Agenda item

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.

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 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 responded that he would ask the Corporate Director of Cultural Services and Neighbourhood Renewal to consider whether areas of land adjoining the existing Western Park boundary could be incorporated into the Park and used as Public Open Space to offset the loss of Public Open space due to the proposed letting of Western Park House and Pavilion and adjoining land under a 125 year lease.  However, due to the park being bounded by either public highways, an operational railway line and private garden land it may prove difficult to identify such areas.

He also commented that, having regard to individual circumstances, shorter leases would be offered where possible.

He confirmed that restrictions on future development currently formed part of modern Council leases of land adjacent to Public Open Space and that Cabinet would be advised by Officers on the extent of consultation that had occurred prior to making its decisions to dispose of similar properties.  This would enable the Cabinet to consider the role of Scrutiny Committees in such circumstances.

Councillor Willmott also commented that the Cabinet had requested a list of all unoccupied Council owned properties and asked officers to consider ways of bringing empty buildings back into use both to prevent disrepair and to generate income.  The former Chair of the Finance, Resources and Equal Opportunities Scrutiny Committee had also asked for the same list and requested Cabinet to take action to bring empty buildings into use.  Councillor Willmott commented that the leasing of the Western Park House was an example of a successful solution to an unused Council building being brought back into an appropriate use