Agenda and decisions

To consider the Minutes of the previous meeting.

That the Minutes of the meeting held on the 8 July be agreed as a correct record.

That the contents of the update report be noted.

(i)     That the Council’s Annual Report for 2024-2025, be received

(ii)    That the 2024-2025 Annual Report be referred to  Full Council’s meeting of 24^thSeptember 2025.

(i)              That the funding pressures of £1.777m in 2026/27 and £3.069m over

the 5-year period covered by the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) be noted.

(ii)             That the approach regarding the development of savings and income generation proposals in the medium-term, be agreed.

(iii)           That the continued uncertainty regarding the medium-term impact of

local government funding, be noted.

(iv)           That the letter sent to the Chancellor of the Exchequer (Appendix B)

from the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth requesting further funding in respect of Temporary Accommodation, be noted.

(v)            That the first Medium Term Financial Strategy update be referred to the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee for their views.

(i)                        That the progress made with the schemes in Kidsgrove as part of the Kidsgrove Town Deal, be noted.

(ii)                       That the alternative schemes following the Shared Services Hub project revisions, be approved.

(iii)                     That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Town Centres and Growth, and Portfolio Holder for One Council, People and Partnerships, progress legal agreements to enable continued delivery of projects.

(iv)                     That the progress made with the delivery of the Kidsgrove Station works and agrees that a further report will be presented as soon as practicable outlining the scheme and the budget, be noted.

(i)              That the progress made with the Borough Local Plan to date, be noted.

(ii)             That the updates on the issues raised in response to the Inspectors Post Examination Hearing Feedback, be noted.

(iii)           That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning be authorised to progress the next steps necessary on the Local Plan ahead of the Plan being considered for adoption at a future Full Council.

(iv)           That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning, be authorised to approve a list of Main and Additional Modifications to the Local Plan and Policies Map, that arise from the Local Plan Examination process, alongside the necessary Sustainability Appraisal and Habitats Regulations Assessment for public consultation for a period of six weeks.

(v)            That the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Planning, be authorised to forward responses from the Main Modifications consultation directly to the Inspector to allow the preparation of a final report on the Local Plan and undertake the necessary steps to take a report to Full Council to consider the adoption of the Local Plan.

That the contract award to Civica UK Limited for the provision of the Council’s Financial Management System on a 2+1+1+1 contract at a total cost of £258,685 (should the contract be utilised for the full 5 years), be approved.

(i)                  That the contents of the attached report and appendices and continue to monitor and challenge the Council’s service and financial performance for this period, be noted.

(ii)                 That the movement in reserves under section 7 of the Finance Appendix A (£100k to the Planning Appeals Reserve, £150k to the Local Plan Support Fund and £150k to the Budget and Borrowing Support Fund, all of which to be transferred from the Business Rates Reserve), be approved.

That the Forward Plan be received and noted.

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 if the following matter because it is likely that there will be disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs contained within Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972.

That the confidential appendix be received and noted.