Agenda and minutes

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest in any item on the agenda.

Councillor R D MacRae declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in agenda item 8.2 as he was the activity lead with Stapleford Community Group minute number 43.2 refers.  Councillor R D MacRae also declared an Other Registerable Interest as he was involved with the Chayah Project minute number 44 refers.   Councillor S J Carr declared an Other Registerable Interest in agenda item 7.1 as he was a Member of the Bramcote Neighbourhood Forum minute number 42.1 refers.

Cabinet  is asked to confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2022

The minutes of the meeting held on 19 July 2022 were confirmed and signed as a correct record with the minor amendment to be added to minute item 26.2 that there had been an underspend on the General Fund revenue account when compared to the revised estimates, that had resulted in a net increase in the General Fund reserve balance of £552,428. The General Fund reserve balance, as at 31 March 2022, was £7.4m.

The purpose of this report is to make members aware of matters proposed for and undergoing scrutiny.

An update was provided at the meeting of the progress and work programme of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

28 July 2022

CCity Project

Members considered a report which gave information regarding a proposal to share culture amongst a number of European cities. The report stated that with the creation of the necessary framework conditions, the C-Cities project could be professionally and actively advanced in 2023.  It was stated that the process of the project would be continuously evaluated and reports would be submitted to policy-makers in a timely, transparent and open manner.

RECOMMENDED to Cabinet that:

1.    The creation of terms of reference for the establishment of a Cultural Communities Committee be approved.

2.    The allocation of a budget of £10,000 per year to support the C-Cities Project be approved, with the part-year budget of £5,000 in 2022/23 being funded by an allocation from Revenue Contingencies.

3.         The creation of a two-year temporary project management resource within Corporate Communications be approved, with the annual cost of around £32,000 being funded from General Fund revenue balances.

4.         Cabinet give authority to seek funds on behalf of Broxtowe Borough Council and support funding applications on behalf of the third sector to support the C-Cities project from relevant funding bodies.

Cabinet was provided with details of the C-City project. The C-Cities concept was a proposal that shared culture and was key to European Co-operation. Concern had been raised with the recent cuts to Local Government funding to fund the project from existing budgets. An amendment to the recommendation was put to Cabinet Members for the C-City project to be considered with the UK Shared Prosperity fund to make a Broxtowe wide bid and encourage other groups, Parishes and Neighbourhoods to take part. The creation of terms and reference and a budget of £10,000 per year would be interogated to see if the funding from the underspend of the good ideas and initiation category within the UK Prosperity Fund could be utilised and to look at project management through the budget process.  Other opportunities for funding such as the Arts, Culture and Heritage Grants, Lottery funding, and a suggestion of the International collaboration grant be explored.

RESOLVED that funding for the C-City project be considered with a wider bid from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

To request approval for an increase in the level of funding available in relation to Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) to be funded from the Council’s own financial resources.  

Members considered the request for an increase in the level of funding in relation to Discretionary Housing Payments after the Council had received notification from the Department of Working Pensions of a reduced level of funding in respect of Discretionary Housing payments for 2022/23.

It was agreed that any funding from Nottinghamshire County Council would be used in the first instance.

RESOLVED that an increase in funding of £36,000 from the Council’s own resources be provided to support the DHP funding allocation in 2022/23 with the costs being met from a one- off allocation from general Funds reserves.

Reason

The power to award Discretionary Housing Payments was contained within the Discretionary Financial Assistance Regulations 2001 (S12001/1167) as amended. These regulations govern the Council’s ability to make payments by way of financial assistance to persons that are entitled to Housing Benefit or relevant Universal Credit.

To seek the resolution of Cabinet to re-designate the Bramcote Neighbourhood Forum for a further five-year period.

Cabinet welcomed the re-designation of the Bramcote Neighbourhood Forum for a further five-year period. The forum was originally designated by the Council on 3 August 2016. The designations lasted for five years. Neighbourhood Areas designations did not expire.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The Council re-designates the Bramcote Neighbourhood Forum for a further five-year period.

2.    Authority be given to the Chief Executive to publicse the designation of the neighbourhood Forum in accordance with Regualtion 10 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended).

Reason

Under the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended by the Neighbourhood Planning (General) and Development Management Procedure (Amendment) Regulations 2016), The Council was required to make a decision as to whether or not to designate the Neighbourhood Forum within the period of 13 weeks.

Regulation 11 of the Neighbourhood Planning (General) Regulations 2012 (as amended) confirmed that where a neighbourhood forum had been designated in relation to a neighbourhood area under section 61F of the 1990 Act, and that designation had not expired or been withdrawn, a local planning authority may decline to consider any neighbourhood forum application made in relation to that neighbourhood area.

To adopt the revised Statement of Community Involvement.

Members were updated with the revised Statement of Community Involvement and the ways in which the Council involved all parts of the community in all aspects of planning work. Councils were required to have a statement of Community Involvement and to review every five years. In line with government guidance, the proposed new Statement of Community Involvement would move away from less effective means of communication, such as advertisements in newspapers, and towards more effective means such as social media tools and online documents.

Members thanked the Planning team with the ongoing work carried out within the department. A discussion ensued with regards to providing better homes for life as current design and build of new housing did not allow for properties in the Borough to be adapted to suit future needs. It was stated that local authorities were spending a vast amount of money adapting properties to meet the needs of residents to allow them stay in their own property. It was suggested that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could consider how the Council could ensure future house designs in the Borough were catered for.

RESOLVED that the revised Statement for Community Involvement at appendix 2 within the report is adopted.

RECOMMENDED to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to suggest adding Homes for Life to its work programme.

Reason

The Council, as local planning authority, was required to prepare a Statement of Community Involvement in accordance with Section 18(1), Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004. The law prescribes the matters that the Statement of Community involvement must contain, including a statement of the Council’s policy for involving the public in the planning and plan making functions of the local planning authority.

To note the annual Infrastructure Funding Statement and provide an overview on the procedure for monitoring Section 106 agreements.

Cabinet noted the annual Infrastructure Funding Statement and the procedure for monitoring Section 106 agreements. The Infrastructure Funding Statement provided information on the monetary (and non-monetary) contributions sought and received from developers for the provision of infrastructure to support development in Broxtowe.

Reason

The Infrastructure Levy (Amendment) (England) (No2) Regulations 2019 required an annual report (The Infrastructure Funding Statement) to be published on the Council’s website by December 31 each year, to provide a summary of financial and non-financial developer contributions relating to Section 106 legal Agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy within Broxtowe for each financial year. The statement provided transparency in relation to Section 106 funds.

To seek approval for the annually reviewed and updated Modern Slavery Statement and for its inclusion on the website.

Cabinet welcomed the updated Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2022. In 2021/22 there were 20 young people managed locally who were the victims of criminal exploitation, one victim of domestic servitude, and one victim of modern slavery referred into the National Referral Mechanism. The Communities Team supported the Police with a successful intelligence led Slavery and Exploitation Week of Action and assisted in operations across the borough visiting premises to check on employment status of employees and provided advice and signposting.

            RESOLVED that the updated Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement 2022 be approved.

Reason

Whilst the Modern Slavery Act 2015 does not state that Local Authorities are required legally to publish a statement, it was good practice to do so. It was also considered that Broxtowe Borough Council should raise awareness of slavery and human trafficking and should make its position of zero tolerance in respect of slavery and human trafficking.

(Councillor G Marshall joined the meeting for this item and stated that he had no declaration of interests.)

To update Cabinet on the revised Child Poverty Action Plan and seek its approval. 

Cabinet was updated on the revised Child Poverty Action Plan and the threshold for a child who was living in poverty. The Broxtowe Child Poverty Action Plan captured the actions Broxtowe Borough Council would be taking to tackle the drivers of child poverty. This was based on the Government’s 2014 report of ‘An evidence review of the drivers of child poverty for families in poverty now and for poor children growing up to be poor adults’ which considered drivers for poverty other than fiscal measures.

Members discussed issues with residents who experienced unjust additional charges through the use of pre-payment electricity meters. As part of the Child Poverty Action Plan-2022-2024 a fuel poverty strategy for Broxtowe actions would be identified to help and support residents.

RESOLVED that The Child Poverty Action Plan 2022-2024 be approved.            

Reason

The plan is in accordance with the Corporate priorities Broxtowe Borough Council aims to support people to live well by promoting active and healthy lifestyles in every area of Broxtowe.

To report the exercise of the Chief Executive’s urgency powers under the Constitution in order to respond to an urgent need to address anti-social behaviour in Beeston and Chilwell, to increase the capital budget for electrical upgrade at Kimberley Depot and to revise stray dog and kennelling fees.

Cabinet noted the report of the Chief Executive’s urgency powers under the Constitution in order to respond to an urgent need to address anti- social behaviour in Beeston and Chilwell, to increase the budget for the electrical upgrade at Kimberley Depot and to revise stray dog and kennelling costs.

Cabinet is asked to approve its Work Programme, including potential key decisions that will help to achieve the Council’s key priorities and associated objectives.

Cabinet resolved that the work programme, with the added items of The Safe Access Home for Night Time Working in the Borough and Leisure Centre update be included in the programme, including key decisions, be approved.

            RESOLVED that the work programme, as amended, including key decisions, be approved.

The Committee is asked to RESOLVE that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for 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 Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A of the Local Government Act, 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for 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 Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that the proposed re-structure of the Housing Services and Strategy team be approved, with the additional cost of £10,150 to be funded from Housing Revenue Account (HRA) working balances.

RESOLVED that:

1.      The purchase of additional repairs ICT software functionality be approved, at a cost of £12,0000 to be funded from HRA working balances in 2022/23.

2.      The extended engagement of the part time Repairs Consultant be approved at a cost of £31,250 to be funded from the Housing repairs salaries budget in 2022/23.

RESOLVED that the Events and Museums service be transferred back in house on the 1 October 2022, and the delegation to amend the transfer be given to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Health.

RESOLVED that:

1.   ‘Active for today’ provides a detailed financial review of Liberty Leisure Limited, identifying potential efficiencies and financial savings, including benchmarking information, which would assist in reducing the commercial viability gap of the new Bramcote Leisure centre, be approved.

2.   The cost of £8,700 to cover the scope of works and fees in the Appendix of the report be approved, to be met from the budget previously set aside for the merger due diligence work that is no longer required.