Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Cabinet Member was asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests she might have in the business on the agenda.

She declared a standing personal interest as a retired member of UNISON, and expressed her wish for this to be attached to future agendas.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday 13 September 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the Decision Session-Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion held on 13 September 2011 be signed by the Cabinet Member as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting, members of the public who have registered their wish to speak at the meeting can do so. The deadline for registering is Monday 10^th October 2011 at 5.00 pm.

Members of the public may register to speak on :-

·        an item on the agenda

·        an issue within the Cabinet Member’s remit;

·        an item that has been published on the Information Log since the last session.

Information reports are listed at the end of the agenda.

It was reported that there had been no registrations under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Cabinet Member for Leisure, Culture & Social Inclusion with an update on financial performance, progress against service plan improvement actions and performance measures.

The Cabinet Member received a report which updated her on financial performance, progress against service plan improvement actions and performance measures in the Communities and Neighbourhoods directorate.

RESOLVED:        (i)     That the report be noted.

                           (ii)       That the revised timescales for actions that are in progress, but where the original estimated timescale has slipped for completion be agreed.

REASON:                     To ensure that those actions where the estimated timescales have slipped are completed within the revised timescales without detriment to the quality of action taken.

The Cabinet Member received a report which updated her on financial performance, progress against service plan improvement actions and performance measures in the Communities and Neighbourhoods directorate.

The Cabinet Member was updated on the financial position of several areas in the directorate including;

-      An overspend in the restructure of the Arts Education Peripatetic Music Service due to one-off redundancy costs.  It was noted that the new service is working well and providing whole class tuition with larger numbers of children.

-      That both library cafés were in profit and that income had been generated from the York Card.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the timescales for actions that are in progress but where the original timescale has slipped for completion be agreed.

REASON:                     To ensure that those actions where the estimated timescale has slipped are completed within the revised timescales without detriment to the quality of action.

This  report  informs the Cabinet Member of the outcome of the Local Government Information and Development Diversity peer challenge which took place on 26 and 27 July 2011.

The Cabinet Member received a report which informed her of the outcome of the Local Government Information and Development Diversity peer challenge which took place on 26 and 27 July 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the report be noted.

REASON:           So that the Council can put in place an action plan to achieve ‘Excellent’ under the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG).

The Cabinet Member received a report which informed her of the outcome of the Local Government Information and Development Diversity peer challenge which took place on 26 and 27 July 2011.

RESOLVED:       That the report be noted.

REASON:           So that the Council can put in place an action plan to achieve ‘Excellent’ under the Equality Framework for Local Government (EFLG).

This report asks the Cabinet Member to agree amended criteria for Discretionary Rate Relief (DRR) to be awarded by the Directorate of Communities and Neighbourhoods for the period 2013 – 2015.

The Cabinet Member received a report which asked her to agree amended criteria for Discretionary Rate Relief to be awarded by the Directorate for Communities and Neighbourhoods for the period 2013-2015.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the revised criteria set out in Annex 2 of the report be agreed.

(iii)     That Officers report back to the Cabinet Member on additional measures that will be taken to ensure that non profit distributing social enterprises will be made aware of the DRR assistance that the Council is making available.

REASON:                     In order to establish an amended procedure for 2013-15.

The Cabinet Member received a report which asked her to agree amended criteria for Discretionary Rate Relief to be awarded by the Directorate for Communities and Neighbourhoods for the period 2013-2015.

In response to a question, the Cabinet Member was informed that the awards for organisations from the Lifelong Learning and Culture DRR pot  had been scaled down for 2010-12 as the  applications eligible for relief had exceeded the budget available. It was noted that  organisations who had applied for assistance after the closing date were refused on the grounds of not having any remaining money in the pot.

RESOLVED:       (i)      That the report be noted.

(ii)      That the revised criteria set out in Annex 2 of the Officer’s report be agreed.

REASON:                     In order to establish an amended procedure for 2013-15.