Decision details

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors John Gilbert and Roger Mace)

In accordance with Section 100B (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman agreed to consider the report as urgent business as there was a need for a decision prior to the next meeting of Cabinet. 

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report requesting Cabinet to consider the referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee as a result of the Call-in of Cabinet’s decision with regard to Community Cohesion (Minute 12).

The options were set out in the report as follows:

1.                  Reaffirm the decision of Cabinet on 3^rd June 2008. (The original report to Cabinet on Community Cohesion with appendices and relevant minute was attached to the report.)

2.                  Accept the recommendations either wholly or in part made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the Call-in on 25^th June 2008, and make resolutions in line with those recommendations.

3.                  Decide to spend the Area Based Grant (ABG) in some other way or defer consideration to a later meeting.

The report contained Officer comments regarding the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

It was moved by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Evelyn Archer:-

“That recommendation 1, as set out in the report, be approved; that the items in recommendation 2 be noted and that Cabinet reconsiders the way the ABG be spent in November 2008, by which time the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) should have options ready for consideration.” 

Members then voted as follows.

Resolved Unanimously:

(1)   That Cabinet does not appoint a Community Cohesion officer at the present time.

(2)   That recommendation 2 of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

“That Cabinet considers alternative ways of achieving the aims of the Corporate Plan on cohesive communities, including working with the universities.  Overview and Scrutiny draws the attention of Cabinet to priority outcome 16 and highlights that:

·         The Community Cohesion Strategy could be achieved through working with the LSP and voluntary sector.  A future programme of spending on Community Cohesion should be based upon this strategy.

·         Area Based Grant (ABG) money could be used to implement the Children and Young People Strategic Plan.

·         Area Based Grant money could be used to achieve the aim of a civic programme that celebrates our heritage and benefits our communities.”

be noted.

(3)        That Cabinet reconsiders the way the ABG be spent in November 2008, by which time the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP) should have options ready for consideration. 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive.

Head of Democratic Services.

Reason for making the decision:

The decision was made in line with recommendation 1 of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and in recognition of the need to consider how ABG for community cohesion will be allocated. The ABG can be spent according to City Council priorities and each of the issues identified in recommendation 2 are included in this years Corporate Plan Priority Outcome 16 “work to maintain a cohesive community where respect for all is valued and celebrated”.