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Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Thursday, 25th January, 2018 6.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, B79 7BZ. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  01827 709264

Items
No. Item

93.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor S Doyle

94.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 224 KB

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting held on 14th December 2017 were approved and signed as a correct record.

 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor M Thurgood)

95.

Corporate Update

Minutes:

None

96.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting

97.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

 

When Members are declaring a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. 

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

98.

Question Time:

To answer questions from members of the public pursuant to Executive Procedure Rule No. 13

Minutes:

None

99.

Matters Referred to the Cabinet in Accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules

None

Minutes:

None

100.

Draft Budget & Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

(Report of the Leader of the Council)

Minutes:

Report of the Leader of the Council to ask Cabinet to approve the draft package of budget proposals (attached at Appendix A) to consult with the Joint Scrutiny Committee (Budget) on 30th January 2018 and receive their feedback on the:

 

•           General Fund Revenue (GF) Budget and Council Tax for 2018/19;

 

•           Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2018/19;

 

•           Capital Programme – General Fund & HRA;

 

•           Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

approved the draft package of budget proposals including the proposed policy changes (as detailed at Appendix B); and

 

2.

considered the budget proposals contained within this report as required by the Constitution of the Council, the Joint Scrutiny Committee (Budget) on 30th January 2018.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Prichard)

 

101.

Business Rates Income Forecast 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 201 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets & Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Finance to seek endorsement from Members on the Business Rates income forecast for 2018/19.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

approved the Business Rates income forecast for 2018/19 and subsequent NNDR1 form for submission to DCLG by 31 January 2018, in line with the scheme of delegation;

 

2.

authorised the Executive Director Corporate Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make such required amendments as necessary should material amendments be required to the forecast NNDR1,  ; and;

 

3.

noted discretionary relief granted to qualifying bodies in line with the existing policy.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

102.

North Warwickshire Draft Submission Local Plan Consultation pdf icon PDF 147 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration to advise Cabinet of the latest consultations from North Warwickshire Borough Council on its Draft Submission Local Plan and supporting documents and Lichfield District Council on its Local Plan Allocation – Focussed Changes document

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

noted the policies and proposals contained within the North Warwickshire Draft Submission Local Plan and evidence base

 

2.

approved the comments to be made to North Warwickshire Borough Council on the Draft Submission Local Plan contained in Appendix A and authorised the Portfolio Holder & Head of Planning & Regeneration (HOPR) to make minor amendments before submission;

 

3.

authorised the Head of Managed Growth, Regeneration and Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration to respond to the Lichfield District Local Plan Allocations Focussed Changes consultation;

 

4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

5.

agreed that the Leader of the Council and Chief Operating Officer write to the Leaders and Chief Executives of Lichfield, North Warwickshire, Staffordshire County and Warwickshire County setting out the desire of Tamworth Borough Council to progress a new Statement of Common Ground with respect to Strategic Planning and;

 

noted that the Head of Planning  & Regeneration has done a very good job over the last months and days regarding the Arkall Farm appeal. 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor S Claymore and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

103.

Tamworth Castle HLF Project Authorisation pdf icon PDF 116 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Culture)

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment and Culture to update cabinet on the Heritage Lottery Funded Battle and Tribute Exhibition Project at Tamworth Castle and to seek approval to enter into second stage contracts.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

acknowledged that the Chief Operating Officer has entered into second stage contract with the Heritage Lottery Fund and accepted the terms of the grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund.

 

2.

authorised the Chief Operating Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture & Environment to enter into contract with the successful tenderer for the role of project designer for the design, delivery and installation of Battle and Tribute Exhibition.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor J Goodall and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

104.

Building Contract for the Reinstatement of 14 & 15 Madrona following a Fire pdf icon PDF 140 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services)

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services to seek authority to enter in a standard form of building contract for the reinstatement of 14 & 15 Madrona following a fire.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

Agreed to delegate authority to the Corporate Director (Communities) and the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services to enter into a building contract for the reinstatement of 14 & 15 Madrona following a tendering exercise to be conducted by Tamworth Borough Council’s insurers.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor M Thurgood and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

 

105.

Lettable Standard for Council Tenants pdf icon PDF 644 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services to outline the progress on the development of the Council’s void lettable standard used for the reletting of its empty properties.  Also to seek support for head-line projects focused on continuous improvement in relation to elements within the Home & Tenancy Standard; part of the regulatory framework covering the letting of council housing stock.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

approved the draft Void Lettable Standard, as an addition to the Repairs Policy, shown at Annex one; subject to consultation with the Tenants Consultative Group (TCG)  which includes nominated members of Scrutiny Committee(s)

 

2.

agreed to delegate authority to the Portfolio for Housing & Executive Director Communities to approve the Council’s Void Lettable Standard following more detailed consultation and the usual assessment against strategic and service planning objectives, notably Housing Revenue Account Business Plan and taking account of outcomes from a community based equality impact assessment.

 

3.

endorsed, the head-line actions detailed within the report, which seeks to improve the overall approach to letting council empty homes

 

4.

approved a financial waiver to financial regulations; of up to £10,000; to engage the Housing Quality network (HQN) in the production of an in-service self-assessment and development of the service work-plan incorporating detailed actions to improve empty property management and work within the Landlord Services housing options team and;

 

5.

agreed to delegate authority to the Portfolio for Housing & Executive Director Communities to approve revisions to the service delivery plan following the HQN Accreditation Lettings assessment under the Landlord regulatory standards, particularly the Tenancy, Home and Tenant Involvement & engagement standards

 

 

(Moved by Councillor M Thurgood and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

106.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To consider excluding the Press and Public from the meeting by passing the following resolution:-

 

“That in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meeting and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, and Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public  interest in disclosing the information to the public”

 

At the time this agenda is published no representations have been received that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED

That members of the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that the business involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

 

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

107.

Enforcement Agents Services

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Finance)

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet approves the Officers recommendations as contained within the report.

 

 

 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)