Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Amanda Scarce
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Apologies Minutes: There were no apologies for absence. |
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Declarations of Interest To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests. Minutes: Councillor P. L. Thomas declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda Item 8, in that he was a private sector landlord. Councillor Thomas withdrew from the meeting during the consideration of this matter and took no part in its discussion nor voting thereon. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 12th June 2019 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 12th June 2019 be approved as a correct record. |
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Minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 10th June 2019 (a) To receive and note the minutes (b) To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes Minutes: The minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 10th June 2019 were considered.
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 10th June be noted. |
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Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan Additional documents: Minutes: Councillor A. D. Kent, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regulatory Services, introduced the report and in so doing commented that the report was an excellent and comprehensive report.
The Principal Conservation Officer explained that Members were being asked to support the draft Worcester and Birmingham Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan and a four week consultation process with local residents and other interested parties.
The Principal Conservation Officer provided Members with a glossy printed version of the document, highlighting that the text and photographs remained the same as the copy circulated within the main agenda pack.
RESOLVED a) that the draft Worcester and Birmingham Canal Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan be supported, b) that a four week consultation process with local residents and other interested parties, be approved; and c) that the results of that consultation be reported back to a future meeting of the cabinet. |
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Foxlydiate Arms - Asset of Community Value Report Please see second report attached which provides Members with an update on this matter.
Additional documents:
Minutes: The Council’s Legal Advisor drew Members’ attention to the Supplementary Agenda papers and in doing so explained that, a decision had to be made by the Head of Planning and Regeneration within the 8 week statutory deadline and for this reason the initial report had been included in the published Cabinet agenda.
Since then, following expert advice around the substance of the Nomination; it was no longer necessary for Cabinet, as consultee, to consider this matter.
Schedule 1 of the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012 excluded hotels from listing. Counsel’s advice was that as a Premier Inn, it was very much likely that the premises comprise a hotel and as such was excluded from the regime.
RESOLVED that it be noted, that it was no longer necessary for Cabinet, as consultee, to consider this matter.
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Active Kitchen Report Additional documents:
Minutes: Councillor S. A. Webb, Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing and Health and Well Being introduced the report.
The Executive Director, Finance and Resources, commented that this came under the strategic purposes was ‘provide good things for me to do, see and visit’.
The Active Kitchen service pilot was driven by data and had been piloted in two areas, Sidemoor and Charford, in partnership with the YMCA, NewSong Community Church and St Andrews Church Hall.
The sessions were held during the school summer holidays and ensured that local children could take part in fun sporting activities and enjoy a hot meal afterwards.
The scheme would be reviewed in order to ensure that the right areas of need had been captured.
Members were further informed that the areas of Rock Hill and Bromsgrove Central would also be included.
RECOMMENDED
a) that Council approve that officers continue to pilot the Active Kitchen service in Sidemoor, Charford, Catshill, Rubery and Drakes Cross in 11 weeks of the school holidays and that approval be given for an estimated £34,000 to be drawn down from balances 2019/20 to fund the service’s operational delivery, marketing, research and development; and b) that Council approve that officer return to Cabinet in July 2020 to review the pilot and recommend the next steps for the project. |
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Civil Penalties Report Additional documents: Minutes: The Strategic Housing Manager introduced the report and in doing so informed Members that the report set out an alternative position to introduce Civil Penalties in appropriate housing related offences as an alternative to prosecution.
Officers from the Council’s Private Sector Housing Team would analyse and monitor the impact of this new approach and its impact on the sector in Bromsgrove. They would also share this analysis and any future proposals for developing this approach with the Portfolio Holders for Strategic Housing and Health and Welling Being; and Planning and Regulatory Services.
Members commented that the proposed scheme was a useful alternative and suggested that officers issued a press release on the proposed scheme.
RESOLVED a) that power be delegated to the Head of Community Services to approve the use of Civil Penalties in appropriate housing related offences as an alternative to prosecution; and b) that the financial penalty matrix, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, be adopted. |
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BDC Low Emission Vehicle Strategy Additional documents:
Minutes: The Environmental Policy and Awareness Officer and the Climate Change and Energy Support Officer presented a report in respect of introducing an Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) Strategy which included a five year action plan.
Officers highlighted that Bromsgrove District Council had been successful in bidding for £300,000 in the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Ultra-Low Emission Taxi Infrastructure Scheme: round 2.
Page 184 of the main agenda pack, detailed the vision and aims of the Ultra-Low Emission Vehicles (ULEV) Strategy.
In particular the Council would be seeking funding towards:-
· On street residential charging point schemes. · Workplace Charging Schemes.
There were other aspects of the strategy which could also link to the Council’s commercialism agenda, providing more cost effective services and opportunities for revenue generation to support public services. For example, electric vehicle pool cars, investment in the low carbon economy and revenue generation from electricity grid services.
The aims of the strategy would also contribute towards improving poor air quality in order to improve public health, as road transport was one of the biggest contributors.
A North Worcestershire working group had been set up to ensure a joined up approach between councils and cross border.
Members commented that the report was informative and that they were happy to see workplace charging points included. They welcomed the work carried out by officers in seeking grant funding and installing EV charging points.
RECOMMENDED:
1. that the ULEV strategy and associated Action Plan attached at Appendix 1 be adopted;
ULEV Taxi Infrastructure funding
2. that the Head of Environmental Services and Head of Community Services have delegated power to act following consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to administer the (OLEV) Ultra-Low Emission Taxi Infrastructure Scheme funding including site selection;
3. an increase be approved to the Capital Programme 2019/20 of £300k for the (OLEV) Ultra-Low Emission Taxi Infrastructure Scheme Funding;
4. that the Office for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) Ultra-Low Emission Taxi Infrastructure Scheme funding be used in procuring the installation of a dedicated electric taxi charging network which supports Bromsgrove Taxi drivers and operators in:
· Transitioning to electric vehicles · Their ability to travel into Birmingham’s Clean Air Zone
and
5. that the Head of Environmental Services and Head of Community Services have delegated power to act following consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder, to apply for, accept, and administer (including in partnership with other local authorities) future funding in line with this strategy. |
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Finance Outturn 2018/19 and Reserves Additional documents:
Minutes: The Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources presented the Financial Outturn 2017/18 and Reserves report and in so doing drew Members’ to the following:
· Capital Budgets - Keep my place safe and looking good (£443k underspend) and the variance position as detailed on page 235 of the main agenda pack. · Communities and Local Government, High Street Community Clean-up Grant and the request for approval on an increased budget of £5k. · Savings Monitoring. · Disabled Facilities Grants. · Recreation Ground. · Footpath and Cycle Network. · Earmarked Reserves – The position as the 1at April 2018 was £3m and at the end of the financial year included £2.718m that had been transferred to reserves. The majority of this related to setting aside section 31 Business rate grant/estimated Business rate surplus to provide funding for future risks £2.834m. · General Fund Balances – During 2018/19 there was a further approval of a use of balances of £946k towards the demolition of the Dolphin Centre and implementation of the planned associated car parking. This was now taking place in 2019/20. The current level of balances would therefore reduce to £3.980m. With the current level of balances the Council was able to consider new opportunities for funding in the future to include libraries and other public services.
The Chief Executive commented that it was the decision of the Council to delay works on the sports hall and that officers had managed this. With regard to the Ultra-Low Emissions Vehicle (ULEV) Strategy, officers would look at alternative vehicles, taking into consideration value and current costs, with a view to looking at replacing smaller vehicles initially.
The Senior Management Team would continue to look critically at every single budget line to consider the current financial position and would continue to work with Heads of Service with regard to this, in order to mitigate any future under spends; as there were still challenging times ahead.
RESOLVED that the current financial position in relation to revenue and capital budgets for the period April – March 2019 as detailed in the report, be noted.
RECOMMENDED
a) the approval of a transfer to balances of £186k is actioned as a result of revenue outturn savings 2018/19;
b) the approval of the movement of £60k in existing reserves as included in Appendix 1;
c) the approval of the addition of new reserves of £2,777k as included in Appendix 1;
d) to approve the carry forward to the 2019/20 capital programme of £4,984k as detailed in Appendix 3;
e) the approval of an increase in the 2019/20 Capital Programme of £163k for Disabled Facilities Grants. This is due to the budget allocations having now been announced by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG). This will increase the available budget to £913k;
f) the approval of an increase to the capital programme 2019/20 of £44k s106 monies for re-landscaping the recreation ground, Bromsgrove;
g) the approval of an increase to the Capital programme 2019/20 of £41k for a Bromsgrove combined Footpath and Cycle Way ... view the full minutes text for item 20/19 |
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Statement of Accounts Delegation Additional documents: Minutes: The Executive Director of Finance and Corporate Resources introduced the report and in doing so explained that the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee was established to discharge the functions conferred by the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015 in relation to the matters as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report; and specifically to consider the Council’s Financial and Governance arrangements, relating to the system of internal control and the effectiveness of internal audit, the annual governance statement; including the arrangements for the management of business risks.
The consideration of the Council’s Statement of Accounts and Governance Assurance was currently undertaken by the Committee with the final approval of the accounts recommended to Council.
Officers were proposing that the approval of the Statement of Accounts was delegated from Council to the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee. It was anticipated that it would enable members of the Committee to consider all elements of the financial controls and audit recommendations through to the final approval and to give assurance on governance and satisfy the wider requirements for sound financial management and internal control.
The Statement of Accounts had to be approved by Council or its delegated Committee by 31st July every year.
RECOMMENDED that the consideration and approval of the Council’s Annual Statement of Accounts, be delegated to the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee.
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