Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Wann.

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.

Councillors were asked to declare any interests they may have in the business on the agenda and/or declare if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applied to them.

Councillor Osman declared a personal interest in respect of the Sub Regional Economic Development Review, as he was a Leicester City Council representative for Prospect  Leicestershire.

Councillor Westley declared a personal interest in respect of the report on Implementing the Local Pay and Grading Review (Single Status) as his brother in law worked in Leicester City Council’s City Cleansing section.

Councillor Dawood declared a personal and prejudicial interest in respect of the report on Implementing the Local Pay and Grading Review (Single Status) as his wife worked for Leicester City Council as a member of the school dinner staff in a primary school.

Councillor Patel announced that following an Ofsted inspection in January 2011 of one of Leicester City Council’s five children’s homes, a third home had been judged as outstanding.  In addition to the three children’s homes rated as outstanding by Ofsted, the remaining two homes were judged to be good but with some outstanding features.

Councillor Patel explained that it was a real achievement for local authority run children's homes to be judged as outstanding by Ofsted and this bucked the national trend.  On behalf of the Cabinet, Councillor Patel thanked the managers and staff and stated that these achievements demonstrated the commitment, skill and passion of everyone who worked with Leicester's looked after children who were living in residential care.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2011 have been circulated to Members and the Cabinet is asked to approve them as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 17 January 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

There were no matters referred from Committees.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that requests Cabinet’s approval to include the four capital projects, detailed on Paragraph 1.1 of the report, in the Children and Young People Services Capital Programme 2010/11.  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations set out in Paragraph 2.2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 31 January 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that requested Cabinet’s approval to include the following capital projects to the Children and Young People Services Capital Programme 2010/11:

• Alderman Richard Hallam – to approve the allocation of £0.900m of kitchen funding to improve the school’s kitchen and dining facilities;

• Extended Services: to release £0.235m of Extended Services funding to improve access to school buildings and facilities;

• Uplands Junior: to add £0.300m of school funding to support refurbishment work at the school; and

• Play Capital Grant: To note the reduced funding available and projects already approved by the Cabinet Lead and to approve the remaining proposed allocation to projects and the further work to complete to enable full spend by the end of March 2011.

Councillor Dempster stated that the capital programme was key to the success that the council were achieving across the city and expressed concern at the large reductions in capital funding that the council would be facing in the next few years.

Councillor Dempster added that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had endorsed the report’s recommendations at its meeting on 31 January 2011.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     authorises the release of £0.235m of Extended Services Capital approved within Block C of the Capital Programme approved by Council in March 2009, to be allocated as set out in paragraphs 4.18 and 4.19 and Appendix 1.

2)     adds to the capital programme:

1.      £0.300m for the Uplands Junior School project (funded by the school) as set out in paragraph 4.20

2.      £0.900m for the Alderman Richard Hallam as set out in paragraphs 4.3 to 4.13

3)     in respect of the Play Capital Grant, notes the reduced funding available and projects already approved by the Cabinet Lead and approves the remaining proposed allocation to projects and the further work to complete to enable full spend by the end of March 2011.     

Councillor Dempster submits a report that seeks to secure Cabinet approval to submit to Partnerships for Schools the Final Business Case for the Council’s Building Schools for the Future, Rushey Mead School project and to obtain the necessary authority to progress the project.  Cabinet is asked to approve recommendations set out in Paragraph 2.2 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee on 31 January 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that sought Cabinet’s approval to submit to Partnerships for Schools the Final Business Case for the Council’s Building Schools for the Future, Rushey Mead School project and to obtain the necessary authority to progress the project.  Thanks were given to everyone who had worked extremely hard, at very short notice to deliver the project.

Councillor Dempster stated that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had endorsed the report’s recommendations at its meeting on 31 January 2011.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     approves the submission of the Final Business Case as presented in the report,

2)     agrees to release the capital funds of up to £19.607m made available by Council;

3)     authorises the Strategic Director Children, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead, to take such decisions as she thinks fit to implement the scheme within the scope of the Final Business Case; and

4)     authorises the Chief Finance Officer to submit a Section 151 Officer letter of support for release with the Final Business Case, reflecting the contract proposals, in a form suitable for Partnerships for School’s approval purposes.                  

Councillor Osman submits a report that updates Cabinet on the development of a new approach to support economic development in the Leicester and Leicestershire sub-region, including the establishment of a Local Enterprise Partnership and a Single Delivery Vehicle (combining Prospect Leicestershire and Leicestershire Promotions).  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations set out in Paragraph 2.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on 3 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that updated Cabinet on the development of a new approach to support economic development in the Leicester and Leicestershire sub-region, including the establishment of a Local Enterprise Partnership and a Single Delivery Vehicle (combining Prospect Leicestershire and Leicestershire Promotions).

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     approves the establishment of a Local Enterprise Partnership for Leicester and Leicestershire (LLEP);

2)     approves combining Prospect Leicestershire and Leicestershire Promotions into a Single Delivery Vehicle (SDV) for Leicester and Leicestershire, to be a jointly held company between the City and County Councils;

3)     delegates authority to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader, to finalise all matters relating to the establishment of the LLEP and SDV;

4)     makes financial provision, as set out in the report, for the establishment of the LLEP and SDV, taking into account any associated liabilities from the existing delivery bodies.

Councillor Osman submits a report that seeks approval for stage 2 of the Ashton Green project following outline planning approval at Planning Committee.  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations set out in Paragraph 2.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 3 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought approval for Stage 2 of the Ashton Green project following outline planning approval at Planning Committee.  Councillor Osman stated that concerns had been raised relating to transport issues and the comments and concerns of ward members had been taken on board. He added that there would be consultation with residents and ward councillors.

Members responded that the Cabinet Lead’s assurance that there would be consultation with residents and ward councillors was welcomed.  The need for affordable housing was also acknowledged and a request that the extra care homes should receive appropriate and adequate maintenance in order that they would provide a long term rather than short term facility.

Councillor Coley noted that zero carbon homes were planned from 2016 and low carbon homes from 2013 and queried why there was no requirement for zero carbon homes from 2013.  Members responded that there had been considerable discussion relating to this issue but it was necessary to ensure that what was planned was available and realistic. The technology for zero carbon homes was not yet available in this country and low carbon homes were still a specialist area. Work was being carried out with De-Montfort University and other partners however to ensure that the homes that were built were as sustainable as possible.

Councillor Coley noted that the report stated that there would be early public transport interventions and questioned whether there would be any guarantees of this, to avoid the problems that had occurred in Hamilton.   Councillor Osman responded that they were in a good position to mitigate some of the transport issues and three highway authorities had approved a package of transport infrastructure measures.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     notes the outline planning approval received at the Planning and Development Control Committee on 20 December 2010; and

2)     approves a sum of £325,500 within the Capital Programme to support the project through the developer procurement stage to enable land disposals and a potential start on site from 2012/13 onwards.

Councillor Osman submits a report that seeks Cabinet approval to spend the 2010/11 Watercourse Improvement budgets.  Cabinet is asked to approve the expenditure of the 2010/2011 Watercourse Maintenance and Improvement budget.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 3 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought Cabinet’s approval to spend the 2010/11 Watercourse Improvement budgets.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the expenditure of the 2010/11 Watercourse Maintenance and Improvement budget.

Councillor Patel submits a report that informs Cabinet of the provision of new modular facilities for pre-school facilities from a Sure Start grant and the requirement to grant a lease on a peppercorn basis to facilitate this process. Cabinet is asked to approve the granting of leases at a peppercorn rent to the Willows Pre-school Playgroup and Kiddycare Ltd.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that updated Cabinet on the provision of new modular facilities for pre-school facilities from a Sure Start grant and the requirement to grant a lease on a peppercorn basis to facilities the process.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the granting of leases at a peppercorn rent to the Willows Pre-school Playgroup and Kiddycare Ltd.

Councillor Patel submits a report that outlines why the Council needs to address the structural problems of New Walk Centre (NWC). The report considers the results of the options appraisal project and sets out a strategy for the provision of office accommodation that is modern, flexible, efficient and cost effective.  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations set out in Paragraph 2 of the report.

A minute extract of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board held on 3 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that outlined why the Council needed to address the structural problems of New Walk Centre.  The report considered the results of the options appraisal project and set out a strategy for the provision of office accommodation that was modern, flexible and cost effective.

Councillor Patel noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had considered the report at its meeting on 3 February 2011. He responded to issues raised by the Board and read out revisions to recommendations 2 and 4 of the report.

Councillor Coley expressed concerns that Members were only being asked to consider 2 of the 5 options detailed in the report. He added that there were other buildings that should be considered in addition to the Leicester Mercury building, which because of its location may result in difficulties in travelling to and from the Town Hall. In response Councillor Coley was advised that other buildings had been considered but had been found to be unsuitable, but if further options within the financial envelope arose, these would also be considered.

In response to a further concern from Councillor Coley relating to the recommendation to delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader, Councillor Coley was informed that the issue would be debated at council, but it may be that an urgent decision would be needed in which case a special council meeting would be called.

In response to a request from the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board (OSMB), Members heard that a report would be provided to OSMB on the I.T. and telephony project.

Members were requested to agree the recommendations including the revisions to recommendations 2 and 4.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

1)     notes the need for positive action to address the issues at New Walk Centre and the benefits to be gained in terms of releasing funding for other purposes, the opportunity to improve customer accessibility, drive transformational change and improve efficiency;

2)     considers the outcomes of the options appraisal project and supports the need to continue forward with 2 options and confirms that options 3 and 4 be preferred, acknowledging that if a subsequent option meeting the cost envelope, and other strategic criteria is identified then it too is given further consideration;

3)     approves the continuation of the options appraisal project to enable further work on options 3 and 4, and authorises the release of £85,000 from the Centrally Located Administrative Building’s capital allocation to fund the additional work;

4)     refers the selection of option 3 or 4 (or any alternative option put forward within the agreed cost envelope) to Council at the end of the extended appraisal period based upon which option provides the most cost effective solution and to enter into necessary contracts to progress the preferred option and release funding from CLAB’s capital allocation accordingly, noting that an urgent decision on this matter is likely to be needed which will require a special Council meeting.

5)     authorises the appointment of commercial agents to negotiate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 188.

Councillor Dawood, having declared a personal and prejudicial interest in the following item, withdrew from the room for the remainder of 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 as the report had only recently been finalised and could not be deferred because to do so would avoid a delay in implementation and result in subsequent costs to the Council.

The Human Resources Director submitted a report that brought Cabinet up to date with developments on Implementing the Local Pay and Grading Review (Single Status).

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the recommendations detailed in paragraph 3 of the report.

The meeting closed at 1.54 pm.