Agenda item
Any Unrestricted Decisions "Called in" by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee
(Under provisions of Article 6 Para 6.02 V of the Constitution).
The following item has been “called in” for further consideration by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting to be held on 6th September 2011. Should the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, upon consideration, refer the item back to the Cabinet for further consideration Members will receive a copy of the report and the decision/ recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the Cabinet meeting.
(i) The Baishakhi Mela in Banglatown, Brick Lane: transfer to community management.
Decision:
5.2(i) Cabinet Decision “Called in” The Baishakhi Mela in Banglatown, Brick Lane: transfer to community management (CAB 035/112)
Reference from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, held on 6th September 2011, Tabled by the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Response of Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture to the reference from Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 6th September 2011, Tabled.
Decision
1. That the comments/ advice/ recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as detailed in the Tabled Reference (CAB 035/112), be noted; and
2. That the provisional decision of the Mayor/Cabinet, made on 3rd August 2011, in relation to theThe Baishakhi Mela in Banglatown, Brick Lane: transfer to community management report (CAB 021/112) be reaffirmed.
Action by:
CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES LOCALITIES AND CULTURE (S. HALSEY)
Interim Service Head Culture Learning and Achievement, Communities Localities and Culture (H. Bonfield)
Minutes:
5.2(i) Cabinet Decision “Called in” The Baishakhi Mela in Banglatown, Brick Lane: transfer to community management (CAB 035/112)
The Mayor informed members of the Cabinet that:
· Councillor Jackson, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC), had Tabled a reference (CAB 035/112) setting out the deliberations of the OSC, held on 6th September 2011, in respect of the decision of the Executive Mayor at Cabinet, on 3rd August 2011, made in relation to the report “The Baishakhi Mela in Banglatown, Brick Lane: transfer to community management” (CAB 021/112), a copy of which would be interleaved with the minutes.
· A detailed response to the matters raised by the OSC set out in the tabled reference regarding this agenda item, had been Tabled by the Corporate Director, Communities, Localities and Culture, a copy of which is interleaved with the minutes.
Councillor Jackson, Chair of the OSC, addressed the Mayor and Cabinet members in relation to the tabled reference of the OSC (CAB 035/112), and recommendations made by OSC to refer this matter back to the Cabinet for further consideration as set out in paragraph 6.2 of the reference.
Councillor Asad [Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing] commented that it was acknowledged that were the Authority to continue to run the Baishakhi Mela [“the Mela”] the costs would be considerable, and in this context sought and was given clarification as to the OSC deliberation of alternatives to returning the Mela to community management.
Mr Halsey, Corporate Director Communities Localities and Culture, at the request of the Mayor, addressed the Mayor and Cabinet members in relation to the matters raised by the OSC in the tabled reference and also his tabled response to this, as follows:
· Emphasising that what was proposed was not a “contract” for a tendered service, but rather an arrangement granting an organisation the right to manage an event in a park with transitional support from the Authority.
· Emphasising that further steps would follow this decision (advertising the opportunity to manage the Mela, detailed bids and shortlisting thereof, selection of an independent panel to assess these and subsequently recommend award to an organisation, allocation of Section 106 funding, agreement of management arrangements) and the process would conclude with submission of a further detailed report for the consideration of the Mayor and Cabinet seeking approval of the final arrangements and award of the right to manage the Mela.
· Setting out the rationale for the length of the agreement and confirming the robust monitoring arrangements and inclusion of break clauses (whereby the Authority could terminate the arrangement by withholding use of the open space for the event).
The Mayor:
· Thanked Councillor Jackson for presenting the contribution of the OSC.
· Commented that he had noted the comments of the OSC, but having reconsidered the previous decision he considered that it was the right decision and rejected the proposals in the reference from the OSC. Accordingly the Mayor agreed the following:
Decision
1. That the comments/ advice/ recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, as detailed in the Tabled Reference (CAB 035/112), be noted; and
2. That the provisional decision of the Mayor/Cabinet, made on 3rd August 2011, in relation to theThe Baishakhi Mela in Banglatown, Brick Lane: transfer to community management report (CAB 021/112) be reaffirmed.