Agenda item

BUSINESS PLAN FOR THE OPERATION OF PHOENIX SQUARE FILM & DIGITAL MEDIA CENTRE BY LEICESTER ARTS CENTRE LTD

The Deputy Chief Executive left the meeting during consideration of this item.

The Leader agreed that this item would be considered as urgent business on the grounds that the continued operation of Phoenix Square was dependent on Cabinet approval to the business plan and subsequent financial support.

Councillor Wann submitted a report that informed Cabinet about Leicester Arts Centre Ltd’s (LAC) Business Plan for the operation of Phoenix Square Film & Digital Media Centre and sought Cabinet endorsement of it.

Councillor Wann noted the comments of the Overview & Scrutiny Management Board.

The business plan was welcomed by Members and assurance was given, in response to questions, that the business plan would be constantly reviewed. It was noted that ticket prices may rise in order for the Phoenix Square to remain sustainable, and that better films could be attracted.

Councillor Russell stated that she was pleased that education remained strong in the business plan, but that she had concerns that the ongoing approval of such funding could be incongruous with withdrawing consideration of the netbook loan scheme for children in deprived areas, as good education opportunities were needed.

Concern was raised that the financial implications were not yet available and the meeting heard that these would be provided as soon as possible. Members agreed to amend the resolutions to state that, due to the unavailability of financial implications, no further expenditure should be released without the approval of the Chief Executive and Chief Finance  Officer.

RESOLVED:

                        That Cabinet:

1)      endorses the Business Plan prepared by Leicester Arts Centre Ltd for the operation of the Phoenix Square Film & Digital Media Centre;

2)      delegates any variations to the business plan, that require Cabinet endorsement, to the Director of Cultural Services in consultation with the Cabinet Lead for Culture & Leisure;

3)      agrees the milestone plan for draw-down of the additional funding, approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 6 September 2010, but that due to the unavailability of financial implications, no further expenditure should be released without the approval of the Chief Executive and Chief Finance  Officer.

The Deputy Chief Executive returned to the meeting.

PRIVATE SESSION

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 involved the likely disclosure of ‘exempt’ information, as defined in the Paragraph detailed below of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and taking all the circumstances into account, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the information as exempt outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

IMPLEMENTING THE LOCAL PAY AND GRADING REVIEW (SINGLE STATUS)

Paragraph 4

Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

Paragraph 5

Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

IMPLEMENTING THE LOCAL PAY AND GRADING REVIEW (SINGLE STATUS)

The Leader agreed that this item would be considered as urgent business due to tight timescales and the financial implications of delay and the legal reasons associated with this.

Councillor Dawood submitted a report that recommended alternative approaches to the implementation of the new proposed pay and grading structure and set out the financial implications for the project budget.

Members considered the issue in detail and stated that the timescale and content of communication should be determined fully.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approves the recommendations as set out in the report.