Agenda and minutes

The Chairman reported apologies for absence on behalf of Mr. E.F. White CC.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 June, 2004, were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

There were none.

The Chairman invited members who wished to do so to declare any interest in respect of items on the agenda for the meeting.

 

No declarations were made.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Education which sought agreement for the acceptance of a grant totalling £1,432,856 from the Big Lottery Fund (formerly the New Opportunities Fund) as a contribution towards the construction of a new sports hall, fitness suite and changing accommodation at South Wigston High School.  A copy of the report marked ‘B’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Cabinet also considered a briefing note of the County Solicitor which contained further information regarding the contingency liabilities set out in paragraph 12 of the report.  A copy of the briefing note is also filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the grant of £1,432,856 from the Big Lottery Fund, in respect of South Wigston High School, be accepted;

 

(b)       That the contingent liability to repay grant in the circumstances set out in paragraphs 11 and 12 of the report be noted;

 

(c)        That the Director of Education be authorised in consultation with the Lead Member for Education, the Director of Resources and the County Solicitor to accept the offer and enter into an appropriate agreement approved by the County Solicitor to enable compliance with the grant conditions and implementation of the project.

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

The proposal for a new sports hall and fitness suite at South Wigston High School is one of a portfolio of 16 projects that were submitted to NOF prior to March 2003 in a bid to receive grant aid towards their construction.  The portfolio of project applications represents a total fund of £3.355m of grant aid available to improving sports facilities at Leicestershire schools subject to approval from the New Opportunities Fund.

 

At its meeting of 4 July 2004, the Cabinet resolved to accept an offer of grant from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF) for the first of these projects (new sports changing accommodation at Blaby Stokes Primary School) and authorised the Director of Education in consultation with the Lead Member for Education, the Director of Resources and the County Solicitor to accept further offers of grant from NOF where the project cost was less than £1m.

 

The proposed sports hall application at South Wigston has been approved by NOF with an offer of grant of £1,432,856 and is the only project within the portfolio that has a cost in excess of £1m.

 

The school and surrounding communities lack access to good quality physical recreation facilities.  This siting of a new sports hall and fitness suite at South Wigston High School is likely to have a positive impact on the health and well-being of local school aged children and members of the wider community.  South Wigston High School have raised £140,000 towards the cost of the project.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Community Services concerning the proposal that Moira Junction and Saltersford Wood Nature Reserves be formally designated as Local Nature Reserves.  A copy of the report marked ‘C’ is filed with these minutes.

 

It was reported that Mr. S.D. Sheahan, CC had expressed his support for the recommendation set out in the report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That approval be given to the formal designation of Moira Junction and Saltersford Wood Nature Reserves as Local Nature Reserves.

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

The sites fulfil English Nature’s requirements for Local Nature Reserves, and with designation would be protected from development or damage of any kind in the future.  The County Council, in the Leicestershire Nature Conservation Strategy, is committed to a programme of Local Nature Reserve designations.  This fits into the national framework set out in the UK Biodiversity Action Plan which states that “The Government and the agencies working with local authorities will encourage the designation of more Local Nature Reserves”.

The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Chief Executive and Director of Resources concerning the draft Best Value Performance Plan 2004/05.  A copy of the report marked ‘D’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Cabinet also considered an extract from the draft minutes of the Scrutiny Commission held on 23 June 2004, a copy of which is filed with these minutes.

 

With regard to Appendix 4 of the Plan, – “Explanations for Variations of Actuals from Targets for 2003/04” it was agreed that the appropriate Cabinet Lead Member(s) should be involved in the proposed Scrutiny discussions on this matter.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the contents of the Best Value Performance Plan 2004/05 (BVPP), be noted;

 

(b)       That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader, be authorised to make any further minor amendments required to the BVPP prior to its publication on 30 June 2004;

 

(c)        That with regard to Appendix 4 of the Plan – ‘Explanations for Variations of Actuals from targets for 2003/04’ the information be broken down in relation to each Scrutiny Committee area of responsibility to enable the Chairman and Spokesmen of each Committee to meet with the appropriate Chief Officer(s) and Cabinet Lead Member(s) to discuss in detail the reasons for the underperformance and to satisfy themselves that appropriate measures were being taken or planned to address the underperformance;

 

(d)       That the County Council be recommended to approve the BVPP at its meeting on 14 July 2004.

 

 

(KEY DECISION)

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

As a major summary of the Council’s plans and objectives the BVPP has to be agreed by the County Council.  The comments of the Scrutiny Commission have been responded to by the Cabinet at this meeting.  It will be necessary to make further minor changes to the information in the BVPP to include more up to date performance information.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive concerning the second draft of the Leicestershire Rural Strategy 2004-2009.  A copy of the report marked ‘E’ is filed with these minutes.

 

The Cabinet also considered an extract from the draft minutes of the Scrutiny Commission held on 23 June 2004, (a copy of which is filed with these minutes), and noted that the further comments made by the Scrutiny Commission would be reflected in the Implementation Plan which would be prepared following the adoption of the Strategy.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the County Council be recommended to approve the Leicestershire Rural Strategy 2004-2009 as set out in Appendix A of the report.

 

(KEY DECISION)

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

To proceed towards the adoption of the draft revised Leicestershire Rural Strategy.  The comments of the Scrutiny Commission have been responded to by the Cabinet.  The Strategy is required to be submitted to the County Council for approval.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Resources which set out the provisional revenue outturn for 2003/04 and sought approval for carry forwards that cannot be agreed under delegated powers.  A copy of the report marked ‘F’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the provisional revenue outturn for 2003/04 be noted;

 

(b)       That the carry forward request from Education for £615,000, Highways, Transportation and Waste Management for £445,000, Community Services for £294,000 and Chief Executive’s for £100,000, be approved.

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

To inform Cabinet of the provisional revenue outturn for 2003/04 and for Cabinet to consider carry forward requests not agreed under delegated powers.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Resources concerning the action taken and the performance achieved in respect of the Treasury Management activities of the Council in 2003/04.  A copy of the report marked ‘G’ is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the contents of the report be noted.

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

The Director of Resources has delegated authority to carry out treasury management activities on behalf of the County Council and this report is produced in order to comply with the CIPFA Code of Practice in respect of Treasury Management in Local Authorities.

There were no items.

 

 

 

 

 

2.30 p.m. – 3.00 p.m.

29.06.04                                                                                    CHAIRMAN