Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 June 2022.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June be approved as a correct record.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 7 June be approved as a correct record.

That:

1. The contents of the update report be noted; and

2. Cabinet reaffirms its commitment to progress the legal process as set out in the report.

Cabinet considered a report updating on the current position with odour issues at Walley’s Quarry.

Current complaint data to both the Council and the Environment Agency was presented.  The latest data showed that only 4 complaints had been received by the Council for the week from 3 – 9 July, this was the lowest amount since the Council had been keeping records.  The data from the four Air Quality Monitoring Stations was presented; this showed how often the concentrations of hydrogen sulphide exceeded the World Health Organisation’s odour annoyance guideline levels.  The latest data for the two weeks from 26 June showed that there had been no exceedances of the annoyance threshold.

It was noted that there was seasonality to odour complaints and that work was underway to cap two cells as part of the “contain, capture, destroy” strategy.  It was important to continue monitoring to ascertain whether the improvement was a seasonal issue or the result of the capping works or a combination of both. 

The average gas collection value for the last eleven weeks was highlighted and Cabinet noted this was approximately 3000 m3 /hr; this amount of collected gas should lead to lower emissions of landfill gas and reduce the negative experience of odour in the community.  The data from 16 deployments of the Jerome handheld monitor was presented; there were 6 measurements above the WHO air quality guideline level for the avoidance of annoyance. 

The report updated on Cabinet’s previous request to set up an additional body as part of the multi-agency Strategic Coordinating Group (SCG) to provide political oversight and constructive challenge to the SCG.  This body had been set up and its first meeting would take place very soon. 

It was noted that specialist legal advice had been sought and had concluded that there was no further legal action that the Council could take. 

The Leader reported that the operators had submitted a planning application seeking permission to open the site an hour earlier for HGVs to wait on site rather than on the highway; this would be determined by Staffordshire County Council.

Resolved: that:

1. The contents of the update report be noted; and

2. Cabinet reaffirms its commitment to progress the legal process as set out in the report.

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That the General Fund outturn and key issues in respect of the Council’s financial position as at 31 March 2022 be noted.

Cabinet considered a report on the provisional financial outturn for 2021/22.  The draft statement had been made available for public inspection and the external audit of the accounts had commenced on 18 July.  The audited accounts would be considered by the council’s Audit and Standards Committee on 14 November and published by 30 November 2022. 

The council had received Government support towards income losses due to the Covid pandemic. The draft accounts showed a favourable variance of c£4k on the Revenue Budget. 

Resolved: That the General Fund outturn and key issues in respect of the Council’s financial position as at 31 March 2022 be noted.

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That:

1.    The feedback on the Newcastle under Lyme Local Plan Issues & Strategic Options consultation be noted; and

2.    The feedback received from the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee be noted.

Cabinet considered a report outlining the feedback from the Local Plan Issues and Strategic Options consultation.  The consultation had taken place between 1 November 2021 and 24 January 2022.  This time period had been longer than the statutory minimum and there had been a number of face to face events held as well as virtual consultation meetings. 

The key themes were summarised in the report and included reference to prioritising the use of brownfield opportunities, loss of Green Belt, impact on existing communities and settlements and infrastructure capacity.  The appendix to the report contained detailed information from the consultation.

The council would be undertaking part 2 of the consultation later in the year.

Resolved: that

:

1.    The feedback on the Newcastle under Lyme Local Plan Issues & Strategic Options consultation be noted; and

2.    The feedback received from the Economy and Place Scrutiny Committee be noted.

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That:

1. The establishment of a UK Shared Prosperity Board (“the Board”) with the membership as set out in paragraph 2.6 of the report be ratified;

2. The Executive Director Commercial Development and Economic Growth in

conjunction with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - One Council, People and Partnerships be authorised to:-

a) vary the terms of reference and membership of the Board from time to time as necessary to meet the needs and objectives of the Board

b) develop and submit an investment plan to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)

c) accept any UKSPF allocated to the Council

d) on behalf of the Council, develop and commence the commissioning of projects to be funded by UKSPF and commence commissioning on Council led projects in preparation for the delivery of the Investment Plan.

3. A report will be taken to a future meeting of Cabinet to update on the delivery of UKSPF projects

Cabinet considered a report on the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).  This was Government funding as part of the Levelling Up agenda; the allocation to Newcastle under Lyme Borough was £4,836,174.  An Investment Plan would need to be submitted to Government to show how the funding would be spent.

Resolved: that:

1. The establishment of a UK Shared Prosperity Board (“the Board”) with the membership as set out in paragraph 2.6 of the report be ratified;

2. The Executive Director Commercial Development and Economic Growth in

conjunction with the Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder - One Council, People and Partnerships be authorised to:-

a) vary the terms of reference and membership of the Board from time to time as necessary to meet the needs and objectives of the Board

b) develop and submit an investment plan to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC)

c) accept any UKSPF allocated to the Council

d) on behalf of the Council, develop and commence the commissioning of projects to be funded by UKSPF and commence commissioning on Council led projects in preparation for the delivery of the Investment Plan.

3. A report will be taken to a future meeting of Cabinet to update on the delivery of UKSPF projects.

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That:

1. Progress on the Council’s Commercial Strategy be noted;

2. Delegated authority be granted to the Director of Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader and the Section 151 officer, to seek and secure suitable investments and subsequently report the matter to Cabinet.

3. The Director of Commercial Development and Economic Growth be authorised, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to procure feasibility studies on industrial and commercial development opportunities.

Cabinet considered an update report on the council’s Commercial Strategy which had been approved on 16 October 2019. The Strategy outlined a framework for identifying and managing commercial and income generation opportunities.  The council’s current commercial portfolio contributed £400,000 per annum to the revenue budget.  The council’s consultants continued to advise on investment opportunities. A number of income generation opportunities currently being considered were listed in the report and included York Place in Newcastle under Lyme town centre and Chatterley Valley.

Resolved: that:                                                               

1. Progress on the Council’s Commercial Strategy be noted;

2. Delegated authority be granted to the Director of Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Leader and Deputy Leader and the Section 151 officer, to seek and secure suitable investments and subsequently report the matter to Cabinet.

3. The Director of Commercial Development and Economic Growth be authorised, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, to procure feasibility studies on industrial and commercial development opportunities.

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That retrospective approval is given to the award of a contract for the provision of a Children and Young Persons Domestic Abuse Support Service on behalf of the Newcastle Partnership and the Council to Honeycomb Charitable Services Limited following the completion of a compliant procurement process.

Cabinet considered a report on the award of a contract for the provision of a domestic abuse support service to children and young people from 2022- 2025.

Resolved: That retrospective approval is given to the award of a contract for the provision of a Children and Young Persons Domestic Abuse Support Service on behalf of the Newcastle Partnership and the Council to Honeycomb Charitable Services Limited following the completion of a compliant procurement process.

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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.

There was no Urgent Business.