Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 7 February.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 7 February 2024 were confirmed.

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

There were no declarations of interest.

Scrutiny Feedback on the Housing Support Review.

Published under agenda item 8 (Appendix B).

·       Scrutiny Feedback on the Housing Support Review

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

In accordance with the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the following item had been referred from the Scrutiny Committee:

Scrutiny feedback on the Housing Support Review

The Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Mike Brown, introduced the report advising Members that a Scrutiny Workshop was held on 14 February 2024 and considered a presentation on the Housing Support Review.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services thanked the Scrutiny Committee for their feedback.

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

A report setting out the outcome from the Housing Support Review and recommendations for future housing support arrangements, within an independent living framework.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the outcome from the Intensive Housing Management (Housing Support) Review;

2)    APPROVED the establishment of an Independent Living Framework to provide clarity on the Council’s housing support arrangements and associated costs;

3)    DELEGATED authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services to make minor amendments to the Framework and to publish the final version on the Council’s website and provide to tenants;

4)    APPROVED that the Council’s Intensive Housing Management Service will cease and be replaced by the arrangements set out in the report recommendations 2.5 and 2.6;

5)    APPROVED the implementation of an Independent Living Support Service applied to properties designated as ‘Sheltered Housing’, as specified at section 5.15 of the report, and;

5.1)        APPROVED that the cost of delivering the Independent Living Support Service is met by an appropriate service charge, as set out at section 5.26 of the report;

5.2)         APPROVED that a 20% discount is implemented in 2024/25, as a contribution to elements of the service that are ineligible for housing benefit;

5.3)         APPROVED that a 10% discount is implemented in 2025/26, as a contribution to elements of the service that are ineligible for housing benefit;

5.4)         APPROVED that the full Independent Living Service Charge will be implemented from 2026/27;

5.5)         APPROVED the commencement of a four-week period of consultation on the proposed Independent Living Support Service for those tenants living within the specified properties;

5.6)         DELEGATED Authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Property, Finance and Resources to consider feedback from the consultation, finalise and implement an Independent Living Support Service Charge and report back to Cabinet if required;

5.7)         DELEGATED authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services to create a one-off budget of up to £50,000 to enable improvements to communal areas of the sheltered housing schemes in 2024/25, funded from the HRA Regeneration and Development reserve;

6)    APPROVED the personalised exit and transitional plan, as set out in

section 5.33 of the report for the remaining ‘dispersed’ Council properties that have historically been subject to an Intensive Housing Management charge, the outcome of which will be that each tenant will be directly supported to access alternative support and lifeline services relevant to their individual needs and preferences, and;

6.1)        APPROVED the commencement of a four-week period of consultation on the proposed personalised exit and transitional plan arrangements for tenants in dispersed properties;

6.2)         DELEGATED authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services and Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services, authority to consider feedback from the consultation, finalise and implement the exit and transitional plan arrangements and to report back to Cabinet if required.

(In an alteration to the agenda, this item was considered after the item ‘matters referred from Scrutiny Committee in accordance with Scrutiny Procedure Rules’.)

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services introduced the report and moved the recommendation. The Deputy Leader seconded the motion. It was explained that the report sets out the outcome from the Housing Support Review and recommendations for future housing support arrangements, within an independent living framework.

The Director for Housing and Communities provided further explanation of the proposal and the process undertaken to get to this stage.

During discussion the following points were noted:

·       Pleasing to see that via a review of the Housing Allocations Policy there would be scope to restrict the allocation of some properties to applicants with defined characteristics.

·       Cabinet recognised that it had taken a while to get to this point.

·       Officers were thanked for reviewing residents’ entitlement to housing benefit in order to mitigate the increase in costs.

·       The subsidised charges were welcomed.

·       It was recognised that communal areas are important, particularly in terms of socialisation for residents.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the outcome from the Intensive Housing Management (Housing Support) Review;

2)    APPROVED the establishment of an Independent Living Framework to provide clarity on the Council’s housing support arrangements and associated costs;

3)    DELEGATED authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services to make minor amendments to the Framework and to publish the final version on the Council’s website and provide to tenants;

4)    APPROVED that the Council’s Intensive Housing Management Service will cease and be replaced by the arrangements set out in the report recommendations 2.5 and 2.6;

5)    APPROVED the implementation of an Independent Living Support Service applied to properties designated as ‘Sheltered Housing’, as specified at section 5.15 of the report, and;

5.1)         APPROVED that the cost of delivering the Independent Living Support Service is met by an appropriate service charge, as set out at section 5.26 of the report;

5.2)         APPROVED that a 20% discount is implemented in 2024/25, as a contribution to elements of the service that are ineligible for housing benefit;

5.3)         APPROVED that a 10% discount is implemented in 2025/26, as a contribution to elements of the service that are ineligible for housing benefit;

5.4)         APPROVED that the full Independent Living Service Charge will be implemented from 2026/27;

5.5)         APPROVED the commencement of a four-week period of consultation on the proposed Independent Living Support Service for those tenants living within the specified properties;

5.6)         DELEGATED Authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, Portfolio Holder for Housing and Landlord Services and Portfolio Holder for Corporate Property, Finance and Resources to consider feedback from the consultation, finalise and implement an Independent Living Support Service Charge and report back to Cabinet if required;

5.7)         DELEGATED authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services and Portfolio Holder for Housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 81.

A report providing a summary of the treasury activities to the end of December 2023 and covering the actual position to date on the Prudential Indicators in accordance with the Prudential Code.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the Quarter 3 position on treasury activity for 2023-24;

2)    NOTED the Quarter 3 position on Prudential Indicators for 2023-24.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources introduced the report and moved the recommendations. The Leader seconded the motion. The purpose of the report was to provide a summary of the treasury activities to the end of December 2023 and cover the actual position to date on the Prudential Indicators, in accordance with the Prudential Code.

The Portfolio Holder thanked Officers for their hard work on managing the treasury management position of the Council.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the Quarter 3 position on treasury activity for 2023/24;

2)    NOTED the Quarter 3 position on Prudential Indicators for 2023/24.

Reasons for the Recommendations:

The Prudential Code requires the Council to monitor and report performance on Treasury Management activities at least quarterly. As a minimum full Council need to receive an annual report on the strategy and plan for the coming financial year, a mid year review and an annual report on performance of the treasury management function. In addition monitoring reports should be received at least quarterly alongside revenue and capital monitoring by the cabinet as the body delegated responsibility for treasury management functions.

To facilitate the decision making process and support capital investment decisions the Prudential Code requires the Council to agree and monitor a minimum number of prudential indicators.

A report updating Members on the risk management arrangements and outlining the current significant risks that have been captured on the recent review of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register by the Senior Leadership Team.

Cabinet NOTED the contents of the report and the updated Strategic Risk Register and associated Risk Management Action Plan.

The Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment & Regulatory Services (Deputy Leader) introduced the report and moved the recommendations. The Leader seconded the motion.

The purpose of the report was to update Members on the risk management arrangements and outline the current significant risks that have been captured on the recent review of the Council’s Strategic Risk Register by the Senior Leadership Team.

Cabinet NOTED the content of the report and the updated Strategic Risk Register and associated Risk Management Action Plan.

Reason for the Recommendation

Whilst Risk Management forms part of Audit and Standards terms of reference it is important that Cabinet have oversight and awareness of the strategic risks that could impact on the Council, to review the risk management arrangements in place and the activities that are being undertaken to mitigate those risks.

A report introducing a planning guidance document to support and guide applicants who are operating or considering operating Children’s Homes within the Melton Borough.

Cabinet:

1)    APPROVED the ‘Planning Guidance for Applicants’ - Children’s Homes document;

2)    DELEGATED to the Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment and Regulatory Services authority to make minor amendments to the guidance as required;

3)    AGREED that a proactive approach is taken to engage with local and national partners to increase awareness of the need for local context and community cohesion to be taken into consideration when considering the suitability of locations for children’s homes in local communities;

4)    NOTED that the Leader of the Council will be writing to Ofsted to express concern about their current approach and the absence of consideration regarding proportionality and concentration of children’s homes in rural communities;

5)    REQUESTED that the policy position is considered as part of the Local Plan Review process.

The Portfolio Holder for Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment and Regulatory Services (Deputy Leader) introduced the report and moved the recommendations. The Leader seconded the motion.

The purpose of the report was to introduce a planning guidance document to support and guide applicants who are operating or considering operating Children’s Homes within the Melton Borough.

The Director for Housing and Communities provided additional introduction and explained the challenges that are faced by the Council.

During discussion the following points were noted:

·       None of the recommendations diminish the care and support that the Council wishes to offer.

·       Members noted that the case which brough the issue to the Council’s attention is unique and had no parallels with cases being dealt with by other Local Authorities.

·       The Leader thanked the Parish Council where this has been a particular issue and stated that Ofsted have a responsibility that is why he intends to send a letter to them.

·       Cabinet agreed that they are not against children’s homes, just a concentration of homes in a particular area.

Cabinet:

1)    APPROVED the ‘Planning Guidance for Applicants’ - Children’s Homes document;

2)    DELEGATED to the Director for Growth and Regeneration, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment and Regulatory Services authority to make minor amendments to the guidance as required;

3)    AGREED that a proactive approach is taken to engage with local and national partners to increase awareness of the need for local context and community cohesion to be taken into consideration when considering the suitability of locations for children’s homes in local communities;

4)    NOTED that the Leader of the Council will be writing to Ofsted to express concern about their current approach and the absence of consideration regarding proportionality and concentration of children’s homes in rural communities;

5)    REQUESTED that the policy position is considered as part of the Local Plan Review process.

Reasons for Recommendations:

Approve the ‘Planning Guidance for Applicants’ - Children’s Homes document at Appendix A.

Delegate to the Director for Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Governance, Environment and Regulatory Services, authority to make minor amendments to the guidance as required.

Agree that a proactive approach is taken to engage with local and national partners to increase awareness of the need for local context and community cohesion to be taken into consideration when considering the suitability of locations for children’s homes in local communities.

Note that the Leader of the Council will be writing to Ofsted to express concern about their current approach and the absence of consideration regarding proportionality and concentration of children’s homes in rural communities.

Requests that the policy position is considered as part of the Local Plan Review process.