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.

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 applied to them.

Councillor Bhatti declared a personal interest in item 6, the Schools’ Budget Strategy as his daughter in law was a teacher.

Councillor Cooke declared a personal interest in the School’s Budget Strategy 2011-12, as he was a governor at St Mary’s Primary School, Rowley Fields.

Councillor Dawood declared a personal interest in the item 6, School’s Budget Strategy as his wife worked as a dining supervisor in a local school. He also declared that he was employed by Connexions.

Councillor Dempster declared a personal interest in respect of item 16, Sale of Land at Bradgate Street, Leicester, as she knew the applicant. Councillor Dempster withdrew from the meeting for the consideration and vote on this item of business.

Councillor Russell declared a personal interest in respect of item 6, Schools’ Budget Strategy 2011-12, as she was Chair of Governors at King Richard III Primary School.

Councillor Westley declared a personal interest in item 11, Review of the Housing Allocations Policy, as some of his family were council house tenants.

There were no Leader’s announcements.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2011 and the special meeting held on 21 February 2011, 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 7 February 2011 and the special meeting held on 21 February 2011 be confirmed as correct records.

There were no matters referred from Committees.

Councillor Dempster submits a report that considers a range of issues affecting the determination and distribution of the Schools’ Budget for 2011/12.  The Pupil Premium funding will also be considered.  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 28 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that considered a range of issues affecting the determination and distribution of the Schools’ Budget for 2011/12.  She explained that because of the government spending cuts, there would be a 5% reduction in the spending power of schools. However it was proposed that through this strategy more money would be given direct to schools and less held centrally, which would reduce bureaucracy. Thanks were given to the Schools’ Forum for their work on the strategy.

Councillor Dempster added that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had endorsed the report and the comments of the Committee had been noted.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet:

a)     Supports the proposals detailed in Section 4 in this report as the guiding principles in determining the allocation of the Schools Budget in 2011/12.  

b)     Approves the changes to the local formula for funding schools, specifically relating to:-

-          Mainstreaming a number of grants into the Dedicated Schools Grant (paragraphs 4.2 to 4.4);

-          Introducing the new Early Years Single Funding Formula. There is a legal requirement to have this in place from April 1 2011 (paragraphs 4.13 to 4.16);

-          Introducing a new method of distributing funding related to Threshold Pay (paragraph 4.18);

-          Introducing the new methodology to directly fund schools related to Meeting Individual Needs (paragraphs 4.19 to 4.20);

-          Introducing a new method of distributing funding related to Pupil Mobility (paragraphs 4.21 to 4.23).

c)      Notes the need to consider alternatives for the future operation of the School Balance Control Mechanism if the legal requirement to have one in place is removed (paragraphs 4.27 to 4.28)

Councillor Dempster submits a report that seeks to set out a way forward for developing services traded with schools, in the light of the recent Government White Paper “The Importance of Teaching” and the Local Government finance settlement.  It is recommended that Cabinet considers the comments of the School Forum and the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee and endorses the approach set out within the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee held on 28 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that set out a way forward for developing services traded with schools, in the light of the recent Government White Paper “The Importance of Teaching” and the Local Government finance settlement.

She added that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had considered the report and had commented on the work of the Educational Psychology Service, stating that it was highly valued.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet endorses the approach set out within the report.

Councillor Osman submits a report that seeks approval for the City Centre Car Parking Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). Cabinet is asked to adopt the City Centre Car Parking Strategy SPD.

Appendix 3 to the report is attached for Cabinet Members only.  Further copies are available on the Council’s Web Site at:  http:www.cabinet.Leicester.gov.uk or by phoning Committee Services on 0116 229 8809.

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

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought approval for the City Centre Car Parking Strategy Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). He explained that the strategy was not about pricing, but would enable different approaches to be adopted in different parts of the city as appropriate.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the adoption of the City Centre Car Parking Strategy Supplementary Planning Document.

Councillor Osman submits a report that seeks Cabinet approval for a policy concerning Conservation of Road Salt Stock Levels.  Cabinet is asked to approve the attached Policy for Conservation of Road Salt Stock Levels as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

Cabinet is asked to approve the attached Policy for Conservation of Road Salt Stock Levels as attached in Appendix 1.

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

Councillor Osman submitted a report that sought Cabinet approval for a policy concerning Conservation of Road Salt Stock Levels. 

He added that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had considered the report and had endorsed its recommendations.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the Policy for Conservation of Road Salt Stock Levels.

Councillor Russell submits a report that advises Cabinet of the outcome of consultation and asks Cabinet to agree the Council’s policy on the licensing of sexual entertainment venues.  Cabinet is asked to approve the recommendations set out in Paragraph 2.1 of the report.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Licensing Committee held on 10 February 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Russell submitted a report that advised Cabinet of the outcome of consultation and which asked Cabinet to agree the Council’s policy on the licensing of sexual entertainment venues.

She drew Cabinet Members’ attention to the standard conditions of the licence and explained that they were designed to protect both performers and members of the public.  The Licensing Committee had considered the report and had requested that they should be consulted on any review or amendment of the standard conditions, and that the Chair and Vice Chair should also be consulted on any review or amendment of the annual fees for licences. 

Councillor Russell also requested Cabinet approval for the decision on the number of sexual entertainment venues for the City Centre and Braunstone Gate to be reserved in order to allow for further consultation.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet

a)     approves the proposed policy on the licensing of sexual entertainment venues subject to further consultation on the limit of the number of premises for the City Centre and Braunstone Gate;

b)     notes that applications for licensed premises that do not exceed the limits set out in the policy will be determined by Licensing Committee;

c)      delegates responsibility for refusal of applications that would exceed the limits set in the policy to the Divisional Director for Environmental Services;

d)     delegates responsibility to review and amend the standard conditions attached to licences to the Divisional Director for Environmental Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member and the Licensing Committee; and

e)     delegates responsibility to review and amend annual fees for licences to the Divisional Director for Environmental Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member and Chair and Vice Chairs of the Licensing Committee.            

Councillor Westley submits a report that recommends changes to the Housing Allocations Policy, in light of new statutory guidance issued by The Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), to improve transparency and to simplify the Council’s Policy. Cabinet is recommended to introduce a banding scheme (Appendix 1), and makes other changes to the policy as set out in paragraph 6.2 of this report, for the allocation of social rented housing in Leicester.

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

Councillor Westley submitted a report that recommended changes to the Housing Allocations Policy, in light of new statutory guidance issued by the Department of Communities and Local Government (CLG), to improve transparency and to simplify the Council’s Policy.

He explained that this would replace the point based system and would simplify the process as the majority of applications would be determined instead by the length of time they had been on the registration list. 

Councillor Westley stated that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had considered the report and had endorsed its recommendations.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves that Council introduces a banding scheme (as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report), and makes other changes to the policy as set out in paragraph 6.2 of the report, for the allocation of social rented housing in Leicester.

Councillor Patel submits a report that details the expected activities of the treasury function in the financial year 2011/2012.  Cabinet is recommended to approve the Treasury Strategy.

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 2 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that detailed the expected activities of the treasury function in the financial year 2011/12.

He asked Members to note that 4.6 of the report should read 0% and not 5% in respect of the recommended lower limit for the remaining length for outstanding loans, of less than 5 years.

Councillor Patel stated that the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee had considered the report and endorsed its recommendations.

RESOLVED:

                        that Cabinet approves the Treasury Strategy.

Councillor Patel submits a report that proposes minor changes to the decision making framework for the Council’s treasury management activities. Cabinet is asked to recommend that Council approve the revised Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Management Practices included in this report

A minute extract from the meeting of the Performance and Value for Money Select Committee held on 2 March 2011 will be circulated as soon as it is available.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that proposed minor changes to the decision making framework for the Council’s treasury management activities.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet recommends that Council approves the revised Treasury Policy Statement and Treasury Management Practices included within the report.

The Leader agreed that the following item would be considered as urgent business on the grounds that urgent action was required in order that the Crown Hills and City of Leicester Project could be progressed quickly to avoid cost drift.

BUILDING SCHOOLS FOR THE FUTURE CROWN HILLS COMMUNITY COLLEGE AND CITY OF LEICESTER COLLEGE JOINT PFI SCHEME: RISK AND ISSUES

Councillor Dempster submitted a report that set out the case to quickly progress the two-scheme PFI project (Crown Hills Community College and City of Leicester College).   

The report indicated that action had been taken to proceed with the schemes up to £2m but that further commitment would require member endorsement.

Councillor Dempster stated that there had been strong partnership working to progress the scheme and thanked all who had been involved.

RESOLVED:

                   that Cabinet agrees that:

1)     the scheme for Crown Hills Community College and City of Leicester College are progressed into ‘Stage 2’ of BSF and that instruction is given to Leicester Miller Education Company (LMEC) to progress the scheme to completion of Stage 2. This stage of the process is paid for by the client (LCC) and is entered into once Stage 1 approval has been given to the private sector partner (LMEC);

2)     The urgent action taken between meetings be noted;

3)     In accordance with the provisions of Cabinet Procedure Rule 12 (d), it be approved that no call in be permitted on this item of business to ensure that the Crown Hills and City of Leicester project be progressed quickly to avoid cost drift.

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.

SALE OF LAND AT BRADGATE STREET, LEICESTER

Paragraph 3

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

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.

SALE OF LAND AT BRADGATE STREET, LEICESTER

Paragraph 3

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

Councillor Patel submits a report.

Councillor Dempster having declared that she was personally known to the applicant, withdrew from the meeting.

Councillor Patel submitted a report that sought Cabinet approval for the disposal of an area of land at Bradgate Street.

RESOLVED:

that Cabinet approves the recommendation set out in paragraph 2 of the report.

The meeting closed at 1.26 pm.