Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Margaret Glancy.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2023 and the special meeting held on 29 November 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 November 2023 were confirmed and authorised to be signed by the chair.

The minutes of the special meeting held on 29 November 2023 were confirmed and authorised to be signed by the chair.

Members to declare any interest as appropriate in respect of items to be considered at this meeting.

There were no Declarations of Interest advised for this meeting.

No items have been referred from Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Scrutiny procedure rules.

There were no items referred from the Scrutiny Committee in accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

A report updating Members on the progress of developing and then publishing the Council’s 2036 Vision and Framework for the Corporate Strategy.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED progress to date on developing the Vision 2036 for the Council and the framework for the new Corporate Strategy.

2)    ENDORSED Vision 2036 and the eight strategic vision statements which set out the Council’s long-term aspirations.

3)    APPROVED a period of public consultation on the vision starting in December 2023 which will help inform the final version and framework of the new Corporate Strategy.

4)    NOTED the timescales for further consideration of the Corporate Strategy and associated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) by Scrutiny, Cabinet and Council in January and February 2024.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services introduced the report, the purpose of which set out the Council’s aspirations to establish a longer term vision for Melton up to 2036 with a number of strategic vision statements being proposed, and to authorise a period of public consultation for feedback to finalise the Vision to be considered by Council in February 2024.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services highlighted an error in the report on page 21 at paragraph 5.10 and confirmed the wording should read:

Statement 8: Be recognised as clean, green, and attractive; well on our way to becoming net zero borough.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED progress to date on developing the Vision 2036 for the Council and the framework for the new Corporate Strategy.

2)    ENDORSED Vision 2036 and the eight strategic vision statements which set out the Council’s long-term aspirations.

3)    APPROVED a period of public consultation on the vision starting in December 2023 which will help inform the final version and framework of the new Corporate Strategy.

4)    NOTED the timescales for further consideration of the Corporate Strategy and associated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) by Scrutiny, Cabinet and Council in January and February 2024.

Reasons for Recommendations:

With the Council’s current Corporate Strategy due for refresh, and as part of the establishment of the new Council post-election, a review has been undertaken with members which has considered local needs, issues and opportunities, latest data trends across a range of issues, the extensive residents survey feedback from 2022 and local aspirations debated during the local elections.

Through this process, the Cabinet have confirmed their desire to establish a longer-term vision for Melton, aligned to the current end date of the Council’s Local Plan. The Council’s proposed Vision 2036 seeks to establish long term, strategic aspirations which articulate the Council’s ambition for the residents, businesses, and visitors in Melton. These aspirations would create the framework for the Council’s focus to improve the services, facilities and infrastructure provided by the Council and its partners. These aspirations are shown in paragraph 5.2 to 5.10.

Alongside this vision, this report sets out a framework which would establish the building blocks, through a four-year delivery plan, to enable the Council to start delivering against these long-term aspirations. Through the proposed structure of this plan and a set of new corporate priorities, the Council will ensure there is sufficient clarity and focus, as well as the required resources, at a time of ongoing significant financial pressures

A report seeking approval for the adoption of a Licensing Enforcement Policy, which will help the Council in managing the various licensing functions in a consistent, effective, transparent and compliant way.

Cabinet:

1)    APPROVED the Licensing Enforcement Policy for adoption and publication on the Council’s website.

2)    DELEGATED Authority to the Director for Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder) to make any minor changes arising from Government guidance or business environment.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services introduced the report, the purpose of which was to seek approval for the adoption of a Licensing Enforcement Policy.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services thanked officers for the report.

The Chief Executive confirmed that under Delegation to make any minor amendments this would include any errors, omissions or typos that need to be corrected.

Cabinet:

1)    APPROVED the Licensing Enforcement Policy for adoption and publication on the Council’s website.

2)    DELEGATED Authority to the Director for Growth and Regeneration (in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder) to make any minor changes arising from Government guidance or business environment.

Reasons for Recommendations:

‘Delivering sustainable and inclusive growth in Melton’ is a key corporate priority for the Council. The licensing function is an important tool available to the Council in achieving this priority.

The principles of any licensing regime are to protect the public, either directly or indirectly. An effective licensing enforcement regime ensures that any licensable activity complies with the relevant legislation and is duly authorised, and any necessary conditions are in place to manage the activities taking place.

A report informing Members on the Council’s corporate performance data and the current position with regard to delivery against its priorities.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the contents of the report and provide any observations or actions to the relevant officers accordingly.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services introduced the report, the purpose of which was to provide an update on the progress on delivering the aspirations set out in the Council’s Corporate Strategy 2020-2024 specifically focussing on the Quarter 2 end position of the financial year 2023-2024.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources thanked officers for the report and highlighted the importance of going out and speaking to tenants to gain feedback from the improvements that had been made to their properties and to hear from them, what difference it had made to their lives.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the contents of the report and provide any observations or actions to the relevant officers accordingly.

Reasons for Recommendation:

Having established a Corporate Strategy in September 2020, is it important the Council regularly receives and considers performance information to evaluate progress. The Council's Corporate Performance Measures are used to focus on key priority services and projects and seek to help inform the Cabinet, Members and Officers regarding the formation of policy and oversight of delivery.

This report will be provided to Cabinet twice a year and will also be provided to the Scrutiny Committee to enable them to consider appropriate areas for their Workplan

A report informing Members about the Council's self-assessment, in response to the Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman and the Housing Ombudsman, before being published to the Council’s website by the 31 December 2023.

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

1)    The findings of the complaints self-assessment for 2023 be NOTED.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services introduced the report, the purpose of which set out the complaints annual self-assessment as required by the Housing Ombudsman (HO) as part of their Complaints Handling Code and would be published on the Council's website by the end of December 2023.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services thanked officers for the report.

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

1)    The findings of the complaints self-assessment for 2023 be NOTED.

Reason for Recommendation:

Cabinet should note the position of the Council against this self-assessment and reflect on the performance on complaints.

Over the last 12 months the Council has updated its Customer Feedback and Complaints Policy and associated processes to ensure that we remain fully compliant with the HO’s Complaint Handling Code.