Date: 10 February 2012 My ref: Your ref: Contact: Matthew Berry Tel no: 0116 272 7638 Fax no: 0116 272 7596 Email: [email protected] To Members of the Cabinet Executive Councillor E. F. White (Leader) − Leader's Portfolio Councillor J. O. Hudson (Deputy Leader) − Finance & Efficiency Portfolio Councillor D. R. Clements − Corporate Services Portfolio Councillor F. G. H Jackson − Regulatory & Neighbourhood Services Portfolio Councillor D. Jennings − Health & Community Services Portfolio Councillor E. A. Webster-Williams − Policy & Partnerships Portfolio Dear Councillor, A meeting of the CABINET EXECUTIVE will be held in the Brooks Room at these offices on MONDAY, 20 FEBRUARY 2012 at 4.30 p.m. for the transaction of the following business and your attendance is requested. Yours faithfully Judith Warner Legal Services Manager AGENDA 1. Apologies for Absence 2. Disclosure of Interests from Members To receive disclosures of interests from Members (i.e. the existence and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this agenda). 3. Minutes (Pages 1 - 6) To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 23 January 2012 (enclosed). Blaby District Council Council Offices Desford Road Narborough Leicestershire LE19 2EP Telephone: 0116 275 0555 Fax: 0116 275 0368 Minicom: 0116 284 9786 Web: www.blaby.gov.uk This document is printed on recycled paper 4. Public Speaking Protocol Requests received by the Protocol deadline to be reported by the Legal Services Manager with details of the Agenda Item to which they relate. (Such persons entitled to use the Protocol attend for the purpose of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to the business of the meeting and the time allocated to each person is a maximum of three minutes unless extended at the discretion of the Chairman). 5. Senior Management Arrangements (Pages 7 - 14) To consider the report of the Chief Executive (enclosed). 6. General Fund Revenue Account - Revised Budget 2011/12 (Pages 15 - 20) To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed). 7. Revised Capital Programme 2011/12 (Pages 21 - 28) To consider the report of the Financial Services Group Manager (enclosed). 8. Report of the Scrutiny Commission in relation to the 2012/13 Budget Proposals (Pages 29 - 32) To consider the report of the Scrutiny Commission (enclosed). 9. General Fund Revenue Account - Budget Proposals 2012/13 (Pages 33 - 58) To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed). 10. Proposed Capital Resources & Programme 2012/13 (Pages 59 - 70) To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Financial Services Group Manager (enclosed). 11. Prudential Indicator and Treasury Management Strategy 2012/13 (Pages 71 - 104) To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed). 12. Schedule of Charges 2012/13 (Pages 105 - 124) To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed). 13. Council Tax 2012/13 (Pages 125 - 128) To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed). 14. Medium Term Financial Strategy - Financial Forecast (Pages 129 - 142) To consider the report of the Deputy Chief Executive (enclosed). 15. 2011/12 Quarter 3 Portfolio Performance Reports (Pages 143 - 168) To consider the report of the Director (enclosed). 16. Street Naming and Numbering Service (Pages 169 - 174) To consider the report of the Regulatory Services Group Manager (enclosed). 17. Development Management and Pre-Application Advice for Householders (Pages 175 - 180) To consider the report of the Regulatory Services Group Manager (enclosed). 18. Draft Green Space Strategy (Pages 181 - 262) To consider the report of the Health & Recreation Manager (enclosed). 19. Phase 2 Environmental Health and Licensing Restructure (Public) (Pages 263 - 270) To consider the report of the Regulatory Services Group Manager (enclosed). 20. Exempt Information To consider passing the following resolution: “That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item on the grounds that the item involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the said Act. Exemption Categories: 1 and 3. Reason for Exemption: The reports contain personal and financial information in relation to individual staff members and the Authority. Public Interest Test: The public interest test has been considered and, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption is considered to outweigh the public interest in disclosing the information.” 21. Phase 2 Environmental Health and Licensing Restructure (Exempt) (Pages 271 - 274) To consider the report of the Regulatory Services Group Manager (enclosed). 22. Renewal of Insurance Policies 2012 (Pages 275 - 280) To consider the report of the Financial Services Group Manager (enclosed). This page is intentionally left blank Agenda Item 3 CABINET EXECUTIVE Minutes of a meeting held at the Council Offices, Narborough MONDAY, 23 JANUARY 2012 Present: Councillor E. F. White (Leader's Portfolio) (Leader) Councillor J. O. Hudson (Finance & Efficiency Portfolio) (Deputy Leader) Cllr. D .R. Clements - Corporate Services Portfolio Cllr. F.G.H. Jackson - Regulatory & Neighbourhood Services Portfolio Cllr. D. Jennings - Health & Community Services Portfolio Cllr. E. A. Webster-Williams - Policy & Partnerships Portfolio Also in attendance as Observers: Cllr. A. C. Tanner Officers present:- Mrs S. Whiles - Chief Executive Mr. J.L. Holden - Deputy Chief Executive Mrs. J. Toman - Director Mrs J. Warner - Legal Services Manager Mrs S. Pennelli - Financial Services Group Manager Mr J. Wells - Regulatory Services Group Manager Mr K. Pegg - Neighbourhood Services Group Manager Mrs. L. McBean - Scrutiny Manager Mr M. Berry - Senior Democratic Services Officer Apologies: None 226. DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS FROM MEMBERS No disclosures were received. 227. MINUTES The minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2011, as circulated, were approved and signed as a correct record. 179 Cabinet Executive - Monday, 23 January 2012Page 1 228. PUBLIC SPEAKING PROTOCOL No requests were received. 229. TREASURY MANAGEMENT STRATEGY 2012/13 - CHANGE OF DIRECTION Considered – Report of the Deputy Chief Executive. Other Options Considered – To not review the Council’s strategy. DECISION That the following changes to the Treasury Management Strategy be approved:- a) That a proportion of the funds currently held in the external investment fund be utilised to reduce the Council’s exposure to current and potential future borrowing costs. b) That also a proportion of the monies held in the external investment fund be redirected from short dated highly liquid financial instruments into longer dated fixed rate financial instruments to achieve higher rates of return. Reason: To enable the Council to proceed with a strategic change of direction which will strengthen its underlying financial security at a time of continuing financial instability. 230. BUDGET MONITORING Considered – Report of the Financial Services Group Manager. Other Options Considered – To not monitor the budgets. This would not support the Council’s commitment to performance management. DECISION That the report of the Financial Services Group Manager be accepted. Reason: To enable the Cabinet Executive to monitor the budget performance in relation to key areas of income and expenditure as the financial year progresses. 180 Cabinet Executive - Monday, 23 January 2012Page 2 231. RENEWAL OF INSURANCE POLICIES 2012 This item was deferred until the February 20 th meeting of Cabinet Executive. 232. LEICESTERSHIRE ENVIRONMENT BOARD Considered – Report of the Neighbourhood Services Group Manager. Other Options Considered – To not be a member of the Leicestershire Environment Board. This would not support the Council’s commitment to inter-authority working. DECISIONS 1. That the termination of the Leicestershire Waste Partnership Board and the creation of the Environment Board be noted. 2. That Cllr Guy Jackson be appointed as Blaby District Council’s representative on the Environment Board. Reason: To enable Blaby District Council to participate in and/or influence where appropriate the Leicestershire Environment Board. 181 Cabinet Executive - Monday, 23 January 2012Page 3 233. ENFORCEMENT ACTION, LAND AT NARBOROUGH ROAD SOUTH, BRAUNSTONE TOWN Considered – Report of the Regulatory Services Group Manager. Other Options Considered – Do nothing The Council could continue to tackle the issues posed by long term empty homes which have become magnets for vandalism, squatters and other forms of anti-social behaviour using existing enforcement powers alone. This is disregarded for long term empty properties as the use of these powers is only a short term fix and does not address the underlying issue. Further, failure to act now the Council has an Empty Homes and Private Sector Housing Strategy and Policies could affect the Council’s reputation as the enforcing Local Housing Authority. Further, it is our statutory duty as a Council to monitor and maintain the housing stock within the district (The Housing Act 2004) and addressing non-decent and empty stock in Blaby District will improve the quality and affordability of homes for our residents. DECISION That the Regulatory Services Group Manager and Legal Services Manager be delegated to take action in relation to land off Narborough Road South, Braunstone Town, using the Compulsory Purchase Powers under