Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Auger.

To approve the record of the Cabinet meeting held on 7^th August 2006.                                      (Enclosure)

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7^th August 2006 were approved as a correct record with the following amendments:

CO36, consideration 1, should be amended to read “Exempt report number PLA607by the Leader, the Economic Development Portfolio Holder having declared a personal interest.”

CO37, consideration 9, should be amended to read “Access to Mapinfo would be available for Members of the Council.”

CO37, consideration 11, should be amended to read “The District Council would ensure that contractors were made aware of monitoring documents concerning development on properties where asbestos had been identified.”

CO38, consideration 5, should be amended to read: “The strategy would need to reflect both potential outcomes of the ballot of tenants on Large Scale Voluntary Transfer, due to take place in autumn 2006.”

No declarations of interest were made.

Report number PLA611 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                                   (Enclosure)

DECISION:

1. The Cabinet did not approve the Draft Grantham Masterplan; clarification was required on:
   1. Whether the document presented a real vision that would allow Grantham to become a functioning sub-regional centre if it achieves its growth potential;
   2. Identification of sources of public funding for specific projects would be necessary as South Kesteven District Council had been identified as a funding agent;
   3. The location of the civic centre of Grantham and the cultural centre of Grantham;
   4. The implications of the proposed change of use for East Street car park following a Council decision.
2. That following clarification, the Draft Masterplan should be presented to a future Cabinet meeting, which could be a special meeting held at the Leader’s discretion.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)               Report number PLA611 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on the draft Grantham Masterplan for 2006-2015, which would provide a detailed, prioritised action plan that would form the basis of an Area Action Plan (AAP) for inclusion in the Local Development Framework (LDF);

(2)               The District Council’s Category A Priority to develop Grantham as a sub-regional centre;

(3)               Comments made at the joint meeting of the Economic DSP and the Resources DSP on Thursday 24^th August 2006 and a meeting held for Grantham Councillors on 31^st August 2006;

(4)               All design proposals produced in the Masterplan would be conceptual and should not therefore be formally adopted. Each development would need to take account of key delivery issues that would be highlighted within the development brief and subject to some change;

(5)               Consultation with local stakeholders on the draft Masterplan undertaken by the Grantham Town Centre Manager and the need for consultation with members of the public;

(6)               Appointment of a champion for the project and possible supporting team, into which current provision for Town Centre Management should be integrated. The appointed champion should be evaluated on a three-yearly basis;

(7)               In determining the strategy to encourage finance it would be necessary to confirm the level of public sector intervention required to facilitate the development;

(8)               The Masterplan for Grantham should be affordable and deliverable;

(9)               The decision of the Council on the disposal of East Street car park being contrary to proposals in the draft Masterplan.

At 11:23 The Leader left the meeting and the Deputy Leader assumed the Chair.

Report number ENV361 by the Healthy Environment Portfolio Holder.                                   (Enclosure)

DECISION:

That the Cabinet recommends to Council that the draft Statement of Principles be adopted as ‘The Statement of Principles’ in respect of the Gambling Act 2005.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)   Report number ENV361 by the Healthy Environment Portfolio Holder concerning the draft Statement of Principles in respect of the Council’s legislative responsibility under the Gambling Act 2005;

(2)   Appendix 1 of report ENV361, detailing responses received to consultation on the Draft Statement of Principles and the Draft statement circulated as a supplementary item;

(3)   Recommendations made by the Licensing Committee on Friday 1^st September;

(4)   Section 349 of the Gambling Act 2005 required the licensing authority to consult on, publish and adopt a three year Statement of Principles for the area which would need to be in place by 1^st January 2007;

(5)   Peer assessments of the draft Statement of Principles by the County Licensing Group and LACORS;

(6)   Discussions of the Economic Development and Scrutiny Panel;

(7)   That consideration should be given to the legality of making CRB checks mandatory for all people who work within gambling establishments.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

In accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, it was resolved that the public be excluded because of the likelihood in view of the nature of business to be transacted that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended. With the press and public excluded, the following item was considered.

Report number PLA612 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                                   (Enclosure)

Appendix 1 of this report is exempt because it contains information relating to named individuals.

DECISION:

1.                    That the action taken to deal with the short to medium term management and performance issues in the Development Control Service, as set out in appendix 1 of report PLA612, is noted;

2.                    That an independent verification is carried out of development control performance statistics against the Audit Commission Key Performance Indicators lines of enquiry; and that a detailed check is carried out on those applications that are determined close to the 8/13 week date, and a sample system check of up to 2% of applications, depending on AC guidelines;

3.                    That the positions of Trainee Planning Officer and Development Control Officer are advertised as soon as possible;

4.                    That a post APAS system administrator (on an initial six month basis) be established, to be advertised for immediate filling;

5.                    That the post of temporary practice manager (on an initial six month basis) is advertised internally for immediate filling;

6.                    That these two appointments are reviewed after 3 months to evaluate possible further temporary arrangements or a permanent solution, with a report submitted to Cabinet to recommend the appropriate course of action;

7.                    That a report be submitted to the Cabinet setting out the measures to be in a Service Improvement Plan for Development Control based on the IDeA Peer Review Report, and the management and implementation team arrangements for carrying it out;

8.                    Endorse the proposals for the utilisation of Planning Delivery Grants as set out in the “Summary of Planning Delivery Grant Award, spend and commitments” contained at appendix 2 of report PLA612;

9.                    That regular update reports should be submitted to Cabinet on the use of the Planning Delivery Grant.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)               Report number PLA612 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder addressing several key issues for the short and longer term operation and management of the Council’s Development Control Service and exempt appendix;

(2)               Appendix 2 of report PLA612 including a summary of the Planning Delivery Grant award, spend and commitments, with further proposals for the utilisation of the 2006/07 award.

Other options considered and assessed:

1.                  None appropriate given the urgent timescale for the turn round of Development Control Services performance and the previous agreement of Operational Management Team to the filling of the two new Development Control Services posts.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

In accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, it was resolved that the public be excluded because of the likelihood in view of the nature of business to be transacted that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended. With the press and public excluded, the following item was considered.

Report number DLS81 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                                   (Enclosure)

This item is exempt because it contains commercially sensitive information and information covered by legal privilege.

DECISION:

1.                  That the Cabinet agree to the early surrender of the existing lease subject to the tenant removing all existing fixtures and fittings and clearing the site to the satisfaction of the Council and in accordance with the terms of the lease;

2.                  That the Capital and Asset Management Group investigate all options for the current and future use of the site on early surrender of the lease.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)               Exempt report number DLS81 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on Cattle Market, Stamford;

(2)               To ensure best value, the current and future use of the site at Cattle Market, Stamford should be considered in conjunction with other potential development sites in the area.

Other options considered and assessed:

1.                  To refuse to accept early surrender of the lease until the Council had determined an alternate future use for the site.

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

In accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, it was resolved that the public be excluded because of the likelihood in view of the nature of business to be transacted that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended. With the press and public excluded, the following item was considered.

Report number AFM019 by the Resources and Assets Portfolio Holder.                                                                                                                                                                                                                              (Enclosure)

This item is exempt because it contains information on the business affairs of the Council.

DECISION:

To defer the item on Wake House, Bourne until a future meeting of the Cabinet to allow further consultation between all parties.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)               Exempt report number AFM019 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on the disposal of Wake House, Bourne;

(2)               Cabinet decision on Wake House made on 7^th November 2005.

DATE DECISIONS EFFECTIVE:

Minute CO48 being a Policy Framework Proposal, stands referred to the Council meeting on 26^th October 2006. All other decisions as made on 4^th September 2006 can be implemented on 13^th September 2006, unless subject to call-in by the Chairman of the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel or five members of the Council.