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.

Councillor Draycott declared a personal interest in Report A “Refurbishment of Kitchens and Bathrooms”, because a family member was a Council House Tenant, but declared that her interest was not prejudicial.

Councillor Getliffe declared a personal interest in Report A “Refurbishment of Kitchens and Bathrooms”, as a Council House Tenant but declared that his interest was not prejudicial.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 29 July 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 29 July 2002, having been circulated to Members, be confirmed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Councillor Draycott submits a report seeking approval to a policy for the prioritisation of the kitchen and bathroom refurbishment programme in Council dwellings. The Cabinet is asked to consider and approve one of the options identified in the Supporting Information of the report for both kitchens and bathrooms. The Cabinet is also asked to request a further report in 12 months time reviewing the application of policies adopted within the report.

Councillor Draycott submitted a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to a policy for the prioritisation of the kitchen and bathroom refurbishment programme in Council dwellings.

Councillor Draycott gave the Cabinet a presentation outlining the details of the programme, which was to work towards the Council’s target of a decent home for all by 2010. The design of both Kitchens and Bathrooms involved giving the tenant a number of choices for the design of the rooms including the layout, the colour scheme and fixtures and fittings. There was also an emphasis on energy conservation in the design of the new facilities which were also easily adapted to meet the needs of the elderly should it be required.

Members of the Cabinet welcomed the programme and commended the Housing Department for their proposals.

Councillor Draycott then moved, in respect of kitchens, paragraph 4.5.3 of the Supporting Information and in respect of bathrooms 4.6.6 of the Supporting Information. It was felt in both cases these approaches would reward the most loyal tenants for their support in the past, encourage them to stay in properties and help stabilise communities. She also requested that a review of the programme be reported to Cabinet in 12 months time. These recommendations were agreed.

RESOLVED:

(1)that, in respect of Kitchens, a programme be developed in each Maintenance Area linked to the time a householder had been a tenant of the City Council property, subject to no major work being carried out in the last five years, no proceedings for Seeking Possession for rent arrears or Anti Social Behaviour legal action being in progress and the property being over 30 years old, in addition, priority would be given to the oldest properties first that had not been subject to previous modernisation programmes;

(2)that, in respect of bathrooms, a programme be developed with priority being given to bungalows first, linked to the time a householder had been a tenant of the City Council property, subject to no major work being carried out in the last five years, no proceedings for Seeking Possession for rent arrears or Anti Social Behaviour being in progress and the property being over 40 years old with priority being given to the oldest properties first that had not been subject to previous modernisation programmes; and

(3)that a report be submitted to Cabinet in 12 months time reviewing the policy application.

Councillor Bhatti submits a report which informs the Cabinet of the views of the Highways and Transportation and Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committees on the proposed scheme to provide accessible bus stops and protect them with traffic regulation orders. The Cabinet is asked to approve the principle of introducing raised kerbs at bus stops to maximise the accessibility of bus services and to recognise the need to protect bus stops from obstruction by other vehicles and approves the principle of the use of bus stop clearway orders to achieve this.

The Highways and Transportation Scrutiny Committee considered this report at its meeting on 3 July 2002. The relevant minutes extract is attached to the report.

The Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee considered this report at its meeting on 4 July 2002. The relevant minutes extract is attached to the report.

Councillor Bhatti submitted a report which informed the Cabinet of the views of the Highways and Transportation and Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committees on the proposed scheme to provide accessible bus stops and protect them with traffic regulation orders.

Councillor Bhatti commented that this proposal would assist in meeting the Disability Discrimination Act requirement that all buses should be accessible by disabled people by 2017. The proposals included measures to stop obstruction of the accessible bus stops and to minimise the loss of kerb space for other road users.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the principle of introducing raised kerbs at bus stops to maximise the accessibility of bus services, be approved; and

(2)that the need to protect bus stops from obstruction by other vehicles, be recognised and the principle of the use of bus stop clearway orders to achieve this, be approved. 

Councillor Holden submits a report detailing the launch of a campaign promoting the responsible use of fireworks following last years rise in complaints from members of the public about their antisocial and inappropriate use. The Cabinet is asked to endorse the launch of a sustained publicity campaign promoting the responsible use of fireworks, approve that the Council takes steps to ensure its own activities do not compromise any promotional work associated with the responsible use of fireworks and confirm that the Council continues, via its three City M.P.s to lobby the Government for a change in legislation to deal with the sale and use of “noisy” fireworks.

Councillor Holden submitted a report detailing the launch of a campaign promoting the responsible use of fireworks following last year’s rise in complaints from members of the public about their anti-social and inappropriate use.

Councillor Holden commented that the proposed campaign was not designed to prevent people from enjoying themselves, but to promote the responsible use of fireworks. He also noted that efforts were being made with local MPs to change the law regarding the type of fireworks that were on sale as it was felt they were becoming noisier which led to greater distress for members of the public.

Members of the Cabinet also encouraged members of the public to attend organised firework displays and welcomed the continuing support of the Leicester Mercury in the campaign.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the launch of a sustained publicity campaign promoting the responsible use of fireworks, be endorsed;

(2)that the Council take steps to ensure its own activities do not compromise any promotional work associated with the responsible use of fireworks; and

(3)that the Council continue, via its three city M.P.s to lobby government for a change in legislation to deal with the sale and use of “noisy” fireworks.

Councillor Patel submits a report that summarises the key Monitoring Officer Issues which arose in 2001/2. The report also indicates how they were addressed. The Cabinet is asked to note the Monitoring Officer issues which arose in 2001/2 and the responses made to these issues.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that summarised the key Monitoring Officer issues which arose in 2001/2 and how they were addressed.

Councillor Patel noted that the most significant development over the past year was the adoption by the Council of the new form of Constitution. The District Auditor confirmed that the procedures conformed with legal requirements. He also noted the District Auditor gave the Council’s legal and ethical framework arrangements the highest assessment, level 4, for all aspects. It was also noted that during the last year, the Ombudsman found no case of maladministration against the Council.

RESOLVED:

that the Monitoring Officer issues which arose in 2001/2 and the responses made, be noted.

Councillor Kavia submits a report outlining the new strategic framework for the Council’s international activities informed by a recent audit of overseas links activities. The report recommends how International Development should be approached by the Council and its partners in future. The Cabinet is asked to approve the rewriting of the Overseas Links strategy to reflect a number changes and request that the Terms of Reference of the Overseas Links Working Party be rewritten to reflect the Council’s new approach to international development work.

Councillor Kavia submitted a report outlining the new strategic framework for the Council’s international activities informed by a recent audit of overseas links activities. The report recommended how the Council and its partners should approach International Development in the future.

Members of the Cabinet requested that when the Strategy had been rewritten, it be submitted to Cabinet for final approval.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Overseas Links Strategy be rewritten and revised to reflect the following:-

-External funding opportunities for technical twinning activities;

- The introduction of Performance Management and Best Value;

-Linkages with mainstream programmes, policies & strategies;

-The Council’s new political structures;

-A need for political and financial accountability; and

-The need to co-ordinate international development work corporately; and

(2)that the Terms of Reference for the Overseas Links Working Party be rewritten and revised to reflect the Council’s new approach to international development work.

Councillor Kavia submits a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the Spinney Hill Park Conservation Area Character Statement as supplementary planning guidance to the City of Leicester Local Plan.

Councillor Kavia submitted a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to adopt the Spinney Hill Park Conservation Area Character Statement as supplementary planning guidance to the City of Leicester Local Plan. He noted that the Character Statement identified the factors which made a conservation area an area of special architectural and historic interest.

RESOLVED:

that the Spinney Hill Park Conservation Area Character Statement be adopted as Supplementary Planning Guidance to the City of Leicester Local Plan.

Councillor Kavia submits a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to prepare an Article 4(1) Direction on properties within the Evington Footpath Conservation Area. The report also seeks approval to authorise the Town Clerk to forward the Direction to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

Councillor Kavia submitted a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval to prepare an Article 4(1) Direction on properties within the Evington Footpath Conservation Area. An Article 4(1) Direction gave the Council control over alterations to houses which would otherwise lead to the loss of an area’s special character. The need for this Direction was referred to in the Evington Footpath Conservation Area Character Statement approved by Cabinet on 21 May 2001.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the Town Clerk be authorised to make and advertise an Article 4(1) Direction within the Evington Footpath Conservation Area as specified in the Supporting Information of the report; and

(2)that the Town Clerk be authorised to forward the Direction and any representations received to the Secretary of State for confirmation.

RESOLVED:

that the press and public be excluded during the consideration of the following report in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, because it involved 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.

APPOINTMENT OF AUCTIONEERS AND OTHER DISPOSAL DELEGATIONS

SALE OF 62/64 NEW WALK AND 83/87 WELLINGTON STREET

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report.

RESOLVED:

(1)that the appointment of the firms of auctioneers identified in the report, be approved and contracts entered into to provide auction services to the City Council for the period to 31^st March 2004;

(2) that the appointed auctioneers, in accordance with Article 14.05 of the Constitution, be authorized to sign contracts on behalf of the City Council in respect of property that has been passed to them for disposal;

(3) that the Corporate Director of Resources, Access and Diversity, be authorised to approve: -

a) reserve prices for the properties to be sold,

b) any sale prior to auction arising from offers which he considers are unlikely to be achieved at auction,

c) in the event of any property sold at auction and the purchaser subsequently requesting that the property is purchased in a different name to that of the purchaser, the new purchaser subject to the Head of Legal Services being satisfied that the Council’s legal position is protected throughout,

d) in the event of any property failing to sell at auction, the sale of such property at any time subsequent to the auctions in the event of an acceptable offer being received,

(e)in consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet lead on Finance and Resources, the inclusion of such properties that are considered suitable for sale by auction.  In these circumstances, the delegation to include (a) to (d) above;

(4)that the Corporate Director of Resources, Access and Diversity, in consultation with the Leader and the Cabinet lead on Finance and Resources, be authorised to agree the terms for the disposal of property, other than by way of auction, in accordance with the circumstances referred to in the report; and

(5)that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to exchange contracts and complete the sale of any property:-

(a)in accordance with any terms agreed before 5 working days prior to, or 5 working days after, the auction arising from (3) above,

(b)in accordance with any terms agreed as a result of the disposals of property by the other methods arising from (4) above and subject to the circumstances set out in the report.

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report.

RESOLVED:

that the recommendations as set out in the report, be approved.

The full decision is recorded in the private section of the Minutes as it contains exempt information as defined in Paragraph 9 of Schedule 12 of the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985, that is, 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.

The meeting closed at 5.30pm.