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 and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 22 April 2021.

RESOLVED - The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 April 2021 were approved as a true record.

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 Paragraphs 1, 2 & 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 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 Paragraphs 1 & 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 item].

Report of Councillor C Renwick, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth

(Paragraph 1)

RESOLVED -

(1)          That Cabinet endorsed the proposed restructure of the Housing Strategy and Economic Development Services within the Growth and Economic Development Directorate.

(2)          That Council be recommended to approve the change and resultant growth required to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), as specified in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The restructure will enable the objectives set out in the Council Plan for improving housing, creating a Business-friendly District and promoting the Visitor Economy to be more effectively delivered. The restructure will also ensure that specialist expertise can be used to carry out regeneration projects across the District’s town centres.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - The option of not restructuring the Housing and Economic Development services was considered but rejected. The current structure cannot provide the capacity to effectively achieve the Council’s Housing and Economic Development objectives.

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

The report to Cabinet asked Members to endorse the proposed restructure of the Housing Strategy and Economic Development Services within the Growth and Economic Development Directorate.

Cabinet heard how the proposed arrangements would enable the Services to work more effectively, provide better strategic housing management and allow work to take place on regenerating the District’s town centres and promoting Visitor Economy, in line with the Council Plan 2019-23 objectives.

Cabinet discussed and supported the restructure proposals.  Members agreed to recommend to Council that the new arrangements be funded through the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

RESOLVED -

(1)          That Cabinet endorsed the proposed restructure of the Housing Strategy and Economic Development Services within the Growth and Economic Development Directorate.

(2)          That Council be recommended to approve the change and resultant growth required to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), as specified in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The restructure will enable the objectives set out in the Council Plan for improving housing, creating a Business-friendly District and promoting the Visitor Economy to be more effectively delivered. The restructure will also ensure that specialist expertise can be used to carry out regeneration projects across the District’s town centres.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - The option of not restructuring the Housing and Economic Development services was considered but rejected. The current structure cannot provide the capacity to effectively achieve the Council’s Housing and Economic Development objectives.

 (Paragraph 1)

Report of Councillor C Renwick, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth

(Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED -

(1)          That Cabinet endorsed the approach taken by the Clay Cross Town Deal Board, as set out in the report.

(2)          That Cabinet endorsed the ten projects identified in the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan as specified in the report and agreed that a full business case for these projects be now prepared.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To ensure that the business case for these projects can be developed in line with the timetable requirements for the allocation of Town Fund grant aid.

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

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 Clay Cross Town Deal. As part of this, Members heard that the Clay Cross Town Deal Board (CCTDB) and Cabinet would now have to prioritise those projects to go forward into Phase 2 of the Towns Fund process for funding.

Cabinet discussed the report and the actions that would now need to be taken to ensure further progress. Members reflected on the successful grant application and the more than £24 Million which had been secured to help improve Clay Cross and benefit its communities At the conclusion of the discussion, there was a consensus that the proposedten priority projects identified in the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan, should be supported and that the necessary action be now taken, so that they can progress to the next stage of the Town Fund process.

RESOLVED -

(1)          That Cabinet endorsed the approach taken by the Clay Cross Town Deal Board, as set out in the report.

(2)          That Cabinet endorsed the ten projects identified in the Clay Cross Town Investment Plan as specified in the report and agreed that a full business case for these projects be now prepared.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To ensure that the business case for these projects can be developed in line with the timetable requirements for the allocation of Town Fund grant aid.

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

 (Paragraph 3)

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.