Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no Apologies for Absence.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of Cabinet held on 28 January 2021

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of Cabinet held on 18 February 2021

RESOLVED - The minutes of the meetings held on 28 January 2021 and

18 February 2021 were approved as a true record.

Report of Councillor P Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance

RESOLVED

That Cabinet noted the budget monitoring position outlined in the report and detailed in its appendices.

REASONS FOR DECISION

To summarise for Cabinet the financial position of the Council following the third quarter’s (2020-21) budget monitoring exercise for the General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and Treasury Management activity. This budget monitoring exercise took into account the Council’s response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

No other options were considered. The report provided monitoring information for Members on the financial position against the Council’s previously approved budget.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers

The report to Cabinet updated Members on the Council’s General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account and the Capital Programme for the third quarter of the 2020-21 financial year. The report also provided an update on the Council’s Treasury Management and in particular, the loans, repayments and investments which had been made. 

Members discussed the report. They considered the impact of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak on the Council’s budget. Cabinet was informed about the loss of fees and charges received by Leisure Services, as well as the reduced income from MOT testing and commercial waste. Members also heard about the measures which had been put in place to help minimise the financial impact of lost income.

In particular, Cabinet reflected on the extensive financial assistance received from the Government and which had reduced the financial impact of the outbreak. Cabinet welcomed this assistance and noted how it had enabled the Council to continue delivering services to local communities, as well as to support businesses and employment, in the District.

RESOLVED - That Cabinet noted the budget monitoring position outlined in the report and detailed in its appendices.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To summarise for Cabinet the financial position of the Council following the third quarter’s (2020-21) budget monitoring exercise for the General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and Treasury Management activity. This budget monitoring exercise took into account the Council’s response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - No other options were considered. The report provided monitoring information for Members on the financial position against the Council’s previously approved budget.

Report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Overall Strategic Leadership

RESOLVED

That Cabinet noted the outturns against the Council Plan 2019-2023 targets for October to December 2020 (Quarter 3, 2020-21).

REASONS FOR DECISION

To inform Cabinet of progress against the Corporate Plan targets and to bring to its attention specific achievements and areas of concern

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

No other options were considered.  The report provided information and an overview of performance against agreed targets.  

Please note that this was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers

Cabinet considered performance against the Council Plan targets for the third quarter of the 2020-21 financial year. Members heard that 61% of the Plan targets had been on track to be achieved. They also heard how progress on 28% of the targets had been affected as a result of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Members discussed the performance information.  Cabinet noted that the Planning Service did not expect to achieve the target of carrying out two proactive planning enforcement exercises during the year; although it had worked closely with other agencies to ensure that enforcement action was taken when required. Members were reminded that the Service had now received additional resources, which should enable it to carry out these enforcement exercises during 2021-22.

RESOLVED - That Cabinet noted the outturns against the Council Plan 2019-2023 targets for October to December 2020 (Quarter 3, 2020-21).

REASONS FOR DECISION - To inform Cabinet of progress against the Corporate Plan targets and to bring to its attention specific achievements and areas of concern

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - No other options were considered.  The report provided information and an overview of performance against agreed targets.  

Report of Councillor C Renwick, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth

RESOLVED

1.         That Cabinet approved the North East Derbyshire Growth Strategy 2021-2024.

2.         That the Director of Growth and Economic Development be authorised to make non substantive amendments to the documents in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Economic Growth.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The strategy will guide future work and resource allocation in order to promote economic growth in the District. This is key goal for the Council and would play an important part in improving the lives and wellbeing of North East Derbyshire residents.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

The option of not establishing a Growth Strategy was considered but rejected. Without a strategy regeneration activities undertaken within the District would be delivered in an uncoordinated manner and this could lead to an inefficient and ineffective use of limited resources.

Please note that this was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers

Cabinet considered the proposed North East Derbyshire Growth Strategy. Members heard how the Strategy would seek to promote business and employment in the District in line with the Council Plan objectives. They also heard how it would complement the goals of the recently published White Paper: ‘Building Back Better’ for promoting economic growth. 

Cabinet was informed that the Growth Strategy would include an ‘Action Plan’. This Action Plan would specify the measures to be taken on Skills, Town Centre Regeneration, the Visitor Economy and other priority areas, in order to help stimulate growth in the local economy and promote recovery following the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

Members discussed the Strategy and the contribution that it would make to the District’s recovery following on from Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak. Members highlighted the successful application by the Clay Cross Town Fund Board for grant aid from the Government’s Town Fund programme and the important part that this grant aid would play in helping to promote economic growth across the whole of North East Derbyshire.

Cabinet noted that further work was required to finalise the Strategy. The report proposed that the Director of Growth and Economic Development be authorised to do this, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth. Members supported this approach.

RESOLVED

(1)       That Cabinet approved the North East Derbyshire Growth Strategy 2021-2024.

(2)       That the Director of Growth and Economic Development be authorised to make non substantive amendments to the documents in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Economic Growth.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The strategy will guide future work and resource allocation in order to promote economic growth in the District. This is key goal for the Council and would play an important part in improving the lives and wellbeing of North East Derbyshire residents.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - The option of not establishing a Growth Strategy was considered but rejected. Without a strategy regeneration activities undertaken within the District would be delivered in an uncoordinated manner and this could lead to an inefficient and ineffective use of limited resources.

To consider any other matter which the Leader is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 2012 No 2089, Regulation 11.

There were no Urgent Items.

The Leader to move:-

That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following items of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006).  [The category of exempt information is stated after each item].

Private Session

RESOLVED – That the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the following item(s) of business to avoid the disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 3 & 4, Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006. 

Report of Councillor J Kenyon, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Transformation and Climate Change

Key Decision                                                                                    Paragraph 3

RESOLVED

1)           That Cabinet agreed that the works specified in the report be now progressed.

2)           That Council be recommended to agree additional investment to support the refurbishment of the centre.

3)           That pre-construction works, utilising existing budget, takes place prior to any further investment approved by Council.

REASONS FOR DECISION

To ensure that improvements to the centre can now take place. These improvements would help to both improve its financial sustainability and provide better facilities for its users.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

The option of no agreeing to the works was considered, but rejected for the reasons set out in the report.

This is a Key Decision.  The call-in period for the decision will run until Friday 30 April 2021.

The report to Cabinet provided an update on the Killamarsh Leisure Centre and sought approval for a range of refurbishment works to the facility. It also suggested that Council be recommended to provide additional funding to help complete the refurbishment programme. Members’ discussed the proposed refurbishment works, the improvements that would be made and the timetable for implementing them. At the conclusion of the discussion Cabinet made clear that it supported the proposed approach

RESOLVED

1)           That Cabinet agreed that the works specified in the report be now progressed.

2)           That Council be recommended to agree additional investment to support the refurbishment of the centre.

3)           That pre-construction works, utilising existing budget, takes place prior to any further investment approved by Council.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To ensure that improvements to the centre can now take place. These improvements would help to both improve its financial sustainability and provide better facilities for its users.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - The option of no agreeing to the works was considered, but rejected for the reasons set out in the report.

(Paragraph 3)

Paragraph 4

Cabinet received an update on the contingency planning arrangements that were now ongoing at a regional and national level to help combat the outbreak of the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

(Paragraph 4)

To consider any other matter which the Leader is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 2012 No 2089, Regulations 5 and 11.

There was no urgent business.