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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 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. Minutes: 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 Draycott, Getliffe, Roberts and Westley declared a personal interest in Report E, “Housing Capital Programme 2002-03 and 2003-04” and Report F, “Housing Revenue Account – Budget 2003”, as council house tenants or with relatives who were council house tenants, but declared that this interest was not prejudicial.
Councillor Willmott declared a prejudicial interest in Report N, Loughborough Road Conservation Area (Shaftesbury Avenue) Article 4 (2) Direction and left the meeting while the matter was considered. |
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LEADER'S ANNOUNCEMENTS Minutes: There were no Leader’s announcements. |
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MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 18 November 2002, have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to approve them as a correct record. Minutes: RESOLVED: that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2002, having been circulated to Members, be taken as read and signed by the Chair as a correct record. |
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ITEMS REFERRED FROM SCRUTINY COMMITTEES PDF 52 KB FINANCE, RESOURCES AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE- 19 DECEMBER 2002
REVITALISING NEIGHBOURHOODS: UPDATE ON PROGRESS
The full minute and a written response to the matter referred is attached at Appendix A.
RESOLVED: (1)that the Committee express its concern to Cabinet regarding the level of funding for Revitalising Neighbourhoods;
(2)that the Committee express to Cabinet its concern at the lack of significant capital provision for the development of the project;
(3)that the Committee express to Cabinet its concern that no method of choosing the forum members has been agreed; and
(4)that the Committee express to Cabinet its concern that the proposed neighbourhood areas are insufficiently related to local communities.
Councillors Patel and Draycott to respond.
PROPOSED LONG LEASEHOLD DISPOSAL OF WESTERN PARK HOUSE AND PAVILION, WESTERN PARK, LEICESTER
Attached is the minute extract from the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 23 January 2003. The following resolutions were made for Cabinet’s consideration:-
(1)That whilst the Committee obviously welcomes the capital receipt that this lease will bring for the Council and the fact that the building involved will have significant refurbishment work done to it, Members nevertheless are concerned at the loss of public open land resulting from this arrangement and it recommends that steps are taken in an effort to make good this loss,
(2)that the Committee is also concerned at the length of lease and recommends that, where possible, shorter leases are negotiated and restrictions on future development should be insisted on when granting leases of this kind in land adjacent to public open space, and
(3)that the Committee recommends in future decisions likely to result in a loss of public open space be referred to this Scrutiny Committee for comment at the earliest opportunity and before any marketing is undertaken.
Councillor Patel to respond. Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet received the following items from the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee arising from its meetings on 19 December 2002 and 23 January 2003.
FINANCE, RESOURCES AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 19 DECEMBER 2002
a) REVITALISING NEIGHBOURHOODS : UPDATE ON PROGRESS
“RESOLVED:
(1)That the Committee express its concern to Cabinet regarding the level of funding for Revitalising Neighbourhoods,
(2)That the Committee express to Cabinet its concern at the lack of significant capital provision for the development of the project.
(3)That the Committee express to Cabinet its concern that no method of choosing forum members has been agreed, and
(4)That the Committee express to Cabinet its concern that the proposed neighbourhood areas are insufficiently related to local communities.”
The Cabinet noted that a written response to the above had been circulated with the papers. In addition, Councillor Patel responded as follows:-
With regard to the level of funding for ‘Revitalising Neighbourhoods’ (Item 1), Councillor Patel referred to the budget for this financial year which would be used for devolved budgets, contributing to community capacity building, administration costs and the development of the New Parks Customer Service Centre, amongst other things.
With regard to the level of capital funding (Item 2), he noted that the New Parks Customer Service Centre was developing well. However, whether this model would be followed in all the other Neighbourhoods was yet to be determined. The success of the New Parks Customer Service Centre would be monitored and assessed.
With regard to the selection of members for the Forum, (Item 3), he referred to the Guidelines for Neighbourhood Forums which covered this issue.
In response to the concerns about the size of the areas, (Item 4), Councillor Patel commented that the Neighbourhood Forums were a ‘starting point’. It was expected that the Neighbourhood Co-ordinators would get to know the ‘patch’ and report back to Cabinet advising on the best ways to access the local level.
Councillor Willmott added that Cabinet acknowledged that there would be levels ‘below’ the Forums, both existing and future groups. The Forums would give these groups an identifiable link into the Council’s structures and provide better accountability than existed currently. He also commented that a portion of the capital expenditure on the New Parks Customer Service Centre had been used for the Housing Office and this Centre was therefore not typical.
FINANCE, RESOURCES AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 23 JANUARY 2003
b) PROPOSED LONG LEASEHOLD DISPOSAL OF WESTERN PARK HOUSE AND PAVILION, WESTERN PARK, LEICESTER
“RESOLVED: (1)That whilst the Committee obviously welcomes the capital receipt that this lease will bring for the Council and the fact that the building involved will have significant refurbishment work done to it, Members nevertheless are concerned at the loss of public open land resulting from this arrangement and it recommends that steps are taken in an effort to make good this loss,
(2)that the Committee is also concerned at the length of lease and recommends ... view the full minutes text for item 160. |
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BELGRAVE BAHENO PEEPUL CENTRE - REQUEST FOR FUNDING PDF 89 KB Councillor Roberts submits a report asking the Cabinet to consider the request for a capital grant of £260,000 towards the construction of the Peepul Centre, a purpose built community centre to be run by an established voluntary organisation, Belgrave Baheno. If such a grant is agreed, the Cabinet is recommended that this should be subject to 90% of the capital funding being secured. If the grant is agreed, the Cabinet is also asked to authorise the Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong Learning to be the lead director for the project and to impose any conditions he considers necessary to protect the Council’s money and to confirm that there be no commitment or inference of a commitment for the Council to make revenue contributions to the Peepul Centre, and the Peepul Centre be advised that £260,000 is an absolute maximum. Minutes: Councillor Roberts submitted a report asking the Cabinet to consider a request for a capital grant of £260,000 towards the construction of the Peepul Centre. It was noted that the proposed Peepul Centre would provide a wide range of activities through a purposely built community centre which would contribute towards meeting the Council’s strategic objectives. The centre would be run by Belgrave Baheno, an established voluntary organisation.
It was noted that a service and financial analysis had been undertaken of the Business Plan of the Peepul Centre. The total capital cost of the Centre was estimated at £14.4 million. Of this sum, £2.832 million had already been secured, a further £10.388 million had been verbally promised or ring fenced and decisions on £932,000 of bids were still awaited. Any funding by the Council would be subject to a service agreement and grant conditions.
RESOLVED: (1)that approval be given for a grant of £260,000 towards the construction of the Peepul Centre, subject to 90% of the capital funding being secured;
(2)that the Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong learning be the Lead director for the project (noting it has other service implications);
(3)that authority be delegated to the Corporate Director of Education and Lifelong Learning to impose any detailed conditions he considers necessary to protect the Council’s money, through the development of a detailed service specification and contractual funding agreement; and
(4)that there be no commitment or inference of a commitment for the Council to make revenue contributions to the Peepul Centre, and the Peepul Centre be advised that £260,000 is an absolute maximum. |
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2002 ASSESSMENT OF LEICESTER'S HOUSING NEEDS PDF 130 KB Councillor Draycott submits a report outlining the findings of the 2002 Assessment of Leicester’s Housing Needs Survey. The Housing Needs Survey is a large scale assessment undertaken approximately every four years to consider housing need and deficiencies which can be used as the basis for wider consultation on appropriate policies for the provision of future ‘affordable housing’ and to feed into other policy reviews. The Cabinet is recommended to note the findings of the 2002 Housing Needs Survey.
The relevant minutes extract from the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 10 October 2002 and the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 17 October 2002 on this issue are included with the next report on the agenda. Minutes: Councillor Draycott submitted a report outlining the findings of a survey of Leicester’s Housing Needs. It was noted that the survey showed a shortfall of affordable housing of 635 homes each year. This was based on an assessment of need, both backlog and newly arising, for those households who could not afford market housing. In addition, a further 7514 households were inadequately housed, mostly due to overcrowding or the need for adaptations or repairs.
RESOLVED: that the findings of the 2002 Housing Needs Survey be noted. |
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'AFFORDABLE HOUSING' AND THE PLANNING PROCESS PDF 144 KB Councillor Draycott submits a report that considers the contribution that planning policies have and can make towards the provision of affordable housing in Leicester. The Cabinet is asked to approve the proposed affordable housing policy as set out in the report, approve that a post be created in the Environment, Regeneration and Development Department to co-ordinate work on planning gain, including the securing of affordable housing through the planning process, to note the decision taken by officers in conjunction with Cabinet Members to extend the current moratorium on affordable housing in parts of the City and agree that proposals for a framework and process for securing developers contributions be brought to a future Cabinet meeting.
The relevant minutes extract from the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 10 October 2002 and the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 17 October 2002 on this issue are attached to the report. Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Kavia submitted a report that discussed the contribution that planning policies had and could make towards the provision of affordable housing in Leicester.
The minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 10 October 2002 and the Strategic Planning and Regeneration Scrutiny Committee held on 17 October 2002, had been circulated to the Cabinet.
The Cabinet Lead for Housing, whilst expressing that she hoped for a successful result from the moratorium on affordable housing, emphasised that she would not wish it to be a permanent feature. She also welcomed the recommendation with regard to the creation of a post to co-ordinate work on planning gain, including the securing of affordable housing through the planning process
RESOLVED: (1)that the proposed Affordable Housing Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved;
(2)that approval be given for the creation of a post in the Environment, Regeneration and Development Department, to co-ordinate and join-up work on planning gain, including the securing of affordable housing through the planning process;
(3)that the decision taken by officers, in conjunction with the Cabinet Lead, to extend the current moratorium on affordable housing within parts of the Leicester Regeneration Company area to cover planning applications and commenced within 18, months, be endorsed and that a report on the impact of the moratorium be considered by Cabinet in June 2003;
(4)that proposals for a framework and process for securing developers contributions be brought to a Cabinet meeting in two months. |
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HOUSING CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002-03 AND 2003-04 PDF 111 KB Councillor Draycott submits a report which reviews the current year’s approved Housing Capital Programme and following receipt of the Single Capital Pot, recommends a programme for 2003/2004. The Cabinet is asked to recommend to Council, the revised capital programme for 2002/03 at appendix A of the report, additional resources to support the Capital Programme, the Housing Capital Programme for 2003/04 and to authorise the Corporate Director of Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal to approve bids from Community Associations under the Capital Receipts Initiative allocation.
The relevant minutes extract from the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 9 January 2003 are attached to the report. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Draycott submitted a report that reviewed the current year’s approved Housing Capital Programme and following receipt of the Single Capital Pot, recommended a programme for 2003/04.
A revised report had been circulated following the receipt of further information. An amended minute extract from the Housing Scrutiny Committee on 9 January was also circulated. The Cabinet Lead Member also circulated a proposed resolution.
It was noted that the amount available to fund the Disabled Facilities Grant was not yet know. At this stage, an assumption had been made that the Government would fund 60% of the planned expenditure in this area. Councillor Draycott reported that the Housing Scrutiny Committee had requested that any shortfall in funding for this purpose should be found from the Single Capital Pot. She proposed that the situation be monitored and no decision be made at this stage.
RESOLVED: (1)that Council be recommended to approve the revised Housing Capital Programme for 2002/03, outlined at Appendix A to the report and the funding arrangements outlined at Paragraph 1.1 of the Supporting Papers and that the Head of Legal Services be authorised to enter into any contracts necessary to maximise the spend against the revised programme;
(2)that Council be recommended to approve the use of resources shown in paragraph 2.1 of the Supporting Information, including the use of £200,000 from Housing Maintenance DSO profits, £500,000 from Housing Balances and the balance (£300,000) of the unsupported credit approval of £1 million from the Government, to support the Housing Capital Programme in 2003/04;
(3)that Council be recommended to approve the Housing Capital Programme for 2003/04, outlined at Appendix B to the report, which showed an overall spend of £24.520 million and allowed for a small amount of overprogramming (2.5%);
(4)that the Corporate Director of Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal, to authorise any contracts and the Head of Legal Services be authorised to sign any contracts within the overall programme, to achieve maximum spend against the resources available; and
(5)that the Corporate Director of Housing be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Housing and Neighbourhood Renewal, to approve bids from Community Associations under the Capital Receipts Initiative allocation in 2003/04. |
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HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT - BUDGET 2003/04 PDF 97 KB Councillor Draycott submits a report summarising the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account for 2002/03 and 2003/04 and setting out the options for the Cabinet for recommending the 2003/04 rent level. The Cabinet is asked to note the estimated working balance of £3.083m at the start of 2003/04, and the base budget for 2003/04 as detailed in Appendix A, consider the issues outlined in the Supporting Information of the report in particular the comments of the Housing Scrutiny Committee and Housing Management Board, decide the level of rents to be recommended to Council for 2003/04 and decide on the revised level of miscellaneous payments and charges to be recommended to Council to be applied in 2003/04 as detailed in Appendix B of the report.
The relevant minutes extract from the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 12 December 2002 is attached to the report. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Draycott submitted a report summarising the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account for 2002/03 and 2003/04 and setting out the options for deciding the rent level in 2002/04.
The Minutes of the Housing Scrutiny Committee held on 12 December 2002 were circulated to the Cabinet
The Cabinet Lead also circulated a proposed resolution and confirmed that the Housing Management Board and the Housing Scrutiny Committee supported the proposed rent rise recommendations.
RESOLVED:
(1)that the estimated working balance of £3.083 million to be carried forward to 2003/04, be noted;
(2)that Council be recommended to approve the 2003/04 budget, outlined at Appendix A of the report;
(3)to note that officers now had the data to enable tenants to see the full implications of rent restructuring and how it will impact on their particular rent;
(4)that, Council be recommended to defer the introduction of Rent Restructuring until April 2004, as Cabinet feels that tenants should be fully consulted on the new rent and how it has been calculated, before it is introduced.
(5)that Council be recommended to increase all rent applied to dwellings, garages, parking spaces, targeted rents etc. by 2.68% in 2003/04:
(6)that Council be recommended to increase the charge applied to district heating and hot water and LeicesterCare in 2003/04, by 2.5%;
(7)that Council approve the recommendations of the Corporate Director of Housing and the Chief Finance Officer, as shown on the list of miscellaneous charges and payments, outlined at Appendix C of the report; and
(8)that Council be recommended to approve the use of £368,000 from the Housing Revenue Account reserves to balance the Housing Revenue Account in 2003/04. |
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BEST VALUE REVIEW OF ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES - EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND IMPROVEMENT PLANS PDF 346 KB Councillor Westley submits a report asking the Cabinet to formally approve the Best Value Review of Local Environmental Services, to note the Comments of the Arts, Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee and to authorise the necessary Reviews under the Council’s Protocol for Organisation and Staffing Change.
The relevant minutes extract from the Arts Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee held on 8 January 2003 are attached to the report.
Copies of the Executive Summary and Improvement Plan have been attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Copies of this document can by obtained from the Council’s Website (www.leicester.gov.uk) following the link to Council meetings or by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 6022. Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor Westley submitted a report presenting the Executive Summary and Improvement Plans arising from the Best Value Review of Environmental Services.
The Minutes of the Arts, Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee held on 8 January 2003 had been circulated to the Cabinet and their views taken on board in the report.
RESOLVED:
(1)that the comments of the Arts, Leisure and Environment Scrutiny Committee, be noted;
(2)that the Best Value Review and Improvement Plan of Local Environmental Services be approved; and
(3)that the necessary reviews under the Council’s protocol for Organisation and Staffing Changes be authorised |
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BEST VALUE REVIEW OF PAYROLL PDF 72 KB Councillor Westley submits a report advising the Cabinet of the findings of the Best Value Review of Payroll. The review has previously been considered by the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee and the Best Value Working Group which gave their support to the review. The Cabinet is asked to endorse the findings of the review and improvement plan, approve the seeking of an “applications service provider” to provide an integrated payroll/HR system, require officers to safeguard the Council’s interests in the event of an Applications Service Provider ceasing to exist, authorise capital expenditure of £0.7m for the implementation of the new system, to be funded from an unsupported credit approval awarded for the purpose, authorise the Town Clerk in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Resources to select a provider, after a procurement exercise using the EC negotiated procedure and to authorise the Head of Legal Services to enter into appropriate contracts.
The relevant minutes extract from the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 19 December 2002 are attached to the report.
Copies of the Best Value Review of Operational Finance, Phase 1 – Payroll document have been attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Copies of this document can by obtained from the Council’s Website (www.leicester.gov.uk) following the link to Council meetings or by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 6022. Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Westley submitted a report advising the Cabinet of the findings of the Best Value Review of Payroll.
The Minutes of the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 19 December had been circulated to the Cabinet.
RESOLVED:
(1) that the findings of the review, and the improvement plan, be approved;
(2) that the seeking of an applications service provider to provide an integrated payroll/HR system, be approved;
(3) that officers be required to safeguard the Council’s interests in the event of an application service provider ceasing to exist;
(4) that approval be given for capital expenditure of £0.7m for the implementation of the new system, to be funded from an unsupported credit approval awarded for the purpose;
(5) that the Town Clerk and Director of Corporate Resources, be authorised, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Resources, to select a provider, after a procurement exercise using the EC negotiated procedure; and
(6) that the Head of Legal Services be authorized to enter into appropriate contracts. |
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BEST VALUE REVIEW OF ICT AND E-GOVERNMENT PDF 60 KB Councillor Westley submits a report presenting the Final Report and Improvement Plan from the first phase of the Best Value Review of ICT and E-Government. The Cabinet is asked to note the findings and conclusions of the review and the improvement plans proposed.
The relevant minutes extract from the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee held on 23 January 2003 will be circulated as soon as they are available.
Copies of the Final Report and Improvement Plan have been attached for Members of the Cabinet only. Copies of this document can by obtained from the Council’s Website (www.leicester.gov.uk) following the link to Council meetings or by phoning Committee Services on (0116) 252 6022. Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor Westley submitted a report presented the final report and Improvement Plan from the first phase of the Best Value Review of ICT and E-Government.
The Minutes of the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee on 23 January 2003 were circulated to the Cabinet.
RESOLVED: That the findings and the conclusions of the review and improvement plans proposed, be approved. |
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POLICY ON LICENSING OF SEX SHOPS PDF 2 MB Councillor Holden submits a report setting out proposals for a new policy on licensing Sex Shops. The Cabinet is recommended to adopt the policy on the licensing of Sex Shops shown in Appendix 1 of the report with immediate effect and it is recommended that the implementation policy shown in Appendix 2 is also adopted. Minutes: Councillor Holden submitted a report proposing an amended policy on the Licensing of Sex Shops. Councillor Holden thanked those who had responded to the consultation on this policy. It was noted that the emphasis of the proposed changes in policy were with regard to location. The proposed Policy allowed for sex establishments to be located within the inner ring road but not in local communities or anywhere they may cause offence, for example, close to schools or religious establishments. The Policy allowed for 3 shops within the inner ring road and it was noted that currently there were 2 located outside this demarcation. The proposal was to allow these 2 existing establishments to operate for a maximum of a further 5 years and in the meantime the Council would offer advice with relocating these two premises.
RESOLVED: (1)that the policy on the licensing of Sex Shops, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, be adopted with immediate effect; and
(2)that the implementation policy shown in Appendix 2 to the report, be adopted. |
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ANTI SOCIAL USE OF FIREWORKS PDF 104 KB Councillor Holden submits a report informing the Cabinet of the outcome of the recent publicity campaign and to seek support for the introduction of new legislative controls over the sale and use of fireworks. The Cabinet is asked to endorse the work undertaken in the ‘Bang’ campaign, that information and public support be forwarded to the Department for Trade and Industry and the City’s three M.P.s and is asked to support the private members Bill currently progressing through parliament, consider in the event of such legislation not coming in to force, to apply for local bylaws to tackle the problem and to continue working with the Police and other agencies to use every power available to tackle problems arising from the anti social use of fireworks. Minutes: Councillor Holden submitted a report informing the Cabinet of the outcome of the recent publicity campaign aimed at raising public awareness of the anti social use of fireworks. Councillor Holden thanked the local media, and in particular the Leicester Mercury for their support of the campaign. The report also sought support from the City’s three MPs for the introduction of new legislative controls over the sale and use of fireworks.
RESOLVED:
(1) that the work undertaken in the course of the 2002 “Bang” campaign aimed at reducing the problems associated with the antisocial use of fireworks, be endorsed;
(2) that information arising from the campaign, together with the clear public support for the introduction of new legislation to tackle these problems, be forwarded to the Department of Trade and Industry and the City’s three M.P.s, and that they be asked to support the private member’s Bill currently progressing through Parliament;
(3) that in the event of such legislation not coming into force, the City Council be recommended to give consideration to applying for authority to introduce local byelaws to tackle these problems; and
(4) that the City Council, in liaison with the Police and other relevant agencies, continue to use every power at its disposal to tackle problems arising from the antisocial use of firework and to this end, this matter be referred to the Crime and Disorder Partnership. |
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Councillor Roberts submits a report seeking the Cabinet’s approval of the draft Annual Library Plan for Leicester 2002. Annual Library Plans are the means by which Local Authorities make publicly accessible their plans for the development of the Library Service and also by which Government ensures national objectives are met. The Cabinet is asked to recommend the Annual Library Plan 2002 to Council for approval.
The relevant minutes extract from the Education and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee held on 22 January will be circulated as soon as they are available.
Copies of the Annual Library Plan 2002 have been circulated to all members of the Council, they are also available to view in all libraries and on the Council’s Internet site at www.leicester.gov.uk/libraries. Copies can also be obtained by phoning (0116) 252 6022. Additional documents: |