Agenda and minutes

To receive as a correct record the minutes of Cabinet held on Tuesday, 3^rd October 2017 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 3^rd October 2017 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 9 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. 

No declarations were made at this point.

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 Warriner)

Report of Chief Officer (Health & Housing)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Warriner)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) to request approval to proceed with an application to the Clean Bus Technology Fund.

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

The Officer Preferred Option is that a submission is made to the Clean Bus Technology Fund and the City Council undertakes the role of Accountable Body. Given the experience obtained in the previous successful submission and with the initial preparatory work already undertaken, we are confident of making a high quality submission. The application will act to support the Council’s corporate priorities, particularly in relation to ‘Health and Wellbeing’ and ‘Clean and Green Places’. It also supports the government’s policy and direction of tackling problems of nitrogen dioxide concentrations around roads. 

Councillor Warriner proposed, seconded by Councillor Pattison:-

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

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)             That Cabinet agrees to the City Council submitting a bid to the Clean Bus Technology Fund 2017-2019 and to undertake the role of Accountable Body for the funds should the application be successful.

(2)             That the General Fund Capital Programme be updated as appropriate in 2017/18 and 2018/19 to reflect the additional expenditure and associated grant funding, subject to there being a nil impact on the Council’s resources.

(3)             That Cabinet delegates authority to the Chief Officer (Health & Housing), in agreement with the Section 151 Officer, to approve the making and acceptance of further external funding bids above the key threshold where:

a. Any such bid is for the purposes of improving air quality in the district; and

b. It can be contained within the budget and policy framework and would not require redirection of resources between service areas, functions or activities on an ongoing basis.

(4)             That Cabinet further delegates authority to the Section 151 Officer, in agreement with the Chief Officer (Health & Housing), to adopt the role of “Accountable Body” where appropriate, in order to support future air quality improvement initiatives in the district, subject to due diligence and any financial implications being contained within the budget and policy framework.

(5)             That the above delegations remain in place until November 2019 and be subject to review at that time.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Health  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leyshon)

Report of Chief Officer (Resources)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Leyshon)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Resources) which sought approval for the terms of reference for the Property Review Cabinet Liaison Group which Cabinet had agreed to establish at its meeting on 26^th June 2017. 

Councillor Leyshon proposed, seconded by Councillor Warriner:-

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

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the Terms of Reference of the Property Review Cabinet Liaison Group be approved as follows:

            Generally:

            To act as an engagement and consultative forum for the Cabinet Member:

-     to help develop and promote ideas for improving best practice / value for money from the Council’s corporate property portfolio, in support of the Council’s Corporate Plan; and

-     to help develop proposals regarding the Council’s wider corporate property strategy.

           Initial Focus:

           To act as an engagement and consultative forum for the Cabinet Member:

-     to share information and views on the accommodation review, to inform its development and future decision-making.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Resources)

Reasons for making the decision:

The establishment of Cabinet Liaison Groups assists the Cabinet in the discharge of executive functions.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Report of Chief Officer (Resources)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Resources) which provided an overview of the Council’s financial position for Quarter 2 of the 2017/18 monitoring cycle and the supporting actions underway.

As the report was primarily for noting and comments, no options were provided.

Councillor Whitehead proposed, seconded by Councillor Clifford:-

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

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the report and supporting actions set out therein, be noted.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Blamire)

Report of Chief Officer (Environment)

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Blamire)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Environment) to provide an overview of the Council’s performance for Quarter 2 of the 2017/18 monitoring cycle and the supporting actions underway.

As the report was primarily for noting and comments, no options were provided. It was agreed that future reports should include information on quarter or annual trends where possible.

Councillor Blamire proposed, seconded by Councillor Warriner:-

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

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the performance of key indicators at the end of Quarter 2, 2017-18 be noted.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Environment)

Reasons for making the decision:

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

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Blamire & Whitehead)

Report of Chief Executive

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Blamire and Whitehead)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Executive which sought endorsement of initial outline Corporate Plan proposals to enable further development work and engagement to progress.

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

Cabinet may either approve the proposals set out in the report, or make changes depending on its views regarding the Council’s strategic direction, and/or its appetite for consultation and engagement.  The implications of any alternatives put forward would be highlighted at the meeting as far as possible, or subsequently appraised and reported back.

Once endorsed, Cabinet’s initial corporate planning ideas would give a sound basis on which to develop further its more detailed strategic planning and budget proposals, and the planned engagement would help in communicating and potentially shaping those proposals ahead of Budget Council.

Councillor Blamire proposed, seconded by Councillor Whitehead:-

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

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the draft corporate planning principles and priorities attached at Appendix A to the report be endorsed, and used to inform further development of the draft Corporate Plan, together with supporting budget proposals.

(2)          That the outline timetable as set out at Appendix B to the report be approved, and it be noted that it is the intention for Cabinet to publish before Christmas further information on its Corporate Plan proposals, alongside its draft budget proposals.

(3)          That the resolutions above be fed into the November meeting of Budget and Performance Panel with a request for their initial feedback, but highlighting the scope for these initial proposals to change in response to any emerging issues as the budget and planning exercise progresses.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Executive

Chief Officer (Resources)

Reasons for making the decision:

The proposals are in support of reviewing the Corporate Plan.