.  The Cabinet is asked to consider the Plan for approval by Council.

The Adult Learning Plan is attached for Members of the Cabinet only.  Further copies can be obtained by phoning Committee Secretariat on (0116) 252 6022.

Councillor Roberts submitted a report which outlined the statutory requirement for the Local Education Authority to submit an annual Adult Learning Plan to the Learning and Skills Council, in order to secure funding for non-accredited Adult Learning.  The Plan proposed a target of 21,000 learners of which 25% were to be new learners.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that the target for learners with disabilities or learning difficulties was 8.5% against a proportion of the city population of 5% and that support was given to the voluntary sector through community project officers and through grant aid to the Workers Education Association who also advertised their programme in the City Council list of adult education courses.

RESOLVED:

that the contents of the Plan be confirmed and that Council be recommended to approve the Plan.

Councillor Holden submits a report seeking confirmation of funding for schemes from the Conservation and Heritage and Riverside budgets which had been reserved for further Cabinet approval.  The Cabinet is asked to approve the schemes detailed in the report and to confirm funding from the Conservation and Heritage Initiatives budget amounting to £165,000 and the Riverside budget amounting to £150,000.

Councillor Holden submitted a report outlining proposals for the release of funds from the Capital programme for two projects, Conservation and Heritage Initiatives and Riverside, amounting to £165,000 and £150,000 respectively, both over three years.  He stated that the projects illustrated the Council’s commitment to the Cultural Quarter, to the restoration of historic buildings and to the regeneration of the riverside.

It was noted that the report had been considered by the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee, at its meeting on 8 May 2002.  The Committee had been supportive of the proposals but expressed concern about anti-social activity which was felt to be occurring and increasing, particularly in the riverside area and which it was felt could undermine what the investment was designed to achieve.  It was noted that Officers would be closely monitoring this issue and that a report would be submitted to Cabinet if the problem persisted.

RESOLVED:

(1)               that the schemes set out in the report be approved;

(2)               That funding be confirmed from the Capital Programme Conservation and Heritage Initiatives and Riverside budgets; and

(3)               That the Corporate Director of Environment, Regeneration and Development be requested to closely monitor the impact of anti-social behaviour and to refer the matter to Cabinet if the situation persists or deteriorates.

Councillor Holden submits a report presenting the second annual Service Plan for Food Enforcement 2002/2003.  The Service Plan shows both the proactive and reactive work planned for the coming year and allocates the appropriate resources to be able to adequately respond.  Cabinet is asked to endorse the Service Plan and to recommend to Council that it be approved.

The Food Service Plan is attached for Members of the Cabinet only.  Copies of the this document can be obtained from the City Council’s website (www.leicester.gov.uk) under the link to Council meetings and decisions or by phoning Committee Secretariat on (0116) 252 6022.

Councillor Holden submitted a report which gave details of the proposed Service Plan for Food Enforcement for 2002/03.  The Plan was the second annual plan for food related enforcement and showed both reactive and proactive work planned for the year, together with the allocation of resources.

RESOLVED:

that the Service Plan for Food Enforcement for 2002/2003 be confirmed and that Council be recommended to approve the Plan.

Councillor Holden submits a report updating Members on progress with Local Air Quality Management work and giving details of extended roadside emissions testing powers for use in Air Quality Management Areas.  The Cabinet is asked agree that work should be directed towards completing the Stage 4 Review and Assessment of air quality within 2002 and that a bid be submitted for funding, with a view to implementing roadside vehicle emissions testing powers within the City, on a motorist friendly basis.

Councillor Holden submitted a report which updated Members on progress with Air Quality management work and gave details of extended roadside emissions testing powers within Air Quality Management Areas.  He stated that it was intended to follow a ‘motorist friendly’ approach to improve air quality and powers to fine would normally only be exercised when dealing with persistent offenders.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that the scope of the scheme would be determined by the amount of Government funding made available with fines giving only a small part of the total funding.

It was stated that buses were included within the powers whilst heavy goods vehicles were covered by HM Inspectorate who would deal with any complaints.  In reality however, agreement to a protocol would be sought with bus companies but individual complaints could still be submitted to Council officers.  Once the scheme was introduced, publicity would be made available giving details of the scheme, who complaints could be made to and ways in which pollution could be reduced including vehicle maintenance and conversion to LPG fuel.  Officers reassured Members that the emphasis would be on education of motorists and self-regulation.

A further report would be submitted to Cabinet when the outcome of the bid for funding was known.  It was also proposed to adopt an integrated approach with other environmental issues.

RESOLVED:

(1)that work be directed towards completing Stage 4 Review and Assessment of air quality within 2002, and that a letter to that effect be sent to the Department for Food, Rural Affairs and Agriculture.

(2)That a bid be submitted to the Department for Transport, Local Government, Transport and the Regions for funding, with a view to implementing roadside vehicle emissions testing powers within the City on a motorist friendly basis, as detailed in the report.

The Chair agreed to the admission to the agenda of an Item of Urgent Business, ‘Belgrave Corridor Project’, which had been referred back from the Council meeting on 30 May.  The reasons for urgency were the need to respond to the Council resolution, as detailed in the report and to remove the uncertainty over this project.

Councillor Bhatti submitted a report which arose from the resolution of Council on 30 May 2002, to refer the above item back to Cabinet for further consideration in the light of an objection received to the Cabinet decision on 20 May 2002 (Minute 6 refers) and an Amendment tabled at Council.

The report detailed the contents of the Objection and the proposed Amendment and outlined Officer’s advice in relation to each of these.  A map was also circulated to Members detailing the proposals for the operation of bus lanes and on street, off-peak parking on Belgrave Road.

Further to the report, the Leader referred to a letter he had received from the Member of Parliament for Leicester West and asked for clarification on the implications for the scheme if objections were received to the Traffic Regulation Orders; whether the parking needs of any future regeneration initiatives would be taken into account; and emphasising the need for a baseline against which to monitor the effects of the scheme.

It was noted that the objections received so far to the on street parking proposals were from the business community in Belgrave Road.  The publication of the Traffic Regulation Orders however would give the opportunity to a wider section of the public to give their views on the proposals.  It was confirmed that the regeneration of the wider area would be considered and the needs anticipated as far as possible.  With regard to a baseline, this had already been agreed, as part of the bid submission process to central government; however the criteria could be widened following discussions with the Cabinet Lead Member and the Scrutiny Committee triumvirate.

RESOLVED:

                        (1) that the previous decision of Cabinet on 20 May 2002 (Minute 6 refers), be confirmed:

(2)               that the criteria to be used for the review of bus lanes be discussed in detail and agreed by the Director of Environment, Regeneration and Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member and the Scrutiny Triumvirate, prior to their introduction, based primarily on bus journey times, taking into account the following additional factors; car journey times; number of people using bus services and vehicle flow rates; and

(3)               that the operation of the bus lanes be reviewed in 6 months.

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.

3Ts INNOVATION CENTRE, BONNERS LANE

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.

                        3Ts INNOVATION CENTRE, BONNERS LANE

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report seeking approval to a proposed 10 year lease of the 3Ts Innovation Centre, Bonners Lane/Oxford Street to De Montfort University under revised terms.

RESOLVED:

(1)that a ‘contracted out’ lease  be granted to De Montfort University on the terms detailed in the report.

(2)               that the Corporate Director of Resources, Access and Diversity be authorised to finalise terms with the lessee.

The meeting ended at 5.53 pm.