Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 31 July 2023, be received and approved as a correct record.

Key Decision

Councillor Jason Zadrozny – Leader of the Council

Cabinet was requested to consider and approve the proposed new Corporate Plan for 2023-2027 and recommend to Council for formal ratification.

Members considered the alternative option of extending and refreshing the current Corporate Plan, but this was declined as the robust review of the Council’s future priorities ensured that the new Corporate Plan best captured and reflected the strategic direction of the Council over the next four years.

RESOLVED that

a)    the new Corporate Plan be agreed and recommended to Council for approval;

b)    the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Leader, to review and revise the Corporate Scorecard, aligned to the Corporate Plan;

c)    the Chief Executive be also authorised, in consultation with the Leader, to make minor amendments to the document and finalise design work prior to publication, if required.

Reasons:

1.    The Council’s ambitions for the next four years are clearly identified in a set of revised and updated Corporate Priorities which are presented in the new Corporate Plan. These have been developed by Cabinet.

2.    The Corporate Plan sits above a wider strategic context which includes the Corporate Project Management Framework, Corporate Performance Indicators and a range of strategic documents relating to the Council and its services. The Corporate Plan aligns to the Council’s overarching Strategic Direction.???

??

3.    The Council’s priorities for the future, as identified in the new Corporate Plan, have been translated and cascaded into specific projects and initiatives, the successful delivery of which will be monitored through the Performance and Strategic Planning Framework and into Service Plans to facilitate focussed delivery.??

4.    The Council remains ambitious, and as such, the new Corporate Plan captures and reflects its ongoing ambitions for the next four years.

Key Decision

Councillor Tom Hollis – Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member

for Strategic Housing and Climate Change

Cabinet received an update in respect of progress against actions agreed by Cabinet on 26 June 2023 relating to proposed appropriation of land at Central Avenue, Kirkby in Ashfield. 

Members considered the alternative option of declining to proceed with the land appropriation, but this was not recommended.  The proposed appropriation had previously been agreed in principle by Cabinet in June 2023 and in view of that decision, it would not be appropriate for officers to withdraw the proposal.

RESOLVED that

a)    it be noted that consent has been received from the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities to change the use of a defined parcel of allotment land on the edge of the Central Avenue, Kirkby in Ashfield acknowledging that the land has never been used for allotment purpose and is currently overgrown scrubland;

b)    the proposed appropriation of Central Avenue from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account, be approved;

c)    the purchase of the General Fund site by the Housing Revenue Account (subject to Planning approval) be based on the market valuation conducted by Heb Chartered Surveyors in February 2023;

d)    delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Operations and the Corporate Resources Director to determine any adjustments required and to agree the full and final figure;

e)    the proposal to develop the exchanged site at Central Avenue for affordable housing to meet local need, be approved;

f)      delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Operations, in conjunction with the Corporate Resources Director, to negotiate and formalise final scheme costs, property mix, specification and delivery;

g)    delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Operations to procure and appoint a contractor to develop the site;

h)    delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Operations to contract, on behalf of the Council, with Homes England for the purposes of receiving subsidy to ensure that developments are viable and fall within a maximum payback period of 40 years.

Reason:

To enable the Council to develop the exchanged site at Central Avenue to provide affordable housing to meet local need.

Non-Key Decision

Councillor Andy Meakin – Executive Lead Member for Social Housing and Assets

Councillor Vicki Heslop – Executive Lead Member for Customer and Digital Experience

Cabinet were provided with a summary of the complaints received by the Council regarding services that fall under the remit of the Housing Ombudsman Service (HOS), including any learning that has been identified

as a result of the investigations during the 2022/23 financial year.

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

RESOLVED

that the complaints information, the identified learning as a result of the complaint investigations and the emerging trends in housing complaints, as outlined in the report, be received and noted.

Reason:

To provide Cabinet with information regarding the volume, nature and outcomes of housing complaints received during the 2022/23 financial year.

Key Decision

Councillor Rachel Madden – Executive Lead Member for Finance, Revenues and Benefits

Cabinet received a summary of the Council’s forecast financial outturn position to 31 March 2024 compared to the latest approved budgets for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Capital

Programme.

RESOLVED that

a)    the current forecast outturn for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Capital Programme for 2023/24, be received and noted;

b)    the budget adjustments outlined in section 3.1, Table 3 and the reserve movements outlined in section 3.2 Table 4 of the report, be approved;

c)    the proposed revised communal heating charges payable from 30^th October 2023, as outlined in section 6, Table 6 of the report, ensuring residents benefit from the reduced charges in a timely manner, be approved;

d)    Council be recommended to approve the amendments and the addition of new schemes to the Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2027/28 and the funding of the Capital Programme as set out in Section 7 and Appendix 3 of the report;

e)    the monitoring of Prudential and Treasury Management indicators for 2023/24, as detailed in Appendix 4, be noted.

Reason:

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

Non-Key Decision

Councillor Matthew Relf – Executive Lead Member for Growth, Regeneration and Local Planning

Councillor Helen-Ann Smith – Deputy Leader and Executive Lead Member for Community Safety and Crime Reduction

Cabinet was updated on the Council’s major projects, progress of funded programmes and bids for external funding which included a request to note a potential future cost pressure for the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme

(PSDS) programme which may require additional Council funding in the future.

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

RESOLVED

that progress regarding the Council’s major projects and funding programmes, as outlined in the report, be received and noted.

Reasons:

1.    To ensure that Cabinet is kept updated on progress with the Major projects, funding programmes and submission of funding bids.

2.    To ensure that projects and spend within the funding programmes are achieved within the set timeframes and programme budget envelopes.

3.    To ensure funding streams are delivered collaboratively and effectively.

4.    To ensure Members are aware as early as possible about the potential cost pressures which may require additional Council funding in the future.

Non-Key Decision

Councillor John Wilmott – Executive Lead Member for Governance

Cabinet was presented with the Council’s Annual Corporate Health and Safety Report for 2022/23.

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

RESOLVED

that the Annual Corporate Health and Safety Report for 2022/23, as presented, be received and noted.

Reason:

To ensure Cabinet are informed on corporate health and safety performance across the Council, to provide assurance that the Council’s statutory health and safety obligations are being met and to provide transparency and an understanding that the health and safety risks created by the Council’s services and operations are being managed effectively, and as required by law.

Cabinet was requested to consider and approve two recommendations from

the Local Plan Development Committee meeting held on 11 September 2023.

In relation to the Ashfield Local Plan Sites Update report, Members were advised that an additional site had been added to the housing allocations list in respect of land off Laburnum Avenue, Kirkby-in-Ashfield for 38 dwellings (site reference H1Kk), at the meeting.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to approve the recommendations as presented to them.

Minute No. LP.10

Ashfield Local Development Scheme

RESOLVED

that the Revised Ashfield Local Development Scheme, as set out at Appendix 1 to the Cabinet report, be approved to come into effect on the 10^th October 2023.

Minute No. LP.12

Ashfield Local Plan – Sites Update

RESOLVED that

a)    the amended housing allocations as set out in the Committee report, including the addition of the site off Laburnum Avenue, Kirkby-in-Ashfield for 38 dwellings (site reference H1Kk), be approved;

b)    the Assistant Director of Planning, in consultation with Local Plan Development Committee Chairman, be authorised to make any subsequent amendments to reflect up to date information on the proposed site allocations as set out in the report.

Key Decision

Councillor Rachel Madden – Executive Lead Member for Finance, Revenues and Benefits

Cabinet was requested to approve and support the purchase of the Lowmoor Road site for the development of the Ashfield Innovation & Technology Park (AITP) and within it, the Automated Distribution & Manufacturing Centre (ADMC).

Members considered the alternative option of purchasing Site B but this was discounted for the reasons set out in the report.

RESOLVED that

a)    approval be given to progress the purchase of the Lowmoor Road site from Nottinghamshire County Council (NCC), in accordance with the draft Heads of Terms (HOTs), as appended to the report;

b)    delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director of Place, in consultation with the Executive Director of Governance, Corporate Resources Director and Executive Lead Member for Finance, Revenue and Benefits to complete the purchase of the Lowmoor Road site from NCC in accordance with the draft Heads of Terms;

c)    Council be recommended to approve the funding for the purchase of the site, as outlined in the report.

Reason:

To facilitate the construction of an Automated Distribution & Manufacturing Centre (ADMC) as a flagship Towns Fund project to support the adoption, integration and expansion of modern technologies amongst local regional businesses to improve productivity and competitiveness.

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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 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 items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 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

Councillor Andy Meakin – Executive Lead Member for Social Housing and Assets

Approval was sought from Cabinet to wind down the Lifeline Service due to the analogue to digital telephone switchover.

Members considered the alternative option of retaining the service but this was not considered to be viable without significant future investment and/or subsidy.

RESOLVED that

a)    the concerns regarding the analogue to digital telephone switchover, the associated viability of the service and the risks/costs associated with the continued delivery of the service, be received and noted;

b)    the closure of the Lifeline Service and the coordination of a transition of existing customers over to their choice of preferred provider, be approved.

Reason:

To update Members on the Lifeline Service following a review of the service.

Non-Key Decision

Councillor Rachel Madden – Executive Lead Member for Finance, Revenues and Benefits

Approval was sought from Cabinet to write off outstanding invoices over £10K where recovery has been exhausted.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to write off the outstanding invoices and to continue seeking recovery of the debt.

RESOLVED

that approval be given to write off the amounts identified in Cases 1 and 2, as outlined in the report.

Reason:

In accordance with the Corporate Debt Recovery Policy, recovery action has now been exhausted.