Decisions

RESOLVED – That the following recommendations be made to Council:

(1a)     the budget in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved as the Current Budget for 2024/25.

(1b)     the budget in respect of the HRA as set out in Appendix 3 of the report be approved as the Current Budget for 2024/25.

(1c)     the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 of this report be approved as the Current Budget for 2024/25.

REASONS FOR DECISION - The purpose of the report was to prepare revised budgets as early as possible within the financial year to provide sufficient time to allow any planned changes to be delivered.  The Council had faced some specific financial challenges this year putting pressure on the ability to set a balanced General Fund budget but, use of reserves ring fenced for providing resilience when needed had mitigated this.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – There were no alternative options considered.  How resources were utilised was ultimately a decision for Members, which would form part of the 2025/26 Medium Term Financial Planning process.

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

RESOLVED – That:

(1)          the publication of the annual Complaints Performance and Service Improvement Report for Housing be noted and agreed.

(2)          Cabinet provide a governing body’s response to the report.

(3)          Councillor N Barker be elected as the Member Responsible for Complaints (‘the MRC’).

REASONS FOR DECISION - To comply with legislation and the Housing Ombudsman’s regulatory requirements. To ensure the complaints procedures were working in practice and compliant with the Code.  To ensure complaints were open and transparent to the public in line with legislation.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Not to have an annual complaints performance and service improvement report. This was rejected as this would not comply with legislation.  Not to appoint a MRC. This was also rejected as this would not comply with legislation.

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

RESOLVED – That:

(1)          the challenging timescales set out in the report, and that this relied upon maintaining the necessary resources, securing input from third parties and both timely and efficient decision making at key stages, be noted.

(2)          the timetable for the preparation of the new Local Plan be approved and tasks the Local Plan Working Group with regular monitoring and reporting on progress against key milestones.

(3)          The Local Development Scheme take effect, authorising its publication and that it shall have effect from 25 November 2024.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To enable the Council to progress with plan making with the aim of achieving submission of the Local Plan by December 2026 in line with the Government’s proposed transitional arrangements.  This would enable the Council to get an up-to-date plan in place at the earliest opportunity and limit the Council’s exposure to ad hoc speculative development.  In order for the scheme to take effect Cabinet must formally resolve that the scheme was to have effect and specify the date from which it was to have effect.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – The Council was obliged by the 2004 Planning & Compulsory Purchase Act (Section 15) as amended, to publish and keep up to date a Local Development Scheme (LDS).  Therefore, there was no alternative over whether, or not to produce an LDS.  

In terms the timescale for the review of the Council’s Local Plan, one alternative was to do nothing and await the implementation of new planning guidance and/or the new plan-making system. This was rejected on the basis that significant changes were imminent and to do nothing would put the Council at greater risk of speculative development for an additional extended period of time.

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

RESOLVED – That progress against the Council Plan 2023-2027 objectives, be noted.

REASONS FOR DECISION - This was an information report to keep Cabinet informed of progress against the Council plan objectives.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Alternative options were not applicable as the report provided an overview of progress against the Council plan objectives.

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