Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No declarations of interests were made.

Approved.

Resolved (unanimously) that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 14 May 2024 be approved as a correct record for signature by the Mayor.

The Mayor congratulated the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley on being awarded an MBE for Political and Public Services in the King’s Birthday Honours List last month.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask question(s) on any item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the relevant Councillor. Members of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question.

To view the procedure for public questions/ speaking click here and scroll to page 119

There were no public questions for consideration.

To consider a general report of the Executive Cabinet held on 13 June 2024.  The report from the meeting to be held on 11 July will come to follow.

Noted. 

Members considered a general report of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet meetings held on 13 June and 11 July.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the general report of the Governance Committee held on Wednesday 22 May 2024. 

Noted.

Members considered a general report of the Governance Committee meeting held on 22 May.

The Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Alan Platt, noted that not all members had completed the survey regarding Member Gifts and Hospitality for the Internal Audit Team and requested that they do so. 

The Chair of the Governance Committee, Councillor Alan Platt proposed the report and the Vice Chair of Governance Committee, Councillor Mark Clifford seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Change and Transformation. 

That the report be noted.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Director of Change and Delivery. 

Overall performance against the Corporate Strategy in the 2023/24 financial year was excellent, with significant progress achieved across the Council’s key priorities.

Looking ahead to the 2024/25 financial year, the council have a number of challenges to face as a local authority.  Increases in demand for services, financial and political uncertainty, and as the cost of living crisis continues it was essential that the Council had a clear plan in place to deliver and support relief for those who are most in need of help while maintaining high quality public services.

The strategy continued to progress action to address the economic impact of unprecedented inflation rates and high cost of living, including support for businesses and activity to increase jobs and skills. 

The strategy responded to the needs of communities, moving health and wellbeing initiatives into their next phase of delivery and doing more for neighbourhoods right across the borough.

Housing and homelessness prevention remained key themes with specific Council action to ensure that everyone was able to live in good quality, energy efficient and suitable homes.

Councillors thanked the officers for their work in producing and implementing the Strategy and noted the recent award of eight Green Flag awards within the Borough. 

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously) That the report be noted.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Customer and Digital. 

Approval for a capital budget of £1,556,116 to purchase food waste collection vehicles and food waste containers, subject to additional Government funding being received.

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the report of the Director of Change and Delivery. 

There was a requirement to establish a capital budget for new food waste collection vehicles and food waste containers, in preparation for the implementation of food waste collections in 2026.

An assessment of the current position indicated that the initial funding allocation was insufficient, and an appeal to Defra would be submitted to present a case for the predicted shortfall. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley noted the wish to work in partnership with other local authorities on the procurement of these, where possible.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Platt, noted that some of the funding had already been received and noted that additional vehicles required would be stored at the council depot. 

The Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously) Approval for a capital budget of £1,556,116 to purchase food waste collection vehicles and food waste containers, subject to additional Government funding being received.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Property.

Approve for a four-week period of consultation as required prior to adoption.

The Executive Member Planning and Development, Councillor Alistair Morwood, presented the report of the Director of Planning and Property.

Local planning authorities were required to prepare a ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ (SCI).  The purpose of the SCI was to provide the community with clarity on the levels of involvement and engagement that they should expect in the planning process with regard to plan-making and development management. The SCI set out the procedures and standards that the Council would follow when undertaking consultation with sectors of the community.

Following Council approval consultation on the draft SCI would take place between 19 August and 16 September and following the analysis of responses and subject to there being no material changes, a decision to adopt to SCI would made by Council in the winter of 2024. 

The Executive Member Planning and Development, Councillor Alistair Morwood, proposed and the Deputy Portfolio Holder, Councillor Alex Hilton  seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) Approval for a four-week period of consultation as required prior to adoption.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Property.

Approval of the Action Plan for formal adoption.

The Executive Member Planning and Development, Councillor Alistair Morwood, presented the report of the Director of Planning and Property.

The report outlined the Council’s performance in the determination of planning applications, both as delegated decisions and those decided by Planning Committee and explained the Council’s designation by the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) for underperforming in the quality of decisions on Major applications.  It also sought approval of an Action Plan aimed at having the designation removed.

Members noted the need to move forwards with this and stressed the importance of adopting the new Local Plan. 

The Executive Member Planning and Development, Councillor Alistair Morwood, proposed and the Deputy Portfolio Holder, Councillor Alex Hilton seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously) Approval of the Action Plan for formal adoption.

No questions were asked.

No Notices of Motion were received.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act.

By Virtue of Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Condition:

Information is not exempt if it is required to be registered under-

The Companies Act 1985

The Friendly Societies Act 1974

The Friendly Societies Act 1992

The Industrial and Provident Societies Acts 1965 to 1978

The Building Societies Act 1986 (recorded in the public file of any building society, within the meaning of the Act)

The Charities Act 1993

Information is exempt to the extent that, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Information is not exempt if it relates to proposed development for which the local planning authority may grant itself planning permission pursuant to Regulation 3 of the Town & Country Planning General Regulations 1992(a).

Approved.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed and the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded and it was Resolved (unanimously) that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of exempt information as defined by paragraph 3 of Part 1 of schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Planning and Property.

1.         The progress of the Levelling Up, Town Centre Improvements and Civic Square Project be noted.

2.         Approval of the acceptance of the £20m Levelling Up grant.

3.         Approval to an increase in capital budgets of £38.762m taking the overall budget to £44.480m to deliver the Town Centre Improvements and Civic Square Project. The breakdown is detailed in point 38.

4.         Approval to the submission of the relevant statutory documentation to progress the new Levelling Up, Town Centre Improvements and Civic Square Project.

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley, presented the confidential report of the Director of Planning and Property.

The project would deliver significant town centre regeneration, thus providing social and economic benefits including new jobs, increased tourism, additional Gross Value Added (GVA), additional high quality town centre living, a high-quality public square including improved public realm, new commercial space and office space.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Platt, queried the need for additional housing in this area, but Councillor Bradley explained the desire to build within the town centre rather than on greenbelt.  The rate of private sector building in the town centre also supported the demand for homes in this area. 

The operation of the properties would be considered by the Development and Assets Working Group. 

The Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley proposed, the Deputy Leader, Councillor Peter Wilson seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.         The progress of the Levelling Up, Town Centre Improvements and Civic Square Project be noted.

2.         Approval of the acceptance of the £20m Levelling Up grant.

3.         Approval to an increase in capital budgets of £38.762m taking the overall budget to £44.480m to deliver the Town Centre Improvements and Civic Square Project. The breakdown is detailed in point 38.

4.         Approval to the submission of the relevant statutory documentation to progress the new Levelling Up, Town Centre Improvements and Civic Square Project.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Communities and Leisure. 

1.         Approval to the acceptance of £181,500 from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

2.         Approval to the increase to the budget equivalent to the funding to be added to the capital programme for the allocation of these funds for the installation of PV panels and additional metering and monitoring software at the leisure centre.

3.         Approval for works to be procured within All Seasons Leisure Centre Gym refurbishment contract.

The Executive Member for Early Intervention, Councillor Bev Murray, presented the confidential report of the Director of Communities and Leisure.

The grant funding was significant and would make a clear contribution to the operation of All Seasons Leisure Centre. 

The installation of PV panels would reduce the leisure centre's electricity costs by generating renewable energy on-site and lead to significant long-term savings on utility bills.

These upgrades supported the council's commitment to sustainability and reducing carbon emissions by lowering the facility's reliance on non-renewable energy sources.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Alan Platt, and other members welcomed the grant. 

The Executive Member for Early Intervention, Councillor Bev Murray proposed, the Deputy Portfolio Holder, Councillor Hasina Khan seconded, and it was Resolved (unanimously)

1.         Approval to the acceptance of £181,500 from Sport England’s Swimming Pool Support Fund.

2.         Approval to the increase to the budget equivalent to the funding to be added to the capital programme for the allocation of these funds for the installation of PV panels and additional metering and monitoring software at the leisure centre.

3.         Approval for works to be procured within All Seasons Leisure Centre Gym refurbishment contract.