Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Members to the first meeting of Cabinet in the new Municipal Year.  

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on 24^th April 2007 (previously circulated). 

The Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 24^th April, 2007 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record. 

To consider any such items authorised by the Leader and to consider where in the agenda the item(s) are to be considered. 

There were no items of urgent business authorised by the Chairman. 

To consider requests to speak at the meeting in accordance with Cabinet’s public speaking procedures. 

Members were advised that there had been no requests to speak at the meeting in accordance with Cabinet’s agreed procedure. 

 

To consider any such declarations. 

Councillor Roger Mace declared a personal non prejudicial interest with regard to the Storey Institute Centre for Creative Industries (Minute 8 refers) in view of a relative working for a tenant of the Storey.  Councillor Abbott Bryning also declared a personal interest in the same item in view of his appointment by the City Council Cabinet as a member of the Storey Board. 

Report of the Chief Executive. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

 

The Chief Executive submitted a report that considered the membership and terms of reference of the Cabinet Committee, Cabinet Liaison Groups and also Cabinet appointments to Outside Bodies, Partnerships and Boards.

 

The options and options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

 

(1)         To note existing arrangements and make no amendments other than to the memberships.

 

(2)         To consider and approve, where appropriate, any proposals from Cabinet Members.

 

(3)           To consider but not approve, where appropriate, any proposals from Cabinet Members.

 

The Officer Preferred Option was Option 2 as this would bring about improvements in the current delegations and support mechanisms more closely aligned to Cabinet Members’ portfolios. Cabinet is also requested to consider paragraph 4.2 of the report.

 

4.2    With regard to Outside Bodies, Partnerships and Boards Cabinet is requested to make appointments, as set out in the Appendix to the report.

 

It was moved by Councillor Eileen Blamire and seconded by Councillor David Kerr:-

 

“That the recommendations with regard to the Cabinet Committee, Liaison Groups, Outside Bodies, Partnerships and Boards, as set out below, be approved.”

 

Members then voted as follows.

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)     That the following Committee and Liaison Groups be re-constituted with the existing Terms of Reference, unless otherwise stated, with the Lead Member being the responsible Member to call such meetings: 

 

Cabinet Committee:

 

Lancaster and Morecambe Markets Committee:

 

Councillors Roger Mace (Lead Member), Evelyn Archer, Jon Barry and Abbott Bryning. 

 

Cabinet Liaison Groups:

 

Canal Corridor Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor Roger Mace, Lead Member.  No meetings will be arranged until after the conclusion of the planning application stage of the development. 

 

Climate Change Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor Jon Barry, Lead Member.  The Terms of Reference of this Group to be re-considered at the next meeting of Cabinet.  Councillor Barry advised that he would involve Members from each of the political groups on the Council. 

 

District Wide Tenants Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor John Gilbert, Lead Member and Councillor David Kerr.  It was suggested that the Group should include a further 3 Members. 

 

Lancaster and District Chamber Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor Roger Mace, Lead Member. 

 

Lancaster University and St. Martin’s College Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor John Gilbert, Lead Member. 

 

Mellishaw Park Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor David Kerr, Lead Member. 

 

Morecambe Retail, Commercial and Tourism Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor Roger Mace, Lead Member. 

 

Planning Policy Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor Eileen Blamire, Lead Member.  It was suggested that membership should include representation from the 5 political groups on the Council. 

 

Recycling Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor Jon Barry, Lead Member and Councillor June Ashworth, with a suggestion that the Group should include Members from the other 3 Groups on the Council. 

 

Transport Cabinet Liaison Group:

 

Councillor Roger Mace, Lead Member.

 

(2)     That the following Cabinet Liaison Groups be stood down:

 

Diversity Cabinet Liaison Group;

 

Transformational Cabinet Liaison Group.

 

(3)     That with regard to Cabinet Liaison Groups, the Lead Cabinet Member of each Group be requested to inform the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

 

Report of the Corporate Director (Finance and Performance). 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

 

The Corporate Director (Finance and Performance) submitted a report that considered the appropriateness of retaining Star Chamber as the process for bringing forward savings and efficiencies to meet the Council’s medium term financial targets included in the Corporate Plan.

 

The options and options analysis, including risk assessment, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Option one is to continue with the Star Chamber process and review the appropriateness of the existing terms of reference, existing work programme, and future timetable.

 

Option two is to consider introducing an alternative process to Star Chamber to ensure that the Medium Term Financial Strategy targets are met.

 

There was no officer-preferred option other than to ensure that a process is agreed to meet the Medium Term Financial Strategy targets.

 

It was moved by Councillor Jon Barry and seconded by Councillor Eileen Blamire:-

 

“(1)      That Cabinet continues with the Star Chamber in its current form, with the Leader as the convener and one Member appointed from each Group.

 

(2)        That the Membership of the Group be as follows:

 

Councillors Roger Mace (Lead Member), Evelyn Archer, Jon Barry, Abbott Bryning and John Gilbert. 

 

Members to be able to appoint a substitute Cabinet Member if required.”

 

Members then voted as follows.

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)         That Cabinet retains the Star Chamber in its current form, as the process for bringing forward savings and efficiencies to meet the City Council’s medium term financial targets included in the Corporate Plan, with the Leader as the convener and one Cabinet Member appointed from each Group. 

 

(2)     That the Membership of the Group be as follows:

 

Councillors Roger Mace (Lead Member), Evelyn Archer, Jon Barry, Abbott Bryning and John Gilbert.

 

Members to be able to appoint a substitute Cabinet Member if required. 

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Corporate Director (Finance and Performance). 

 

Reason for making the decision:

 

The decision enables Cabinet Members to consider on an informal basis current and future spending plans, value for money, efficiencies and the medium term Financial Strategy targets included in the Corporate Plan. 

 

Report of the Corporate Director (Regeneration) to follow. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Abbott Bryning)

 

(It was noted that Councillors Roger Mace and Abbott Bryning had declared personal interests with regard to this item).

 

The Corporate Director (Regeneration) submitted a report that considered providing additional funding to proceed with the refurbishment of Storey Institute into a Centre for Creative Industries as part of the Lancaster and Morecambe Economic Development Zone, together with resolution of associated operational matters.

 

The options analysis including risk assessment, were set out fully in the report. The options were set out as follows:

 

(1)         Do nothing – Abandon the project and continue to operate Storey Institute as at present.

 

(2)         Abandon the project and attempt to sell the building to a private sector investor/developer.

 

(3)         Affirm the decision of October 2006 but increase council capital contribution by £200k and implement the scheme within acceptable quality and risk thresholds.

 

The Officer Preferred Option was Option 3. 

 

It was moved by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Jon Barry:-

 

“That the recommendations, set out in the report, be approved, subject to the following amendments:

 

That recommendation (1) be amended to read:

 

That Members note that design work was completed in March and all stakeholders agree that the project provides a viable proposition even under a minimum specification. 

 

Insertion of the words “prudential borrowing” after the word “project” and prior to the word “and” in recommendation 2(i).

 

Deletion of recommendation (3) and the insertion of:

 

Should Council agree to provide further Capital support that the budget of £3.298M be set as a maximum sum for delivery of the agreed specification and that any amount recovered from Lancashire County Council as Highways Authority and any contractual savings that may result from the partnering process either through savings against the tender price or contingency remain with the Capital Programme for determination by Cabinet at a future date.” 

 

By way of amendment it was moved by Councillor Jon Barry and accepted as a friendly amendment by the mover and seconder of the original proposition: -

 

“(1)      That public access is maintained to the garden and that this be put in the lease.

 

(2)        That Star Chamber reviews the Capital Programme as soon as possible.” 

 

Members then voted as follows on the proposition, as amended.

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)         That Members note that design work was completed in March and all stakeholders agree that the project provides a viable proposition even under a minimum specification. 

 

(2)   That Council be recommended to allocate an additional £200,000 to the Storey project via prudential borrowing and that the Capital Programme be updated accordingly. 

 

(3)     That, subject to Council agreeing to the allocation of additional funds and confirmation that the project meets existing grant funding conditions, the contract to deliver the capital scheme be let in accordance with Conlon Construction’s tendered financial proposal. 

 

(4)     That income received from Luneside Studios for the licence to occupy space in the Storey Institute be ring fenced for year 1 start up costs incurred by Storey Ltd. 

 

(5)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.