Agenda and minutes

Mr. G. A. Hart CC, Mr. D. Houseman CC, Mr. J. T. Orson JP, CC,

Mr. G. A. Boulter CC, Mr. T. Gillard CC, Mr. Max Hunt CC,

Mr. P. G. Lewis CC and Mr. J. Miah CC.

 

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2009 were taken as read, confirmed and signed.

 

The Chairman indicated that he would allow the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management to make an urgent oral report to the Cabinet on the current position regarding salt stocks locally and nationally during the current spell of bad weather.  The matter was urgent because the Government had asked councils to reduce the amount of salt they were using in order to conserve and share stocks.  The matter could not wait until the next meeting of the Cabinet.

 

The Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management reported that the country was currently facing the worst weather conditions for 30 years.  He explained that the County Council's salt barns had been fully stocked at the beginning of the winter and that there was currently enough stock to last through the rest of January, even if the cold weather continued.  45% of the County's road network was currently being treated, including most 'A' roads, some 'B' and 'C' class roads, major commuter and bus routes and, as far as possible, at least one route through all villages.  Recently, use of salt had been reduced by 25% by blending it with sand and grit.

 

The Director added that Lord Adonis, the Secretary of State for Transport had called on local authorities to reduce the road network they salt by 25%, to conserve salt stocks and release some for other areas.  The Secretary of State had not ruled out further requests to reduce salting.

 

Cabinet members joined Mrs Pendleton in congratulating gritter drivers, their managers and colleagues for the tremendous work they were doing to treat the County's road network.  Mrs Pendleton added that consideration was being given to options which would enable the Council to meet the Government's requests in regard to salt stocks.  The Chairman suggested that the Council should continue to treat 45% of the road network, especially major routes, bus routes and routes into villages.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the County Council should continue to treat 45% of its road network - major routes, bus routes, and routes into villages - for the present time.

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

The County Council ensured that its salt barns were fully stocked with salt at the start of the winter in order to be able to treat most A roads, some B and C class roads and, as far as possible, at least one route through every village. 

 

The Council is already working to conserve its stock of salt, by blending it with sand and grit, and has sufficient supplies for the County.  It is prepared to respond to reasonable requests to assist neighbouring authorities and has already done so.

 

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

 

Mr. A.M. Kershaw declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in item 5 (Paper C: Transforming Learning in the Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow upon Soar Areas).

 

Prof. Preston declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in the same item as Leader of Charnwood Borough Council.

 

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Corporate Resources setting out the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2010/11 to 2013/14, for consultation and scrutiny.  A copy of the report, marked 'B', is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the proposed Medium Term Financial Strategy including the 2010/11 revenue budget and capital programme be approved for consultation and referred for consideration to Scrutiny bodies and the Scrutiny Commission;

 

(b)       That the response to the consultation for the 2010/11 Grant Settlement (attached as Appendix F of the report) be noted.

 

KEY DECISION

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

To enable the County Council to meet its statutory requirements with respect to setting a budget and Council Tax precept for 2010/11 and providing a basis for the planning of services in the next four years.

 

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Children and Young People's Service commencing preparations for the Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme in the Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow upon Soar areas.  A copy of the report, marked 'C', is filed with these minutes.

 

Copies of the following documents had also been circulated to Cabinet members and are filed with these minutes:

 

(a)       A supplementary report of the Director of Children and Young People's Service setting out the expected timescales for the BSF programme, and further guidance received from Partnerships for Schools concerning the submission of the Readiness to Deliver document (marked 'CC');

 

(b)       A statement from the Governing Body of Limehurst High School (marked 'paper C(1)');

 

(c)        An initial reaction to the proposals by The Garendon Parent Forum, Governors and staff, Garendon High School (marked 'paper C(2)');

 

(d)       Comments submitted by Mr. A. Martin (marked 'Paper C(3)');

 

(e)       Comments submitted by Mr. J. Miah CC (marked 'Paper C(4)');

 

(f)         Comments submitted by Mr Max Hunt CC (marked 'Paper C(5)');

 

(g)       Comments submitted by the One Through Group.

 

With the agreement of the Chairman, Mr. J. Miah CC, Mr. P.G. Lewis CC and Mr. Max Hunt CC, all local members, addressed the Cabinet.  Mr. Miah and Mr. Hunt had both submitted written comments (marked 'Paper 'C'(4)' and '(5)’ respectively).

 

Mr. Miah amplified the comments made in his written submission.  He said that whilst the opportunity to review education in Loughborough, Quorn and Barrow upon Soar was welcomed, there was an air of disbelief locally that the proposal included the closure of Limehurst High School, a school which had been judged to be 'outstanding'.  The school was very well managed, highly regarded and well supported locally.  If either option now before the Cabinet was eventually approved there would be no secondary school provision on the eastern side of Loughborough.  Mr Miah suggested that that would be a backward step for parents and pupils living in east Loughborough and would mean journeys across the town to and from school.  Mr. Miah hoped that a 650/800 pupil school could be re-modelled on Limehurst's existing site and suggested that adjacent land should be purchased to give the school more space.

 

Mr. Miah asked that the Cabinet include a third option in the consultation which was due to commence.  The third option, 'option C', is set out in his submission ('Paper 'C'(4)' refers) and includes, amongst other things, a new school for Limehurst.

 

Mr. Lewis made a statement in support of the consultation proposals.  The text of his statement is filed with these minutes.

 

Mr. Hunt referred to the Director's supplementary report (marked 'CC') which indicated that the programme for change had moved forward dramatically.  He commented that parents would not regard the consultation as a genuine attempt to elicit their views since option A and option B both proposed the closure of Limehurst High School.  He suggested that option C, as proposed by Mr. Miah,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 110.

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adult Social Care and Health on the Personal Care at Home Bill.  A copy of the report, marked 'D', is filed with these minutes.

 

Mr. Sprason referred to concerns that had been expressed about the ability to implement the policy as currently proposed.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That the report be noted;

 

(b)       That the County Council strongly believes that there are significant concerns locally about the ability to implement the policy as currently proposed by the Government and the additional costs and burdens to the Authority;

 

(c)        That, accordingly, approval be given to a response to the consultation from the Council based on the emerging issues outlined in paragraph 25 of the report.

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

The proposed Personal Care at Home Bill raises a number of significant concerns which are outlined in the report.  The consultation provides an opportunity for the Council to make its views known to the Government so that the concerns might be addressed and risks to the Council reduced should the Bill be approved by Parliament.

 

The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive summarising the outcomes delivered under the Local Area Agreement 1(LAA1) with an emphasis on those projects awarded additional funding in December 2007.  The report also identified, from the County Council's perspective, some lessons learned that may benefit existing and future Leicestershire Together and other partnership projects.  A copy of the report, marked 'E', is filed with these minutes.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the conclusions in the report of the Chief Executive be noted and that County Council services and partners be encouraged to apply the lessons learned to the benefit of existing and future projects via consideration through the Leicestershire Together partnership.

 

REASONS FOR DECISION:

 

LAA1 largely came to an end in March 2008 with the introduction of the new national performance framework for local authorities and their partners.  The exception to this was the 32 LAA1 reward targets which continued until March 2009.  LAA1 targets and projects are an important element of the delivery arrangements for the County Council and partners in improving the quality of life for people in Leicestershire.

 

It is important to apply the lessons learned during the delivery of LAA 1 to help further improve services, particularly those delivered in partnership.

 

There were no items referred from Overview and Scrutiny.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act specified  below, and, in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information:

 

Item                                                                             Exempt Under Paragraphs

 

Use of Midland Highway Alliance                            3 and 10

Contract for the Delivery of Highways

And Transportation Schemes

 

(Exempt under Paragraphs 3 and 10 of Schedule 12A).

The Cabinet considered an exempt report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management to use the Midlands Highway Alliance Medium Schemes Framework 1 (MSF1) contract when it comes into effect in March 2010 or, in the meantime, the Highways Agency's Midlands Works Framework 4 (MWF4), for highways and transportation schemes valued between £500,000 and £12m.  A copy of the report, marked 'F', is filed with these minutes.  The report was not for publication by virtue of Paragraphs 3 and 10 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)       That approval be given to the County Council using the Midlands Highway Alliance Medium Schemes Framework 1 contract when it comes into effect in March 2010 (to cover the period until April 2013 with a possibility of extension for a further 12 months) or, in the meantime, the Highways Agency’s Midlands Works Framework 4 contract for the delivery of highways and transportation schemes valued between £500,000 and £12 million;

 

(b)       That the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be authorised to select appropriate contractors to undertake individual schemes under the terms and conditions of the framework agreement and in full accordance with EU Regulations.

 

REASON FOR DECISION:

 

Leicestershire County Council’s membership of the Midlands Highway Alliance (MHA) has provided the opportunity for the County Council to use the Highways Agency (HA) or MHA frameworks for medium sized highway schemes and thus secure procurement and operational efficiencies.