Agenda, decisions and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 24^th June, 2019 be received and approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 24^th June, 2019 be received and approved as a correct record.

Non-Key Decision

Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Health and Leisure: Councillor Tom Hollis

RESOLVED that

a)    the following four Scrutiny Panel B recommendations be approved:

·         the four priority war memorials, identified in the report, are professionally cleaned and restored in readiness for remembrance events in November 2019;

·         the Council continues with the submission of a grant application to the War Memorials Trust to secure funding for the professional cleaning and restoration work as required;

·         in conjunction with b) above, the Council immediately identifies sufficient funding for the professional cleaning and restoration work required, should the grant application to the War Memorials Trust prove unsuccessful;

·         a communications plan be developed ensuring the public is fully informed of the proposed cleaning and restoration works and any other events or plans relating to the District’s war memorials;

b)    the Council to also match fund the cost of professionally cleaning and restoring a suitable war memorial located within the Rural areas, once identified, following discussions with the War Memorial Maintenance Association and its representatives.

The Vice Chairman of Scrutiny Panel B, Councillor Caroline Wilkinson, presented Cabinet with four interim recommendations arising from the Panel meeting held on 27^th June, 2019.  Initial review discussions had highlighted that the professional cleaning and restoration of the four earmarked war memorials was paramount to ensure completion in time for the 2019 remembrance events.  Alternative funding options required approval to enable the work to be undertaken (and completed) in the event that the grant application to the War Memorials Trust proved unsuccessful. 

Cabinet Members took the opportunity to thank the Scrutiny Team and especially the Council’s Scrutiny Research and Support Officer, Shane Wright, for the work undertaken to progress the Council’s war memorial restoration programme and future protect Ashfield’s heritage and the memories of the fallen within Ashfield.

RESOLVED that

a)    the following four Scrutiny Panel B recommendations be approved:

·         the four priority war memorials, identified in the report, are professionally cleaned and restored in readiness for remembrance events in November 2019;

·         the Council continues with the submission of a grant application to the War Memorials Trust to secure funding for the professional cleaning and restoration work as required;

·         in conjunction with b) above, the Council immediately identifies sufficient funding for the professional cleaning and restoration work required, should the grant application to the War Memorials Trust prove unsuccessful;

·         a communications plan be developed ensuring the public is fully informed of the proposed cleaning and restoration works and any other events or plans relating to the District’s war memorials;

b)    the Council to also match fund the cost of professionally cleaning and restoring a suitable war memorial located within the Rural areas, once identified, following discussions with the War Memorial Maintenance Association and its representatives.

Reasons:

War memorials was added as a topic for review to the Scrutiny Workplan 2019/20 in June 2019.  Due to the considerations of the Panel being time sensitive, Members felt it appropriate to present a set of interim recommendations to Cabinet at the earliest possible stage. This was to ensure that suitable cleaning and restoration work could be carried out in a timely manner, ensuring completion before remembrance events in November 2019.

Key Decision

Leader of the Council: Councillor Jason Zadrozny

RESOLVED

that Cabinet notes the levels of performance achieved against the Corporate Scorecard for the year ending 2018/19 in order to ensure alignment with the Council’s future ambitions and corporate priorities.

Cabinet received and considered the 2018/19 year-end outturn for the corporate performance scorecard and acknowledged the requirement to re-visit the existing corporate scorecard (established under the previous Administration) to align with the review and refresh of the Council’s Corporate Plan and its corporate priorities.

The Leader took the opportunity to advise Members that the Council had recently been named as the only local authority in the country on a prestigious list of the top 50 housing landlords.  The list has been compiled by the 24 Housing website, an online hub for councils and housing associations. 

The Director of Housing and Assets was asked to pass on the Cabinet’s congratulations to the Housing Team for their achievements.

RESOLVED

that Cabinet notes the levels of performance achieved against the Corporate Scorecard for the year ending 2018/19 in order to ensure alignment with the Council’s future ambitions and corporate priorities.

Reasons:

1.    In March 2016, Cabinet agreed the use of a balanced scorecard methodology to enhance the organisation’s performance framework and ability to understand how successfully the Corporate Priorities are being delivered, the approach providing a more rounded view on performance with a

2.    greater emphasis on customer satisfaction and quality.

3.    The current Corporate Scorecard is aligned to priorities and key actions agreed pre 2018/19 by the previous administration.

4.    The new administration has identified specific priorities for action in 2018/19.

5.    The Corporate Plan and Corporate Scorecard are currently being reviewed and refreshed to ensure they reflect the Council’s future ambitions and Corporate Priorities for the next four years (2019- 2022).

RESOLVED that

a)    the progress of the current Digital and Service Transformation Programme and the initial benefits delivered, as presented, be received and noted;

b)    the overarching business case and direction of travel, as outlined in the report, be approved;

c)    approval be given for the release of a further £100k from the Corporate Change reserve to be committed to the Digital and Service Transformation Programme;

d)    delegated authority be granted to the Corporate Finance Manager, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to facilitate the allocation of funding from the corporate change and technology investment reserves to support the programme and the use of capital receipts via the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy where appropriate;

e)    the Assistant Director for Corporate Services and Transformation be requested to report back to Cabinet at 6 monthly intervals in order to report progress against programme delivery, benefits realisation and return on investment tracking.

The Director of Resources and Business Transformation and the Assistant Director for Corporate Services and Transformation presented the report and gave an outline of the Corporate Digital and Service Transformation programme, current progress and a proposed future approach complete with indicative costs, benefits and timelines.

RESOLVED that

a)    the progress of the current Digital and Service Transformation Programme and the initial benefits delivered, as presented, be received and noted;

b)    the overarching business case and direction of travel, as outlined in the report, be approved;

c)    approval be given for the release of a further £100k from the Corporate Change reserve to be committed to the Digital and Service Transformation Programme;

d)    delegated authority be granted to the Corporate Finance Manager, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to facilitate the allocation of funding from the corporate change and technology investment reserves to support the programme and the use of capital receipts via the Capital Receipts Flexibility Strategy where appropriate;

e)    the Assistant Director for Corporate Services and Transformation be requested to report back to Cabinet at 6 monthly intervals in order to report progress against programme delivery, benefits realisation and return on investment tracking.

Reasons:

1.    As reported to Cabinet in June 2018, demand for public services and expectations of levels of service are ever increasing. Residents and businesses expect to be able to access their services from multiple locations and in ways that suit them.  Many organisations and councils have moved towards customer centric ‘digital first’ approaches which provide convenient and accessible services in order to match these customer expectations, a key focus of improvement as our communities continue to conduct more and more aspects of their life online for example through their banks, retailers, prescription services and ever expanding central government services such as vehicle tax, passport applications and voter registration.

2.    Digital transformation is focussed on changing the way we deliver services.

3.    This report presents to Cabinet a vision and blueprint for a digital and service transformation programme, indicating how technology can potentially be a catalyst for improving the way the Council will work with and support local residents, partners and businesses on the journey to becoming a digital Council and digital Place. It should be noted that the Council will always retain face to face service and other channels to help those that cannot make use of digital access.

4.    The Council faces future challenging financial targets in order to ensure a sustainable Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) is delivered. The Council is confident that the programme will deliver future savings and efficiencies as demand for services and residents' expectations of the quality of frontline services continue to rise. The digital transformation programme will assist with addressing the joint challenges of the need to continue to make savings with the increasing expectations of customers for a high-quality service.

Non-Key Decision

Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Streets, Parks and Town Centres: Councillor Helen-Ann Smith

RESOLVED

that the report detailing the performance of the 2019 Big Ashfield Spring Clean, as presented, be received and noted.

The Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Streets, Parks and Town Centres presented to Cabinet the success of the 2019 Big Ashfield Spring Clean and the lessons learnt from the inaugural Spring Clean event held in 2018.

Special thanks were given to Council staff, volunteers and members of the public for their hard work and contribution towards the clean-up and it was also acknowledged that neighbouring authorities were now copying the Council’s Spring Clean campaign blueprint following the success within the Ashfield area.

RESOLVED

that the report detailing the performance of the 2019 Big Ashfield Spring Clean, as presented, be received and noted.

Reasons:

1.    The Council delivered a Big Ashfield Spring Clean in 2018 and due to the success of the campaign, which was well received by residents of Ashfield, incorporated an annual campaign in the refreshed Corporate Plan.

2.    Lessons learned from the 2018 campaign led to a new personalised approach to the 2019 campaign which saw collections of additional waste from all properties in Ashfield, along with the ‘Flying Skips’ (bin lorries) collecting waste from locations across the district on three Saturdays. Further support was provided to residents with free bulky waste collections for the duration of the campaign.

3.    Community action and targeted enforcement underpinned the campaign to drive forward plans to create sustainable change in the way waste is managed in Ashfield.

(During consideration of this item, Councillor Daniel Williamson left the room at 2.39pm and returned to the meeting at 2.41pm.)

Non-Key Decision

Portfolio Holder for Community Safety: Councillor Daniel Williamson

RESOLVED

that the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy Statement and Transparency Statement 2019/20, as attached to this report, be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Community Safety presented the refreshed Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy and Transparency Statement to Cabinet whilst reaffirming the Council’s ongoing commitment towards tackling modern slavery as a crime.

RESOLVED

that the Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy Statement and Transparency Statement 2019/20, as attached to this report, be approved.

Reasons:

1.    To meet the Council’s legal, moral and safeguarding obligations and to take a proactive approach in tackling this type of crime.

2.    It is a legislative requirement on commercial organisations with an annual turnover of £36 million, to have a Modern Slavery Transparency Statement. The Council’s annual turnover is above this threshold.  Whilst the Act does not state that local Authorities specifically are included in those organisations legally required to publish a statement, the Council has elected to do so as a matter of good practice and social responsibility.

(During consideration of this item, Councillor David Hennigan left the room at 2.56pm and returned to the meeting at 3.02pm.)

Non-Key Decision

Portfolio Holder for Finance: Councillor David Martin

RESOLVED

that the contents of the Council’s 2018/19 Annual Insurance Report, as presented, be received and noted.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance requested Cabinet to receive and consider the Council’s 2018/19 Annual Insurance Report including the latest position concerning insurance funds and premiums paid during 2018/19.

RESOLVED

that the contents of the Council’s 2018/19 Annual Insurance Report, as presented, be received and noted.

Reason:

To meet the requirements of the Council’s Financial Regulations (C.37).

A Member of the Cabinet is asked to move:-

“That in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act and in respect of which the Proper Officer considers the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

RESOLVED

that in accordance with the provisions of Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12(A) of the Act and in respect of which the Proper Officer considers that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder for Housing: Councillor Kier Barsby

RESOLVED

that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Housing and Assets to review, finalise and sign the agreed Partnership Agreement on the terms outlined in the report.

Cabinet were requested to consider the report as presented.

RESOLVED

that delegated authority be granted to the Director of Housing and Assets to review, finalise and sign the agreed Partnership Agreement on the terms outlined in the report.

Reason:

To secure a Partnership Agreement which provides better value for Ashfield residents.