Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Clucas.

There were none.

Minutes of the meeting held on 11^th June 2019

The minutes of the last meeting on 11^th June 2019 were approved and signed as the correct record.

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing

The Cabinet Member Housing emphasised the council’s focus on the provision of affordable homes and the work done on making homes fit for habitation. He also focused on the issue of homelessness and emphasised that he was proud of the success of recent efforts to alleviate it, thanking a number of individuals for their contributions. He noted the importance of adapting to legislation changes like the 2017 Homelessness Reduction Act. He emphasised that this has been the first year of a five year long term plan, and that the action plan continues to be a live document. Members endorsed these points and spoke about the importance of involving neighbouring councils in similar projects.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The title of our Housing & Homelessness Strategy be amended to read: ‘Housing, Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy 2018-23.’

2.    The Housing, Homelessness & Rough Sleeping Strategy Action Plan Update for 2019 be approved.

Report of the Cabinet Member Housing

The Cabinet Member Housing presented the example of a new build scheme in the Hesters Way ward, and noted that he was pleased to see the council take on an excellent opportunity for regeneration. Members asked whether these properties will be owned by the council once built or opened to shared ownership. The response was that they will be owned solely by the council at first, with an ongoing discussion about the possibility of shared ownership.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The tender received from E G Carter and Co Ltd be accepted and the authority enter into a JCT Design and Build Contract for the construction of 27 new dwellings with Total Scheme Costs not to exceed £4,235,000.

2.    Authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Finance & Assets, in consultation with the Borough Solicitor to:

2.1. Conclude the JCT Design and Build contract with E G Carter and Co Ltd.

2.2. Take all necessary steps and undertake all necessary procedures, including entering into any legal arrangements or other documentation as may be required to implement or facilitate the development, including entering into a Grant Agreement with Homes England for the affordable housing dwellings.

2.3 Agree, in consultation with Cabinet Member - Housing  the precise tenure of the affordable housing dwellings once the position about Homes England grant funding is confirmed, including shared ownership.

2.4 Approve the disposal on a shared ownership basis of any dwellings designated as such under recommendation 2.3 and to agree the terms of such disposals.

3.    The authority be authorised to charge Affordable Rents on the rented dwellings at 80% of market rents and allocate any  remaining properties  for shared ownership to be available at a minimum initial equity share of 40%.

Report of the Cabinet Member Corporate Services

The Cabinet Member Corporate Services stated that there was unanimous cross-party support for declaring an emergency and tackling carbon emissions. A budget of £10,000 was set aside for consulting various expert sources on reducing the council’s carbon footprint.

Members asked whether it should be made clearer that climate change has long been a priority of the council, rather than a recently developing topic of interest. Members also asked how the council intends to deal with the public response.

Members agreed to declare a climate emergency.

RESOLVED THAT

A climate emergency be declared.

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

The Cabinet Member Finance introduced the Financial Outturn 2018/19 and Budget Monitoring Report.

She drew attention to the £23,000 surplus on car parking for the 2019/20, and suggested that the excess be moved to a fund for the climate change emergency project. This was endorsed. She noted that income from the crematorium had returned to pre-build levels. She also emphasised that the council was on track to remain within its budget for the current financial year.

The report would be considered by Council on 22^nd July.

RESOLVED THAT

1.    The financial outturn performance position for the General Fund be received, summarised at Appendix 2, and noted that services have been delivered within the revised budget for 2018/19 resulting in a saving (after carry forward requests) of £40,377.

Council be recommended to:

2.    Approve £18,300 of carry forward requests (requiring member approval) at Appendix 5.

3.    Approve the use of the budget saving of £40,377 as detailed in Section 3.

4.    Note the annual treasury management report at Appendix 7 and note the actual 2018/19 prudential and treasury indicators.

5.    Note the capital programme outturn position as detailed in Appendix 8 and approve the carry forward of unspent budgets into 2019/20 (section 7) and approve the virement of budgets in 2019/20 as set out in paragraphs 7.2 to 7.3.

6.    Note the position in respect of Section 106 agreements and partnership funding agreements at Appendix 9 (section 9).

7.    Note the outturn position in respect of collection rates for council tax and non-domestic rates for 2018/19 in Appendix 10 (section 10).

8.    Note the outturn position in respect of collection rates for sundry debts for 2018/19 in Appendix 11 (section 11).

9.    Receive the financial outturn performance position for the Housing Revenue Account for 2018/19 in Appendices 12 to 13 (as detailed in Section 12) and approves the carry forward, virement and reclassification of budgets in 2019/20 as set out in paragraphs 12.8 to 12.10.

10.Note the budget monitoring position to the end of June 2019 (section 13).

Report of the Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment

The Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment presented a report on the future of public convenience provision in the town.

Improvement of public convenience provision was important, and he emphasised that the priority was to keep facilities open, and that consultations with providers had accordingly taken place.

He reminded members of the four options outlined in the report.

·         Option 1 – Retain and invest in the facilities currently operational.

·         Option 2 – Close all facilities and seek a community partnership initiative to provide public access to alternative facilities.

·         Option 3 – Retain selective facilities and seek a community partnership initiative to provide public access to alternative facilities.

·         Option 4 - Retain and invest in the facilities currently operational and introduce charging.

He reported that option 3 has received cross-party endorsement, and consultation would henceforth take place along these lines. He emphasised that the focus was on improving the current facilities rather than closing public toilets.

RESOLVED THAT

1.   The proposed strategy to guide future decision making with regard to public conveniences, set out in paragraph [5], be adopted.

2.   A consultation exercise be undertaken in respect of option 3, set out in section 4, and to report back to AMWG, O&S and cabinet with the outcomes and recommended way forward.

Report of the Leader of the Council

The Leader presented a report on the council’s performance in 2018-19, attached here as an appendix.

He reported that the Council’s performance this year was strong, and that 90% of tasks undertaken in 2018/19 were either completed or projected to be completed on time. He emphasised the importance of taking this success forward, and highlighted the opening of the new crematorium, phase 4 of the Transport Plan and the World War One commemorations as particular successes.

RESOLVED THAT

The review of performance in 2018-19 be noted.

The Cabinet Member Development and Safety briefed Cabinet on the following:

• the parking consultation ended on 4^th July, with a report due in the September cycle with recommendations on how to proceed.
• the HCA (Homes & Communities Agency) grant has been greenlit.
• he drew attention to the success of Cheltenham’s night-time economy, with an award recently received for being the most diverse of its kind in the country.

The Cabinet Member Clean and Green Environment drew attention to the recent call-in on improvements to Household Recycling Centres which was considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 01/07/19. The chair, who had called in the decision, moved to support the decision, and this was agreed by the committee.

The Cabinet Member Finance recognised the council’s award for Best Commercial Council at the MJ awards also drew attention to the council’s award for Best Commercial Council at the MJ awards, praising its recent work and thanking everyone involved.

The Leader reported that the Chief Executive Pat Pratley had formally requested to retire in September, and that this had been accepted. He recognised her valued contribution to the council.

He also drew attention to the launch by Marketing Cheltenham of Cheltenham as a festival town, and wished to put on record his thanks to Marketing Cheltenham.

The Cabinet is recommended to approve the following resolution:-

“That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 3, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely:

Paragraph 3; Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular

person (including the authority holding that information)

The Cabinet is recommended to approve the following resolution:-

“That in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the remaining agenda items as it is likely that, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, if members of the public are present there will be disclosed to them exempt information as defined in paragraph 3, Part (1) Schedule (12A) Local Government Act 1972, namely: Paragraph 3; Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Report of the Cabinet Member Healthy Lifestyles

In the absence of the Cabinet Member Healthy Lifestyles, the Leader presented the report. Members discussed the recommendations.

RESOLVED THAT

The recommendations be approved.

Report of the Leader of the Council

The Leader presented the report, and members discussed the recommendations.

RESOLVED THAT

The recommendations be approved.