Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Terl Bryant.

Report number DCS14 by the Director of Community Services.  (attached)

DECISION:

(1)    To identify Option Two – Retention of Watergate Car Park, Sale of East Street and Development of Welham Street Car Park – as the preferred option at this moment in time;

(2)    To authorise officers to undertake further work to establish the feasibility of constructing a multi-storey car park on the Welham Street site.  This work to include the commissioning of a Traffic Impact Assessment site examination and, if favourable, the submission of a planning application for the scheme;

(3)    To await a further report to the July meeting of the Cabinet to consider the results of the feasibility study;

(4)    To note that if option two cannot be delivered, reconsideration would have to be given to Option One or any alternative project that may come forward.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)     Report number DCS14 by the Director of Community Services summarising the two options currently available to address the future car parking needs of the town, the costings and financing of each option, and the contributions each option would make to the development of Grantham as a sub-regional centre;

(2)     The issues of uncertainty surrounding Option Two which are currently based on preliminary designs and would be subject to planning permission involving a traffic impact assessment.  Such a study, together with a fully worked up design and costings could be prepared for the Cabinet to consider in July;

(3)     Option Two was the favoured option of the Environment DSP during the pre-decision scrutiny process;

(4)     The Cabinet aggress that Option Two has the potential to deliver more outcomes that support Grantham as a sub-regional centre, particularly in that part of the town and could be linked in with the development of the Grantham Canal Basin.  Option Two also addresses some of the concerns expressed by the public over the use of the Watergate site;

(5)     The Cabinet acknowledges the support from Henry Boot Developments who are willing to work with the council on whichever scheme is finally selected.

Report number CEX287 by the Chief Executive.    (attached)

DECISION: That the Council be requested to endorse that:

(1)     That Affordable Housing be retained as a Category B Priority for the time being but subject to review when considered appropriate;

(2)     New targets for Affordable Housing as set out below be adopted:

YearNew Affordable Homes

2004/0560

2005/0680

2006/07         100

2007/08         150

(3)     The new targets for Recycling as set out below be adopted:

Year                      Current Target      Proposed New Target

2005/06                            18%                            18%

2006/07                            18%                            21%

2007/08                            18%                            24%

Considerations/Reasons for Decision::

(1)        Report number CEX287 by the Chief Executive (with appended report CEX283) setting out the views and recommendations of the five DSPs on the proposed revision to the Council’s priorities;

(2)        To move Affordable Housing from Priority B to Priority A at this time would pose a danger of pre-empting the outcome of the Stock Option Appraisal.  The Cabinet is not prepared to make a decision based upon what, at this moment in time, is an assumption.  The Council’s performance in this area demonstrates that it is committed to pursuing this important issue;

(3)        The initial results of the General Satisfaction Survey demonstrate strong support for the Council’s priorities as adopted;

(4)        The Cabinet supports the reasoning behind increasing the targets for recycling as set out in report CEX283) but is mindful of the implications upon other services should the authority not be able to secure DEFRA grants and/or additional Council Tax income.

Report number PLA491 by the Development Control Services Manager.

                                                                                                     (attached)

DECISION:

(1)     To note the ODPM’s award of planning delivery grant of £569,559 to South Kesteven District Council for achieving Best Value performance Indicator Targets and for improvement in performance up to September 2004;

(2)     That the Cabinet’s congratulations be conveyed to the staff of Development Control Services and the Development Control Committee for the hard work and effort put in to this achievement;

(3)     To endorse the development of a strategy for the investment of planning delivery grant into planning services and planning related projects based around the following key issues:

·        Back scanning archived planning files

·        IT initiatives

·        External consultancy of service (particularly administrative function)

·        Replace existing furniture and improve accommodation

·        Input into LDF project to help ensure that an up to date plan is available

·        Staffing issues (additional hours/use of short term consultants)

·        Future projects

·        Financing a district wide housing needs survey

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)       Report number PLA491 by the Development Control Services Manager following the announcement from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister regarding the annual award of planning delivery grant.  Explanation of the basis of previous years’ grants and why the authority had failed to meet the required targets; the basis for the award of the 2005/06 grant and other factors which are taken into account relative to SKDC;

(2)       The current award (the second highest in the East Midlands) reflects a significant and marked improvement in development control performance resulting in national targets being exceeded.  This has been due to outstanding effort from staff and regulatory committee members to bring about the cultural change which was needed;

(3)       The Government has made clear that future awards of PDG are dependent on authorities’ performance across planning activities.  On this basis it is necessary for officers to develop a strategy for investing the grant award into planning services and planned related projects.

(1)  Councillor Ray Auger: Portfolio - Environment

Councillor Auger reported that the first training sessions with Police Community Support Officers had been held in relation to the issue of fixed penalties for dog fouling and litter, demonstrating the commitment of the Council’s partnership working with the police to the priority A categories of street scene and anti-social behaviour.  Consideration was currently being given to revising the format of the standard forms used by the police to make this process more efficient.

(2)  Councillor Paul Carpenter: Portfolio - Technology

NON KEY DECISION:

Decision:            That a contract for the provision of a 6 megabyte Dedicated Internet Access Plus service for the Council for 3 years be awarded to ntl.

[Decision made 11.04.05]

Report number FIN234 by the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources.

(Enclosure)

The following item was considered as a matter of urgency as the guidance from the Government on the Gershon efficiency savings was received at a late stage.  The deadline for the submission of the 2005/06 annual efficiency statement was brought forward to 15^th April 205 which was earlier than the Government had previously indicated.

DECISION:  To accept the draft Annual Efficiency Statement as appended to report FIN234 and that the Leader, Chief Executive, and Chief Finance Officer delegated to endorse this statement for submission by the required deadline of 15^th April 2005.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)            Report number FIN234 by the Director of Finance and Strategic Resources explaining that the Council is required to produce an annual efficiency statement which enables a brief overview of the key strategies and actions that will be undertaken to deliver the savings.  The savings for 2005/06 have been allocated across the main cross-cutting areas of activity;

(2)            The savings were assesses in advance of the guidance in order that this could be built into the budget process;

(3)            The calculation of required Gershon efficiency savings has been completed using the guidance from the ODPM (appendix to report FIN234). Overall, the Council’s target is £505,000 for each of the years 2006/07, 2007/08 and with a 50:50 split for cashable: non-cashable means £252,500 is the relevant individual target for these elements.

DATE DECISIONS EFFECTIVE:

The decisions taken at minute numbers CO127 and CO128 are Policy Framework Proposals and therefore stand referred to the Full Council.  The Key Decision at minute CO131 and other non key decisions made on 11^th April 2005 can be implemented on 20^th April 2005 unless subject to call-in by the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel.