Decisions

(i)    That an ‘Our Borough Heroes’ event be established in partnership with The Sentinel.

(ii)  That sponsorship be sought for individual categories from partners and businesses in the Borough.

(iii) That any shortfall in sponsorship be underwritten, up to a maximum of £15,000.

That the information contained within the confidential appendix be agreed.

(i)            That the retender of a Debt, Benefit and Advice service for 2 years with an option to extend for a further 12 months subject to satisfactory performance and availability of funding, be agreed.

(ii)          That the allocation of funding and proposal as set out in this report be approved and officers and the Chief Executive be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency to develop and finalise a specification, undertake the tendering process, and if required to complete any post tender negotiations and award the contract to the successful contractor.

(iii)         That the requirement of the successful contractor to work with the Council to develop the service delivery in future years of the contract, be supported.

(i)        That the Council’s commitment to sports & swimming provision in

Kidsgrove be reaffirmed.

(ii)       That the re-opening of the sports centre as the vehicle for delivery of this

commitment, be agreed.

(iii)      That the progress made by the Kidsgrove Community Interest Group in the development of the design and business model and the new Board membership be noted.

(iv)      That the procurement of Willmott Dixon through the SCAPE national construction framework to establish a ‘build out cost’, with associated programme of work, be agreed.

(v)       That delegated authority be given to the Portfolio Holder for Corporate and Service Improvement, People and Partnerships, along with the Executive Director - Commercial Investment and Economic Development to progress the next stages of the scheme in consultation with the Kidsgrove Sports Centre Steering Group. Further Cabinet reports will be presented upon completion of the detailed business case review in Spring, 2020.

(vi)      That an all-party Cabinet panel be convened at the appropriate time to consider the revised cost estimates and business plan with a view to Cabinet making a recommendation to Council on reopening the existing Kidsgrove Sport Centre.

That the Forward Plan be received.

(i)            That the views of the Economy, Environment and Place Scrutiny Committee on the draft Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2020 to 2025 be considered.

(ii)           That the Executive Director - Commercial Development and Economic Growth in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Community Safety and Wellbeing be authorised to adopt the final strategy following amendments - taking into account consultation comments.

That the information contained within the confidential appendix be agreed.

That the fees and charges proposed to apply from 1 April, 2020, as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

(i)            That the progress on the completion of the Revenue and Capital Budgets and updated MTFS Funding Strategy for 2020/21 (Appendix 1) be noted.

(ii)          That the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy 2020/21 to 2024/25 (Appendix 2) be approved.

(iii)         That the strategy for ensuring a balanced revenue outturn position for 2019/20 be noted.

(iv)         That the calculation of the Council Tax base and the Council Tax increase to be proposed for 2020/21 of £5 (2.55%) per Band D equivalent property be noted.

(v)          That the proposed Empty Homes Premium for long term empty properties (2-5 years 100%, 5-10 years 200% and 10 years plus 300%) be approved.

(vi)         That the proposed change in accounting policy for Minimum Revenue Provision from the straight line basis to the annuity basis (as per the draft Treasury Management Strategy) be noted.

(vii)        That the risk assessment at Appendix 3 and S151 Officer’s recommendation on the level of reserves and contingencies provisionally required to be maintained in 2020/21 be noted.

(viii)       That the draft Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy (Appendix 6), updated for 2020/21, be noted.

(ix)         That the draft Capital Strategy (Appendix 8) for 2020-30 be noted.

(x)          That the draft Treasury Management Strategy (Appendix 9) for 2020/21 be noted.

(xi)         That the draft Investment Strategy (Appendix 10) for 2020/21 be noted.

(xii)        That the draft Budget and Council Tax proposals be referred to Finance, Assets and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee for comment before the final proposals are considered at Cabinet on 4 February 2020.

(i)            That the Executive Director - Commercial Development and Economic Growth in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency be authorised to extend the Newcastle Housing Advice contract with Midland Heart for 12 months.

(ii)           That the Newcastle Housing Advice service be brought back in-house by 1^st April 2021.

(iii)           That the Council works with Midland Heart to undertake the necessary consultations and development of processes to transfer the service effectively.

(iv)          That a temporary post be established to develop the in-house service.