Agenda and decisions

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2026 will be considered at the next meeting.

Questions must be received no later than 12 noon on the seventh working day before the date of the meeting

Report of Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, Councillor Flo Clucas

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    this Authority is authorised to consult on the proposed changes to the Homeseeker Plus Allocations Policy; and

2.    authority is delegated to the Head of Strategic Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Customer Services, to approve the new policy after the consultation period has ended, provided that there are no further material changes other than those that have already been identified within this report.

Report of the Leader, Councillor Rowena Hay

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Policy 2026, attached as Appendix 3 is approved.

2.    authority is delegated to the Director of Governance, Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Leader, to make any minor amendments to the policy as required following implementation.

Report of Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, Councillor Peter Jeffries

RESOLVED THAT: 

1.    the Housing Payments - Crisis and Resilience Fund Policy in Appendix 4 is approved;

2.    decisions relating to the award of Crisis and Resilience Fund Housing Payments, in line with the policy and DWP guidance, are delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits and designated officers within the Benefits team, with the final decision in the event of dispute being taken by the Section 151 Officer. 

3.    the Section 151 Officer is authorised to apply to Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) for an accounting direction if it appears that the annual allocation will be exceeded in any financial year.

Report of Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets, Councillor Peter Jeffries

RESOLVED THAT: 

1.    the amended Discretionary Business Rate Relief Policy in Appendix 3 is approved, to include the temporary reliefs referred to in this report from April 2026

2.    the Head of Revenues and Benefits is authorised in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance and Assets to implement any changes to the temporary relief schemes detailed in appendix 3, as required by Government guidance, or to ensure the successful operation of the schemes.

3.    due to the volume of cases, award decisions on temporary reliefs detailed in appendix 3 are delegated to the Head of Revenues and Benefits and officers in the Business Rates team. In the case of a dispute reconsideration is to be made by the Section 151 Officer.

Report of Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control, Councillor Mike Collins

RESOLVED THAT: 

1.    that the biodiversity report (2026- 2031) is adopted;

2.    authority is delegated to the Director of Planning and Building Control, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Planning and Building Control, to make any necessary minor amendments, corrections and additions to the document prior to publication.

Report of the Leader, Councillor Rowena Hay