Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Bhavsar and Councillor Naylor.

Members are asked to declare any interest they may have in the business on the agenda, and/or indicate that Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillor Cassidy declared an Other Disclosable Interest in agenda Item 10 that he was a Board Member for LLEP and GPF was a LEP responsibility.

In accordance with the Council’s new Code of Conduct the interests were not considered so significant that it was likely to prejudice Members judgement of the public interest. Councillors Cassidy was, therefore, not required to withdraw from the meeting.

AGENDA

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO NOTE

Under the law, the Committee is entitled to consider certain items in private where in the circumstances the public interest in maintaining the matter exempt from publication outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.  Members of the public will be asked to leave the meeting when such items are discussed.

The Committee 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, as amended, and consequently that the Sub-Committee 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, 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.”

Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (INCLUDING THE authority holding that information)

ASHTON GREEN EMPLOYMENT LAND SALE AND ACCESS   Appendix B1

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, 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.”

“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, 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.”

Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (INCLUDING THE authority holding that information)

ASHTON GREEN EMPLOYMENT LAND SALE AND ACCESS   Appendix B1

The Director of Planning, transport and Economic Development will present an update on Ashton Green Employment Land Sale and Access.

26.1    Geoff Mee, Ashton Green Project Manager, was present at the meeting to discuss the document presented to the Scrutiny Commission.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted.

2.    That a future report be brought to the meeting on the available employment land in the city.

3.    The Scrutiny Commission acknowledged the rationale for the sale.

The minutes of the meeting of the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Scrutiny Commission held on 24^th October 2012 have been circulated, and Members are asked to confirm them as a correct record.

Minutes Item 20 Phoenix Presentation

Councillor Chaplin requested that the questions that were asked by Councillors be included with the answers given.

Councillor Chaplin stated she wanted the verbatim quote from Martin Peters with regards to the need for a broad cultural offer.

Minutes Item 21 Any Other Business

Councillor Cassidy reported that Geoff Rowe was not at the meeting and amendments were required.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the previous meeting of the Economic Development, culture and Tourism Scrutiny commission, held on 24^th October 2012 be amended and brought to the next meeting.

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any questions, representations or statements of case received in accordance with Council procedures.

It was reported that no questions, representations or statements of case had been received.

The Monitoring Officer to report on the receipt of any petitions received in accordance with Council procedures.

It was reported that no petitions, in accordance with the Council’s procedures, had been received.

Fiona Allen, Chief Executive, Curve, will deliver a presentation.

32.1    Fiona Allan, Chief Executive, Curve, gave a presentation to the Scrutiny Commission, and a copy is attached to the minutes for information.

32.2    Fiona opened the presentation by informing the meeting on what Curve did. She stated that the production of Curve’s own work took half the time in the main theatre, and the rest of the time was balanced by visiting work. She described Curve as developing a reputation as a place to premiere new productions, due to Curve’s rehearsal space, technical facility and know-how.

32.3    The presentation included statistical information for the financial year 2011/12 for events at Curve as follows:

·         551 performances on three stages to 180,000 people

·         103 different productions

·         75 conferences, events, graduations for 20,000 attendees

·         419 workshop / participatory sessions for 16,000 participants

·         20 East Midlands artists / companies presented and supported

·         7 artistic residencies

·         75 free public performances

·         Door counters installed to track casual visitation

32.4    Fiona informed the meeting that Curve delivered a range of productions, including brand new productions, new writing and classical musicals, and supported dance and physical theatres. The stated the breadth of activity made Curve stand out as a regional producing theatre.

32.5    Fiona reported that the 2011 Christmas production ‘42^nd Street’ was extended by a week due to popular demand. She stated that during the show, there were 36,000 attendees, and was Curve’s best-selling show to date with almost £750k ticket revenue, and 11% of bookers from outside Leicestershire.

32.6    In additional Gypsy attracted an audience of 24% from outside Leicestershire, with some people coming from as far as Australia and America. She noted that to attract an audience into Leicester, extensive press and media work was undertaken by Curve’s communications team. Curve also had deals with East Midlands Trains and Ramada Encore Hotel to encourage people to watch the show and stay in the city.

32.7    Fiona then showed a video of highlights from the production ‘Gypsy’, and reported on the 5* review the production had received nationally. She added that producers in other countries were interested in the production.

32.8    Fiona then showed a short clip of the world premiere ‘Finding Neverland’ from Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, which was reported to be the biggest musical ever to play Leicester and had attracted celebrity visitors. Fiona said that media coverage for Curve and Leicester was valued at over £1m, with over 18,000 people attending, with 80% of the capacity sold at over £400k in sales. Curve had also been an ‘opening’ theatre for five shows.

32.9    Audience figures from 2008 onwards had shown a year-on-year growth, even though the country was in recession. Fiona reported that during 2011/12, 35,000 bookers had purchased 180,394 tickets at a total value of £2.88m. she added that there was a growing audience from low income, BME, family and youth audiences.

32.10  A map of the UK was then shown, highlighting the geographical spread of bookers n 2011/12. Fiona then read a quote from the presentation from Beverly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

The Director of Learning Services will outline proposals for the future of Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service.

33.1    Margaret Libreri (Director, Learning Services) and Kerry Gray (Acting Interim Head of Service, Adults) presented the report which set out the financial position of the Leicester Adult Skills and Learning Service.

33.2    The summary made reference to a report that had been presented by Mark Noble at a previous Scrutiny Commission meeting, and the continuing budget pressures the Service faced through reduced income. Margaret stated there was a risk the Service would decline, and that it was imperative that the budget issues were addressed, and that management would look at the key priorities for the Service and the City.

33.3    Margaret referred to paragraph 2.1 in the report, in which there was a clear acknowledgement of the significant contribution of the Service to the City. The Chair referred to the reference in the paragraph to the Economic Development, Culture and Tourism Scrutiny Commission, which had underlined the importance of providing an Adult Education Service in the city which addressed the fundamental challenges of low basic skills and low qualification base and at the same time contributed to the wellbeing and civil, social, economic, democratic and cultural life of the City and its citizens, which the Chair would emphasise to the Executive.

33.4    Margaret stated there were further challenges to the Service due to the reduced year on year funding from the national Skills Funding Agency (SFA), which had fallen by 8% (£434,000) between 2010/2011 and 2012/2013.

33.5    Margaret referred to the two scenarios outlined in the report, with situation most likely to result in Scenario 1, with Scenario 2 being the worst forecast. Margaret reported that the Council would be wise to project a 10% cut in Adult Skills budget from the SFA for 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 based on past years allocations. She stated that Adult Community Learning was currently protected but remained a risk.

33.6    Margaret informed members of the key areas for reductions in paragraph 2.3 in the report, and bullet points contained within:

-       Class sizes were small (average 9 people), and to increase efficiency class sizes would need to increase, and rationalise provision across the city, which would require political approval, but was an opportunity for active engagement with other providers in the city.

-       The right people were needed for the job, which would require a configuration of staff.

-       Data management was not efficient and limited the capacity to target groups, and required improvement.

33.7    Margaret also reported that it was not always clear why venues were used, which could be expensive. Margaret also informed the meeting that WNF funding had ceased, though Adult Skills and Learning were still providing the service. It was suggested that Multi Access Centres might be best placed elsewhere in the Council. The report also questionedif there was any synergy with the Connexions services for 16-18 NEETs?

33.8    Margaret moved on to paragraph 2.4 in the report which suggested the Service reconsider and reprioritise the curriculum priorities, for example apprenticeships which might be better placed with another city  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

(i)            The revised minutes from 24^th October 2012 would be brought back to a future meeting.

(ii)          That an update on the future of MACs be brought to the Scrutiny Commission.

The meeting closed 8.10pm.