Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved:     That the minutes of the last meeting held on 18 July 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved:    (i)        That Members approve and adopt the Council Plan for 2018-2022

                        (ii)       That the acting Chief Executive to given authority, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any final changes before publication of the Plan

The Leader presented the Council Plan.  The Plan sets out the vision for the Borough for the period up to 2022 and identifies four key priorities to drive the work that the council will focus on  - local services that work for local people, growing our people and places, a healthy, active and safe borough and a town centre for all.

Resolved:    (i)        That Members approve and adopt the Council Plan for 2018-2022

                        (ii)       That the acting Chief Executive be given authority, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to make any final textual/presentational changes before publication of the Plan

Resolved:    (i)        That the Cabinet considers the recommendations of the Cabinet Panel Task and Finish Group and agrees a preferred option for the introduction of a new kerbside recycling service which makes it easier for residents to recycle, and is simpler to operate.

                        (ii)       That the Cabinet considers the recommendations of the Cabinet Panel Task and Finish Group and agrees a preferred option for the future provision of garden waste collections following the withdrawal of recycling credits paid by Staffordshire County Council.

                        (iii)      That Officers are authorised to undertake further detailed planning and modelling work to develop the Cabinet’s preferred options and report back to Cabinet on detailed project costs and timescales.

                        (iv)       That Cabinet thanks the Task and Finish Group for their work in putting forward their preferred options.

This report informed Cabinet members of the preferred options put forward by the Cross Party Cabinet Panel Task and Finish Group for the introduction of a new kerbside recycling service and an affordable garden waste collection service.

 The report followed an extensive consultation exercise which had involved around 1,300 people and took into consideration the need to obtain the best financial value with the least risk to reliable and efficient collection services that made it easier for residents to recycle.

Resolved:    (i)        That the Cabinet agrees with the Cabinet Panel Task and Finish Groups preferred option for the introduction of a new kerbside recycling service which is a twin stream system, where either paper or card and paper are kept separate and everything else is comingled in a single wheelie bin and collected fortnightly, with food waste collected separately weekly.

                        (ii)       That the Cabinet agrees with the Cabinet Panel Task and Finish Groups recommendation for the introduction of a chargeable garden waste collection service whereby residents wishing to receive garden waste services pay an annual subscription fee and that the service be provided in-house.

                        (iii)      That Officers are authorised to undertake further detailed planning and modelling work to develop the Cabinet’s preferred options and report back to Cabinet on detailed project costs and timescales.

                        (iv)       That Cabinet thanks the Task and Finish Group for their work in putting forward their preferred options.

Resolved:    (i)        That Cabinet commits to making a capital contribution of £300,000 to support the provision of community run sports and leisure facilities at Kidsgrove Sports Centre.

                        (ii)       That any funding agreed is made with the conditions set out in the report.

                        (iii)      That the thanks of the Cabinet be conveyed to the Community Interest Group, the Borough Council Officers and Staffordshire County Council Officers for their hard work and commitment towards the success of this project.

The Leader of the Council presented this report.  He extended his gratitude to the members of the Community Interest Organisation, Borough Council officers and the County Council who had worked together to develop the business plan to help ensure the re-provision of a quality dry-side sports offer in the former sports centre at Kidsgrove.

 Resolved:   (i)        That Cabinet commits to making a capital contribution of £300,000 to support the provision of community run sports and leisure facilities at Kidsgrove Sports Centre.

                        (ii)       That any funding agreed is made with the conditions set out in the report.

                        (iii)      That the thanks of the Cabinet be conveyed to the Community Interest Group, the Borough Council Officers and Staffordshire County Council Officers for their hard work and commitment towards the success of this project.

Resolved:    (i)        That the vision and proposals be approved and that the proposals be submitted or consideration for inclusion in the emerging Joint Local Plan.

                        (ii)       That the views of the Economy, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee, due to meet on 26^th September 2018, be sought and reported to the next meeting of Cabinet.

                        (iii)      That two consultation events be held in the Guildhall.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Service Improvement People and Partnerships presented this report which set out a vision for future development of a University Growth Corridor on land to the west of Newcastle comprising the Keele University campus and the site of the former Keele Municipal Golf Course. It was noted that if developed the land could potentially accommodate around 1000 -1200 new homes, 150 postgraduate student apartments and 2000-3000 new high quality jobs. 

Resolved:    (i)        That, subject to (ii) the vision and proposals be approved and that the proposals be submitted or consideration for inclusion in the emerging Joint Local Plan.

                        (ii)       That the views of the Economy, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee, due to meet on 26^th September 2018, be sought and reported to the next meeting of Cabinet.

                        (iii)      That two community engagement events be held in the Guildhall.

Resolved:    (i)        That Cabinet approve the Asset Management Strategy 2018 – 22.

                        (ii)       That Cabinet notes the current position in respect of the stock condition survey and the intention for it to inform future capital investment planning.

                        (iii)      That Officers be authorised to agree a scope and prepare master planning briefs in respect of sites adjacent to Bradwell Crematorium and non-green belt land at Birchenwood, Kidsgrove (as set out in the Open Spaces and Green Infrastructure Strategy), along with land at Knutton.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency presentedthe updated Asset Management Strategy.  The strategy sets out the Borough Councils approach to managing its assets, including the disposal of sites which are regarded as surplus to operational requirements.  Members also noted that an initial draft stock condition survey of its structures and property assets had been received and that the final version of it would be used to inform future  capital investment planning.

Resolved:  (i)        That Cabinet approve the Asset Management Strategy      2018 – 22.

                        (ii)       That Cabinet notes the current position in respect of the stock condition survey and the intention for it to inform future capital investment planning.

                        (iii)      That Officers be authorised to agree a scope and prepare master planning briefs in respect of sites adjacent to Bradwell Crematorium and non-green belt land at Birchenwood, Kidsgrove (as set out in the Open Spaces and Green Infrastructure Strategy), along with land at Knutton.

Resolved:    (i)        That the Council participates in the formation of a Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Pool based upon piloting the 75% Business Rates Scheme and approves the submission of an expression of interest to central government in order the achieve this.

                        (ii)       That the Acting Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer are authorised (in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency) to agree, in conjunction with the other participating Staffordshire authorities, the detail to be included in the expression of interest and subsequently the Section 151 Officer is authorised to confirm the Council’s support as required by central government.

                        (iii)      That correspondence be sent to all four local MPs asking for their support to the Council’s submission.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency presented this report which provided details of the draft governance arrangement for a Business Rates Pilot 2019/20 together with the outline business case and the associated risks and rewards from pilot arrangements for the Borough Council.

The pilot scheme would enable 75% of future growth in Business Rates to be retained within Staffordshire, which was estimated to offer £0.239m additional resources in respect of this authority for the financial year 2019/20 due to the estimated ‘growth position’ of the participating authorities. The objective of the pilot is to maximise the resources generated and retained within Newcastle under Lyme and within Staffordshire by collaborative working.

 Lobbying and support from the local MPs to help secure a place as one of the pilot areas was considered valuable. 

Resolved:           (i)         That the Council participates in the formation of a Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Pool based upon piloting the 75% Business Rates Scheme and approves the submission of an expression of interest to central government in order the achieve this.

                        (ii)       That the Acting Chief Executive and Section 151 Officer are authorised (in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency) to agree, in conjunction with the other participating Staffordshire authorities, the detail to be included in the expression of interest and subsequently the Section 151 Officer is authorised to confirm the Council’s support as required by central government.

                        (iii)      That correspondence be sent to all four local MPs asking for their support to secure a place within the pilot schemes.

Resolved:    (i)        That Members note the contents of the attached report and agrees to the recommendation that the Council continues to monitor performance alongside the latest financial information for the same period.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiencyprovided members with a performance update for the first quarter of 2018/19.  Members discussed the performance data in detail and it was decided to refresh the future indicators to reflect the priorities of the updated Council Plan 2018-2022.

Resolved:    (i)        That Members note the contents of the attached report and agrees to the recommendation that the Council continues to monitor performance alongside the latest financial information for the same period.

                        (ii)       That officers be asked to prepare a set of performance indicators for future use to reflect the approved Council Plan 2018-22 in consultation with the respective Portfolio Holders.

There was no Urgent Business.