Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

None.

Minutes of the meetings held on 1 and 15 October 2013.

The minutes of the last meeting were approved and signed as a correct record.

None.

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing and Safety

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety introduced the report and explained that the Council’s current Licensing policy, guidance and conditions for private hire and taxis (“taxi policy”) was adopted by Council in October 2010. He said that while there was no statutory requirement to undertake a review of the taxi policy, there was a commitment set out in the policy to do so at least once every three years to ensure the policy remained up to date and relevant.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety highlighted that to facilitate the review and better engage with key stakeholders a taxi policy review working group was set up by the Licensing Committee earlier in the year. The only contentious issue raised was the Council’s proposal to introduce a uniform colour for all licensed Hackney Carriages. He stated that in accordance with normal practice, a 12 week consultation would be undertaken.

The Leader added that there had been media interest in the proposal to introduce a uniform black colour scheme but highlighted that to limit the impact of this the implementation would be gradual as and when licensed vehicles were replaced or re-licensed. This had been worked through with officers and the trade.

RESOLVED THAT

1. the proposed amendments to the current taxi policy be noted and

2. the amended draft policy be approved for consultation.

Report of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services

The Cabinet Member Corporate Services introduced the report and explained that this related to the use of all CCTV surveillance systems within and on Council owned property excluding town centre equipment operated by Gloucestershire Police.

He explained that the purpose of the policy was twofold, firstly to ensure that individuals and the wider communities had confidence that surveillance cameras are deployed to protect and support them, rather than spy on them. Secondly, it was to provide assurance that where Cheltenham Borough Council used these complex technologies it would do so in line with the requirements for Data Protection Act 1998.

The Cabinet Member reported that each service manager who had responsibility for a CCTV scheme must have a specific Code of Practice in place before it becomes operational or within 6 months of the approval of this document. The corporate policy provided guidance to service managers and enables them to agree and publish a system specific Code of Practice for their service area and would assist system owners, management and operators to understand their legal obligations whilst reassuring the public about the safeguards within it. An annual review would ensure compliance with CCTV policy and the basic principals contained within it. Any major subsequent changes made to this Code would be approved by Cabinet.

When asked whether the policy applied to the webcam which looked out on to the Long Gardens the Cabinet Member invited the Corporate Governance, Risk and Compliance officer to address Cabinet. He stated that the CCTV policy allowed for additional surveillance systems and this particular webcam required its own Code of Practice.

RESOLVED THAT

The Policy for the operation of CCTV surveillance systems on Cheltenham Borough Council property be approved.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Health reported that rent arrears rates for council owned properties were well within the realms of what had been anticipated. He paid tribute to the work CBH had undertaken to address potential issues prior to the introduction of welfare reform.

The Cabinet Member Sport and Culture reported that the Wilson had received more than 25 000 visitors in its first month. This compared to an annual visitor total of 70 000 for the Art Gallery & Museum in its last full year of operation. She also explained that previously outreach and education had taken place in schools but now more schools were visiting the Wilson for this purpose.

The Leader announced that last week at a national level the unions had put in a claim for a staff pay award of £1 per hour which, in Cheltenham’s case, would put 8.3 % on the actual pay bill. A formal response was required by January.

The Leader also made reference to the Rewiring Public Services campaign for which he had recently attended a briefing at South West Councils. The LGA was seeking cross party support to these proposals and as such the Leader thought it appropriate to refer the whole paper to Overview and Scrutiny.

The Cabinet Member Sustainability reported that he had made a decision adopting the new inclement weather policy and procedure. This was a result of learning lessons from the inclement weather and waste collections in 2012. The decision to stop waste collections remained with Ubico on the basis of health and safety and following on from that a daily conference would take place involving all related parties to deal with resuming collections/undertaking limited collections. There were also procedures in place to improve communications.

The Cabinet Member Housing and Safety reported that he had made a decision to accept the recommendation to adopt the Tenancy Agreement Document for future PV system installation programmes without going for full consultation with the tenants.

The Cabinet Member Finance reported that he had made a decision to agree to a restructure of the proposed disposal agreement with Augur Buchler relating to the food store element of the scheme from a freehold to a long leasehold at a peppercorn rent for a term of 250 years.

The Cabinet is recommended to approve the following resolution:-

“That in accordance with Section 100A(4)Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5, Part (1) Schedule (12A)Local Government Act 1972, namely :

Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Paragrap 5: Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings

RESOLVED THAT

In accordance with Section 100A(4)Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5, Part (1) Schedule (12A)Local Government Act 1972, namely :

Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Paragrap 5: Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings

The exempt minutes were approved and signed as a correct record.

Exempt Minutes of the meeting held on 1 October 2013

The exempt minutes were approved and signed as a correct record.