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Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Executive Meeting Room, District Council Offices, Mill Lane, Wingerworth

Contact: Alan Maher  01246 217391

Items
No. Item

406.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor P Parkin. 

407.

Declarations of Interest

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.

Minutes:

Members were requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interests and/or other interests, 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 declared at this meeting.

 

408.

Minutes of Last Meeting pdf icon PDF 304 KB

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on Thursday 7 November 2019 and the special meeting of Cabinet held on Thursday 14 November 2019.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7 November 2019 be approved as a true and accurate record by the Leader and that the minutes of the Special Cabinet held on 14 November 2019 be approved as a true and accurate record and signed by the Leader - subject to clarification that those recorded as also present at the meeting were:-

 

D Swaine – Joint Chief Executive Officer

K Hanson – Joint Strategic Director – Place

J Dethick – Joint Head of Finance & Resources and Section 151 Officer

S Sternberg – Joint Head of Corporate Governance and Monitoring Officer

L Shaw – Managing Director – Rykneld Homes Ltd

N Clark – Director of Property Services – Rykneld Homes Ltd

 


 

409.

Medium Term Financial Plan - Budget Monitoring Quarter 2 pdf icon PDF 414 KB

Report of Councillor Paul Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance

 

Decision:

RESOLVED – That: Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Noted the monitoring position of the General Fund at the end of the second quarter, as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report. 

 

(2)   Noted the monitoring position of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the Capital Programme and Treasury Management activity at the end of the second quarter, as detailed in Appendices 3 to 5 of the report.  

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To inform Cabinet of the financial position of the Council at the end of the second quarter of the 2019-20 financial year. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The report monitored the position against the Council’s previously agreed budget.  It did not set out any options which required decision by Cabinet.  

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Paul Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance, which updated Members on the financial position of the Council following the second quarter’s budget monitoring exercise for the General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account and the Capital Programme.

 

Cabinet was informed that the General Fund had been underspent during the second quarter.  This was due in part to effective vacancy management, additional income from rents/services and investment property income. Cabinet also learned that there had only been relatively minor income variances on the Housing Revenue Account during the quarter.

 

Members discussed the budget monitoring information and the ways in which those Parish Council’s experiencing financial difficulties could be supported during the next financial year. They also considered the financial challenges facing the Council during the current Medium Term Financial Plan. 

 

RESOLVED – That: Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Noted the monitoring position of the General Fund at the end of the second quarter, as detailed in Appendices 1 and 2 of the report. 

 

(2)   Noted the monitoring position of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the Capital Programme and Treasury Management activity at the end of the second quarter, as detailed in Appendices 3 to 5 of the report.  

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To inform Cabinet of the financial position of the Council at the end of the second quarter of the 2019-20 financial year. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The report monitored the position against the Council’s previously agreed budget.  It did not set out any options which required decision by Cabinet.  

 

410.

Corporate Plan Targets Performance Update - July to September 2019 (Q2- 2019/20) pdf icon PDF 483 KB

Report of Councillor A Powell, Portfolio Holder for Communications

Decision:

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the progress against the Corporate Plan 2019/20 targets.  

 

REASON 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 & REJECTED – No other options were considered.  The report provided information and an overview of performance against agreed targets.  It did not set out any options which required decision by Cabinet.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Alan Powell, Portfolio Holder for Communications.  The report contained the performance outturn as of 30 September 2019.  Members noted that 24 targets were on track, two were on alert and that one target had been previously extended.

 

 

RESOLVED – That Cabinet noted the progress against the Corporate Plan 2019/20 targets.  

 

REASON 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 & REJECTED – No other options were considered.  The report provided information and an overview of performance against agreed targets.  It did not set out any options which required decision by Cabinet.

 

411a

Towns Fund Board pdf icon PDF 660 KB

Report of Councillor M E Thacker MBE, JP, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Overall Strategic Leadership

 

Decision:

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Requested the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to finalise arrangements for the Town Deal Board membership, taking into account the guidance within the Prospectus. 

 

(2)   Agreed to receive a further report on the composition of the Town Deal Board and proposals for the development of the Town Investment Plan and its scope and aspirations at a future Cabinet meeting. 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To enable the Council to establish a Town Deal Board, in line with the timescales set out in the Town Fund Prospectus. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – No other options were considered.  Participation in the Town Fund Process is of strategic importance to the Council.  

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Martin Thacker MBE JP, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Overall Strategic Leadership, which updated Members on the Government’s Towns Fund allocation for Clay Cross and the process for establishing a Towns Fund Board.  

 

Members discussed the specific arrangements for establishing the Clay Cross Town Deal Board and for recruiting its membership.  Cabinet noted that the Board would be chaired by a representative of the Business Community and that in addition to District Council representation a representative of the parish council would be invited to serve.  

 

 

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Requested the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to finalise arrangements for the Town Deal Board membership, taking into account the guidance within the Prospectus. 

 

(2)   Agreed to receive a further report on the composition of the Town Deal Board and proposals for the development of the Town Investment Plan and its scope and aspirations at a future Cabinet meeting. 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To enable the Council to establish a Town Deal Board, in line with the timescales set out in the Town Fund Prospectus. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – No other options were considered.  Participation in the Town Fund Process is of strategic importance to the Council.  

411b

Council Plan 2019-2023 - Performance Management Framework pdf icon PDF 165 KB

Report of Councillor M E Thacker MBE, JP, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Overall Strategic Leadership

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED – That:-

 

(1)   Cabinet approved the adoption of the Council Plan 2019-2023 Performance Management Framework. 

 

(2)   The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make any subsequent amendments required to the Council Plan 2019-2023 Performance Management Framework. 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To develop and approve a comprehensive performance management framework so that Council performance can be measured and effectively monitored.   

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The option of not having a performance framework was considered, but rejected.  It is essential that the Council can monitor its performance against the priorities which it has set. 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Martin Thacker MBE JP, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Overall Strategic Leadership, which presented the draft Council Plan 2019-2023 Performance Management Framework and recommended adoption by Council. 

 

Members discussed the proposed Performance Framework. They noted that as many of the performance indicators would be new, some benchmarking might be required during the first year of the Plan in order to make sure that they could then be measured effectively in future years.  There was a consensus that the Key Performance Indicators in the Framework ought to be reviewed appropriately, to ensure that they reflect changing priorities over the lifetime of the plan.

 

Members thanked officers for their work on the Council Plan Performance Management Framework.

 

RESOLVED – That:-

 

(1)   Cabinet approved the adoption of the Council Plan 2019-2023 Performance Management Framework. 

 

(2)   The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make any subsequent amendments required to the Council Plan 2019-2023 Performance Management Framework. 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To develop and approve a comprehensive performance management framework so that Council performance can be measured and effectively monitored.   

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The option of not having a performance framework was considered, but rejected.  It is essential that the Council can monitor its performance against the priorities which it has set. 

412.

Temporary Accommodation - Out of Area Placement Policy pdf icon PDF 657 KB

Report of Councillor R Welton – Portfolio Holder for Housing

Decision:

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Noted the report.    

 

(2)   Agreed to adopt the Temporary Accommodation Out of Area Placement Policy.  

 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To ensure that the Council conforms to the legal requirements specified in the Equality Act 2010. 

 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The option of not adopting the policy was rejected for the reasons set out in the report. 

 

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Richard Welton, Portfolio Holder for Housing, which asked Cabinet to approve aTemporary Accommodation Out of Area Placement Policy for the Council.  

 

Members heard that the Policy was required in order to comply with the findings of a recent Supreme Court judgement, which had tightened the rules on when local authorities could provide accommodation outside of their own districts. Cabinet was informed that the proposed policy reflected the Council’s existing best practice.  The Council already tried to avoid placing people in temporary accommodation and that when this was necessary they were placed in bed and breakfast accommodation in Chesterfield.  This was because similar accommodation was not available in the District. 

 

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Noted the report.   

 

(2)   Agreed to adopt the Temporary Accommodation Out of Area Placement Policy.  

 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To ensure that the Council conforms to the legal requirements specified in the Equality Act 2010. 

 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The option of not adopting the policy was rejected for the reasons set out in the report. 

 

 

413.

Medium Term Financial Plan - Revised Budget 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 416 KB

Report of Councillor P Parkin – Portfolio Holder for Housing

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED – That Cabinet approved:- 

 

(1)   The revised General Fund budget for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 1 and detailed in Appendix 2 of the report. 

 

(2)   The revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report. 

 

(3)   The revised Capital Programme for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report. 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To enable revised budgets to be set as early as possible within the financial year, to ensure that identified budget savings are realised. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – No alternative options were considered. 

 

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Paul Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance, which sought approval of the 2019/20 revised budget for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme.

 

Members were informed that the General Fund Revenue Account budget for 2019/20 had been reduced. This reflected the success on the original target savings, which had been achieved in full. Following a detailed budget review, further saving targets had also now been identified.

 

Members discussed the detailed revised estimates for 2019/20. They made it clear that they would welcome greater information about the different components of the overall budget and expenditure figures in future budget reports. 

 

Cabinet also discussed the scope for further income generation and the contribution which this could make towards supporting the Council’s financial position.

 

RESOLVED – That Cabinet approved:- 

 

(1)   The revised General Fund budget for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 1 and detailed in Appendix 2 of the report. 

 

(2)   The revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 3 of the report. 

 

(3)   The revised Capital Programme for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report. 

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To enable revised budgets to be set as early as possible within the financial year, to ensure that identified budget savings are realised. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – No alternative options were considered. 

 

 

414.

Urgent Items

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.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business to be considered in the public session at this meeting of Cabinet.

 

415.

Exclusion of Public

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

Minutes:

RESOLVED - 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 Paragraph 3 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 Minute].

 

416.

Environmental Health and Enforcement Review

Report of Councillor C Cupit, Portfolio Holder for Environment & Climate Change

Decision:

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Noted the progress made with the service review and agreed that further detailed work now takes place, with final recommendations submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet.   

 

(2)   Agreed that formal consultation with the Trade Unions be progressed on the terms set out in the report.  

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To progress the full review of the service in order to ensure that it can operate in a modern, efficient and effective way. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The options of not progressing further with the review was considered but rejected as not sustainable. 

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Charlotte Cupit, Portfolio Holder for Environment and Climate Change, which provided an interim update on progress with the Environmental Health and Enforcement Review,

 

Cabinet discussed the update. Members welcomed the progress that had been made on the review and endorsed the future action along the lines as specified in the report.

 

RESOLVED – That Cabinet:-

 

(1)   Noted the progress made with the service review and agreed that further detailed work now takes place, with final recommendations submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet.   

 

(2)   Agreed that formal consultation with the Trade Unions be progressed on the terms set out in the report.  

 

REASON FOR DECISION – To progress the full review of the service in order to ensure that it can operate in a modern, efficient and effective way. 

 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED & REJECTED – The options of not progressing further with the review was considered but rejected as not sustainable. 

 

417.

Urgent Items

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.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business to be considered in the private session at this meeting of Cabinet.