Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

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

received and approved as a correct record.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Jason Zadrozny – Leader of the Council

Cabinet were presented with the year-end outturn position, the proposed refresh of the Corporate Plan for approval and where relevant, updates regarding the impact of the pandemic and the Council’s continued provision of services.

The Portfolio Holders gave a brief overview of progress and achievements within their area and the new Chairman of the Covid-19 Recovery Scrutiny Panel spoke about the proactive work of the Panel during the pandemic.  The  Chief Executive also took the opportunity to speak about the continued commitment and exemplary work of the Council’s employees during this difficult time.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to adopt the refreshed Corporate Plan.

RESOLVED that

a)    having considered and reviewed the levels of performance achieved against the Corporate Plan and Corporate Scorecard, as at year-end 2020/21, the significant levels of continued service provision to date despite the impacts of the pandemic, be noted;

b)    the Corporate Plan Refresh, as appended to the report, be approved;

c)    the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to review and revise the Corporate and Place Scorecards as aligned to the Corporate Plan;

d)    a vote of thanks be extended to all Council employees to acknowledge their unwavering commitment to providing a full range of services to Ashfield and its residents during the pandemic.

Reason:

The Council’s ambitions for the period 2019 – 2023 are identified in a set of revised and updated Corporate Priorities which are presented in the refreshed Corporate Plan. These were developed by Cabinet in 2019 and have since been reviewed and updated, with particular consideration of the impact of the pandemic and the Council’s intended recovery activity.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Tom Hollis – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Housing

Cabinet were advised about and opportunity to develop affordable bungalows on a Council owned, undeveloped plot of land at Wesley Street, Annesley, and approval was sought for the said development.

Members considered alternative options of doing nothing with the land or selling it for private development. Both were rejected because the land was not currently being used and had development potential although an existing covenant would negate any private development.

RESOLVED

a)    that subject to planning consent and Homes England funding:

b)    the use of the unused section of the Council-owned Wesley Street Allotment site for bungalows let on an affordable rent basis, be approved;

c)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Housing and Assets, in conjunction with the Director of Legal and Governance and the Corporate Finance Manager (and Section 151 Officer), to agree the appropriation of the Wesley Street site from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account based upon best consideration of the land value and the parameters of the social housing viability model, in line with details as set out in the report;

d)    the use of both Housing Revenue Account reserves and Commuted Sums to fund the construction of 12 new affordable homes, be approved;

e)    delegated authority be again granted to the Director of Housing and Assets, in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager (and Section 151 Officer), to negotiate and formalise final scheme costs, specification and delivery.

Reason:

The development would help to achieve the Council’s Corporate Plan objective of delivering much needed additional good quality affordable housing in the District and bring into use, in an extremely positive way, an under used site.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Helen-Ann Smith – Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety

Cabinet were requested to consider proposals for carrying out the necessary consultation, publicity and notification for the extension of the

existing 2015 Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO), as extended and varied in 2018, and additional prohibitions for a further period of 3 years.

A statement from Councillor David Hennigan, Ward Member for Sutton Central and New Cross, was read out to Members during the debate.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to approve the necessary consultation and notification to extend and vary the

existing PSPO and additional prohibitions before 30 September 2021 but this was not recommended as officers would no longer be able to take action under these provisions to request a person to hand over alcohol, to issue a fixed penalty notice or provide evidence for legal action for breaching the PSPO.

RESOLVED that

a)    approval be given to carry out the necessary consultation, publicity and notification for the extension of the existing 2015 Public Spaces Protection Order (extended and varied in 2018) for a further period of 3 years;

b)    approval be also given to carry out the necessary consultation, publicity and notification for the variation of the existing 2015 Public Spaces Protection Order (extended and varied in 2018) to include the prohibitions previously set out in the 2018 Junction 27 M1 Car Cruising PSPO which expired on 3 May 2021;

c)    the necessary consultation, publicity and notification for the variation of the existing 2015 Public Spaces Protection Order (extended and varied in 2018) be undertaken and to include a prohibition which restricts the public right of way over the highway namely the strip of land which runs between Bentinck Street and Welbeck Street, Sutton-In-Ashfield;

d)    £1,000 be added to the Annual Budget and Medium Term Financial Strategy from 2022/23 to meet the estimated annual maintenance costs of works proposed within this report;

e)    delegated authority be granted to the Leader and Deputy Leader (and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Crime Reduction), in conjunction with the Director of Place and Communities, to make any minor amendments to the plans contained in the draft Public Spaces Protection Order prior to commencement of the agreed consultation.

Reasons:

Recommendation 1

In accordance with Section 60, Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, a PSPO may not have effect for a period of more than 3 years unless extended. The existing PSPO of 2015 as amended and varied in 2018, relating to number of dogs, alcohol, direction to move on and urinating

issues will expire on 30 September 2021. Unless the PSPO is extended, it will restrict the Council and Police being able to tackle these types of issues throughout the District.

Recommendation 2

In line with Section 59 of the Act there must be evidence to support and extend the need for a PSPO including any variations. The separate 2018 PSPO relating to Junction 27 M1 Car Cruising expired on 3 May 2021 and unless the prohibitions in this PSPO are re-introduced, the Council and the Police will  ...  view the full minutes text for item CA.5

Non-Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Matthew Relf – Portfolio Holder for Place, Planning and Regeneration

Cabinet were presented with further information about the success of the Towns Fund submission for Kirkby and Sutton which has secured a massive £62.6m of funding.

As the report was for information only. Members did not have any alternative options to consider.

RESOLVED

that the announcement that Ashfield has secured £62.6m from the Towns

Fund for investment in Kirkby and Sutton, be received and noted.

Reason:

To make Cabinet members aware that £62.6m funding has been secured from the Towns Fund as part of the Council’s ambitious plans to regenerate the District. Together with funding secured from the Towns Fund Accelerator Fund and the Future High Streets Fund, over £70m has now been

secured for Ashfield.

Together with co-funding this will bring well over £100m of investment into the

District over the next five years.  Following the tremendous success of these bids the Council would be focusing on accessing funding to support Hucknall, with a bid to the Levelling Up Fund due to be developed over the next few

months.

Non-Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Kier Barsby – Portfolio Holder for Health and Leisure

Cabinet received an update regarding the Leisure Transformation Programme including progress with the Leisure Operating Contract, capital improvements to Hucknall and Lammas leisure centres and progress with the Kirkby Leisure Centre development build and the second swimming facility at Hucknall Leisure Centre.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to grant delegated authority for ‘in term’ variations to the Leisure Operating Contract.

RESOLVED that

a)    the commencement of the new Leisure Operating Contract with Everyone Active which achieves at least a financial ‘break even’ position for the Council, be noted;

b)    the progress with capital developments at both Kirkby Leisure Centre and Hucknall Leisure Centre, be noted;

c)    delegated authority be granted to the Director of Place and Communities in conjunction with the Corporate Finance Manager (and Section 151 Officer) and appropriate Portfolio Holder, to agree any ‘in term’ variations to the Leisure Operating Contract as long as the financial ‘break even’ position is not reduced.

Reason:

To update Cabinet Members regarding the successful conclusion of the

final elements of the contract negotiation and commencement of the new contract by Everyone Active on 1 May 2021.