To: Councillors
Adigun-Harris (Chair), Armstrong, Barrett-Payton, Bradnack, Ellis-Miller,
Hughes, Hymans, Reid and Taylor
Alternate members: Councillor Boyce (LD)
Executive Councillor: Jennifer Liddle
(Despatched and placed
on public deposit: Thursday 28 October)
COMMERCIAL AND HUMAN
RESOURCES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
Date: Tuesday 9 November 2004
Time: 4.30pm
Place: Committee Room
1, The Guildhall
Contact: Liz Whitcher
Direct Dial: (01223) 457015
AGENDA
1 MINUTES
To confirm as a correct record the minutes of
the Special Meeting held on 24 June
2004 and the meeting held on 6 July
2004.
2 APOLOGIES
To
note any 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 details of the scheme and
other public information.
5 SERVICE
PERFORMANCE REVIEWS and General Fund Revised Revenue & Capital Budgets
2003-04
Appendix
A: Comparison of original and revised budgets for 2004/05
Appendix
B: Main Variations between 2004/05
Original and Revised Budgets
Appendix
C: Capital Revised 2004/05
Report by the Chief Executive and the Directors of Central Services, City
Services, Environment & Planning and Finance
6
INFORMAL
WORKING PARTY TO CONSIDER USES OF THE GUILDHALL GROUND FLOOR
Cllr Sian Reid has suggested that the vacating by the
Crown Court of its Guildhall premises gives the Council an ideal opportunity to
look at the balance of uses of the ground floor of the Guildhall. Informal
discussions among members have indicated general acceptance of this suggestion,
so work has already begun on assembling material for the WP. Suggested Terms of
Reference for it are attached.
The Committee and the Executive Councillor are asked to endorse
the setting up of the WP and its Terms of Reference and to decide how many
members should be appointed.
Report by the Director of Central Services
7 OFFICE
ACCOMMODATION: ELECTORAL SERVICES AND RECEPTION AND OFFICE SERVICES
Project Appraisal attached for
consideration by the Scrutiny Committee and for approval by the Executive
Councillor.
Report
by the Head of Legal & Democratic Services
8 INTERNET
AND EMAIL ACCEPTABLE USE POLICY
Report by the Head of Human Resources and the Head of
Legal & Democratic Services
9 TRADES
UNIONS FACILITIES AGREEMENT FOR 2005/6
Report by the Head of Human Resources
10 KEY
DECISION PROCUREMENT OF RECRUITMENT ADVERTISING SERVICES
Report by the Head of Human Resources
11 DELEGATION
OF AUTHORITY TO APPROVE COUNCIL ENERGY CONTRACTS
The Council has contracts with energy companies for
Gas and Electricity supplies for groups of its administrative and service buildings
and these have to be renewed from time to time. Since the market for energy was
deregulated it has become much more competitive and the Council's Energy
Officer is advised by an external consultancy that assists Local Authorities.
Particularly recently the market has become much more volatile because of
global factors affecting oil and natural gas supplies and this trend is
expected to continue. The result is that when the Council goes to the market to
renew contracts, providers tend to now only offer one or at best two year
contracts and hold offers open for periods of hours which is incompatible with
the normal procedure for the Energy Officer making a recommendation to and
obtaining approval from the Executive Councillor.
Authority
is sought for the approval in future to be delegated to either the Directors of
Finance or Central Services or the Head of Property & Building Services on
the advice of the Energy Officer.
The
Council’s policy is to purchase “green” electricity which is electricity
generated at modern (low emission) gas fired power stations and, subject to
availability and price, electricity from “renewable” resources such as wind,
biomass etc .The latter however currently attracts a 15% price premium so all
of the Council’s current supplies are classified as “green”. For Decision
12 KEY
DECISION BISHOP’S MILL SLUICE
Report by the Head of Property & Building Services
13 DECISIONS BY THE EXECUTIVE COUNCILLOR
- The following Records of Decision
are reported to the Scrutiny Committee.
Members had been copied this decision by e-mail at the time the decision
had been taken.
Building
Repairs to 23, Market Street, Cambridge
Building
and IT Works at Lion House, Cambridge
14 EXCLUSION
OF THE PUBLIC
Before considering the
appendices of this report, the Committee is recommended to exclude
members of the public from the meeting on the grounds that, if they were
present, there would be disclosure to them of information defined as exempt
from publication by Categories 7 and 9 as defined in the
Council’s Constitution part 4B (pages 181-183).
15 KEY
DECISION RENEWAL OF CCTV
EQUIPMENT AND ENLARGEMENT OF CCTV CONTROL ROOM
Report by the Head of Property &
Building Services
Before considering the
next items on this agenda, the Committee is recommended to exclude
members of the public from the meeting on the grounds that, if they were
present, there would be disclosure to them of information defined as exempt from
publication by Categories 3, 7 and 9 as defined in the Council’s Constitution
part 4B (pages 181-3).
17 KEY DECISION FUTURE OF 9-12 GRAFTON STREET, CAMBRIDGE FOLLOWING ITS PLANNED SURRENDER IN 2005 BY ANGLIA POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY
Report by
the Head of Property & Building Services
18 KEY DECISION DISPOSAL
OF LAND AT WHITEHILL ROAD AND THORLEYE ROAD CAMBRIDGE TO FLAGSHIP HOUSING GROUP
LIMITED
Report by the Head of Property & Building Services
19 KEY DECISION DISPOSAL
OF LAND AT REAR OF SHOPPING PARADE, BARNWELL ROAD CAMBRIDGE TO FLAGSHIP HOUSING
GROUP LIMITED
Report by the Head of Property & Building Services
20 KEY DECISION DISPOSALS OF LAND FORMING
PART OF THE ARBURY CAMP DEVELOPMENT, KINGS HEDGES ROAD, CAMBRIDGE
Report by
the Head of Property & Building Services
21 DISPOSAL OF PROPERTY A
Report by the Director of Community Services
22 NNDR
[Business Rates] IRRECOVERABLE DEBTS TO BE WRITTEN-OFF
Report by the Director of Finance
23 GENERAL DEBTS - BAD DEBTS FOR WRITE OFF
Report by the Director of Finance
24 HOUSING & COUNCIL TAX
BENEFIT IRRECOVERABLE DEBTS TO BE WRITTEN-OFF
Report
by the Director of Finance
|
THE NEXT MEETING FOR COMMERCIAL AND
HUMAN RESOURCES SCRUTINY COMMITTEE IS SCHEDULED TO BE HELD ON TUESDAY 11
JANUARY 2005 AT 4.30 PM. |
|
Information for the public You are welcome to attend this meeting as an observer, although it
may be necessary to ask you to leave the room during the discussion of
matters which are described as confidential. o0o You can ask questions on an issue included on the agenda above, or on
an issue which is within this committee’s powers. Questions can only be asked
during the slot on the agenda for this at the beginning of the meeting, not
later on when an issue is under discussion by the committee. 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. |