Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as correct records the minutes of the following meetings –

11^th December 2013

15^th January 2014 (special meeting) ‘to follow’

23^rd January 2014 (special meeting) ‘to follow’

The minutes of the ordinary meeting held on 11^th December 2013 and the special meetings held on the 15^th and 23^rd January 2014 were confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chair subject to an amendment to Minute No 63 of the 11^th December 2013 (City Council Energy Costs, Consumption and Projects Monitoring Report) by the addition of the Cabinet Member for Environment as a co-author to the report.

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs provided that a question does not relate to:

·         Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings, or

·         Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers

There were no questions from the public.

To receive any petitions or deputations provided that no such petition is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

There were no petitions or deputations.

To consider the Final Report and Recommendations of the Task and Finish Group

(Councillor Haigh and Councillor Taylor will be attending to present the report on behalf of the Task and Finish Group)

That the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group be addressed further with a view to implementation at the earliest opportunity where no further report is necessary and, where more detailed consideration is necessary, a further report or reports be submitted to Cabinet.

Cabinet considered the final report and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Recycling Task and Finish Group.

Councillor Sebastian Field (Chair of the Group), Councillor Gordon Taylor and Councillor Haigh had been invited to the meeting to present the report. An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Field.

Councillor Taylor introduced the report on behalf of the Task and Finish Group highlighting the process of review undertaken, the evidence gathered and conclusions that had been reached. Councillor Haigh in particular drew attention to the recommendation (as below) relating to a relaunch of the food and waste service using the slogan ‘Love food, hate waste’ and more cleaner ways of disposing of food waste.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 2^nd December 2013 had agreed to forward to Cabinet the following Task and Finish Group recommendations to improve the current service:-

“A report should be prepared to go to Cabinet within the next six months suggesting a number of changes to the existing service with a view to implementation in two years using computer modelling. The revised scheme should coincide with the replacement of the current fleet of vehicles. Any new scheme should include the following:-

·         An analysis should be carried out of the current waste stream as the     recycling profile has changed. This could be performed by examining the   contents of a fleet vehicle at the Depot.

·         Consideration of a change of vehicles to a split-back refuse truck or a ‘May Gurney’ type vehicle similar to that used in Bristol. This would            achieve a key objective of increasing the number of items that can be recycled.

·         Exploration of collecting garden waste and cardboard at the same time            within a split-back truck.

·         The current rounds should be re-examined to take account of local issues        and changes which have taken place since they were originally drawn up. For example, access problems in Kingsway and anti-social behaviour in Barton and Tredworth and City Centre properties caused by bins being left out on the streets on busy nights.

·         Rounds should be remodelled using a computerised model approach.

·         Crews and shift patterns will need to be examined and the necessary   changes made.

·         There should be a trial using a split-back vehicle on one round such as             Tuffley for a period of three months.

·         When the new service is introduced the opportunity of changing existing          bin sizes can be explored bearing in mind the constraints posed to residents living in terraced properties.

·         There should be a relaunch of the food waste service using ‘Love Food –         Hate Waste’ as a slogan so that residents are aware they can use             compostable bags or newspaper to line food caddies. Local supermarkets        should be encouraged to join in with the campaign and sponsor free caddy            bags to residents.

·           Amey should have a containerised area at the Depot for holding furniture        collected via the Council’s Bulky Waste Service so that local charities such     as Emmaus and the Furniture Recycling Project can be invited to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

To consider the Final Report and Recommendations of the Task and Finish Group

(Councillor Chatterton and Councillor Gravells will be attending to present the report on behalf of the Task and Finish Group)

That the recommendations of the Task and Finish Group be addressed further with a view to implementation at the earliest opportunity where no further report is necessary and, where more detailed consideration is necessary, a further report or reports be submitted to Cabinet.

Cabinet considered the final report and recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Evening Economy Task and Finish Group.

Councillor Chris Chatterton (Chair of the Group), Councillor Andrew Gravells and Councillor Sebastian Field had been invited to the meeting to present the report. An apology for absence had been received from Councillor Field.

Councillor Chatterton (Chair of the Task and Finish Group) presented the report on behalf of the Task and Finish Group, supported by Councillor Gravells, highlighting the process of review undertaken, the evidence gathered and conclusions that had been reached.

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the 11^th November 2013 had agreed to forward to Cabinet the following Task and Finish Group recommendations:-

Key Points

•   The new Chief Executive for Marketing Gloucester should come from a professional marketing background and should be tasked with developing a long-term strategic marketing plan as a matter of urgency.

•   The current Evening Economy Group should raise its profile and liaise             more widely with local stakeholder groups. This will strengthen the Group’s influence and foster a strong co-ordinated approach to promoting the City     Centre.

•   Marketing Gloucester should be actively approaching other organisations to

publicise the City’s attractions and not expect businesses to come to them. A regularly maintained, simple to use and comprehensive listings website would enhance the organisation’s profile in this respect.

•   Marketing Gloucester and the Evening Economy Group should devise a          strategy to draw the potential extra visitors from the new Gloucester Quays           leisure complex into the City Centre.

Pub/Club/Restaurant/Theatre/Shopping Facilities

•   The development of a recognised restaurant quarter in the City Centre should be explored in common with other cities.

•   Pubs and restaurants should be encouraged to offer promotions to coincide    with events and ensure opening times are aligned to meet customer     demand.

•   Those clubs and pubs that cater for a wide range of musical tastes and live     music should be encouraged to advertise more widely.

•   The existing comedy clubs in the City need to build on their reputation and      publicise their events.

•   In respect of theatres, a niche should be found for established venues such    as the King’s Theatre and the Picturedrome.

•   Retailers should be encouraged to co-ordinate late night shopping        evenings to link with night-time markets and other key events in the City   Centre.

Transport Considerations

•   There should be liaison with local bus companies to ensure that there are       services available to meet demand for key events in the City Centre such   as Three Choirs, Christmas Lights Switch on, etc.

•   Discussions should be held with local bus companies and First Great   Western to explore incorporating tickets for local attractions with journeys.

•   Parking schemes and tariffs should be harmonised to give greater clarity         for visitors to the City Centre.

Environmental Considerations

•   Businesses should be encouraged to modify their trade refuse collection         regime to ensure that bags and cardboard are not left in doorways, so that    the appearance of the streetscene is improved.

•   Street lighting  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

To consider a Report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources reviewing the Council’s Money Plan for recommendation to the Council, and approve budget proposals for the Council’s 2014/15 budget.

The following appendices will follow:-

Appendix 5    2014/15 Capital Programme

Appendix 7    Fees and Charges 2014-15

Appendix 8    Budget Consultation

(1)       That Council be recommended to Council to consider the     outcome of the budget consultation process and based upon    that consultation approve the assumptions contained for the      Council’s Money Plan from 2014/15 to 2018/19 and approve            proposals for the 2014/15 budget included in this report.

(2)       That Council be recommend to agree the implementation of the      target budget reductions set in the Money Plan 2014-19.

            Also to note that consultation has been undertaken on budget         savings proposals to achieve the exceptional level of further savings required specifically in 2014/15 and 2015/16.

Cabinet considered a report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources reviewing the Council’s Money Plan for recommendation to the Council and to approve budget proposals for the Council’s 2014/15 budget.

Cabinet Members were pleased at the number of consultation responses received and it was noted that the budget proposals involved no increase in Council Tax, car park charges and garden waste charges.

RESOLVED

(1)       That Council be RECOMMENDED to consider the outcome         of the             budget consultation process and based upon that    consultation approve the assumptions contained for the    Council’s Money Plan from 2014/15 to 2018/19 and             approve proposals for the 2014/15 budget included in the     report.

(2)       That Council be RECOMMENDED to agree the         implementation of the target budget reductions set in the       Money Plan 2014-19; also  to note that consultation has             been undertaken on budget savings proposals to achieve         the exceptional level of further savings required          specifically in 2014/15 and 2015/16.