Councillor L Rahman declared a personal interest in Agenda item 7.3 “Capital Programme Approvals – Osmani Youth Centre and Victoria Park Masterplan”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to the Spitalfields and Banglatown area and Councillor Rahman was a Ward member for Spitalfields and Banglatown.

Councillor M Francisdeclared a personal interest in Agenda item 7.3 “Capital Programme Approvals – Osmani Youth Centre and Victoria Park Masterplan”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to Victoria Park and Councillor Francis was a resident in this locality.

Special circumstances and reasons for urgency Agreed.

Resolved:

1.         That the options for the Osmani Centre be noted and that a detailed options appraisal be commissioned at a cost of £139,000, to be funded from Local Public Service Agreement Reward Grant, as set out at paragraph 4.8.4 of the report (CAB 040/089);

2.         That up to £3.3millon be earmarked from the Local Priorities Capital Programme for works to the Osmani Centre, subject to the outcome of the options appraisal and consultations;

3.         That resources in the Local Priorities Capital Programme be earmarked to deliver the Victoria Park Masterplan on the basis of a required capital contribution from the Authority of £5.05million over a four year period as detailed in the table at paragraph 5.6.3 of the report (CAB 040/089);

4.         That it be noted that the delivery of the Victoria Park Masterplan will create a revenue requirement of £250, 000 which will need to be provided for in the General Fund revenue budget at the appropriate time; and

5.         That the funding implications for the Authority’s capital programme of the scheme proposals referred to at resolutions 2. and 3. above be noted.

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR RESOURCES (C. NAYLOR)

Service Head of Corporate Finance Corporate Finance, Resources (A. Finch)

CORPORATE DIRECTOR COMMUNITIES, LOCALITIES AND CULTURE

(S. HALSEY)

Service Head Cultural Services, Communities, Localities and Culture (P. Martindill)

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, CHILDREN’S SERVICES (K. COLLINS)

Service Head Resources, Children’s Services (I. Cattermole)

Councillor L Rahman declared a personal interest in Agenda item 7.3 “Capital Programme Approvals – Osmani Youth Centre and Victoria Park Masterplan”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to the Spitalfields and Banglatown area and Councillor Rahman was a Ward member for Spitalfields and Banglatown.

Councillor M Francisdeclared a personal interest in Agenda item 7.3 “Capital Programme Approvals – Osmani Youth Centre and Victoria Park Masterplan”. The declaration of interest was made on the basis that the report contained recommendations relating to Victoria Park and Councillor Francis was a resident in this locality.

The Chair informed members of the Cabinet that the special circumstances and reasons for urgency associated with the proposals were detailed on the front page of the report. The Cabinet subsequently agreed the special circumstances and reasons for urgency as set out on the front page of the report and also set out below:

·                    The report was unavailable for public inspection within the standard timescales set out in the Authority’s Constitution, because of the continuation of discussions with the Heritage Lottery Fund regarding the appropriate balance of funding needed to support the Council’s Capital Bid.  Heritage Lottery bids are subject to intense competition and it is vital that the Authority’s bid and capital requirement reflects the very latest information and advice from the Lottery Fund. Bids for this round of funding need to be completed by the end of September 2008 and this is therefore the last opportunity for Cabinet to agree proposals prior to despatch of the Authority’s bid.

Mr Naylor, Corporate Director Resources, at the request of the Chair, in introducing the report summarised the salient points contained therein and in particular:-

·                    Informed members of the Cabinet that at their last meeting, held on 30^th July 2008, they had noted financial forces facing the Authority and agreed budgetary priorities for the three years to April 2011, together with a framework for the budget process in 2009/10. This had included targeted investment in local priorities, for the benefit of the local community, such as assets and infrastructure; and this formed the backdrop to the proposals contained in the report.

·                    Highlighted proposals contained in the report that two schemes be prioritised for Local Priorities Scheme funding ahead of the general budget process for 2009/10:

o                   Osmani Youth Centre

o                   Victoria Park Masterplan

·                    Drew the attention of members of the Cabinet to paragraphs 6.1 to 6.3 of the report, which detailed the availability of £14.51 million in capital receipts for the Local Priorities Scheme Capital Programme. £6.254 million of this had already been allocated, leaving a balance of £7.897 million unallocated.

·                    Advised that should the Cabinet agree the report’s proposals that the Osmani Youth Centre and Victoria Park Masterplan schemes be prioritised for Local Priorities Scheme funding, this would result in a shortfall of £453,000 in the Local Priorities Capital Programme. However given the lead in time for the two schemes, and that funding was being allocated not committed at this point, it would be prudent to earmark the funding.

Councillor Francis, Lead Member Housing and Development, commented that he was totally supportive of the proposed capital investment in the Osmani Youth Centre and the match funding of Heritage Lottery investment in the Victoria Park Masterplan, however he considered that together the investments comprised a considerable capital outlay and the Authority should remain flexible as to the sourcing of that funding. Section 106 developer contributions of £700,000 were already in place for the Osmani scheme from the Bishop Square programme, and there was potential for further drawdown of Section 106 funding in respect of developments in the Spitalfields area. He considered that Development and Renewal Directorate should examine similar potential in relation to the Victoria Park Scheme.  Such funding might narrow the funding gap referred to and potentially enable other initiatives to be progressed.

The Chair Moved the recommendations as set out in the report, and it was:

Resolved:

1.         That the options for the Osmani Centre be noted and that a detailed options appraisal be commissioned at a cost of £139,000, to be funded from Local Public Service Agreement Reward Grant, as set out at paragraph 4.8.4 of the report (CAB 040/089);

2.         That up to £3.3millon be earmarked from the Local Priorities Capital Programme for works to the Osmani Centre, subject to the outcome of the options appraisal and consultations;

3.         That resources in the Local Priorities Capital Programme be earmarked to deliver the Victoria Park Masterplan on the basis of a required capital contribution from the Authority of £5.05million over a four year period as detailed in the table at paragraph 5.6.3 of the report (CAB 040/089);

4.         That it be noted that the delivery of the Victoria Park Masterplan will create a revenue requirement of £250, 000 which will need to be provided for in the General Fund revenue budget at the appropriate time; and

5.         That the funding implications for the Authority’s capital programme of the scheme proposals referred to at resolutions 2. and 3. above be noted.