Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Trevor Johnson.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Trevor Johnson.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the Decisions of Cabinet held on 3 November 2021.

The Decision Record of the meeting held on 3 November 2021 was agreed as a correct record

Resolved: that the Decision Record of the meeting held on 3 November 2021 be agreed as a correct record

The report was noted.

Cabinet considered a report on odour issues at Walley’s Quarry. 

The operators had appealed the Council’s Abatement Notice and the timescale for the administration of the appeal by the Magistrate’s Court was set out in the report.  The court system encouraged parties to engage in mediation, at this stage a response was awaited from the operators as to whether they would engage in a mediation process.

Both the Council and the Environment Agency continued to receive complaints about odour nuisance.

Resolved: that the report was noted.

That:

(a)  the first draft proposals as set out in Appendix A and Appendix B to the report be noted;

(b)  the amendment to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) funding gap as a result of revisions to capital financing and inflationary assumptions be noted (Appendix C).

(c)  the refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (Appendix D) be referred to the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee for their views; and

(d)  the first draft proposals be referred to the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee for their views.

Cabinet considered the first draft savings plans to balance the revenue budget for 2022/23 and the proposed capital programme for 2022/23 – 2024/25.

Resolved: that:

(a)  the first draft proposals as set out in Appendix A and Appendix B to the report be noted;

(b)  the amendment to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) funding gap as a result of revisions to capital financing and inflationary assumptions be noted (Appendix C).

(c)  the refreshed Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (Appendix D) be referred to the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee for their views; and

(d)  the first draft proposals be referred to the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee for their views.

That Cabinet:

(a)  notes the progress made on the Ryecroft aspect of the Future High Street Fund programme.

(b)  authorises the Executive Director – Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Finance, Town Centres and Growth to take such actions and enter such agreements with Morgan Sindall for the design and development of the new Car Park scheme on Ryecroft, to achieve a fully designed scheme, with associated costs and planning permissions; and

(c)  receives the design and costings to enable a decision about the construction of the car park in a Cabinet report at a future date.

Cabinet considered a report about awarding the design and build pre-construction contract for the new Ryecroft car park in Newcastle. 

Resolved: that Cabinet:

(a)  notes the progress made on the Ryecroft aspect of the Future High Street Fund programme.

(b)  authorises the Executive Director – Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Finance, Town Centres and Growth to take such actions and enter such agreements with Morgan Sindall for the design and development of the new Car Park scheme on Ryecroft, to achieve a fully designed scheme, with associated costs and planning permissions; and

(c)  receives the design and costings to enable a decision about the construction of the car park in a Cabinet report at a future date.

That the Executive Director – Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Finance, Town Centres and Growth be authorised to enter such agreements as are necessary to conclude the purchase of the York Place / Astley Walk shopping centre in Newcastle under Lyme in accordance with the Heads of Terms set out in the confidential appendix to this report.

Cabinet considered a report on the possible purchase of the York Place/Astley Walk shopping centre in Newcastle.  The purchase was part of the Future High Streets Fund scheme. 

Resolved: that the Executive Director – Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Finance, Town Centres and Growth be authorised to enter such agreements as are necessary to conclude the purchase of the York Place / Astley Walk shopping centre in Newcastle under Lyme in accordance with the Heads of Terms set out in the confidential appendix to this report.

That:

(a)  the Executive Director - Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with The Portfolio Holder, Leisure Culture and Heritage, be authorised to take such actions that are reasonably necessary to enter into a funding agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association.

(b)  the Executive Director Commercial Development & Economic Growth be granted delegated authority to award a contract to refurbish the tennis courts (following a compliant procurement process) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure Culture and Heritage.

Cabinet considered a report on proposals to upgrade tennis courts at  Westland’s Sports Centre and Wolstanton Park following an in principle grant award from the Lawn Tennis Association.

Resolved: that:

(a)  the Executive Director - Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with The Portfolio Holder, Leisure Culture and Heritage, be authorised to take such actions that are reasonably necessary to enter into a funding agreement with the Lawn Tennis Association.

(b)  the Executive Director Commercial Development & Economic Growth be granted delegated authority to award a contract to refurbish the tennis courts (following a compliant procurement process) in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Leisure Culture and Heritage.

That:

(a)  the Borough Council’s Procurement Strategy 2022-25 as submitted be approved; and

(b)  the Action Plan (Appendix 3) of the Borough Council’s Procurement Strategy 2022-25 be approved. 

Cabinet considered a report on the Council’s Procurement Strategy and Action Plan 2022 – 2025.

Resolved: that:

(a)  the Borough Council’s Procurement Strategy 2022-25 as submitted be approved; and

(b)  the Action Plan (Appendix 3) of the Borough Council’s Procurement Strategy 2022-25 be approved. 

That the contract for the Council’s Bill Payment Service be awarded to Allpay Limited for a 4 year period from 1 January 2022.

Cabinet considered a report on whether to enter into a new contract with Allpay.  This was a method of payment that enabled residents to make payments at the Post Officer or a Paypoint location.    

Resolved: that the contract for the Council’s Bill Payment Service be awarded to Allpay Limited for a 4 year period from 1 January 2022.

That a direct award of contract be authorised to PSL Print Management Limited under the Crown Commercial Service Framework RM6017 Lot 7: Hybrid Mail, Digital and Transformational Communications for a period of 3 years with the option to extend by a further 2 x 1 year extensions to December 2026.

Cabinet considered a report on a proposal to re-procure corporate mail services.  The council had been using a hybrid mail solution since 2017.

Resolved: that a direct award of contract be authorised to PSL Print Management Limited under the Crown Commercial Service Framework RM6017 Lot 7: Hybrid Mail, Digital and Transformational Communications for a period of 3 years with the option to extend by a further 2 x 1 year extensions to December 2026.

That the Forward Plan be received.

Cabinet considered the Forward Plan for the period December 2021 – March 2022.

Resolved: that the Forward Plan be received.

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

This item includes a supplementary report.

In accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to take the following item of business as urgent:

That Cabinet authorise the receipt of £414,352 Estate Regeneration Fund (ERF) grant funding from government and authorise the Council to act as Accountable Body in respect of the same and its use by Aspire Housing in the regeneration of the Cross Street, Chesterton housing estate.

In accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to take the following item of business as urgent:

Cabinet considered a report on Government grant funding towards regeneration at Chesterton; the matter was urgent due to a requirement to confirm the award by 3 December 2021. 

Resolved: that Cabinet authorise the receipt of £414,352 Estate Regeneration Fund (ERF) grant funding from government and authorise the Council to act as Accountable Body in respect of the same and its use by Aspire Housing in the regeneration of the Cross Street, Chesterton housing estate.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following reports, because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in the paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A (as amended) of the Local Government Act 1972.

That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the

following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt

information as defined in paragraph 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of

the Local Government Act, 1972.

Resolved:-                That the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

That the information contained within the confidential appendix be agreed.

Cabinet considered the confidential appendix on the purchase of York Place.

Resolved: that the information contained within the confidential appendix be agreed.