Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Paul Parkin

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 submitted

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 10 September 2020.

The minutes of the meeting, held on Thursday 10 September 2020, were agreed as a true record.

Report of Councillor A Hutchinson, Chair of the Growth Scrutiny Committee

RESOLVED –

(1)          That Cabinet supported the recommendations of the Growth Scrutiny Committee review into Business Centres and Industrial Units, as set out in the report.

(2)          That a detailed response to the Committee’s specific recommendations, as set out in the report, be prepared.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To appraise Cabinet of the Growth Scrutiny Committee Review’s findings and respond to its recommendations. 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - No other options were considered by Cabinet.

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

Cabinet considered a report of Councillor Anthony Hutchinson, Chair of the Growth Scrutiny Committee, on its review of Business Centres and Industrial Units.  Cabinet was reminded that this review had been carried out during the 2018/19 municipal year and that the composition of the Committee had changed since then.  However, the current Members of Growth Scrutiny Committee broadly supported the review findings and recommendations. The Scrutiny Committee had felt it appropriate that they be now presented to Cabinet for consideration.

Cabinet thanked all those who had been involved in the review for their valuable work. Cabinet made it clear that it welcomed the review findings and recommendations.In particular, Members welcomed the recommendations for more effective marketing of the Business Centres and Industrial Units, the need for a rolling programme of maintenance to keep them fit for purpose and appropriate indicators to monitor their performance. They asked that these recommendations be explored further in order to determine how they might be taken forward.

There was a consensus that the Scrutiny Committee recommendations could be of real assistance in helping the District’s economy, especially in promoting growth and recovery following the Coronavirus (Covid-19) outbreak.

RESOLVED –

(1)          That Cabinet supported the recommendations of the Growth Scrutiny Committee review into Business Centres and Industrial Units, as set out in the report.

(2)          That a detailed response to the Committee’s specific recommendations, as set out in the report, be prepared.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To appraise Cabinet of the Growth Scrutiny Committee Review’s findings and respond to its recommendations. 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - No other options were considered by Cabinet.

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

Report of Councillor A Powell, Portfolio Holder for Housing, Communities and Communications.

RESOLVED – That Cabinet approved the proposed Choice Based Lettings (CBL) and Allocations Policy amendments as specified in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The policy amendments will support the Council’s commitment to the Derbyshire wide Armed Forces Covenant, allow the Council to make best use of its housing stock and ensure openness and transparency in the housing allocation process.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Alternative options were considered but rejected for the reasons specified in the report.

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

Cabinet considered a report on the Choice Based Lettings and Allocations Policy for the Council’s housing stock, managed on its behalf by Rykneld Homes Limited (RHL).

Members heard that several proposed amendments to the Choice Based Lettings and Allocations Policy had been identified.  These amendments would help support those who had served in the armed forces and their families, as well as those who urgently required accommodation, such as the victims of domestic violence. They would also put in place a better process for assessing applicants, which took into account their housing requirements and whether they could afford alternative housing options. Members welcomed this.

Cabinet discussed the proposed amendments. There was a consensus that they would improve the Policy and ensure that it continued to meet the housing needs of local people.

RESOLVED – That Cabinet approved the proposed Choice Based Lettings (CBL) and Allocations Policy amendments as specified in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The policy amendments will support the Council’s commitment to the Derbyshire wide Armed Forces Covenant, allow the Council to make best use of its housing stock and ensure openness and transparency in the housing allocation process.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Alternative options were considered but rejected for the reasons specified in the report.

Report of Councillor C Renwick, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth,

Appendix to the report TO FOLLOW

RESOLVED –

(1)       That Cabinet endorsed the themes identified  within the emerging Clay Cross Town Investment Plan (CCTIP) as set out within paragraphs 1.3 – 1.5 of the report

(2)       That Cabinet authorised the Clay Cross Town Board, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and the Director of Growth and Economic Development, to finalise the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan (CCTIP).

REASONS FOR DECISION – Cabinet’s endorsement will support the submission of the emerging Clay Cross Town Investment Plan (CCTIP), which has been firmly rooted in Clay Cross, as recognised through the ‘check and challenge’ session. The identified themes and masterplan have been derived through inclusive and engaging public consultation as well as building on the Clay Cross Town Board’s (CCTB) vision for Clay Cross.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The option of not agreeing to the identified themes was considered but rejected.  The themes were selected on the basis of the existing evidence base, the Clay Cross Town Board’s vision and through public consultation.  Not agreeing to the identified themes would also put the delivery of the CCTIP in jeopardy and mean that the target for submitting the plan on 30^th October 2020 could not be achieved.

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

Members were reminded that Clay Cross had been invited by the Government to submit a Town Investment Plan (TIP) bid to secure up to £25m of funding to invest within the local community. Cabinet was informed that the draft Town Investment Plan had now been drawn-up. Members also heard about the next steps to be taken by the Clay Cross Town Fund Board, so that the Investment Plan could be submitted in line with the deadline. This deadline had been set for the end of October 2020

Cabinet discussed the report. Members considered the main ‘themes’ which ran through the Plan. They included long term commitments to promoting the use of low Carbon Energy and re-opening a railway station within the town. Cabinet heard about some of the work that was already underway to help make progress on both of these themes. At the conclusion of the discussion Cabinet welcomed and supported the Plan themes. Members expressed their thanks for all of the work which had taken place to prepare the Plan.

RESOLVED –

(1)       That Cabinet endorsed the themes identified  within the emerging Clay Cross Town Investment Plan (CCTIP) as set out within paragraphs 1.3 – 1.5 of the report

(2)       That Cabinet authorised the Clay Cross Town Board, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and the Director of Growth and Economic Development, to finalise the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan (CCTIP).

REASONS FOR DECISION – Cabinet’s endorsement will support the submission of the emerging Clay Cross Town Investment Plan (CCTIP), which has been firmly rooted in Clay Cross, as recognised through the ‘check and challenge’ session. The identified themes and masterplan have been derived through inclusive and engaging public consultation as well as building on the Clay Cross Town Board’s (CCTB) vision for Clay Cross.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The option of not agreeing to the identified themes was considered but rejected.  The themes were selected on the basis of the existing evidence base, the Clay Cross Town Board’s vision and through public consultation.  Not agreeing to the identified themes would also put the delivery of the CCTIP in jeopardy and mean that the target for submitting the plan on 30^th October 2020 could not be achieved.

Report of Councillor P Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance

KEY DECISION

RESOLVED –

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

(1)          The budget in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved as the Current Budget for 2020/21.

(2)          Any under spend on the General Fund in respect of 2020/21 be transferred to the Resilience Reserve to increase financial resilience for future years.

(3)          The budget in respect of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), as set out in Appendix 3 to the report, be approved as the Current Budget for 2020/21.

(4)          The Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 4to the report, be approved as the Current Budget for 2020/21.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The revised budget prepared for 2020/21 takes account of the Council’s response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic thus far and will provide as far as possible some stability with the budget for the rest of this financial year.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – No other options were considered at this time.

This is a Key Decision.  The call-in period for the decision will run until Monday 19 October 2020.

The report to Cabinet proposed revised budgets for the 2020-21 financial year. The revisions, it was explained, were necessary because of the financial impact which the Coronavirus (Covid-19) has had on the Council and especially the loss of income from leisure and other services. There had also been far lower than expected growth in Business Rates income. Cabinet was asked to endorse the revisions and recommend them to Council for approval. 

Members heard that the Council had received significant grant aid from the Government to help it continue deliver services. Cabinet was informed that this grant aid, along with further assistance from the Income Compensation Scheme (to assist with the cost of furloughing staff), would cover much of the income shortfall and hopefully enable the Council to achieve a balanced budget for the financial year. Members recognised, however, that this would depend on whether the Council’s financial performance remained in line with the revised budgets and that further budget changes might be required as the year progressed

RESOLVED –

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

(1)          The budget in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1to the report be approved as the Current Budget for 2020/21.

(2)          Any under spend on the General Fund in respect of 2020/21 be transferred to the Resilience Reserve to increase financial resilience for future years.

(3)          The budget in respect of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), as set out in Appendix 3to the report, be approved as the Current Budget for 2020/21.

(4)          The Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 4to the report, be approved as the Current Budget for 2020/21.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The revised budget prepared for 2020/21 takes account of the Council’s response to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic thus far and will provide as far as possible some stability with the budget for the rest of this financial year.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – No other options were considered at this time.

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 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 1982 (as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information)(Variation) Order 2006).

The category of exempt information is stated after each Minute.

(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 were no urgent items