Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Jayne Barry.

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.

None.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 29 June 2023.

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2023 were approved.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL – That Cabinet recommended to Council to approve the draft Council Plan for 2023 to 2027.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To ensure that the Council’s work is carefully planned and structured.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – None. Having a Council Plan is good practice and gives a clear strategic direction for the Council.

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

The report to Cabinet explained that a draft Council Plan had now been prepared for 2023 to 2027. Cabinet was asked to endorse the Plan and recommend it to Council for approval.

Cabinet discussed the draft Council Plan. They reflected on the proposed vision for North East Derbyshire, particularly how strong community leadership would be at the heart of everything the Council did, and would seek to create a ‘Great Place’. Through the Plan, the Council would aim to create a place where people could earn a decent living, have a comfortable home, live long, happy and healthy lives, feel safe in their communities and be conscious of and care for its environment. The Leader of the Council made clear that the Plan was intended to evolve and grow over the four-year term of the Council, and that it would be delivered in an inclusive and transparent way. The Council would do this in collaboration with other public sector organisations, businesses, voluntary organisations and the District’s communities as a whole.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Members demonstrated that they wished to recommend the Plan to Council, and thanked the officers who had been responsible for putting the Plan together.

RECOMMENDATION TO COUNCIL – That Cabinet recommended to Council to approve the draft Council Plan for 2023 to 2027.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To ensure that the Council’s work is carefully planned and structured.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – None. Having a Council Plan is good practice and gives a clear strategic direction for the Council.

Report of Councillor S Pickering, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Place

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the annual assessment of the five-year land supply of deliverable sites for Housing.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To ensure Members are aware of the Council’s latest position on the Five Year Housing Land Supply, prior to publication of the information on the Council’s website.

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

The Assistant Director of Planning presented a report advising Cabinet of the latest five-year housing land supply position in theDistrict prior to the publication of the information on the Council’s website.

Cabinet discussed the content of the report. Members noted the Government’s proposals to reform the planning system and discussed the Council’s response to this.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Members indicated their support for the position statement.

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the annual assessment of the five-year land supply of deliverable sites for Housing.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To ensure Members are aware of the Council’s latest position on the Five Year Housing Land Supply, prior to publication of the information on the Council’s website.

Report of Councillor J Barry, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Assets

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the outturns against the Council Plan 2019-2023 targets.

REASONS FOR DECISION – This was an information report to keep Members informed of progress against the Council Plan targets. This was the last report on performance on the previous Council Plan, and work was ongoing in relation to the new Council Plan performance framework.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not applicable, as the report provided an overview of performance against agreed targets.

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

The Information, Engagement and Performance Manager presented a report advising Cabinet of the final outturns for the Council Plan 2019-2023 targets as of 31/03/23.

Out of the 77 targets:

•   68 (88%) targets achieved their intended outturns at the end of the Council

    Plan (38 (48%) at the end of Q4 2022/23 and 30 (38%) previously within the

    plan period).

•   9 (12%) targets failed to achieve their intended targets.

Cabinet discussed the content of the report. Members enquired if the previously discussed change to the performance measuring criteria had progressed. Members were informed that officers were working to produce the new criteria, and the development of the Performance Management framework would be decided around the new criteria.

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the outturns against the Council Plan 2019-

REASONS FOR DECISION – This was an information report to keep Members informed of progress against the Council Plan targets. This was the last report on performance on the previous Council Plan, and work was ongoing in relation to the new Council Plan performance framework.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not applicable, as the report provided an overview of performance against agreed targets.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council

RESOLVED

(1)           That Cabinet noted the outturn position in respect of the 2022/23 financial year.

(2)           That Cabinet approved the proposed carry forward of capital budgets detailed in Appendix 4 totalling £10.783m.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To appraise Cabinet of the Council’s financial management during 2022-23, and to enable specific capital budgets to be carried forward into the current financial year.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The financial outturn report was primarily a factual report, detailing the actual position compared to previously approved budgets. Consequently, there were no alternative options to be considered. The allocation of resources to earmarked reserve accounts was undertaken in line with the Council’s Policy and Service Delivery Framework and in the light of the risks and issues facing the Council over the period of the current Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

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

The report to Cabinet set out the outturn position of the Council for the 2022/23 financial year, and proposed a carry forward of capital budgets totalling £10.783m.

Cabinet discussed the content of the report. Members heard how the Director of Finance and Resources was responsible for the preparation of the authority’s Statement of Accounts which, in terms of the CIPFA/LASAAC Code of Practice on Local Authority Accounting in United Kingdom, was required to present a true and fair view of the financial position of the authority at the accounting date and its income and expenditure for the year ended 31 March 2023.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Members indicated their support for the proposed capital budgets carry forward.

RESOLVED

(1)           That Cabinet noted the outturn position in respect of the 2022/23 financial year.

(2)           That Cabinet approved the proposed carry forward of capital budgets detailed in Appendix 4 totalling £10.783m.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To appraise Cabinet of the Council’s financial management during 2022-23, and to enable specific capital budgets to be carried forward into the current financial year.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The financial outturn report was primarily a factual report, detailing the actual position compared to previously approved budgets. Consequently, there were no alternative options to be considered. The allocation of resources to earmarked reserve accounts was undertaken in line with the Council’s Policy and Service Delivery Framework and in the light of the risks and issues facing the Council over the period of the current Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

Report of Councillor J Barry, Portfolio Holder for Growth and Assets

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To ensure that the Council maximises efficiencies and outcomes through commissioning voluntary sector organisations to help achieve the Council’s Priorities.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – No alternative options were considered appropriate, as the aim of the review was to increase transparency and accountability of commissioned services.

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

The report to Cabinet provided an overview of the outcomes achieved in 2022/23 by voluntary and community sector infrastructure support organisations funded by the Council.

Cabinet discussed the content of the report. Members were informed that in 2019, Cabinet agreed to receive an officer summary report regarding voluntary and community sector organisations, whilst retaining the option of requesting the organisations to present to Cabinet as required.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Members noted the update report.

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To ensure that the Council maximises efficiencies and outcomes through commissioning voluntary sector organisations to help achieve the Council’s Priorities.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – No alternative options were considered appropriate, as the aim of the review was to increase transparency and accountability of commissioned services.

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.

None.