Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th March 2016.

Councillor Organ (Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning) referring to the petition submitted by Mr O’ Connor on behalf of Kemble Close residents, advised that the Acting Asset Manager had been considering the request with help of Officers. He requested a copy of the formal response sent to the petitioner.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th March 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no public questions.

To receive any petitions or deputations provided that no such petition or deputation 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 report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure seeking approval for a number of recommendations that will ensure that the Council is providing modern, cost effective and attractive catering services moving forward.

RESOLVED:

1.    Approval be granted to cease operating the catering facility at the Council’s Herbert Warehouse, but to note that alternative arrangements are being investigated to provide a snack option for staff at no cost to the Council;

2.    Authority be delegated to the Corporate Director (Transformation) to undertake an outsourcing exercise in order to seek expressions of interest by 30th September 2016, to operate the Museum of Gloucester Café in a partnership manner and on a shared commercial basis to be set out in the exercise documentation.

3.    If expressions of interest are not received or are deemed unsuccessful by 30th September 2016 and the Museum of Gloucester Café  continues to operate at deficit, approval be granted to cease operating the café but to note that alternative arrangements will be implemented to provide a snack option for visitors at no cost to the Council

4.    Further investigation into opportunities to develop a shared café space with the City Library be endorsed; and

5.    Plans outlined within the report in respect of the catering facilities at The Arbor at Gloucester Crematorium, Gloucester Guildhall, Gloucester Life Museum and Blackfriars Priory, which will enhance the level of service provided at these facilities be endorsed.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure (Councillor Noakes) seeking approval for a number of recommendations to ensure that the Council was providing modern, cost effective and attractive catering services moving forward.

Councillor Noakes reported that the Herbert Warehouse staff kitchen was not considered a viable option as it continued to make losses. She commented that staff had access to kitchen pods throughout the Docks offices and work was underway to investigate the option for alternative snack facilities at this location.

Councillor Noakes acknowledged the successes at The Arbor and Tea Room following the implementation of a partnership arrangement, reporting that the need to extend the current facilities to maximise opportunities had been identified and were currently being explored.

Referring to the Museum of Gloucester Café, she acknowledged that poor footfall was a significant contributing factor to the losses incurred at the site, noting that an improvement in the overall visitor experience would be required to allow the Café to generate profit. She welcomed the 83 public consultation responses to the proposals, commenting that a majority of these were received from staff and existing users of the service.

In response to the suggestions of Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on the 13th June 2016, she reported that an amendment to the proposed recommendations had been agreed. She advised that the closure of the Museum Café would be delayed until 30^th September 2016 to allow time for expressions of interest from private sector organisation or individual businesses to be received. She concluded by informing Members that Officers were also investigating opportunities to develop a shared café service with the neighbouring library, managed by Gloucestershire County Council.  

Cabinet Members welcomed the implementation of suggestions put forward by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, acknowledging that modernising the visitor experience and fully embracing partnership arrangements with similar programmes and cultural centres would be the only way to significantly increase the Museums’ exposure and footfall. They praised Officers for their work in redeveloping the catering service at the Crematorium, noting that it was ranked very highly across the entire Country.

RESOLVED:

1.    Approval be granted to cease operating the catering facility at the Council’s Herbert Warehouse, but to note that alternative arrangements are being investigated to provide a snack option for staff at no cost to the Council;

2.    Authority be delegated to the Corporate Director (Transformation) to undertake an outsourcing exercise in order to seek expressions of interest by 30th September 2016, to operate the Museum of Gloucester Café in a partnership manner and on a shared commercial basis to be set out in the exercise documentation.

3.    If expressions of interest are not received or are deemed unsuccessful by 30th September 2016 and the Museum of Gloucester Café  continues to operate at deficit, approval be granted to cease operating the café but to note that alternative arrangements will be implemented to provide a snack option for visitors at no cost to the Council

4.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment updating Members on the work undertaken in respect of the Waste & Recycling Review and to recommend a new model of delivery that will deliver savings, enhance recycling performance and future proof the service for future challenges.

RESOLVED:

1.    The contents of the report and the work of the ‘Waste & Recycling Review Members Project Group’ be noted;

2.    Approval be granted to implement the New Service Model (NSM) Option, as outlined in the report with a target commencement date of Spring 2017;

3.    Approval be granted to purchase capital items (as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report) to the value of £2,356,900 in order to deliver and implement the NSM.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment (Councillor Jim Porter) which updated Members on the work undertaken in respect of the Waste & Recycling Review and which recommended a new model of delivery that would deliver savings, enhance recycling performance and future proof the service for future challenges.

Councillor Porter informed Members that following implementation of the New Service Model (NSM) in 2017, resident would experience an increase in the types of materials they were able to recycle, including cardboard and most likely mixed plastics. He welcomed the £200,000 savings that the NSM would deliver; advising Members there was scope for a further £100,000 of savings that could potentially be achieved.

In response to Councillor Organ’s query regarding the consideration given to market volatility, Councillor Porter answered that market fluctuations were out of the City Council’s control, but as cardboard and textiles had consistently held their market value in recent years some reassurance could be provided.

Cabinet Members commended Officers for all their efforts in delivering the savings, in addition to delivering a top priority ask of local residents.

RESOLVED:

1.    The contents of the report and the work of the ‘Waste & Recycling Review Members Project Group’ be noted;

2.    Approval be granted to implement the New Service Model (NSM) Option, as outlined in the report with a target commencement date of Spring 2017;

3.    Approval be granted to purchase capital items (as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report) to the value of £2,356,900 in order to deliver and implement the NSM.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources updating Members on the final Council position against agreed budgets for the 2015/16 financial year.

RESOLVED:

1. It be noted that:

(i)            The savings achieved in year total £1.174m

(ii)          The year-end position for the financial year 2014/15 is to decrease the Council’s General Fund balance by £246k

(iii)         The General Fund balance has decreased from £1.881m to £1.635m at the end of 2015/16

(iv)         That the business rates pool has returned a surplus of £173k to the City Council.

2. The transfers to and from earmarked reserves as below and detailed in section 8 of this report be approved.

·         £710k to adopted land reserve

·         £291k to VAT Shelter reserve

·         £200k to Business Rates reserve

·         £5k from Members Allocation Reserve

·         £13k to Portfolio Reserve

·         £197k to Regeneration Reserve

·         £50k to Trading Development Reserve

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources (Councillor David Norman) which updated Members on the final Council position against agreed budgets for the 2015/16 financial year.

Councillor Dallimore (The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods) summarised key areas of the report noting the significant savings achieved.

RESOLVED:

1. It be noted that:

(i)            The savings achieved in year total £1.174m

(ii)          The year-end position for the financial year 2014/15 is to decrease the Council’s General Fund balance by £246k

(iii)         The General Fund balance has decreased from £1.881m to £1.635m at the end of 2015/16

(iv)         That the business rates pool has returned a surplus of £173k to the City Council.

2. The transfers to and from earmarked reserves as below and detailed in section 8 of this report be approved.

·         £710k to adopted land reserve

·         £291k to VAT Shelter reserve

·         £200k to Business Rates reserve

·         £5k from Members Allocation Reserve

·         £13k to Portfolio Reserve

·         £197k to Regeneration Reserve

·         £50k to Trading Development Reserve

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources updating Members on Treasury Management activities for quarter 4, (1st January 2016 to 31st March 2016) and a summary of 2015/16 financial year.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted subject to any comments subsequently received by Audit and Governance Committee.   

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which updated Members on Treasury Management activities for quarter 4, (1st January 2016 to 31st March 2016) and provided a summary of 2015/16 financial year.

Councillor Dallimore highlighted key areas of the reporting noting that the City had maintained an under borrowing position and had achieved £200,000 in savings due to a reduction in borrowing costs.

In response to Councillor Organ’s query regarding the impact of the EU Referendum result on the City Council’s position, the Head of Finance advised that the long term impacts were uncertain and therefore no short term decisions would be taken until the full impact could be assessed.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted subject to any comments subsequently received by Audit and Governance Committee.    

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy seeking approval for the intended disposal by way of a 125 year lease of land at Parton Road, Churchdown for the purpose of building a new doctors’ surgery.

PLEASE NOTE: Appendix 1 contains exempt material as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended). If Members wish to discuss material contained within Appendix 1 it will be necessary to notify the Chair to enable a resolution to be passed to exclude the press and public.

RESOLVED:

1.    The land be disposed to Brackley Developments for the purpose of building a new doctors’ surgery for the value outlined in Appendix 1, on the basis of a long lease on the general terms set out in the report and such other terms as the Acting Asset Manager, in consultation with the Head of Property and Asset Management of Cheltenham Borough Council, deems appropriate;

2.    That the Council Solicitor be authorised to execute such documents as she deems necessary or appropriate to carry into effect the transaction upon the terms agreed.

3.    That the proceeds of the disposal be split equally between Gloucester City Council   and Cheltenham Borough (who jointly own the land) and Churchdown Community Association (who have a lease on the land).

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy which sought approval for the intended disposal by way of a 125 year lease of land at Parton Road, Churchdown for the purpose of building a new doctors’ surgery.

Councillor Dallimore advised Members that difficulties in disposing of the site on the open market could arise; due to its classification as an important open space by Tewkesbury Borough Council and the likelihood that residential development would not be permitted.

Cabinet Members welcomed the proposals noting that a new Doctors’ surgery would provide much needed relief to existing services.

RESOLVED:

1.    The land be disposed to Brackley Developments for the purpose of building a new doctors’ surgery for the value outlined in Appendix 1, on the basis of a long lease on the general terms set out in the report and such other terms as the Acting Asset Manager, in consultation with the Head of Property and Asset Management of Cheltenham Borough Council, deems appropriate;

2.    That the Council Solicitor be authorised to execute such documents as she deems necessary or appropriate to carry into effect the transaction upon the terms agreed.

3.    That the proceeds of the disposal be split equally between Gloucester City Council   and Cheltenham Borough (who jointly own the land) and Churchdown Community Association (who have a lease on the land).

To resolve:-

“That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public are present during consideration of this item there will be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended”.

Agenda Item No.               Description of Exempt Information

12                                           Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public are present during consideration of this items there will be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy concerning the Kings Quarter Development Scheme.

RESOLVED:

 The recommendations as laid out in the exempt report.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy updating Members on the Kings Quarter scheme.

RESOLVED:

 The recommendations as laid out in the exempt report.