Agenda, decisions and minutes

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the meeting held on 8 June, 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

That the Council Plan for 2016-18 be approved.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval and adoption of the Council Plan for the period 2016-2018.  All Members had been asked for their comments for possible improvement on the draft plan and some had been received which would be taken into consideration.

Resolved:     That the Council Plan for 2016-18 be approved.

(i)  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Efficiency Plan for 2017/18 to 2021/22 be approved.

(ii)That the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Efficiency Plan be submitted to Central Government  for the purpose of securing a four-year funding settlement for Revenue Support Grant up to and including 2019/20.

(ii)  That the Executive Director (Resources and Support Services) in consultation

            with the Portfolio Holder – Finance, IT and Customer  be authorised to approve any final amendments to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Efficiency Plan between the Cabinet date and the date of submission to Central Government (14 October 2016).

A report was submitted to Cabinet regarding the financial strategy for the Council over the next five years.  The Medium Term Financial Strategy had been scrutinised by the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee (FRAPS) on Thursday 8 September, 2016 and had submitted their comments, requesting that they be taken into account. A copy of the comments was circulated at the meeting.

Resolved:  (i)           That the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Efficiency

Plan for 2017/18 to 2021/22 be approved.

(ii)          That the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Efficiency

Plan be submitted to Central Government  for the purpose of securing a four-year funding settlement for Revenue Support Grant up to and including 2019/20.

(iii)         That the Executive Director (Resources and Support

services) in consultation with the Portfolio Holder – Finance, IT and Customer  be authorised to approve any final amendments to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Efficiency Plan between the Cabinet date and the date of submission to Central Government (14 October 2016).

That the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy be approved.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval of the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy in respect of National Non-Domestic Rates.

Resolved:     That the Discretionary Rate Relief Policy be approved.

That a new two year contract be awarded under the Stoke-on-Trent City

Council procurement (Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council having been a

named participant in this process) to UK mail who was the successful provider

following the procurement process and the current incumbent service provider

 to NULBC, which would offer business/service continuity.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval  for the provision of corporate postal services following the expiry of the current contract.

Resolved:     That a new two year contract be awarded under the Stoke-on-Trent City Council procurement (Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council having been a named participant in this process) to UK mail who was the successful provider following the procurement process and the current incumbent service provider to NULBC, which would offer business/service continuity.

(i)            That the establishment of a pro-active multi-agency, co-operative approach be approved with immediate effect to build community capacity and maximise opportunities for external funding.

(ii)           That officers be authorised to re-prioritise existing staff resources, in consultation with relevant Portfolio Holders, in order that this initiative can be effectively co-ordinated and managed by the Partnerships Team. That a further report is submitted to Cabinet in October 2016 outlining the medium term resource implications to ensure future delivery can be sustained.

(iii)          That the Housing Team engage with the National Landlord Association and local landlords to join the voluntary accredited landlord scheme, information is widely promoted through to local residents on the housing standards they should expect and officers continue to benchmark with other Local Authorities who have delivered landlord licensing schemes to ensure that the Council can deliver a scheme if necessary.

(iv)         That officers establish monitoring and evaluation arrangements to enable the efficacy of this initiative to be assessed in the context of both this estate and on the basis that any learning can be used to address similar estate-based issues elsewhere in the Borough in future.

(v)          That officers write to the local Member of Parliament to lobby Government to find ways of investing in the unmodernised properties to bring them up to a mortgageable standard.

(vi)         That a partnership group is set up to meet on a regular, at least quarterly, basis which should include relevant statutory partners, local members, the residents association, neighbourhood watch, local neighbourhood Police and relevant officers.

Minute relates to the report commencing at page 75 of the agenda NOT page 63.

A report was submitted to the Cabinet to review the consultation feedback and options for intervention on the Miners estate in order to address low housing demand and the issues arising therefrom.

Mr Gavin Dick of the National Landlords Association was in attendance at the meeting and had asked the Leader of the Council, Councillor Elizabeth Shenton to read out a statement of support:

“the National Landlords Association supports the recommendation by the Council in relation to the Miners Estate, Galleys Bank, Kidsgrove and we look forward to working with the Council in delivering the objectives”.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Terry Turner proposed two additional recommendations to those included within the agenda report.  These are included below as recommendations (v) and (vi).  The Portfolio Holder for Planning and Housing, Councillor Kyle Robinson advised the Cabinet that he was in total agreement with the additional recommendations.

Councillor Turner thanked the National landlords Association for their support and stated that they were welcome to be part of the partnership group.

Resolved:     (i)         That the establishment of a pro-active multi-agency,

co-operative approach be approved with immediate effect to build community capacity and maximise opportunities for external funding.

(ii)          That officers be authorised to re-prioritise existing staff resources, in consultation with relevant Portfolio Holders, in order that this initiative can be effectively co-ordinated and managed by the Partnerships Team. That a further report is submitted to Cabinet in October 2016 outlining the medium term resource implications to ensure future delivery can be sustained.

(iii)         That the Housing Team engage with the National Landlord Association and local landlords to join the voluntary accredited landlord scheme, information is widely promoted through to local residents on the housing standards they should expect and officers continue to benchmark with other Local Authorities who have delivered landlord licensing schemes to ensure that the Council can deliver a scheme if necessary.

(iv)       That officers establish monitoring and evaluation arrangements to enable the efficacy of this initiative to be assessed in the context of both this estate and on the basis that any learning can be used to address similar estate-based issues elsewhere in the Borough in future.

(v)           That officers write to the local Member of Parliament to

lobby Government to find ways of investing in the unmodernised properties to bring them up to a mortgageable standard.

(vi)         That a partnership group is set up to meet on a regular, at

least quarterly, basis which should include relevant statutory partners, local members, the residents association, neighbourhood watch, local neighbourhood Police and relevant officers.

(i)            That the demolition of the former Knutton Recreation Centre building, at a cost of up to £50,000, be approved.

(ii)           That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer be authorised to commission suitably qualified and experienced contractors to undertake the necessary demolition works.

(iii)          That the cost be met from either borrowing, in accordance with the approved Treasury Management Strategy or from capital receipts.

(iv)         That consultation on the future disposal of the site in line with the Council’s Asset Management Strategy 2015/16 – 2017/18 be approved, with the results of this being reported to a later meeting of Cabinet alongside an update on other issues relating to the former Knutton Recreation Centre site.

A report was submitted to the Cabinet outlining the proposal to demolish the disused former Knutton Recreation Centre building.

The Deputy Leader stressed that the building needed to be demolished, secured and a decision made on the future of the site.

Throughout the process, the local community would be liaised with for their views and to keep them informed as to what was happening.

The Cabinet was advised that demolition works would cost up to £50,000.  The council may need to borrow this funding in the short term but there would be cost savings in respect of maintenance etc in the region of £10,000 per year.

Members were made aware of a number of issues that could affect the developability of the site and the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development, Mr Neale Clifton strongly recommended that the issued were resolved before proceeding with demolition.

Resolved:     (i)         That the demolition of the former Knutton Recreation

Centre building, at a cost of up to £50,000, be approved.

(ii)          That the Executive Director for Regeneration and Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer be authorised to commission suitably qualified and experienced contractors to undertake the necessary demolition works.

(iii)         That the cost be met from either borrowing, in accordance with the approved Treasury Management Strategy or from capital receipts.

(iv)         That consultation on the future disposal of the site in line with the Council’s Asset Management Strategy 2015/16 – 2017/18 be approved, with the results of this being reported to a later meeting of Cabinet alongside an update on other issues relating to the former Knutton Recreation Centre site.

That the Supplementary Planning Document relating to the Stubbs Walk Conservation Area and Management Plan be adopted.

A report was submitted to the Cabinet seeking approval to adopt the Stubbs Walk Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan as a Supplementary Planning Document.

Resolved:     That the Supplementary Planning Document relating to the Stubbs Walk Conservation Area and Management Plan be adopted.

That the contents of the Financial and Performance Review Report for the first quarter 2016/17, be noted.

A report was submitted to the Cabinet providing members with the Financial and Performance Review Report for the first quarter of 2016-17.  A copy of the Report was attached at page 103 of the agenda.

Resolved:     That the contents of the Financial and Performance Review Report for the first quarter 2016/17, be noted.

There was no Urgent Business.