You are here: Home » Your City Council » Council Meetings » Cabinet » Agendas 2006 » Agenda 13th Sept 2006 » Minutes 12th July

Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held Wednesday 12th July 2006


S H E F F I E L D C I T Y C O U N C I L

CABINET

Meeting held 12th July, 2006

PRESENT:		Councillors Jan Wilson (Chair), Terry Fox, Harry Harpham, Steve Jones, Mary Lea, Bryan Lodge, Robert MacDonald, Mick Rooney and Chris Weldon.

…………….

1.	DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
	There were no declarations of interest reported in respect of the items of business for consideration at this meeting.

2.	MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
	The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 28th June, 2006 were received and approved as a correct record.

3.	PUBLIC QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
	Castle Dyke Playing Fields
	Dr. Peter Prowse referred to a meeting of local residents which he had attended regarding the Castle Dyke playing fields which had been used as green space for residents for over 50 years and which it was understood had now been leased to Birkdale School for 125 years, and he stated that the School had recently erected fencing across the playing and recreational fields. He enquired how the Council could ignore public consultation in granting the lease to Birkdale School and agreeing the erection of an enclosure fence. He asked why was the fact that Birkdale School had been subject to complaints over their previous actions to fence the fields in Crimicar Lane, Fulwood, was not a concern to the Corporate Property Division, and he enquired why the Council had allowed local children to be excluded from enjoyment of sport and recreations on Castle Dyke fields and had prioritised school children from a school outside the locality to use the facilities.
	The Chair of the Cabinet, Councillor Jan Wilson stated that she was aware of the balance which needed to be achieved between schools and community use in respect of sporting facilities but she pointed out that the specific issues raised by Dr. Prowse included legal issues and matters of detail in respect of the agreement which had been drawn up with Birkdale School and that she would therefore need to refer the matter to the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance to investigate and to submit a written response to the questions now raised by Dr. Prowse.

	Affordable Housing – Interim Planning Guidance
	Mr. Julian Sainsbury referred to the report on “Affordable Housing – Interim Planning Guidance” which was to be considered at this meeting and enquired whether the Housing Market Renewal areas had specific and defined boundaries.

	Councillor Chris Weldon confirmed that the Housing Market Renewal areas had specific boundaries which were defined and agreed with the Government who gave additional funding to Local Authorities for the development of these Areas.
	Mr Sainsbury referred to paragraph 7.10 of the report and questioned the option of developing high value homes built to exceptionally high design standards, for sale, on sites which might be subject to vandalism.
	Councillor Chris Weldon explained that it was a policy of the Council to raise the standard of every area and offer a range and choice of property and he did not accept that such properties would automatically be prone to vandalism.
	Mr Sainsbury referred to paragraph 7.15 of the report which included reference to matters relating to the possible establishment of a 15% affordable housing requirement for mixed-use schemes making significant contribution to economic objectives and he asked the Council not to relax the usual affordable housing requirement for any scheme even where there were substantial regeneration benefits.
	Councillor Chris Weldon stated that affordable housing was the key element of the negotiations but that it was also necessary to consider the wider issues in relation to public open space and economic development as part of any agreement and whilst the Council would strive to achieve the best possible outcome, it was necessary to be realistic in terms of what could be achieved.

4.	ITEMS CALLED-IN FOR SCRUTINY
	The Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance, reported that matters relating to the Flood Defence Statement and Drainage Issues, which were considered by the Cabinet at its meeting held on 28th June, 2006, had now been called-in for scrutiny by the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board.
	The Cabinet noted this information.

5.	RETIREMENT OF STAFF
	RESOLVED: That this Cabinet (a) places on record its appreciation of the valuable service rendered by staff from Directorates as follows:-

	Name		Post	Years of Service in Sheffield

	Chief Executive’s Directorate
	Mr. K. Fenton		Telecommunications Manager, Corporate Resources	28

	Children and Young People’s Directorate

	Mr D Agar	Teacher, King Ecgbert School			36
	Mr J Anderson	Teacher, Yewlands School			35
	Mrs A Anwyl	Headteacher, Greystones Primary School			26
	Mrs G Barnard	Child Care Assistant, Looked After Children Service			22
	Mrs F Berry	Teacher, Hospital and Home Education Service			34
	Mrs P Boot	School Secretary, Angram Bank Primary School			31
	Mr D Brennan	Teacher, Newfield School			30
	Mrs J Cuthbert	Teacher, Lydgate Infant School			33
	Mrs A Footitt	Deputy Headteacher, Porter Croft CE Primary School			38
	Mrs A Gethin	Senior Technician, Hinde House School			22
	Mrs M Gibbs	Teacher, Learning Support Service			22
	Mrs J Gibson	Headteacher, Southey Green Nursery Infant School			29
	Mrs J Gregory	Assistant Headteacher, Silverdale School			28
	Mr M Hansell-Davis	Education Welfare Officer, Attendance and Inclusion			22
	Mrs J Higginbottom	Supervisory Assistant, Royd Nursery Infant School			22
	Mrs E Hulley	Teacher, Sharrow Primary School			29
	Mrs J Hulley	Teacher, East Hill Secondary Special School			28
	Mrs M Jenneson	Administrative Officer, Dore Primary School			24
	Mr B H Lamb	Teacher, Tapton School			33
	Mrs L Mallender	Teacher, Meersbrook Bank Primary School			21
	Mrs S Meggitt	Teacher, Mossbrook School			21
	Mrs E Nowak	Teacher, Athelstan Primary School			20
	Mrs S Page	Teacher, Handsworth Grange School			31
	Mr P Piper	Teacher, Firth Park Community College			25
	Mrs H Porter	Teacher, Athelstan Primary School			20
	Mr G Powis	Teacher, Hunter’s Bar Junior School			38
	Mr D Pryce	Teacher, Newfield School			37
	Mrs S Rawding	Child Care Assistant, Loxley Primary School			25
	Mr P Roberts	Teacher, Ecclesfield School			30
	Mr M Roden	Teacher, Newfield School			24
	Mrs A Sadler	Deputy Headteacher, Shooters Grove Primary School			24
	Mrs C Savage	Administrative Officer, Hartley Brook Primary School			20
	Mrs B Turner	Secondary Special Assistant, Yewlands School			29
	Mrs J Wainwright	Teacher, Waltheof School			25
	Mr A Whitlam	Teacher, Lowfield Primary School			33
	Mrs P Wraith	Senior Science Technician, Westfield School			28

	(b) extends to them its best wishes for a long and happy retirement; and
	(c) directs that extracts of this resolution under the Common Seal of the Council be presented to them.

6.	COMMUNITY USE OF SCHOOL SPORTS AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FACILITIES
	The Scrutiny Policy Officer for the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board submitted a report on the outcome of the Scrutiny Board’s consideration of matters relating to the community use of school sports and physical activity facilities. He stated that the Board had examined how community use of school sports facilities might be increased and had identified examples of good practice and put forward recommendations as to the future approach to maintain and extend community use of school facilities for sports and physical activities.
	The Chair of the Scrutiny Board, Councillor Peter Price referred to the massive programme of capital investment which had been undertaken over the past eight years into Sheffield’s schools infrastructure, which had included community and sporting provision in many of the new and modernised schools and he stated that in view of the devolved management of schools, particularly those built by the PFI route, it was now appropriate that the Council examined the powers available to them in respect of conditions of community access and the recommended areas of good practice which currently existed in some schools.
	The report included a series of recommendations together with a management response in respect of the issues raised. The response recognised the huge potential that school sports and physical activity facilities have, to make a positive contribution to individual community well-being and stated that the long-term aim was and would remain, to ensure that these facilities were exploited to their full potential in order to contribute to this, whilst respecting the need to protect the integrity of mainstream education provision.
	RESOLVED: That the report and recommendations of the Culture, Economy and Sustainability Scrutiny and Policy Development Board arising from their examination of the community use of school sports and physical activities, together with the management response set out therein, be welcomed and endorsed and arrangements be made for copies of the report to be sent to all Chairs of Governing Bodies of Schools in the City.

7.	HIGHWAY MAINTENANCE PFI PROJECT – EXPRESSION OF INTEREST
	The Cabinet received a joint report of the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure and the Director of Corporate Resources, containing details of an invitation by the Department for Transport, for local authorities to submit Expressions of Interest for Government support in the form of Private Finance Initiative credits for PFI Highway Maintenance.
	The representative of the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure stated that it was proposed to submit an Expression of Interest comprising a City-wide scheme which encompassed all forms of highway maintenance and relevant enforcement together with street cleaning, included all adopted roads, and extended to what was being termed a “fence to fence” approach with the contractor being responsible, as far as practicable, for the full stewardship of the highway. If successful and invited to do so, the Expression of Interest would be followed by the preparation of an Outline Business Case for the project. He also referred to the separate Expression of Interest which had been submitted in respect of a potential Public Lighting PFI scheme and stated that, if successful, discussions would be held with the Department for Transport to merge the two projects.
	RESOLVED: That (a) this Cabinet welcomes the invitation by the Department for Transport for the Council to submit an Expression of Interest for Government support in the form of Private Finance Initiative credits for a PFI Highway Maintenance project;
	(b) confirmation be given to the actions taken to date by the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure and the Director of Corporate Resources, as set out in the report now submitted and including the appointment of external advisers to expedite and further the preparation of an Expression of Interest in respect of a PFI Highway Maintenance scheme for Sheffield;
	(c) approval be given (i) for the completion and submission of an Expression of Interest for a PFI Highway Maintenance scheme in Sheffield along the lines set out in the report, subject to consultation by the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure and the Director of Corporate Resources with the Cabinet Members with responsibilities for Streetscene and Green Spaces and for Finance and Performance, on the content of the Expression of Interest and (ii) if successful with the Expression of Interest and invited to do so, for the preparation of an Outline Business Case in respect of this scheme;
	(d) delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure, in consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources and the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance, to undertake all necessary steps to further the submission of the Expression of Interest and preparation of the Outline Business Case, including the appointment of external advisers;
	(e) the potential financial implications of entering into a Private Finance Initiative Highway Maintenance scheme as set out in the report be noted;
	(f) approval be given for a development budget of £1m for the preparation and submission of an Expression of Interest and preparation of an Outline Business Case for a Private Finance Initiative Highway Maintenance scheme, to be met from Corporate Resources and managed by the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure, in consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources; and
	(g) The Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure and the Director of Corporate Resources, be requested to report back to this Cabinet on the outcome of the Expression of Interest, the development of the Project and the proposed content of the Outline Business Case prior to its submission.

8.	AFFORDABLE HOUSING – INTERIM PLANNING GUIDANCE
	The Cabinet received a joint report of the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure and the Executive Director, Neighbourhoods and Community Care, outlining the key issues arising from a public consultation exercise which had been undertaken on draft Interim Planning Guidance on Affordable Housing and seeking endorsement of the Interim Planning Guidance for use in deciding planning applications. It was stated that the proposed new Interim Planning Guidance would replace the current Supplementary Planning Guidance on affordable housing which was adopted by the Council in 1998. The new guidance had been prepared following a rigorous examination of affordable housing issues by the Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board during the Spring and Summer of 2005 which included consideration of research into current good practice in other areas of the Country as well as the implications of changes in the national policy context since the original guidance was issued.
	It was stated that the new guidance would be phased in gradually to cushion the impact on the property market and ensure that it did not adversely affect overall levels of housing completions. Initially within the Housing Market Renewal areas, the contribution would be equivalent to 15% of the units being sold at the current affordable price and in other parts of the urban area the initial requirement would be 20%. In rural areas, the requirement would be 40% of the units from the outset reflecting the high cost of housing and limited opportunities to provide affordable homes in those areas. In all areas, the requirement might be relaxed where abnormal development costs would make the development unviable. It was stated that it was intended to review the guidance in November 2007.
	RESOLVED: That (a) approval be given to the approach set out in 14.2 of the report now submitted in respect of the Affordable Housing Interim Planning Guidance and authority be given for the use of the new Affordable Housing Interim Guidance in considering valid planning applications submitted after the date the guidance is approved;
	(b) the current Supplementary Planning Guidance on Affordable Housing which was agreed in 1998 be withdrawn as soon as the new Guidance is approved;
	(c) the officers concerned be requested to monitor the impact of the new Guidance in terms of its effect on the number of affordable homes provided and the impact on the property market; and
	(d) following publication of the 2007 Sheffield Housing Need Survey and the review to be carried out in November 2007, which is to be reported to this Cabinet, the guidance be converted into a draft Supplementary Planning Document on affordable housing to support policies in the emerging draft Sheffield Development Framework.

9.	WEST BAR INTERIM PLANNING GUIDANCE
	The Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure, submitted a report on the outcome of a public consultation exercise which had been undertaken and containing proposals for the adoption of Interim Planning Guidance for a site at West Bar. He stated that the Guidance would be used as a material consideration in determining planning applications prior to the adoption of the Sheffield Development Framework and would assist the delivery of comprehensive high quality redevelopment objectives contained in the development brief. A plan of the site was circulated with the report.
	RESOLVED: That (a) the Interim Planning Guidance in respect of the site at West Bar as indicated in the report now submitted be approved and adopted as a material consideration in determining planning applications within the West Bar site;
	(b) the West Bar Interim Planning Guidance be approved as a background document to inform the Sheffield Development Framework; and
	(c) it be noted that any subsequent planning applications for the site shall be supported by evidence that the proposal does not in any way prejudice the Council’s stated comprehensive ambitions for the West Bar site.

10.	MANAGEMENT AND OPERATION OF SPORTS CENTRES AT SHEFFIELD PARK ACADEMY AND SHEFFIELD SPRINGS ACADEMY
	The Cabinet received a joint report of the Executive Director, Children and Young People and the Executive Director, Development, Environment and Leisure, containing proposals for the management and operation of the sports centres at Sheffield Park Academy and Sheffield Springs Academy, which Academies had been created on the respective current sites of Waltheof and Myrtle Springs Schools. It was stated that the proposals formed part of the implementation stage of an initiative culminating in the Academies opening in their current buildings on 1st September 2006 and moving into new purpose built accommodation on their present sites in the spring of 2008. The lead sponsor, United Learning Trust had indicated their strong belief that their Academies should be viewed as being at the heart of the communities and as such there would be community access to the facilities of the two Academies, which were currently shared between the schools and the community.
	RESOLVED: That (a) approval be given to the transfer of the management of Springs Leisure Centre from the Children and Young People’s Directorate to the Development, Environment and Leisure Directorate prior to the opening of the Sheffield Springs Academy in September;
	(b) approval be given for the transfer of the management of Waltheof Sports Hall from the Children and Young People’s Directorate to the Development, Environment and Leisure Directorate for the period from the opening of the Sheffield Park Academy to the opening of the new school sports hall on the site;
	(c) approval be given for officers to finalise the inter-Directorate financial implications of the above measures prior to the transfer of the management to the Development, Environment and Leisure Directorate;
	(d) approval be given for the Executive Director, Children and Young People, in consultation with the Assistant Chief Executive, Legal and Governance and the Cabinet Member for Children’s Services to:-

	(i) enter into a community use agreement with United Learning Trust in relation to community access to the new school sports facilities at the Park Academy in line with the conditions outlined in Section 3.1 of the report now submitted;
	(ii) authorise the surrender of the lease in respect of the leaseback arrangements of the existing sports centre at Waltheof (Park Academy) as set out at Section 7 of the report, provided an alternative agreement is concluded in respect of arrangements for controlled community use of the new sport facilities;
	(iii) enter into any community use agreement with United Learning Trust in relation to the community use of the intended new sports hall at the Springs Academy as set out at Section 3.2 of the report; and
	(iv) enter into any additional related agreements in respect of the matters set out as authorised above; and

	(c) approval be given to the replacement of the existing sports hall at Waltheof School (Park Academy) upon termination of the lease to the Council, once the new facilities are completed to Sport England specification standards, and it be noted that there will be continuity of use of the existing hall until the replacement hall is available and that efforts will continue to be made to find satisfactory solutions in relation to the potential VAT issues relating to community use of the Academy sports facilities.


11.	WYBOURN MASTERPLAN – INTEGRATED CHILDREN’S CENTRE
	The Executive Director, Children and Young People, submitted a report on proposals for the relocation of the existing retail outlet currently leased from the Council and situated at 218 Manor Oaks Road, Wybourn, and the demolition of two Council owned buildings, in order to facilitate the construction of the proposed Wybourn Village Centre. It was stated that the development of the Wybourn Village Centre would create an integrated Children’s Centre forming a community hub and a recognised centre for the area providing high quality services, substantial investment and physical transformation. The existing retail outlet would be relocated into a new purpose built unit with residential accommodation above, on the site of the Village Centre. The proposals were part of the Masterplan for Wybourn, Manor Park and Arbourthorne which were adopted by the City Council on 15th May, 2005.
	RESOLVED: That (a) authority be given for the Head of Strategic Property Management, in the Chief Executive’s Corporate Property Service to negotiate the purchase of the lease of property at 218 Manor Oaks Road in accordance with the arrangements now reported;
	(b) the Executive Director, Children and Young People and the Senior Manager of Early Years Education and Childcare Service be authorised to apply the corporate tender and procurement process to build a new shop unit at the junction of Manor Oaks Road and Manor Oaks Place and all necessary site preparation works, including demolition of the shop and community centre;
	(c) the Head of Strategic Property Management, in the Chief Executive’s Corporate Property Service, be authorised to negotiate with the current leaseholder of the shop unit situated at 218 Manor Oaks Road to relocate to the new shop premises; and
	(d) authority be given to demolish the existing shop unit at 218 Manor Oaks Road and the community centre situated at the junction of Manor Oaks Road and Benson Place.

	(NOTE: An Appendix to the report was not available to the public and press because it contained exempt information described in Part 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.)