To: Councillors
Schofield (Chair), Adey, Bradnack,
Coleman (Vice-Chair), Durrant,
Julie Smith, Stuart, Taylor, Todd-Jones and Ward
Alternate member: Councillors Hipkin & Howell
Executive Councillor –
The Leader, Ian Nimmo-Smith
(To be despatched and placed on public
deposit: Wednesday 21 April)
STRATEGY SCRUTINY
COMMITTEE
Date: Tuesday 4 May 2004
Time: 6.00 pm
Place: Committee Room
1, The Guildhall
Contact: Gary Clift
Direct Dial: (01223) 457011
AGENDA
To
confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 26 January.
2 APOLOGIES
Apologies
for absence.
3 DECLARATIONS
OF INTEREST
Members are asked to
declare at this stage any interests which they may have in any of the following
items on the agenda. If any member is unsure whether or not they should declare
an interest on a particular matter, they are requested to seek advice from the
Head of Legal and Democratic Services before the meeting.
4 PUBLIC
QUESTION TIME – see
below for detail of the scheme and other public information.
6 application
for a dispersal order in parts of petersfield and romsey wards - Section
30, Anti-social Behaviour Act, 2003 (dispersal of groups and removal of persons
under 16).
On 24th March 2004 the
Council received a request from the Police to designate an area of Romsey and Petersfield
wards for dispersal powers under Section 30 of the Anti-Social Behaviour Act
2003. The Act gives dispersal powers to the Police but this is subject to prior
approval by the Council.
Council policy states that the Leader
can give such approval without Strategy Scrutiny Committee being first
consulted, but that such requests from the Police and the Leader’s decision
must be reported to Group Leaders immediately and to the next available meeting
of the Scrutiny Committee.
Following consideration of evidence
provided by the Police about anti-social behaviour caused by people who have
adopted a ‘street life’ existence and following consultation with ward
Councillors, the Leader gave approval to the Police on 1st April
2004 for use of Dispersal Powers in areas of Romsey and Petersfield wards.
These powers came into force on 7th April 2004 and will remain in
place until 6th October 2004. Use of the powers will be regularly
monitored.
In summary, the powers mean that in the
area designated, a constable in uniform can give directions where there are
reasonable grounds for believing that the presence or behaviour of a group of
two or more persons in any public place has resulted or is likely to result in
any members of the public being intimidated, harassed, alarmed or distressed.
Persons in the group can be directed to disperse and/or leave the locality for
a period specified by the officer and not return for a period of up to 24
hours. Failure to comply with a direction can lead to arrest.
A
map showing the designated area is attached to this agenda.
Appendix 1: Survey of the Current and Former Mayors
and Deputy Mayors
Appendix
2: View of Serving Councillors who have served neither as Mayor nor Deputy
Mayor
Appendix
3: Responses from other Local Authorities
Report by Head of Legal & Democratic Services
Civic
Affairs Committee considered and agreed recommendations for Strategy
Scrutiny Committee and the Leader as appended.
The Scrutiny Committee is now requested to consider the matter and make
recommendations to the Leader.
Appendix:
Cambridge City Council Race Equality Review 2004/05
9 Draft
Best Value Performance Plan
Appendix
1: What is the Community Strategy About?
Appendix
2: Priority Issues and Actions in Community Strategy
Report by Head of Strategy & Partnerships
Appendix:
Safer City Grants Round One of 2004/05
12 CORPORATE
RISK AND ASSURANCE FRAMEWORK
Developments
in best practice in Risk Management coupled with changes stemming from the
Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 mean that the authority is required to
reassess its approach to strategic risk and assurance. The project definition sets out how this
will be achieved.
The
Committee is requested to recommend that the Leader agree this project
appraisal.
For
decision
13 GENERAL
FUND REVENUE AND CAPITAL BUDGETS, CARRY FORWARDS AND SIGNIFICANT VARIANCES FOR
2003/04
Appendix
A: 2003/04 Estimated Outturn
Appendix
B: Carry Forward Requests 2003/04 Overview
Appendix
C: Provisional Capital Outturn 2003/04
13a GENERAL
FUND REVENUE AND CAPITAL BUDGETS, CARRY FORWARDS AND SIGNIFICANT VARIANCES FOR
2003/04
Report by Director of Finance
14 ON-LINE
PAYMENTS AND CASH MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS
The
Committee is requested to recommend that the Leader agree this project
appraisal.
For decision
15 URGENCY
ACTION – ELECTRICITY FOR COUNCIL SITES WITH CONSUMPTION BELOW 100kw
The
Head of Architects and Building Services took urgency action on 1 April to
agree a new supplier for electricity to Council sites consuming less than
100kw. The Leader was consulted prior
to the action being taken. Under the
Council’s Constitution (para 33 page 95), the Scrutiny Committee is advised of
the urgent action taken.
The Council has received
a letter from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister rejecting its application
for provisional approval for a byelaw regulating street drinking. The letter is
attached for consideration by the Committee and by the Leader.
The
next meeting of the Strategy Scrutiny Committee
is
scheduled for Monday 19 July
Information for the public
You are welcome to attend this meeting
as an observer.
o0o
You can ask questions on an issue included
on the agenda, or on an issue which is within this committee’s powers. If you
wish to ask a question related to an agenda item contact the committee officer
(listed above under ‘contact’) before
the meeting starts. If you wish to ask
a question on a matter not included on this agenda, please contact the
committee officer by 10.00am the working day before the meeting. Further details concerning the right to speak at committee can be obtained from
the committee section.
o0o
In the event of the fire alarm sounding (which is a continuous ringing sound), you should pick up your
possessions and leave the building by the route you came in. Once clear of the
building, you should assemble on the pavement opposite the main entrance to the
Guildhall and await further instructions. If your escape route or the assembly
area is unsafe, you will be directed to safe areas by a member of Cambridge
City Council staff.