Agenda and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 April 2024, be received and approved as a correct record.

Key Decision

Councillor Jason Zadrozny – Leader of the Council

Cabinet was updated regarding progress against delivery of the new Corporate Plan 2023-2027 including the year end, April 2023 to March 2024 performance position against the associated Corporate Performance Scorecard.

As the report was presented for information only, there were no alternative options for Members to consider.

RESOLVED that

a)    the levels of delivery achieved against the Corporate Plan Priorities, as outlined in the report, be received and noted;

b)    the levels of performance achieved against the Corporate Scorecard as of March 2024, as presented, be also noted.

Reason:

To ensure Members are aware of the Council’s ambitions for the next four years, as clearly identified in the revised set of updated Corporate Priorities as

presented in the new Corporate Plan.

Non-Key Decision

Councillor Jason Zadrozny – Leader of the Council

Cabinet was requested to review the Corporate Risk Register, the analysis of movement in risk and any mitigating actions in respect of those risks.

As the report was presented for information purposes only, there were no alternative options for Members to consider.

RESOLVED

that the current significant items on the Corporate Risk Register, as presented, be received and noted.

Reason:

To prioritise and manage the mitigation of Risk in order that the Council can achieve its objectives.

Key Decision

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

Cabinet Members were updated in respect of funding allocations and progress against current funded programmes, were asked to accept capacity funding from the Levelling Up Fund for Hucknall Town Centre and approve the submission of the vision and three-year investment plan for the Kirkby Long-term Plan.

Members considered the alternative options of declining to accept the Levelling Up Funding for Hucknall Town Centre and approving the vision and three-year investment plan for the Kirkby Long-term Plan, but these were not recommended for the reasons outlined in the report.

RESOLVED that

a)    progress in respect of the Regeneration programmes, as outlined in the report, be received and noted;

b)    the capacity funding from the Levelling Up Fund for Hucknall Town Centre of £200,000 be accepted and agreements be entered into with DLUHC (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities) as required;

c)    submission of the vision and three-year investment plan for the Kirkby Long-term Plan by 1 August 2024, following approval by the Kirkby Town Board, be approved.

Reasons:

1.    To ensure that Cabinet is kept updated on progress with the funding programmes.

2.    To ensure that projects and spend within the funding programmes are delivered within the set timeframes and programme budgets.

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

(At this point in the proceedings and in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 4 [Order of Business], the Chairman advised that he would be considering agenda item 8 [Housing Complaints – Annual Performance Report and Complaint Handling Code Self-Assessment] as the next item of business.  Members concurred with this course of action.)

Key Decision

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

Cabinet was provided with an overview of the Council’s requirements and obligations under the Housing Ombudsman Service’s Complaint Handling Code and approval was sought to approve the revised annual Self- Assessment for publication on the Council’s website and submission to the Housing Ombudsman Service.  Members’ comments were also sought in relation to the Annual Housing Complaints Performance and Service Improvement Report 2023/24, as presented.

Due to the fact that adoption of all requirements of the Housing Ombudsman Service’s Complaint Handling Code was a mandatory statutory requirement, there were no alternative options for Members to consider.

RESOLVED that

a)    the requirements and obligations on the Council under the Housing Ombudsman Service’s Complaint Handling Code, be received and acknowledged;

b)    the revised annual Self-Assessment and its publication on the Council’s website and submission to the Housing Ombudsman Service, be approved;

c)    the content of the Annual Housing Complaints Performance and Service Improvement Report 2023/24, prior to its submission to the Housing Ombudsman Service and subsequent publication, be noted with no additional comments being made at this time.

Reasons:

1.    Membership to the Housing Ombudsman Service’s (HOS) Scheme is mandatory for all social housing landlords and compliance with their Complaint Handling Code forms part of the membership obligations. Landlords must comply with all requirements of the Code or offer an explanation to HOS for any areas of non-compliance. Following the introduction of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023, the Complaint Handling Code, is now a statutory instrument and failure to comply with it effectively amounts to regulatory failure.

2.    The Act also placed a requirement on the HOS to monitor compliance with the Code, social housing landlords have until 28 June 2024 to publish and submit their Self-Assessment and Complaint Performance and Service Improvement Report to the HOS and publish it publicly.

2.

Non-Key Decision

Councillor Chris Huskinson – Executive Lead Member for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing

Cabinet was updated in respect of leisure provision within the Rural areas and an announcement was made in respect of the following:

Ashfield District Council, working with partners including Selston High School, Selston Parish Council, the Two Counties Trust, the Football Foundation and the Football Association had formally agreed to transform sports and leisure facilities across the Rural areas.

Selston Leisure Centre was due to partially reopen to the public with work commencing on a brand new four court sports hall at Selston High School in 2025. This new development was part of a comprehensive building programme, which included a new 3G football pitch, to transform the school’s facilities and community leisure provision across the Rual areas.

With the Leader’s permission, County Councillor David Martin also addressed the Cabinet in respect of this new sports and leisure development programme.

As the report was presented for information only, there were no alternative options for Members to consider.

RESOLVED

that the report be received and noted.

Reason:

Rural leisure provision is a key priority for the Council.