Agenda and decisions

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2024.

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

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the following items

have been referred from the Scrutiny Committee:

·       Scrutiny Feedback on Crime and Disorder

·         Scrutiny feedback on Crime and Disorder.

Cabinet AGREED to have regard to Scrutiny Committee’s feedback.

The Leader of the Council (Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services) and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources to submit a report seeking to provide information on actual expenditure and income incurred on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), compared to the latest approved budget for the period 1 April 2024 to 30 September 2024 for revenue and capital budgets.

Cabinet

NOTED the financial position on the Housing Revenue Account at 30 September 2024 and the year-end forecast for both revenue and capital.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources to submit a report advising Members of the year end forecast and financial position for the General Fund and Special Expenses at 30 September 2024 for both revenue and capital.

Cabinet

NOTED the year-end forecast and financial position for the General Fund and Special Expenses at 30 September 2024 for both revenue and capital.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources to submit a report providing a summary of the Treasury activities to the end of September 2024 and covering the actual position to date on the Prudential Indicators in accordance with the Prudential Code.

Cabinet recommended to Council that:

1)    The Mid-Year position on treasury activity for 2024/25 be noted.

2)    The Mid-Year position on Prudential Indicators for 2024/25 be noted.

The Leader of the Council to submit a report dealing with the award of contract for the Stockyard Redevelopment Project.

Cabinet

1)    DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Director for Corporate Services, to award the Stockyard Redevelopment Project (including the trader hall event space), main contract works to GF Tomlinson for a contract sum of no more than £11,197,422.08, with authority to subsequently draw on the Contingency Construction of £228,518 as required and subject to planning permission being obtained.

2)    AGREED to enter into a JCT Design & Build 2016 contract with GF Tomlinson as the construction partner for the Stockyard Redevelopment Project subject to planning permission being obtained.

A report providing information and proposals on the various fees and charges that the Council sets covering General Fund services both general and special expenses and Housing Revenue Account services for the 2025-26 financial year.

Cabinet

1)    APPROVED the proposed fees and charges for 2025-26 as outlined in the attached appendices A-E with the exception of those relating to catering at Gretton Court which are delegated to the Director for Housing and Communities in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services and Portfolio Holder for Housing, Leisure and Landlord Services.

2)    DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Director for Growth and Regeneration (or the Director of Place and Prosperity once commenced) to undertake the necessary legal steps to finalise the introduction of the updated car parking charges to take effect as soon as practically possible.

Ther Leader of the Council (Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services) to submit a report detailing the acquisition of affordable homes enabling the Council to achieve its Right to Buy receipt spending requirements up to 2027/28.

Cabinet

1)    APPROVED the purchase of two houses from a new housing development in Melton.

2)    NOTED the intention to progress the purchase of eight new houses from the development in Marquis Gardens, Old Dalby.

3)    NOTED that in progressing these purchases, the Council will have achieved its Right to Buy receipt spending requirements up to 2027/28.

The Deputy Leader (Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment and Regulatory Services) to submit a report setting out a plan to improve the Planning service, covering six workstreams, including guidance to applicants, staff training and development, member training, digital transformation, customer service and procedure rules (including decision taking).

Cabinet

1)    RECOGNISED the importance of the service to the Council and residents of the Borough, and the significant demand and pressure on the service at present.

2)    NOTED the paper and the need for improvements in the planning process and approves the establishment of a Planning Productivity Plan (PPP), with a Project Oversight Board established to include the relevant Portfolio Holder and Chair of the Planning Committee to maintain effective oversight on progress (terms of reference to be agreed with the Leader, and aforementioned members).

3)    NOTED any proposed changes to procedure rules arising from workstream 6 would follow the normal process for constitutional changes.

4)    DELEGATED AUTHORITY to the Interim Director for Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services to approve a supplementary estimate of up to £150,000 to the Growth and Regeneration budget from the Regeneration and Innovation Reserve.

The Leader (Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment & Regulatory Services) to submit a report advising Members of the requirements relating to the Biodiversity Duty - First Consideration.

Cabinet

NOTED the contents of the report and approves the First Consideration Report at Appendix A.