Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Northcott. 

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the Minutes of the meeting held on 9^th June 2021.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th June be approved as a correct record. 

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th June be approved as a correct record. 

That:

(1) It be noted that a response has been received to the letter before

      action, served on Walleys Quarry Ltd, which was not, in the view of

      Officers, sufficient to address the concerns raised.

(2) It be noted that despite the works that had taken place at

      Walleys Quarry landfill site, a significant level of complaints continued

      to be received from residents of the Borough and air monitoring data

      continued to show odour levels in exceedance of annoyance levels

(3)  A Special Cabinet Meeting be held on 21^st July 2021 to carefully

      consider all of the evidence collated to date, and receive advice on

      whether or not an Abatement Notice should be served, and consider

      the financial implications of this.

(4) The next steps in developing a temporary respite accommodation scheme

      be progressed including requesting financial support for the scheme from

      Government.

(5)  The formation of the Strategic Coordinating Group be noted and it be

      agreed that the Council continues to work with and support multi agency

     partner organisations in order to investigate and resolve the odour issues.

(6) An update report be prepared for the Full Council Meeting on 21^st July 2021.

Cabinet considered a report on Walley’s Quarry.  The report outlined current actions since the last update to Cabinet on 9^th June 2021.  The letter before action had been served on the operators and a response received; officers’ view was that it was not sufficient to address the concerns raised.

The complaint figures to the Council and Environment Agency were presented and although complaints had decreased they were still at a level that indicated a negative impact on residents from odours; the June figures related to part of the month only.   

A Strategic Co-ordinating Group had been set up to coordinate the partnership approach to the ongoing issues. 

A special meeting of Cabinet had been arranged for 21 July to consider next steps including the possibility of serving an Abatement Notice.  The steps that would follow any such service were outlined. 

Resolved: that:

(1) It be noted that a response has been received to the letter before

              action, served on Walleys Quarry Ltd, which was not, in the view of

             Officers, sufficient to address the concerns raised.

           (2) It be noted that despite the works that had taken place at

           Walleys Quarry landfill site, a significant level of complaints continued

           to be received from residents of the Borough and air monitoring data

             continued to show odour levels in exceedance of annoyance levels

(3)  A Special Cabinet Meeting be held on 21^st July 2021 to carefully

             consider all of the evidence collated to date, and receive advice on

             whether or not an Abatement Notice should be served, and consider

           the financial implications of this.

(4) The next steps in developing a temporary respite accommodation scheme be progressed including requesting financial support for the scheme from Government.

(5)  The formation of the Strategic Coordinating Group be noted and it be agreed that the Council continues to work with and support multi agency partner organisations in order to investigate and resolve the odour issues.

(6) An update report be prepared for the Full Council Meeting on 21^st July 2021.

That the provisional General Fund outturn and key issues in respect of the Council’s financial position as at 31 March 2021 be noted.

Cabinet considered a report on the provisional outturn for 2020/21.  The report provided a commentary on the General Fund outturn, the Collection Fund, the Capital Programme and the Council’s Reserves.

Resolved: That the provisional General Fund outturn and key issues in respect of the Council’s financial position as at 31 March 2021 be noted.

That:

1.      The Draft Housing Strategy 2021-2024 be approved for an eight week public consultation.

2.      The Executive Director – Commercial Development & Economic Growth and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing be authorised to agree the final version for publication following the public consultation stage.

Cabinet considered a report on the draft Borough Council Housing Strategy 2021- 24 setting out strategic priorities for the next four years.  The Strategy would be issued for public consultation for an eight week period.

Resolved: That:

1.      The Draft Housing Strategy 2021-2024 be approved for an eight week public consultation.

2.      The Executive Director – Commercial Development & Economic Growth and Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing be authorised to agree the final version for publication following the public consultation stage.

That:-

1.    The planned development of temporary accommodation as outlined in this report be supported to ensure that there is appropriate availability of temporary accommodation in the Borough.

2.    The preferred option as outlined in Section 2.7 of the report be approved,  namely the award of contracts for the provision of temporary accommodation by suitably experienced providers, done on an opportunistic basis where necessary without a call for further competition given the circumstances set out in the report.

3.    Delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director, Commercial Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Well Being to directly award (if needs be) a single contract or contracts with an aggregated value exceeding £100,000 per annum to the same supplier if the need arises to secure the provision of suitable and timely temporary accommodation in line with the Council’s agreed Temporary Accommodation Policy. Such awards at all times being made within the Council’s allocated grant budget.

Cabinet considered a report on progress with identifying and developing options for the provision of temporary accommodation. 

Resolved: That:-

1.    The planned development of temporary accommodation as outlined in this report be supported to ensure that there is appropriate availability of temporary accommodation in the Borough.

2.    The preferred option as outlined in Section 2.7 of the report be approved,  namely the award of contracts for the provision of temporary accommodation by suitably experienced providers, done on an opportunistic basis where necessary without a call for further competition given the circumstances set out in the report.

3.    Delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director, Commercial Development and Economic Growth in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Well Being to directly award (if needs be) a single contract or contracts with an aggregated value exceeding £100,000 per annum to the same supplier if the need arises to secure the provision of suitable and timely temporary accommodation in line with the Council’s agreed Temporary Accommodation Policy. Such awards at all times being made within the Council’s allocated grant budget.

That

1.   The proposed Urban Tree Planting Strategy be approved for immediate implementation and included in the Urban Forest Strategy when the review is completed.

2.   That Ward Members of urban wards in the Borough and local communities be asked to propose potential sites for tree planting in their wards.

3.   That opportunities to work together with local organisations and landowners be pursued.

4.   Investigations be made into opportunities to take part in the project to plant an Urban Tree Canopy as part of the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

5.   An Urban Tree Planting Action Plan be prepared to guide tree planting projects and link in to the Councils Sustainable Environment Strategy.

Cabinet considered a report on a proposed Urban Tree Planting Strategy.  The Leader made reference to a project relating to developing tree canopies in commemoration of the Queen’s Jubilee in 2022.

Resolved: That

1.   The proposed Urban Tree Planting Strategy be approved for immediate implementation and included in the Urban Forest Strategy when the review is completed.

2.   That Ward Members of urban wards in the Borough and local communities be asked to propose potential sites for tree planting in their wards.

3.   That opportunities to work together with local organisations and landowners be pursued.

4.   Investigations be made into opportunities to take part in the project to plant an Urban Tree Canopy as part of the celebrations for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.

5.   An Urban Tree Planting Action Plan be prepared to guide tree planting projects and link in to the Councils Sustainable Environment Strategy.

That the report of the Parks and Open Spaces Working Group of the Health Wellbeing and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee be received, and the recommendations as set out below be endorsed and progressed:

(i)            The importance of open spaces for physical and mental health and wellbeing is emphasised and given appropriate priority in the Council’s annual budget setting programme and the One Council programme in relation to digital promotion of the service and customer engagement with it.

(ii)          Initial pilot work is undertaken to improve information on open spaces on the website, including a register of strategic open spaces with location maps, and QR codes at 2 sites (Lyme Valley and Bathpool Park) which enable users to upload feedback. Resources be made available to implement this work. Existing web “report it” functions be reviewed and improved via the One Council programme where necessary.

(iii)         The existing tree planting project in the Environmental Sustainability Strategy be reviewed to incorporate potential community “sponsor a tree” initiatives (eg 850 trees to celebrate the Borough’s 850th anniversary in 2023) and Britain in Bloom community projects. The Council’s Urban Forest Strategy (2013) is also reviewed and updated to reaffirm support for such initiatives.

(iv)         External funding and partnership activity be reviewed and capacity issues be highlighted.

Cabinet considered a report from a Scrutiny Review commissioned by the Health, Wellbeing and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee on the use of parks and open spaces.

Resolved: That the report of the Parks and Open Spaces Working Group of the Health Wellbeing and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee be received, and the recommendations as set out below be endorsed and progressed:

(i)            The importance of open spaces for physical and mental health and wellbeing is emphasised and given appropriate priority in the Council’s annual budget setting programme and the One Council programme in relation to digital promotion of the service and customer engagement with it.

(ii)          Initial pilot work is undertaken to improve information on open spaces on the website, including a register of strategic open spaces with location maps, and QR codes at 2 sites (Lyme Valley and Bathpool Park) which enable users to upload feedback. Resources be made available to implement this work. Existing web “report it” functions be reviewed and improved via the One Council programme where necessary.

(iii)         The existing tree planting project in the Environmental Sustainability Strategy be reviewed to incorporate potential community “sponsor a tree” initiatives (eg 850 trees to celebrate the Borough’s 850th anniversary in 2023) and Britain in Bloom community projects. The Council’s Urban Forest Strategy (2013) is also reviewed and updated to reaffirm support for such initiatives.

(iv)         External funding and partnership activity be reviewed and capacity issues be highlighted.

That a further report be submitted to Cabinet once Alliance Leisure have given further consideration to the detailed requirements for an improved fitness offer at J2. 

Cabinet considered a report on proposals to improve the health and fitness offer at Jubilee 2 including a refurbishment and new layout for the fitness suite.

Resolved: That a further report be submitted to Cabinet once Alliance Leisure have given further consideration to the detailed requirements for an improved fitness offer at J2. 

That the Forward Plan be received. 

Consideration was given to the Forward Plan listing upcoming key decisions to be made by Cabinet.

Resolved:  That the Forward Plan be received. 

There was no Urgent Business.