Agenda and minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 19^th February, 2008 (previously circulated).  

The Minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 19^th February, 2008 were approved 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. 

The Chairman advised that there were 2 items of Urgent Business regarding Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Arrangements (Minute 136 refers) and Area Based Grant Allocations 2008/09 (Minute 137 refers). 

To consider any such declarations. 

No declarations were made at this point. 

To consider any such requests received in accordance with the approved procedure. 

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

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Maia Whitelegg)

Report of the Head of Cultural Services. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Maia Whitelegg)

The Head of Cultural Services submitted a report that sought approval and adoption of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy (SPAS) 2008 – 2011 and associated Implementation Plan, sought approval for the Council to manage the overall scheme in terms of monitoring and evaluating all the projects and reporting back to Sport England and sought approval for the Council to act as the accountable and delivery body for the district’s Community Investment Fund allocation of £219,000; subject to a successful stage 2 application to Sport England and finally sought approval for the Council to act as the accountable body for some of the match funding associated with the above bid.  The total match funding associated with this bid was £547,700 (including £141,200 in-kind contribution), with the City Council being accountable for £337,500 (combined public/private sector match). 

Supplementary information was made available at the meeting which advised that the Community Safety Partnership (CSP) was currently facing a shortfall in its Spending Plan for the year 2008/09.  Members were requested to take this information into account when considering the funding of the SPAS. 

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

Options regarding the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy:

Options regarding the Sport England Bid:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Eileen Blamire)

Report of the Corporate Director (Community Services). 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Eileen Blamire)

The Corporate Director (Community Services) submitted a report that sought approval for the submission of a proposal to Cycling England to extend the Council’s Cycling Demonstration Town Project for a further three years. 

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

The options were:

(i)                        to submit a proposal and accept an offer of funding based on that proposal; 

(ii)                      to not submit a proposal and develop an exit strategy for the CDT project when funding runs out in the autumn of 2008. 

The proposal would be developed with support from Cycling England so the risk of not meeting their conditions would be minimal.  The greater risk is in not managing to deliver match funding, but project stages would only be authorised once all the funding was in place for that stage. 

The preferred officer option was option (i), to continue the existing project to support the Council’s Corporate Priorities. 

It was moved by Councillor Eileen Blamire and seconded by Councillor Tony Johnson: -

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.” 

Members then voted as follows.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)     That Cabinet support the submission of a further proposal to Cycling England to extend our Cycling Demonstration Town Project for a further three years. 

(2)     That if the proposal is agreed, then the current organisational arrangements for delivering the project, including delegated powers, be extended for a further three years. 

(3)               That Cabinet authorise the Head of Financial Services to update the General Fund Capital Programme and General Fund Revenue Budget to reflect the expenditure and financing of the overall project subject to there being a nil impact on the Council’s Capital and Revenue financial resources. 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Corporate Director (Community Services). 

Head of Financial Services. 

Reason for making the decision:

The decision provides an excellent opportunity to be able to continue this very successful, high profile project for a further three years. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Evelyn Archer)

Report of Corporate Director (Finance & Performance). 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Evelyn Archer)

The Corporate Director ((Finance and Performance) submitted a report that updated Members on the operation of the Charter Market and considered opportunities for improving the market further.

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

There were no specific options recommendations set out in the report as the report is seeking to update members on the current position with the Charter Market and looking for Members’ guidance on the future direction of the Market.  It was noted that further reports would be prepared on any proposed improvements supported by Cabinet. 

There was no preferred officer option. 

It was moved by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Tony Johnson: -

“(1)   That Cabinet confirms the Individual Cabinet Member decision made regarding the Traffic Regulation Order for the City centre and advises the County Council of their views prior to the matter being considered by Lancashire Locals. 

(2)     That with regard to paragraph 2.4 of the report regarding high street shops taking space on the market, that the current process be confirmed and be continued. 

(3)     That with regard to paragraph 2.6 of the report regarding market stall awnings, that Cabinet encourages the use of the traders own awnings in accordance with the existing policy and initiates discussion on the quality of awnings with market traders. 

(4)     That Officers investigate the options for improving the provision of electricity to Charter Market stalls. 

(5)     That resolutions (2) to (4) above be considered by the Markets Committee.” 

Members then voted as follows.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)     That Cabinet confirms the Individual Cabinet Member decision made regarding the Traffic Regulation Order for the City centre and advises the County Council of their views prior to the matter being considered by Lancashire Locals. 

(2)     That with regard to paragraph 2.4 of the report regarding high street shops taking space on the market, that the current process be confirmed and be continued. 

(3)     That with regard to paragraph 2.6 of the report regarding market stall awnings, that Cabinet encourages the use of the traders own awnings in accordance with the existing policy and initiates discussion on the quality of awnings with market traders. 

(4)     That Officers investigate the options for improving the provision of electricity to Charter Market stalls. 

(5)     That resolutions (2) to (4) above be considered by the Markets Committee. 

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Corporate Director (Finance and Performance).  

Head of Property Services. 

Reason for making the decision:

The decision enables for Lancashire Locals to be made aware of Cabinet’s decision regarding the Traffic Regulation Order for the City Centre and refers consideration of other issues to the Markets Committee for resolution. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

In accordance with Section 100B of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman agreed to consider the report as an item of urgent business as it enabled Cabinet to appoint Cabinet Member representatives on the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Board and Management Group.  This would ensure that the City Council was represented at any meetings of the Board and Management Group convened prior to the next meeting of Cabinet. 

Cabinet considered a referral from the Council Business Committee regarding Cabinet appointments to the Local Strategic Partnership. 

With regard to the options, options analysis, including risk assessment, it was noted that it was for Cabinet to decide on the appointment of Cabinet Members to each of the above.

It was moved by Councillor Jon Barry and seconded by Councillor June Ashworth: -

“That Councillor Roger Mace be appointed as Cabinet’s representative on the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Board and Councillor Eileen Blamire be appointed to the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Management Group.”

By way of amendment it was moved by Councillor Tony Johnson and seconded by Councillor Roger Mace: -

“That Councillor Roger Mace be appointed as Cabinet’s representative on the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Board and Management Group, with Councillor Eileen Blamire being the Cabinet Member substitute for both meetings for the intervening period and that these appointments be reviewed at the first meeting of Cabinet of the new Municipal Year.” 

On being put to the vote 2 Members (Councillors Tony Johnson and Roger Mace) voted in favour of the amendment, 4 Members voted against (Councillors June Ashworth, Jon Barry, Abbott Bryning and John Gilbert) and 1 Member (Councillor Eileen Blamire) abstained from voting, whereupon the Chairman declared the amendment to be lost. 

It was moved by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor Tony Johnson:

“That the meeting adjourn”.

Upon being put to the vote 4 Members voted in favour (Councillors Eileen Blamire, Abbott Bryning, Roger Mace and Tony Johnson) and 3 Members voted against (Councillors June Ashworth, Jon Barry and John Gilbert), whereupon the Chairman declared the proposition to be carried. 

(The meeting adjourned at 11.30 a.m. and re-convened at 11.40 a.m.)

With the agreement of his seconder and the meeting Councillor Jon Barry withdrew his previous proposition and moved, with the agreement of his seconder Councillor June Ashworth: -

“That Councillor Roger Mace be appointed as Cabinet’s representative on the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Board, with Councillor Eileen Blamire being the substitute Member and that Councillor Eileen Blamire be appointed to the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Management Group, with Councillor Roger Mace being the substitute Member, and that these appointments be reviewed at the first meeting of Cabinet of the new Municipal Year.” 

Members then voted as follows.

Resolved unanimously:

(1)     That Councillor Roger Mace be appointed as Cabinet’s representative on the Lancaster District Local Strategic Partnership Board, with Councillor Eileen Blamire being the substitute Member and that Councillor Eileen Blamire be appointed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 136.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Roger Mace)

In accordance with Section 100B of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman agreed to consider the report as an item of urgent business as it would enable Cabinet to consider allocation of the City Council’s Area Based Grant (ABG) for 2008/09. 

Cabinet considered a report that sought approval for the allocation of the City Council’s Area Based Grant (ABG) for 2008/09, in particular to provide continuing support for Neighbourhood Management commitments in Poulton and the West End of Morecambe into the new financial year.

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

Option 1: Use the ABG allocation to continue to fund Neighbourhood Management commitments in Poulton and the West End, and put into place arrangements for allocating the remaining £26,000.  The report back on the future of Neighbourhood Management would provide an opportunity to review the effective use of ABG not allocated to meet existing commitments.

Option 2: Allocate the ABG for other purposes, and develop an exit strategy for the existing Neighbourhood Management Project.  Realistically, existing commitments could equate to the amount of ABG, but a full analysis would be needed to determine this.

The key risks and opportunities of not using the ABG for continuation of Neighbourhood Management are :

·         Limited savings potential in 2008/09, as funds are already committed.  This would mean that there may be little left for allocating to alternative initiatives for that year, although it would give greater choice and flexibility for 2009/10 onwards.

·         Other works in Poulton and West End would be unfinished, and this could have an adverse impact on the perceived success of the projects to date.  There may be reputational risks for the Council in this regard, although this will depend also on the perceived value of the works not completed.

·         Work to roll out Neighbourhood Management to other parts of the district would not be finished and lessons learned/best practices may not be maximised.

·         There could be an adverse effect on local communities in Poulton and West End which are now showing signs of cohesion (especially in Poulton).  Funding (either in 2008/09 or future years) would be freed up, however, giving the opportunity to provide or safeguard other services, in either the same or alternative communities.

Option 1 was the preferred option.  This would ensure that existing commitments were met with further options for sustaining Neighbourhood Management and for determining the future use of ABG being brought back to Cabinet.

It was moved by Councillor Roger Mace and seconded by Councillor John Gilbert: -

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report be approved, subject to amendment to (1) and (3), as set out below:

(1)     That for April 2008 Area Based Grant be used to continue existing arrangements for Neighbourhood Management in Poulton and the West End of Morecambe and a report on future options be brought back to Cabinet in April 2008. 

(3)     That allocation of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 137.