Agenda and minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 27 May 2014 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 27 May 2014 were approved as a correct record.

The Chairman advised that there were no items of urgent business

To receive declarations by Members of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Members are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Members should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Members are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

Councillor Blamire declared an interest with regard to the Referral of Call-in Report (Request from Dukes and Grand Theatres for Grant Support) in her capacity as a member of the board of the Dukes and would not chair, speak or vote on this item.

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

The Vice-Chairman took the chair at this point.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Janice Hanson)

The Vice-Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented a report that advised Cabinet of the outcome of the Call-in of the Cabinet Decision with regard to the request from Dukes and Grand Theatres for Grant Support (Cabinet Minute 6) and requested Cabinet to consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in relation to this matter. 

Members considered the following recommendations which were agreed by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the call-in held on 18 June 2014.

(1)             Overview and Scrutiny recommends that Cabinet reconsiders its decision on the basis of the officer briefing note provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 18 June 2014 and takes note of the recommendation in the original Cabinet report and the additional information supplied by the Grand Theatre at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting in respect of the requests from Dukes and Grand Theatres for grant support - 27 May 2014 (Cabinet Minute 6). 

(2)             Recommends that Cabinet takes steps to ensure that all parties share the Council's interpretation of the development brief for the Canal Corridor North, as set out in the General Comment Section of today's officer briefing note. 

(3)             Recommends that Officers meet again with representatives of both theatres and consults with the Arts Council and British Land/Centros to provide clarity and openness for the way forward. 

After some discussion it was moved by Councillor Hanson and seconded by Councillor Leytham: -

“(1)      That Cabinet reaffirms its previous decision in relation to the Dukes on 27 May 2014, as set out in Minute 6 (1).

(2)       That in addition to supplying its most recent accounts, and in order for Cabinet to reconsider its decision with regard to the Grand, the Grand be requested to provide a business case for a grant, detailing why the grant is necessary, specifying the exact amount of money required and for what period of time.

(3)       That Cabinet accepts Recommendations (2) and (3) as set out in the Overview and Scrutiny Referral of Call-in Report.”

Councillor Blamire had declared an interest in this item and did not participate in the discussions or vote. 

Resolved unanimously:

(1)       That Cabinet reaffirms its previous decision in relation to the Dukes on 27 May 2014:

            That Cabinet recognises and supports the continued importance of The Dukes and The Grand as an essential part of the Arts provision in the district, with both theatres effectively being integral to any future redevelopment of the Canal Corridor North site.  Accordingly, Cabinet agrees to the request from The Dukes for £12K as the money is required now to assist with the establishment of their business plan, with the additional £12K being allocated from the Performance Reward Grant Reserve.

(2)        That in addition to supplying its most recent accounts, and in order for Cabinet to  reconsider its decision with regard to the Grand, the Grand be requested to provide a business case for a grant, detailing why  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Hamilton-Cox)

Report of Chief Officer (Environmental)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Tim Hamilton-Cox)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Environment) which provided an update on the Renewable Energy Strategy (RES) and sought input into the development of key areas of the strategy.

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

The report provided an update on the development of the RES and sought Cabinet’s preferred direction in a number of key areas that would determine the extent of delivery of the RES.  The development of the RES to date had seen the identification of the following priority areas where it was felt that the city council’s efforts were needed to ensure the greatest benefits:

·         Energy reduction and efficiency – Actions required to improve general energy efficiency across the council’s operations and any technological improvements which may be available to assist that aim;

·         The council’s buildings – Opportunities within both municipal buildings and council housing properties where energy improvements may be achieved;

·         Private sector properties – Opportunities where Lancaster City Council can help improve the energy efficiency of private homes in the district;

·         Transport – Opportunities for reducing the cost  and also carbon emissions of transport required to deliver the full range of Council services

·         Large-scale renewables – Opportunities for engaging in commercial-scale renewable energy projects, which will generate income and reduce energy costs.

Discussions have taken place across all Services within the city council to identify how to address these priority areas. However, Cabinet’s input was required to help inform key aspects of the RES namely: aims and targets, the Action Plan, renewable energy projects, and resources.

For the RES to have any real purpose it was essential that it:-

·         Has political ownership.

·         Has aims and targets that can be realistically delivered.

·         Has appropriate resources attached to it.

·         Has a clear business case for the individual elements of it.

·         Is clearly linked with the Corporate Plan and the Medium Term Financial Strategy

In order to achieve this it is first of all necessary for Cabinet to define the extent of their ambition for the RES. In order to achieve this Cabinet’s direction in the following areas is requested:

a)            Aims and Targets

To ensure that officers are clear of the intended ambition for the RES, it is necessary that Cabinet confirm the required objectives in terms of the overall aim and the targets that it wants to achieve through the RES’s delivery.

At this stage, Officers have proposed the following principal aim:

·         “The Council’s impact on the environment will be minimised by reducing energy consumption and using renewable energy generation technologies”

Officers have also identified the following headline target areas:

·         To reduce energy consumption by 20% by 2020 against a baseline year of 2012/13

·         To reduce the council’s carbon dioxide emissions by 20% by 2020 against a baseline year of 2012/13

·         xx% of the councils energy needs will be generated from renewable sources by 2020

·         xx% of the council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Blamire)

Report of Chief Officer (Governance)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Eileen Blamire)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Governance) which presented the corporate performance reports for Quarter 4 of the 2013/14 performance monitoring cycle.

The report was for comments and noting.

Councillor Blamire proposed, seconded by Councillor Leytham:-

“That the report be noted.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

That the report be noted.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Governance)

Reasons for making the decision:

The City Council’s Performance Management Framework requires the regular reporting of operational, as well as financial performance.