Agenda and decisions

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.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 29 February 2024.

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

RESOLVED -

(1)            That Cabinet agreed that the Climate Change Strategy reflects the current Council Plan’s vision and priorities in a concise and clear manner.

(2)            That Cabinet agreed the updated Climate Change Strategy title ‘Rethink, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle’ better reflects the Council’s commitment to sustainable thinking.

(3)            Cabinet noted that the monitoring approach on Climate Change now aligns with Government guidelines to aid transparency and cohesiveness.

(4)            That Cabinet approved the updated Climate Change Strategy and agreed for it to be published on the Council’s website.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To display the Council’s approach on tackling Climate Change and enable the Council to be more sustainable.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - Alternative options were not considered appropriate as the aim of the refresh was to align the Strategy with the Council Plan 2023/27.

Please note that 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 Cabinet noted the progress against the Council Plan 2023-2027 objectives.

REASONS FOR DECISION – This was an information report to keep Members informed of progress against the Council Plan objectives.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not applicable. The report  provided an overview of progress which had been made against the Council Plan 2023-2027 objectives.

Please note that 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)            That Cabinet agreed the decision not to formally progress with a full Review of the Local Plan at this stage.

(2)            That Cabinet approved the evidence base Action Plan at Appendix 2 of the report.

(3)            That Cabinet approved the ‘Position Statement’ for publication on the Council’s website.

(4)            That Cabinet noted the notes from the first Local Plan Working Group meeting on 1 November 2023 (Appendix 3).

REASONS FOR DECISION – To enable the Council to progress with evidence based work so that it is in the best position to adopt the new Local Plan making processes that are expected to come into force later this year, and to agree a statement that sets out the Council’s position and updates members of the public on the approach being taken.  The publication of a Position Statement would demonstrate openness and transparency around the matter of plan making.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The option of announcing a formal Review of the Local Plan now was considered but rejected. The option was not recommended by officers or the Working Group due to the likely duplication/delays that would be caused by the anticipated changes to the plan making process. The option of doing nothing was considered but rejected.  Officers were of the view that the evidence base behind a number of the strategic polices within the Local Plan needed to be updated.

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

Report of Councillor J Birkin, Portfolio Holder for Council Services.

RESOLVED - That Cabinet endorsed the implementation of the Section 13A Council Tax reduction scheme.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To comply with the legislative requirement that each Council Tax billing authority in England make a scheme specifying the terms and eligibility for the Section 13A Council Tax Reductions.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – To take no action would mean that the       Council would fail to comply with its legislative responsibilities.

Please note that 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 -

(1)            That Cabinet noted the progress on the project to regenerate the Prefabricated Bungalows at Stonebroom, including the option to consider delivery of a new community building to replace existing provision.  

(2)            That Cabinet approved demolition notices be issued to 40 tenancies of the bungalows.

(3)            That Cabinet approved RHL’s request to award Band 1 priority housing application status to seven tenancies of the bungalows, who have expressed an interest in relocating away from the project.

(4)            That Cabinet approved further detailed design, engineering and construction planning works be undertaken for the project with a budget cost of £0.5m (from within the approved budget) in advance of the main construction contract.

(5)            That Cabinet noted temporary decants of existing customers will be required into current voids on the development. This is necessary to facilitate the construction programme and ensure the scheme is viable.

(6)            That Cabinet noted existing gardens, access paths and open grass spaces will need to be incorporated into the construction area in a flexible manner, to provide sufficient storage, access and working space for the construction team during redevelopment.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The regeneration scheme at Stonebroom supports the Council’s commitment in its Council Plan to build, acquire and facilitate the delivery of more high-quality social housing for rent in the District. 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - Not applicable.

Please note that 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.

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

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

                                                                                 Paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 5

RESOLVED - That Cabinet endorsed the proposed changes to the Rykneld Homes Ltd (RHL) Senior Management Team structure, as set out in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - It is a requirement of the management agreement that significant changes have prior consent of the Council. the proposed restructure provides a robust structure for delivering housing services.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED - None

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

Report of Councillor P Kerry, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategic Leadership and Finance.

                                                                                        Paragraphs 3 and 5

RESOLVED - That Cabinet agreed to write off the amounts in respect of council tax, business rates and rents as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - All available options to recover this debt had been explored with write off being the final option in the debt management process.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – As set out in the report.

Please note that 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.