Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Items
No. Item

93.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

94.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 156 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 6th February 2019.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6th February 2019 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

95.

Public Question Time (15 minutes)

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

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

96.

Petitions and Deputations (15 minutes)

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

Minutes:

There were no petitions or deputations.

97.

Leader and Cabinet Members' Question Time (15 minutes)

Any Member of the Council may ask the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet Member any question without prior notice, upon:

       

·       Any matter relating to the Council’s administration

·       Any matter relating to any report of the Cabinet appearing on the summons

·       A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities

 

Only one supplementary question is allowed per question.

Minutes:

Cllr Hilton referred to agenda item 11 (Regeneration Sites Update) and the Council resolution of 21st May 2018 (minute 9.4) that noted the poor condition of 67-69 London Road and that asked the Leader of the Council to consider acquiring the site for regeneration.  Cllr Hilton sought clarification on the progress being made to redevelop the site.  The Leader of the Council responded that both he and the Head of Place had been meeting with the owners of the site and explored potential partners with whom a deal may be struck.  Cllr Hilton reminded Members that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 25th February 2019 (minute 147.3) had requested a progress update for 3rd June 2019 and further asked if the option to acquire the site was to be implemented. The Leader of the Council replied that he hoped a deal would be done before the expensive and uncertain process of compulsory purchase might become necessary as a last resort.  

 

Concerning agenda item 12 (Public Consultation for Draft Supplementary Planning Documents for Podsmead and Matson Estates Regeneration) Cllr Haigh drew Members’ attention to her submission to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of 25th February 2019 (minutes appendix) that outlined a series of issues and aspirations for the Matson Estate and asked if they would be considered by Cabinet.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy stated that they would be taken into account.  Cllr Haigh further sought reassurance that Cabinet would consider the recommendation of the Committee (minute 149.19) that Cabinet urgently examine provision for independent advice once funding for the tenancy advisory service ceases.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy stated that he recognised the importance of continuing the funding and confirmed that the recommendation would be addressed when Cabinet considered the matter later in the meeting.

 

Cllr Coole informed Members that he had been contacted by a number of residents concerned about the quantity of overflowing litter bins in White City and asked how frequently they are emptied.  The Cabinet Member for Environment requested the details of the comments to pursue the matter.

 

98.

Capital Strategy pdf icon PDF 95 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking for the Capital Strategy to be formally recommended to Council.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that the Capital Strategy be

approved.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought the Capital Strategy to be formally recommended to Council.

 

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that the Capital Strategy be approved.

99.

Treasury Management Strategy pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking recommendation to Council that the Treasury Management Strategy and the prudential indicators be approved and that the Treasury activities be noted.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that the Treasury Management

Strategy be approved.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought recommendation to Council that the Treasury Management Strategy and the prudential indicators be approved and that the Treasury activities be noted.

 

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources summarised the key features of the report.

 

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that the Treasury Management

Strategy be approved.

100.

Financial Monitoring Quarter 3 Report pdf icon PDF 173 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that seeks Members to note year-end forecasts, and progress made against agreed savings targets for the 3rd quarter ended 31st December 2018.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that it is noted that:

 

(1) The savings achieved in year to date total £150k with a further £197k in

progress.

(2) The forecast year end position is currently for an increase to the Council’s

General Fund balance of £95k against a budgeted increase of £163k.

(3) The details of specific budgetary issues identified by officers and the actions

being taken to address those issues

(4) The current level of Capital expenditure as shown on Appendix 2 of the report.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought Members to note year-end forecasts, and progress made against agreed savings targets for the 3rd quarter ended 31st December 2018.

 

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources highlighted the position for each portfolio and commented that positive progress was being made.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods advised Members that they would soon see the benefits of innovative work being undertaken with housing to help people and families with complex needs, particularly around homelessness prevention.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure acknowledged that the report reflected the challenges of the transitions over the past year in her portfolio but assured Members that the coming year would see exciting opportunities from those developments such as the transfer of the Life Museum to Gloucester Historic Buildings Ltd and a focus on the Guildhall.  She took the opportunity to announce that entry to the Museum of Gloucester would be free, only charging for special exhibitions, from the 1st of April 2019 and that it would incorporate the Tourist Information Service and no longer be closed on Mondays from that date as well.  The Cabinet Member for Environment thanked officers at the crematorium for managing the extra work arising from difficulties at Cheltenham Borough crematorium which had contributed to the financial performance (10.4).  The Cabinet Member of Regeneration and Economy commented that more realistic targets and developments, such as securing a new operator for the markets, would have a positive impact next year.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy emphasised the importance of looking at the context of the strengths and weaknesses revealed in the report and stated that overall the picture looked good for the year end. 

 

RESOLVED that it is noted that:

 

(1) The savings achieved in year to date total £150k with a further £197k in progress.

(2) The forecast year end position is currently for an increase to the Council’s General Fund balance of £95k against a budgeted increase of £163k.

(3) The details of specific budgetary issues identified by officers and the actions being taken to address those issues

(4) The current level of Capital expenditure as shown on Appendix 2 of the report.

101.

Performance Monitoring Quarter 3 Report pdf icon PDF 99 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that informs Members of the Council’s performance against key measures in Quarter 3 of 2018/19.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that the Quarter 3 Performance Report 2018/19 at Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that informed Members of the Council’s performance against key measures in Quarter 3 of 2018/19.

 

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources highlighted areas where improvement had taken place or was needed and placed the apparent trends into a wider context.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure advised Members that she was working to produce new indicators for Cultural and Trading Services (VE1-3) to give a more accurate picture of performance as they no longer reflected the ways in which these services are delivered.

 

RESOLVED that the Quarter 3 Performance Report 2018/19 at Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

102.

Regeneration Sites Update pdf icon PDF 128 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy that updates Members on progress made in delivering a number of regeneration sites, commonly referred to as the ‘Hit-List’ that have been identified by the Regeneration Advisory Board as requiring intervention to ensure they are either physically improved, or brought back into active economic use.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)  progress made on a number of the sites identified in the Regeneration Sites Update attached at Appendix 1 of the report be noted, and

 

(2) the latest position in relation to 67-69 London Road and 100 Northgate Street continues to be monitored, and in the absence of any genuine progress a further report is brought back to Cabinet to explore the options open to Cabinet to bring about their regeneration.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy that updated Members on progress made in delivering certain regeneration sites, commonly referred to as the ‘Hit-List’ that have been identified by the Regeneration Advisory Board as requiring intervention to ensure they are either physically improved or brought back into active economic use.

 

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy outlined the background to this and previous Hit-Lists.  He reminded Members of achievements made since the first was produced with examples of sites no longer listed due to successful intervention.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy commented on the importance of continuing to monitor progress and of including small as well as large sites across the whole of the city.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods commended the form of the report and advised Members that she intended to adopt a similar approach to monitoring work being undertaken with property owners to bring long-term empty homes back into use.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)  progress made on a number of the sites identified in the Regeneration Sites Update attached at Appendix 1 of the report be noted, and

 

(2) the latest position in relation to 67-69 London Road and 100 Northgate Street continues to be monitored, and in the absence of any genuine progress a further report is brought back to Cabinet to explore the options open to Cabinet to bring about their regeneration.

 

103.

Public Consultation for Draft Supplementary Planning Documents for Podsmead Estate Regeneration and Matson Estate Regeneration pdf icon PDF 119 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy seeking approval to undertake a public consultation on the draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) produced by Gloucester City Homes (GCH).

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)     the draft Supplementary Planning Document – Podsmead Estate Regeneration set out at Appendix 1 of the report be approved for public consultation.

 

(2) the draft Supplementary Planning Document – Matson Estate Regeneration set out at Appendix 2 of the report be approved for public consultation.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy that sought approval to undertake a public consultation on the draft Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs) produced by Gloucester City Homes (GCH).

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy summarised the background to the consultation and emphasised the importance of a meaningful engagement with residents.  He drew Members’ attention to the recommendation of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting of 25th February 2019 (Appendix 3) that asked Cabinet to urgently examine provision for independent advice once funding for the tenancy advisory service ceases.  He stated that officers would be working with Gloucester City Homes and residents of Matson and Podsmead to examine options to continue the provision of independent advice once Government funding for the Tenant Participation Advisory Service (TPAS) ends on 31st March 2019 in order that both communities continue to be supported throughout the regeneration process.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods reminded Members that it was very important that tenants retained an independent voice from the outset in what would be a long process.  She further commented on the strong community spirit within Matson and Podsmead and its potential to enrich the regeneration and form the basis of pioneering academic study.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy reiterated that community participation was vital to success and took the opportunity to urge residents to join the community advisory groups and engage with the regeneration process.

 

RESOLVED that:

 

(1)     the draft Supplementary Planning Document – Podsmead Estate Regeneration set out at Appendix 1 of the report be approved for public consultation.

 

(2) the draft Supplementary Planning Document – Matson Estate Regeneration set out at Appendix 2 of the report be approved for public consultation.

104.

Statement of Common Ground for Gloucestershire pdf icon PDF 105 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy informing Members on progress being made in respect of a strategic planning framework for Gloucestershire to 2050 and beyond, and to secure the Council's support for the preparation of a non-statutory `Statement of Common Ground’.

Decision:

RESOLVED that the Council works in partnership with the five other Local Planning Authorities, Gloucestershire County Council and the GFirst LEP to develop a Strategic Planning Framework for Gloucestershire, to 2050 and beyond, via the preparation of a ‘Statement of Common Ground’.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the report of the Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy that informed Members on progress being made in respect of a strategic planning framework for Gloucestershire to 2050 and beyond, and that sought to secure the Council's support for the preparation of a non-statutory `Statement of Common Ground’.

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy outlined the principal benefits of the proposal.  The Cabinet Member for Policy and Resources welcomed the opportunity for more `joined up thinking’ between authorities and commented on the particular advantages for the communities that straddle the City boundaries.

 

RESOLVED that the Council works in partnership with the five other Local Planning Authorities, Gloucestershire County Council and the GFirst LEP to develop a Strategic Planning Framework for Gloucestershire, to 2050 and beyond, via the preparation of a ‘Statement of Common Ground’.