Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence had been received.

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 11 September 2025.

RESOLVED – that the Minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2025 were approved as a correct record.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

RESOLVED 

1. That Cabinet approved the Council’s Digital Strategy 2025-2030 which sets out a five year roadmap for digital transformation, aligned with the Council Plan. The strategy aims to improve service delivery, increase efficiency, promote digital inclusion and enhance resident engagement through innovation, data driven decision making and collaborative leadership.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The strategy provides a comprehensive, forward-looking framework for digital transformation.

It supports the Council’s priorities and addresses challenges such as digital exclusion, service complexity, and resource constraints.

Endorsing the strategy enables coordinated delivery and accountability across services.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

Not adopting the strategy would risk fragmented digital development, missed opportunities for efficiency, and reduced service quality.

A less ambitious approach would not meet the expectations of residents or the demands of modern service delivery.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval of the Council’s Digital Strategy 2025–2030, which set out a five-year roadmap for digital transformation aligned with the Council Plan. The report explained the aims of the strategy to improve service delivery, increase efficiency, promote digital inclusion, and enhance resident engagement through innovation, data-driven decision-making, and collaborative leadership.

The report set out four digital ambitions of the strategy: easy, engaging and inclusive; simple, stable and secure; well-used and used well; collaborate, share, innovate.

The Digital Strategy 2025-2030 was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

RESOLVED 

1. That Cabinet approved the Council’s Digital Strategy 2025-2030 which sets out a five year roadmap for digital transformation, aligned with the Council Plan. The strategy aims to improve service delivery, increase efficiency, promote digital inclusion and enhance resident engagement through innovation, data driven decision making and collaborative leadership.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The strategy provides a comprehensive, forward-looking framework for digital transformation.

It supports the Council’s priorities and addresses challenges such as digital exclusion, service complexity, and resource constraints.

Endorsing the strategy enables coordinated delivery and accountability across services.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

Not adopting the strategy would risk fragmented digital development, missed opportunities for efficiency, and reduced service quality.

A less ambitious approach would not meet the expectations of residents or the demands of modern service delivery.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

RESOLVED that:

1.     Cabinet noted and agreed to the intended use of the properties highlighted in this report.

2.     Cabinet agreed for the properties to be leased under a full repairing and insuring arrangement, and at a peppercorn rent / lease charge.

REASONS FOR DECISION

To increase the amount of good quality supported housing in the district, exclusively to fulfil the needs of the Councils Housing Options service.

To fulfil the Councils housing strategy objectives in delivering supported housing and increasing the quality of housing in the district

To re purpose valuable Council social assets for the benefit of residents.

To further the Councils commitment to reduce the use of hotels for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

Not to proceed would create a strategic weakness for the Council. Having no direct access supported housing is not sustainable in the short or long term.

Properties could be leased via the private sector. This is more costly. Using our own housing stock reduces costs, and allows us to regenerate homes, rather than losing them to the private market.

Not to charge peppercorn rent / lease charges. To not enter into this agreement would mean the Council and Rykneld Homes LTD having to carry out repairs and maintenance. This would create a resource burden. Therefore, the proposed arrangement necessary.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet received a report which sought approval on the future use of The Spinner (formerly Arkam House), and two long term void properties, 167 Market Street, Clay Cross, and 60 John Street, Clay Cross.

The report explained that the properties would be leased to P3 under a full repairing and insuring lease (FRI) agreement at £nil consideration (a peppercorn rent). Approval was therefore required to facilitate the necessary pre-lease agreements whilst renovation works were on-going, and to agree for the properties to be leased at a peppercorn rent.

The report suggested that the granting of the leases at £nil consideration (peppercorn rent) would facilitate the delivery of this service through P3 Charity. In addition, the cost savings to the Council in terms of reduced need for temporary accommodation, emergency hotel placements, and failed tenancies, where people were not ready for independent living, would far out way lost rental income.

Cabinet considered the report. The existing support contract with P3 Charity was discussed.

RESOLVED that:

1.     Cabinet noted and agreed to the intended use of the properties highlighted in this report.

2.     Cabinet agreed for the properties to be leased under a full repairing and insuring arrangement, and at a peppercorn rent / lease charge.

REASONS FOR DECISION

To increase the amount of good quality supported housing in the district, exclusively to fulfil the needs of the Councils Housing Options service.

To fulfil the Councils housing strategy objectives in delivering supported housing and increasing the quality of housing in the district

To re purpose valuable Council social assets for the benefit of residents.

To further the Councils commitment to reduce the use of hotels for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

Not to proceed would create a strategic weakness for the Council. Having no direct access supported housing is not sustainable in the short or long term.

Properties could be leased via the private sector. This is more costly. Using our own housing stock reduces costs, and allows us to regenerate homes, rather than losing them to the private market.

Not to charge peppercorn rent / lease charges. To not enter into this agreement would mean the Council and Rykneld Homes LTD having to carry out repairs and maintenance. This would create a resource burden. Therefore, the proposed arrangement necessary.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

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

RESOLVED

1. Cabinet noted the contents of the Annual Monitoring Reports for the 2024-2025 monitoring period and approve their publication on the Council’s website.

REASONS FOR DECISION

This report sets out the key findings of the 2024-2025 Authority Monitoring Report, Brownfield Land Register Update and Infrastructure Funding Statement. This enables the Council to understand the effectiveness of its policies and trends over time. Publication of these documents on the Council’s website will fulfil the Council’s statutory duties to prepare and publish the required annual monitoring datasets.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

The Council has a statutory duty to prepare these documents and there is no reasonable alternative.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet received a report which informed Members of the key findings of the annual monitoring reports:

• Authority Monitoring Report: 1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025 (AMR)
• Brownfield Land Register: 2025 Update (BLR)
• Infrastructure Funding Statement: 1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025 (IFS)

The report set out the key findings of each monitoring report and sought approval for the publication of the documents on the Council’s website to fulfil the Council’s statutory duties to prepare and publish monitoring data.

RESOLVED

1. Cabinet noted the contents of the Annual Monitoring Reports for the 2024-2025 monitoring period and approve their publication on the Council’s website.

REASONS FOR DECISION

This report sets out the key findings of the 2024-2025 Authority Monitoring Report, Brownfield Land Register Update and Infrastructure Funding Statement. This enables the Council to understand the effectiveness of its policies and trends over time. Publication of these documents on the Council’s website will fulfil the Council’s statutory duties to prepare and publish the required annual monitoring datasets.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

The Council has a statutory duty to prepare these documents and there is no reasonable alternative.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

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 of business to consider.

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 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).

Report of Councillor N Barker, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance

                                                                                                                 (Paragraph 3)

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     approved of the revised terms of reference set out in Appendix 1.

2.     agreed that South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC) acts as Host Authority in place of Derbyshire County Council (DCC).

3.     approved of the annual payment to SDDC of £34,500 per annum for the purposes of hosting and providing hosting support. The sum to be paid from the Retained Business Rates (held by Derbyshire County Council as the Accountable Body) and to be uplifted by 5% per annum.

4.     approved of the payment of £2,000 to SDDC from the Retained Business Rates (held by Derbyshire County Council as the Accountable Body) for the purpose of obtaining advice and assistance in relation to the transfer of hosting of the Board and the revised terms of reference.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The D2 SLB in part at least, is a merger of two (now dissolved) successful Joint Committees, the workstreams and roles of which is to support effective and efficient decision making across a range of themes in Derbyshire. In addition to this, the D2 SLB is now the recognised mechanism to make nominations to the EMCCA Board.

The D2 SLB is not a legal entity and therefore to establish and operate the Joint Committee, a host organisation is required. The host authority will be responsible for the administration of meetings of the Joint Committee and hold funding on behalf of the Joint Committee. The host authority’s Statutory Officers will act as the Statutory Officers for the Joint Committee.

Following the recent decision of DCC to withdraw funding and withdraw from being the host authority of the D2 SLB, it has been necessary to reflect, establish the impact of the current situation, consider the implications of this decision, and to consider a potential alternative proposal.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

Given the decision by DCC, there was no alternative but to identify another organisation to host the D2 SLB. SDDC offered to be that organisation, which was welcomed by all other member organisations of the D2 SLB. With the Board having agreed ‘in principle’ to the revised terms of reference and the proposed hosting body, it is for each Council to agree or choose not to agree to either or both (hosting and terms of reference) or to present another option for either or both. A ‘do nothing’ approach is not possible, therefore has been rejected.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

Cabinet considered a report which sought approval revisions to the terms of reference and hosting arrangements of the Derby and Derbyshire Strategic Leadership Board (D2 SLB). The report explained that the issue had been considered at Council on 22 September 2025.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1.     approved of the revised terms of reference set out in Appendix 1.

2.     agreed that South Derbyshire District Council (SDDC) acts as Host Authority in place of Derbyshire County Council (DCC).

3.     approved of the annual payment to SDDC of £34,500 per annum for the purposes of hosting and providing hosting support. The sum to be paid from the Retained Business Rates (held by Derbyshire County Council as the Accountable Body) and to be uplifted by 5% per annum.

4.     approved of the payment of £2,000 to SDDC from the Retained Business Rates (held by Derbyshire County Council as the Accountable Body) for the purpose of obtaining advice and assistance in relation to the transfer of hosting of the Board and the revised terms of reference.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The D2 SLB in part at least, is a merger of two (now dissolved) successful Joint Committees, the workstreams and roles of which is to support effective and efficient decision making across a range of themes in Derbyshire. In addition to this, the D2 SLB is now the recognised mechanism to make nominations to the EMCCA Board.

The D2 SLB is not a legal entity and therefore to establish and operate the Joint Committee, a host organisation is required. The host authority will be responsible for the administration of meetings of the Joint Committee and hold funding on behalf of the Joint Committee. The host authority’s Statutory Officers will act as the Statutory Officers for the Joint Committee.

Following the recent decision of DCC to withdraw funding and withdraw from being the host authority of the D2 SLB, it has been necessary to reflect, establish the impact of the current situation, consider the implications of this decision, and to consider a potential alternative proposal.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

Given the decision by DCC, there was no alternative but to identify another organisation to host the D2 SLB. SDDC offered to be that organisation, which was welcomed by all other member organisations of the D2 SLB. With the Board having agreed ‘in principle’ to the revised terms of reference and the proposed hosting body, it is for each Council to agree or choose not to agree to either or both (hosting and terms of reference) or to present another option for either or both. A ‘do nothing’ approach is not possible, therefore has been rejected.

This was not a Key Decision and so can be implemented with immediate effect by officers.

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 of business to consider.