Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were 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.

None.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 2 March 2023.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the special meeting of Cabinet held on 25 May 2023.

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2023 were noted, and the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 May 2023 were approved.

Report of the previous Administration’s Organisation Scrutiny Committee

RESOLVED

(1)         That Cabinet noted the recommendations of the previous Administration’s Organisation Scrutiny Committee, as set out in the review report.

(2)         That these recommendations be considered as part of the development process for the new Council Plan.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To appraise Cabinet of the Scrutiny Committee’s review and recommendations. 

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

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

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the review report for the Planning/Environmental Enforcement Scrutiny Review, which was carried out by the previous Administration’s Organisation Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet discussed the conclusions of the Committee in the report.  At the conclusion of the discussion, Members indicated that they wished to note the recommendations of the report, and for the recommendations to be considered as part of the development process for the new Council Plan. 

The Chair thanked the officers and Members involved in producing the review report.

RESOLVED - 

(1)             That Cabinet noted the recommendations of the previous Administration’s Organisation Scrutiny Committee, as set out in the review report.

(2)      That these recommendations be considered as part of the development process for the new Council Plan.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To appraise Cabinet of the Scrutiny Committee’s review and recommendations.

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

Report of the Previous Administration’s Growth Scrutiny Committee

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the review report for the Engagement with Business Scrutiny Review, which was carried out by the previous Administration’s Growth Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet discussed the conclusions of the Committee in the report.  At the conclusion of the discussion, Members indicated that they wished to note the recommendations of the report, and for the recommendations to be considered as part of the development process for the new Council Plan.

The Chair thanked the officers and Members involved in producing the review report.

RESOLVED - 

(1)            That Cabinet noted the recommendations of the previous Administration’s Growth Scrutiny Committee, as set out in the review report.

(2)      That these recommendations be considered as part of the development process for the new Council Plan.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To appraise Cabinet of the Scrutiny Committee’s review and recommendations.

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

Report of the Previous Administration’s Communities Scrutiny Committee

RESOLVED

(1)       That Cabinet noted the recommendations of the previous Administration’s Communities Scrutiny Committee as set out in the review report.

(2)       That these recommendations be considered as part of the development process for the new Council Plan.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To appraise Cabinet of the Scrutiny Committee’s review and recommendations.

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

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

The Senior Scrutiny Officer presented the review report for the Leisure Provision for Older Residents Scrutiny Review, which was carried out by the previous Administration’s Communities Scrutiny Committee.

Cabinet discussed the conclusions of the Committee in the report.  At the conclusion of the discussion, Members indicated that they wished to note the recommendations of the report, and for the recommendations to be considered as part of the development process for the new Council plan. 

The Chair thanked the officers and Members involved in producing the review report.

RESOLVED - 

(1)            That Cabinet noted the recommendations of the previous Administration’s Communities Scrutiny Committee, as set out in the review report.

(2)      That these recommendations be considered as part of the development process for the new Council Plan.

REASONS FOR DECISION – To appraise Cabinet of the Scrutiny Committee’s review and recommendations.

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

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

RESOLVED

(1)           That Cabinet approved the Officer responses to the representations received to the public consultation on the Draft Revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), as set out in the Consultation Statement in Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)           That Cabinet adopted and brought into effect the Revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) in Appendix 2 to the report to replace the current SCI (2014).

REASONS FOR DECISION – To formalise the Council’s response to the comments received during the consultation on the draft SCI, and to enable the document to be formally adopted as the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The preparation of a Statement of Community Involvement and its review every five years from its adoption date is a statutory requirement and there are no reasonable alternative options.

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

The report to Cabinet set out representations received to the public consultation on the Draft Statement of Community Involvement, with a view to adopting the final version of the document.

Cabinet discussed the responses to the consultation and the revised SCI document. At the conclusion of the discussion, Members indicated their support for the responses from officers to the public consultation, and the revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) document.

RESOLVED -

(1)      That Cabinet approved the Officer responses to the representations received to the public consultation on the Draft Revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI), as set out in the Consultation Statement in Appendix 1 to the report.

(2)            That Cabinet adopted and brought into effect the Revised Statement of Community Involvement (SCI) in Appendix 2 to the report to replace the current SCI (2014).

REASONS FOR DECISION – To formalise the Council’s response to the comments received during the consultation on the draft SCI, and to enable the document to be formally adopted as the Council’s Statement of Community Involvement.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The preparation of a Statement of Community Involvement and its review every five years from its adoption date is a statutory requirement and there are no reasonable alternative options.

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.

None.

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(s) 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.

Exempt Decision                                                                    Paragraph 3                                                                     

RESOLVED - That Cabinet agreed to the proposed change of tenure mix required on the Whiteleas development at North Wingfield.

REASONS FOR DECISION – Developing the vacant Council owned land at Whiteleas supports the delivery of new homes in the District. Changing the mix supports the Council’s commitment to the delivery of high-quality affordable housing for rent in the District.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Continuing with existing mix of tenures was rejected, due to risk of sales due to worsening economic and market conditions

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

Cabinet considered a report proposing the acquisition of a property in North Wingfield for use as temporary accommodation within the Council’s homelessness service.

Cabinet discussed the proposals in the report and the actions taken in the lead up to this meeting. At the conclusion of the discussion Members indicated their support for the proposed approach.

RESOLVED - That Cabinet endorsed the purchase of the property in North Wingfield to help reduce hotel costs and to safeguard the property and local community.

REASONS FOR DECISION – By acquiring the property, the Council will be able to significantly reduce the use of hotels by its Homelessness Service and the associated costs, whilst also increasing its emergency housing capacity, at a time when pressures on the Homelessness Service are greater than ever before.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not to take up the option of purchase would mean that a reduction of hotel costs would not be achieved. The property might also be purchased by a new provider. In certain circumstances this could result in Anti-Social Behaviour problems in and around the property.

(Paragraphs 3 & 5)

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

Key Decision                                                                      Paragraphs 3 and 5

RESOLVED - That Cabinet endorsed the purchase of the property in North Wingfield to help reduce hotel costs and to safeguard the property and local community.

REASONS FOR DECISION – By acquiring the property, the Council will be able to significantly reduce the use of hotels by its Homelessness Service and the associated costs, whilst also increasing its emergency housing capacity, at a time when pressures on the Homelessness Service are greater than ever before.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not to take up the option of purchase would mean that a reduction of hotel costs would not be achieved. The property might also be purchased by a new provider. In certain circumstances this could result in Anti-Social Behaviour problems in and around the property.

This is a Key Decision. The call-in period for the decision will run until Monday 10 July 2023.

Cabinet considered a report proposing a change of tenure mix for the Whiteleas development at North Wingfield.

Cabinet discussed the proposals in the report and the actions taken in the lead up to this meeting. At the conclusion of the discussion Members indicated their support for the proposed approach.

RESOLVED - That Cabinet agreed to the proposed change of tenure mix required on the Whiteleas development at North Wingfield.

REASONS FOR DECISION – Developing the vacant Council owned land at Whiteleas supports the delivery of new homes in the District. Changing the mix supports the Council’s commitment to the delivery of high-quality affordable housing for rent in the District.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Continuing with existing mix of tenures was rejected, due to risk of sales due to worsening economic and market conditions.

(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.

None.