Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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 in the business on the agenda and/or declare if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

No such declarations were made.

The Leader announced that this would be his last Cabinet meeting as Leader of the Council.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2010, have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to approve them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 15 February 2010 be confirmed as a correct record.

There were no matters referred from Committees.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that informs of developments around Corporate Parenting. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraphs 2.2 to 2.7 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee, held on 2 March 2010, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that informed of developments around Corporate Parenting.

Councillor Dempster explained that in Leicester City, Corporate Parenting had a good reputation and in 2008 the Council was awarded Beacon status for Corporate Parenting. As a result, Leicester City’s model of the Corporate Parenting Forum had been shared with and adopted by several other local authorities.

Councillor Dempster stated that the report was considered by the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee at their meeting on 2 March 2010, where concerns were expressed over the recommendation to impose mandatory training on Corporate Parenting upon elected Members. The Scrutiny Committee put forward amended recommendations to the effect that training be strongly recommended and that each Political Group sign a charter demonstrating their commitment to Corporate Parenting.

Councillor Dempster stated that she was happy to support the alternative recommendation along with the other recommendations listed in the report.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     agrees that new Corporate Parenting briefings will be arranged on a six monthly basis, and will comprise ‘beginner’ sessions and ‘refresher’ sessions for members who have attended previous briefings;

2)     recommends to Council an approach whereby the Party Groups (or Independent Members) are asked to demonstrate their commitment to Corporate Parenting by agreeing to strongly recommend training for all of their Group (or Independent) Members as set out in 4.7 of the report, coupled with more specific training for Members with additional responsibilities, and for each Party Group (or Independent Member) to sign a Charter demonstrating this commitment.

3)     agrees the revised reporting and communication regime as outlined in the terms of reference;

4)     notes the updated terms of reference and the need for increased representation;

5)     agrees that the Chief Executive and the Leader of the Council are invited to one Corporate Parenting Forum per year; and

6)     agrees to ‘Corporate Parenting’ being added as an implication to all reports.

Councillor Russell submits a report that seeks approval for the inclusion of additional streets within the current Street Drinking Ban. Cabinet is asked to recommend to Council that all areas as detailed in the report be included in an amended Street Drinking Ban as provisioned for under section13 (3) b in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 4 March 2010, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dawood submitted a report that sought approval for the inclusion of additional streets within the current Street Drinking Ban. These additional streets were:

• Cottesmore Close up to junction with Fernie Road
• Quorn Road up to junction with Fernie Road
• Uppingham Road from 1 Uppingham Road to junction with Oakley Road
• Nelson Street
• Upper Nelson Street
• Regent Street
• Slate Street
• Leicester Train Station

Councillor Dawood explained that the Council would work with the Police and other agencies to enforce the Street Drinking Ban.  It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at their meeting on 4 March 2010 and had supported the recommendations contained within the report.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet recommends that the above mentioned streets be included in an amended Street Drinking Ban as provisioned for under section 13(3)b in the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001.

Councillor Russell submits a report that provides an approach to ensure that during the design of new council buildings and major refurbishments the carbon dioxide emissions performance is considered to meet the One Leicester commitment to build zero carbon buildings, in addition to other corporate environmental objectives. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 3 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 4 March 2010, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Russell submitted a report that provided an approach to ensure that during the design of new council buildings and major refurbishments the carbon dioxide emissions performance would be considered in order to meet the One Leicester commitment to build zero carbon buildings, in addition to other corporate environmental objectives. 

It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at their meeting on 4 March 2010 and had supported the recommendations contained within the report.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet recommends:

1) that all new council building and major refurbishments projects that fall within the council definition of a major project (i.e. over £1,000,000):

a.      will be expected to achieve the BREEAM (the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) Design standard environmental rating of “excellent” on new buildings and seek funding to meet this standard as required. Major refurbishment projects are required to achieve “very good” where BREEAM is appropriate to the nature of the refurbishment;

b.. will undertake a feasibility study as paft of BREEAM to present a series of costed options for achieving different levels of carbon dioxide emissions reduction to an appropriate financial decision-making forum (e.g. Cabinet); and

c.  are subject to a Sustainability Assessment to pick up the non-environmental aspects of the council’s sustainable procurement policy.

2) that in circumstances where there are existing legal or other requirements applicable (eg. Planning policies) then these will take precedence. An example would be the refurbishment of a council-owned listed building.

3) that recommendations will be implemented through the corporate project management standards and the Gateway process.

Councillor Kitterick submits a report that seeks approval to proceed with the implementation of the Leicester Science Park Innovation Workspace project. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 4 March 2010, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Kitterick submitted a report that sought approval to proceed with the implementation of the Leicester Science Park Innovation Workspace project.  Members heard that the project might be particularly beneficial for those people with specialised pharmaceutical skills who had recently lost their jobs, as the project would create opportunities for them.

It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered the report at their meeting on 4 March 2010 and had supported the recommendations contained within the report.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the commencement of the Leicester Science Park Innovation workspace project and :

1)     authorises the Strategic Director Development, Culture and Regeneration, in consultation with Cabinet Leads for Property and Regeneration, to

a.      agree the terms and sign relevant funding agreements as set out in the report.

b.      agree terms to acquire any freehold or leasehold land and thereafter enter into leases for the completed scheme as required to deliver and subsequently operate the Leicester Science Park Innovation Workspace.

2)     authorises the Director of Legal Services to execute all the necessary documentation to complete all property transactions including procurement and construction.

3)     approves the capital funding package as set out in the report, for which the Council will act as accountable body, and add the Leicester Science Park Innovation Workspace to the Council’s Capital Programme.

4)     approves the plan for funding any revenue deficit that accrues before optimum occupancy is achieved, as outlined in the report.

5)     notes the project risks as set out in the report and Appendix B.

Councillor Osman submits a report that describes a Customer Data Integration (CDI) project that will join up all the Council’s key back office systems and support the development of more on-line services to help transform the customer experience. Cabinet is recommended to support the CDI project and agree to release £700k from the Organisational Development & Improvement project to fund the CDI initiative.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that described a Customer Data Integration (CDI) project that would join up all the Council’s key back office systems and support the development of more on-line services to help transform the customer experience.  Councillor Osman explained that this was one of a number of projects, which were designed to ensure that Leicester’s citizens received excellent customer service.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet agrees to:

1)     support the Customer Data Integration (CDI) project; and

2)     agrees to release £700k from the ODI project to fund the CDI initiative.

Councillor Patel submits a report thatpresents a “corporate” capital programme for 2010/11. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 3.2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, held on 4 March 2010, will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that presented a “corporate” capital programme for 2010/11.  He stated that as requested by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board, he was happy to review the budget for watercourse maintenance on completion of a task group review into flood management. He added that as part of the capital programme, a reserve would be set up for the redevelopment of the Leicester Market.

Councillor Willmott added that although there was no money allocated for the market in this programme, Cabinet would continue to support investment in the market and stated that this would be a boost to the City and also the market itself. Councillor Willmott also congratulated the Cabinet Lead for Regeneration and Transport for his work on the New Business Quarter, a development which would be funded by external sources.

Councillor Russell informed Members that it was likely that sufficient funding for watercourse maintenance and improvements could be met from other sources, including a new Government allocation in the Area Based Grant.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet: 

1)     recommends to Council:

a)     that the schemes identified in Appendix A, as described in paragraph 5 be the corporate capital programme for 2010/11;

b)     the split between schemes in block A which can proceed without further approval and schemes in block B which require a report to Cabinet;

2)     designates the following as service resources for the purposes of this programme (being resources which fall outside the scope of the corporate programme):

a)     housing capital receipts;

b)     housing, education and transport supported capital expenditure (borrowing and grant) allocations;

c)      any other supported capital expenditure allocations awarded by central government for specific purposes;

d)     profits made by the Housing Maintenance DSO;

e)     third party contributions for specific purposes;

f)        divisional revenue contributions;

3)     In connection with   Financial Procedure Rules:

a)     recommends to Council a “higher limit” of £10m, being the amount below which the Cabinet can make changes to the programme. This “higher limit” of £10m is subject to no more than £2m of the funding in total of any scheme being financed from corporate resources. 

b)     approves a “lower limit” of £250,000 below which directors can vire resources;

4)     notes that the above limits apply to the capital programme as a whole, not just the corporate capital programme.

5)      approves the creation of an earmarked reserve for the development of the market.

Councillor Patel submits a report that presents an overview of the various considerations and steps that can be brought to bear to assist the local economy in procurement activity.  It is intended to be a starting point for more detailed consideration/development. Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 2 of the report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that presented an overview of the various considerations and steps that could be brought to bear to assist the local economy in procurement activity.

Councillor Willmott stated that he wished to commend the report to Cabinet as a way of supporting the local economy and of discovering new opportunities. 

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet:

1)     notes the report and endorses the direction of travel; and

2)     notes that Officers will work up guidance and support packages for small and medium enterprises, particularly with a view to reducing barriers to doing business with the Council, and to consider the approach to social issues in procurement.

Councillor Patel submits a report that outlines the proposal for an overarching Graduate Retention Programme for Leicester City Council.  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations in Paragraph 2.1 of the report.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that outlined the proposal for an overarching Graduate Retention Programme for Leicester City Council.

Councillor Patel stated that historically it had been seen that graduates had migrated to other cities and this programme was a way of attracting graduates whilst also giving them an opportunity to develop their own employability skills. 

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet approves:

1)                 the proposal to establish a Graduate Retention  Programme (paras 3.3, 4.1.1 – 4.1.4);

2)                 the proposal to establish a Graduate Trainee Scheme (paras 4.3 & 4.4);

3)                 the proposal to establish a Graduate Talent Pool (paras 4.5 & 4.6);

4)                 the proposal to source posts/placements from vacancies/projects currently covered by agency workers as a means of reducing agency spend (paras 4.1.3 & 4.3.1);

5)                 the proposal to make offers of permanent employment on completion of the programme where appropriate (paras 4.3.2 );

6)                 the recruitment and assessment process in accordance with the timescales provided (paras 4.7.1 – 4.7.4);

7)                 that Cabinet notes the benefits of the Programme (para 4..2.1 – 4.2.5)

8)                 the pay structure Options (para 4.8.9/Appendix 2)

9)                 the proposal to meet with Divisional Directors to discuss post allocation to the scheme (para 4.10.1)

Councillor Patel submits a report that presents a proposed new Recruitment Policy and Procedure. Cabinet is recommended that the new Recruitment Policy and Procedure be agreed for consultation with Trade Unions

Councillor Patel submitted a report that presented a proposed new Recruitment Policy and Procedure.  He stated that the Council wanted to attract and retain high calibre staff and to reflect the diversity of the Community that the Council served.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet agrees that the new Recruitment Policy and Procedure be agreed for consultation with Trade Unions.

AGENDA

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC TO NOTE

Under the law, the Cabinet is entitled to consider certain items in private.  Members of the public will be asked to leave the meeting when such items are discussed.

The Cabinet 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 Cabinet 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).

Members of Cabinet considered the reasons for considering the following reports in private, on the basis that they contained information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information). They felt that it was in the public interest to maintain the exemption, to protect the Council’s and other’s business affairs. No objection was raised to this.

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.

Paragraph 3

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

                        SALE OF LAND AT THE REAR OF 70 BOSTON ROAD.

Councillor Willmott submits a report.

Councillor Willmott submitted a report that sought Cabinet approval for the sale of land at the rear of 70 Boston Road.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approve the recommendations as set out in Paragraph 3 of the report.

The meeting closed at 1.20 pm