Decisions

That the background detail relating to the decision taken under urgency powers be noted.

That the decision taken under urgency powers be noted.

That Cabinet:

1. Notes the progress made on the project since the March 2021 Cabinet meeting in terms of scope, design and budget in consultation with the Kidsgrove Leisure Centre Community Group.

2. Notes that expenditure to date is £1.063m.

3. Notes that the Kidsgrove Town Deal funding allocation announced by MHCLG on the 3^rd March including £2.45m towards the overall cost of the project has now been confirmed as guaranteed funding by MHCLG on 10.05.21.

4. Approves the overall capital cost of the project is £7.5m (which includes the works undertaken to date on site and the funding, including external funding sources, for the scheme is contained in section 8.1).

5. Approves the revenue support from the Council for the scheme for the first five years of the sport centre operation to the Community Group – Kidsgrove Sports Centre – is £480k worst case scenario.

6. That a further contract award is given to Willmott Dixon Construction Ltd for the amount of £6.437m to complete the works in readiness for opening in May 2022.

7. Authorises the Executive Director – Commercial Development and Economic Growth, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, One Council, People and Partnerships to take such actions and enter such agreements as are reasonably necessary or prudent to ensure the refurbishment is complete and the centre operational by the target date.

That the Forward Plan be received. 

That

1. The contract for processing Dry Mixed Recyclate is awarded to bidder C with a contract start date of the 1^st April 2022, for a three year term, with an option to extend by three, one year extensions, subject to satisfactory performance as deemed by the Council, or the completion of the proposed Staffordshire Material Recovery Facilities.

2. The proposed formal process to market and contract the sale of fibre (mixed paper and card) is agreed and implemented

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st April be approved as a correct record. 

That the Executive Director – Commercial Development & Economic Growth be authorised to work up proposals to compulsorily acquire 12 Cheddar Drive, Newcastle, Staffordshire, ST5 6QR under Part ll and section 17 of the Housing Act 1985

That the continued use of the Local Planning Enforcement Plan in the Borough be approved and a second review of the Plan be undertaken in June 2022. 

That

(1)The draft master plan be amended along the lines set out in section 3 of this report:

 - to introduce ‘traffic calming’ at the entrance into Knutton from the west of Black Bank Road/ Knutton High Street,

- to introduce flood risk mitigation as part of the development of the Black Bank Road site,

- investment in shop frontages on the High Street,

- footpath and cycleway improvements,

- a reconfiguration of the proposed Acacia Avenue play facilities, and

 - a more ambitious range of use and activities of the proposed Village Hall.

(2) A further report be made shortly on the level of funding offered to the Newcastle Town Deal Board which will have a significant bearing on the financial implications to the Borough Council in implementing the proposed investment in Knutton set out in the master plan.

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 Members note the contents of the attached report and Appendices A and B and continue to monitor and challenge the Council’s performance alongside its financial performance for the same period.

That Cabinet

(1). Notes the comments received following consultation with appropriate stakeholders along with observations received from the Finance, Assets and Performance Scrutiny Committee.

(2). Agrees to allocate space for the Crematorium extension and direct officers to look at options to finance the associated extension scope of works.

That Cabinet:

(1)Notes that work to date by Council officers, supported by the efforts of other agencies, has ruled out the existence of any credible source of the borough odour problem other than Walleys Quarry, and once again calls on the operator of Walleys Quarry to accept its role in this issue and work to resolve it.

(2) Notes that a letter before action has been served on Walleys Quarry Ltd informing them of the Councils work regarding statutory nuisance and affording them the opportunity to provide to this Council any information to satisfy it that the company has an effective action plan and acceptable timeline in place to prevent the emission of regular, persistent and offensive odours detectable beyond the site boundary.

(3) Notes that any information received from Walleys Quarry Ltd to the letter before action will be considered after the expiry of the 14 day period for response, to inform the subsequent decision on the appropriateness of the Council serving a statutory abatement notice.

(4) Agrees that the Council continues to work with and support multi agency partner organisations in order to investigate and resolve the odour issues.

(5) Welcomes the proposal put forward by Councillor Derrick Huckfield and requests officers to evaluate the approach with the Environment Agency to inform future actions.

(6) Requests that officers prepare with Staffordshire County Council a letter to residents in affected areas highlighting the work of the two Councils

(7) Asks officers to investigate, in consultation with the portfolio holder, the case for establishing an emergency accommodation scheme for those with underlying health conditions in areas most affected by hydrogen sulphide emissions.

(8) Invites the Health, Wellbeing and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee to discuss the health issues arising from the gas odours from Walleys Quarry.