Agenda, decisions and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23 February 2021, be

received and approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23 February 2021, be

received and approved as a correct record.

Non-Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Jason Zadrozny – Leader of the Council

RESOLVED

that the Policy on Employing Reservists, as appended to the report, be approved.

Cabinet were presented with a new Policy on Employing Reservists for approval which outlined the Council’s commitment to support for the Armed Forces and any subsequent employment.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to approve the policy, but this was not recommended as Ashfield District Council remained a strong

supporter of the UK’s armed forces and were fully supportive of any employees who were (or wished to be) members of the Reserve Forces.

RESOLVED

that the Policy on Employing Reservists, as appended to the report, be approved.

Reason:

There has been no previous policy in place at Ashfield District Council and the new Policy demonstrates the Council’s commitment that those employees who serve in the armed forces as reservists, are afforded the protection of specific HR policies.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Rachel Madden – Portfolio Holder for Finance

RESOLVED that

a)    the current forecast outturn for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital Programme 2020/21, be received and noted;

b)    the budget adjustments outlined in section 3.1, Table 3 of the report, be approved.

Cabinet were requested to receive and consider the Council’s forecast financial outturn position to 31 March 2021 compared to the latest approved budgets for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Capital Programme.

Due to the requirements of the Council’s Financial Regulations, Members did

not have any alternative options to consider.

RESOLVED that

a)    the current forecast outturn for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital Programme 2020/21, be received and noted;

b)    the budget adjustments outlined in section 3.1, Table 3 of the report, be approved.

Reason:

To report to those charged with Governance, the financial position in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations.

Non-Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Kier Barsby – Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing

RESOLVED that

a)    progress be received and noted in relation to the following:

·       the application to D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership for £1.5m of funding towards the new Kirkby Leisure Centre development;

·       the application to Sport England for £1.5m of funding towards the new Kirkby Leisure Centre development;

·       work towards the completion of the new Kirkby Leisure Centre;

·       the new Leisure Operating Contract mobilising towards successful transition to the newly awarded contract;

b)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place & Communities, in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager, to enter into the Sport England and D2N2 Funding Agreements.

Cabinet were updated on the progress with the Leisure Transformation Programme, including progress regarding funding applications to Sport England and the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to grant officer delegation to enter into the Sport England and D2N2 Funding Agreements but this was not recommended as this would reduce the budget for the leisure centre build by 20% overall.

RESOLVED that

a)    progress be received and noted in relation to the following:

·       the application to D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership for £1.5m of funding towards the new Kirkby Leisure Centre development;

·       the application to Sport England for £1.5m of funding towards the new Kirkby Leisure Centre development;

·       work towards the completion of the new Kirkby Leisure Centre;

·       the new Leisure Operating Contract mobilising towards successful transition to the newly awarded contract;

b)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities, in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager, to enter into the Sport England and D2N2 Funding Agreements.

Reasons:

1.    Previous update reports regarding the Leisure Transformation Programme; that the tender process for the build contract for the Leisure Operating Contract had been awarded to Kier Group and that Everyone Active had been successful in being appointed as the Leisure Operating Contractor.

2.    Council officers having now completed the process of applying to D2N2 LEP for £1.5m funding towards the Kirkby Leisure Centre. The Council has presented the project to the LEP representatives and are awaiting formal confirmation of grant award.

3.    Council officers having now submitted the final grant application to Sport England and receiving positive responses. The Council now awaits from Sport England the proposed Funding Agreement which is the last step prior to the monies being awarded.

4.    The Council recently receiving £265k of funding from DCMS via Sport England for the re-opening of the leisure centres.

5.    The Council achieving Start on Site with works to the Leisure Centre on the 4th November 2020 and Kier, who had been appointed as the main works contractor, taking possession of the site on 18 January 2021 with phase 1 works due to be completed in April 2022.

6.    Everyone Active, who had been appointed as the Leisure Operating Contractor, were working with Council officers during the mobilisation phase leading to the commencement of the new contract on 1 April 2021.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor David Martin – Portfolio Holder for Streets, Parks and Town Centres

RESOLVED that

a)    the procurement for the potential reopening of the Café at Selston Country Park, be commenced;

b)    the Council’s Capital Programme for 2021/22 be amended to include an additional provisional sum of £30,000;

c)    subject to financial viability, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make a final stop-go decision once tenders have been returned;

d)    subject to the outcome of c) above, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities to award contracts for both capital work contracts and service contracts as required.

Cabinet were asked to acknowledge the investment already made in Ashfield’s Parks and Green spaces and consider a further, in-principle capital investment with a proposal for a procurement process for operating the café in Selston Country Park.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to consider the reopening of the Café at Selston Country Park or to run the facility as an inhouse operation.

RESOLVED that

a)    the procurement for the potential reopening of the Café at Selston Country Park, be commenced;

b)    the Council’s Capital Programme for 2021/22 be amended to include an additional provisional sum of £30,000;

c)    subject to financial viability, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make a final stop-go decision once tenders have been returned;

d)    subject to the outcome of c) above, delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities to award contracts for both capital work contracts and service contracts as required.

Reason:

Following endorsement of a motion to Council on 4 February 2021, the report sought approval for the existing building at Selston Country Park to reopen as a Café, subject to financial viability, for use by local people and visitors. The precise capital and revenue implications would be determined following the procurement process.