Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor S. R. Colella.

It was noted that the Leader had been called to an emergency Cabinet meeting at Worcestershire County Council,and would therefore be late joining the meeting.

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.

Councillor S. J. Baxter declared an Other Disclosable Interest as the Chair of Trustees for Wythall Community Association and Park, in relation to Agenda Item Number 9, Minute Number 46/24 – Bromsgrove Play Audit and Investment Strategy.

Councillor Baxter remained in the meeting for the consideration of this item and took part in the vote thereon.

There were no further Declarations of Interest.

Members received a report on the Bromsgrove Local Heritage List (LHL).

The Principal Conservation Officer presented the repot and in doing so informed Members that the Local Heritage List ,as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, was for the following parishes to be adopted:-

• Alvechurch
• Beoley
• Belbroughton and Fairfield
• Dodford with Grafton

In preparing this report the governance and decision making background for approval of the LHL was re-visited. This had resulted in the need for some adjustments as set out in paragraphs 3.16 to 3.20 in the report. The changes were around ensuring that the final list was approved by the correct decision making arm of the Council, and did not affect the consultation process itself or the day to day work being carried out by the Conservation Team.

Cabinet approved a revised LHL Strategy in March 2024, a summary of the Strategy was detailed on page 8 of the main  agenda pack.

Draft lists for Alvechurch, Beoley, Belbroughton and Fairfield, and Dodford with Grafton Parishes, were compiled earlier this year, ready for consultation. These lists add 140 properties to the draft LHL, and covered a diverse range of properties including houses, schools, village halls, places of worship and canal infrastructure.

A six-week consultation period commenced on Monday 27th May. Letters were sent to all owners/occupiers providing information about the consultation, including the listing for their property. This included a description and information on how the building met the LHL criteria. It also detailed the consultation event to be held in each parish as well as other ways of contacting the Conservation Team. Parish councils and Ward Members were also notified. The LHL page on the Conservation Section on the Council’s website also provided details of the consultation, with links to all relevant documents as well as the draft lists by parish. The Council’s Communications Team also promoted the consultation using social media.

Conservation officers also held conservation events in the village hall in each parish.

Seven objections were received. The Conservation Team considered these objections and reconsidered the properties. In all cases it was considered that the properties met the criteria and therefore should be included on the list, although descriptions and reasons for inclusion were amended in light of the comments and the re-examination.

Five further nominations were submitted. Of these, two were supported by the Conservation Team, one had already been considered and rejected, one was listed so could not be included, and the Wiggins Memorial Park in Alvechurch would be considered when officers considered parks and gardens as a separate category within the LHL. The owners of the two supported nominations were consulted with.

The LHL was pre-scrutinised by the Overview and Scrutiny Board, and a further update on the LHL was presented at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting on 23^rd July 2024.

RECOMMENDED that

1.1   the Local Heritage List, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report for the following parishes, be adopted:-

·       Alvechurch

·       Beoley

·       Belbroughton and Fairfield

·       Dodford with  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40/24

The Housing Development & Enabling Manager presented a report on the Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant Allocation for 2025/26, and in doing so informed Members that, the report sought Members approval to award the MHCLG Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse New Burdens Grant and the Council’s own Homelessness Grant to specific schemes as recommended.

Additionally, it further sought to delegate authority to the Assistant Director Community and Housing Services, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing, to allocate any underspend of the grant during 225/26 on schemes to prevent homelessness and to assist those who became homeless.

Members’ attention was also drawn to the financial implications, as detailed in the report, in that in addition to the annual Homelessness Grant £112,000, the Council was expecting to be awarded by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government (MHCLG), Homelessness Prevention Grant £260,432 and £35,298 Domestic Abuse New Burdens funding. The report sets out how the Council intended to utilise this funding to create a package of support and services to prevent homelessness and support those who became homeless. 

Paragraph 3.5 in the report highlighted how the monies would be allocated, however, Members were informed that CCP service had been funded across Bromsgrove and Redditch since 2017/18 and had provided a good service.  However, this service was no longer providing value for money.  Therefore, as detailed in paragraph 3.8 in the report, MAGGS service would now be providing this service, as they were more cost effective.

The Homelessness Prevention Grant and Domestic Abuse Grant supported the Council’s strategic priority of Housing.

Furthermore, the Homelessness Grant and Homelessness Prevention Grant would benefit customers by offering household’s more options to prevent their homelessness, support them to remain in their own homes or help the Council to manage and support households in Temporary Accommodation.

Members’ attention was drawn to risk management and that if the recommended schemes were not approved there was a risk that more households who were threatened with homelessness, or who were in housing need, would have limited alternative options. There was also the risk that they might have to make a homeless approach, and this could consequently lead to the following negative outcomes:-

· Increased B&B costs with 80% having to be picked up by the local authority.

· Increased rough sleeping in the District.

· Impacts on physical and mental health, educational achievement, ability to

   work and similar through increased homelessness.

Councillor S. A. Webb took the opportunity to express her sincere thanks to the Housing Development & Enabling Manager and team for all their hard work, in dividing the funds to worthy agencies and support workers, and the funds for St. Basil’s, which was a vital service for Bromsgrove.

The Housing Development & Enabling Manager responded to a number of questions from Members with regards to the following:-

·       The location of St. Basils and St. Basils Crash pad.

·       The revenue funding for an additional 4 static temporary accommodation units, which were used to help eliminate the use of unsuitable  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41/24

The Housing Development & Enabling Manager presented a report on Bromsgrove Low Cost Housing Scheme capital receipts and increasing the supply of accommodation, and in doing so referred to the Recommendations, as detailed on page 27 of the main agenda report.

Members were informed that a report was taken to Cabinet at the meeting held on 1^st February 2017, whereby Members resolved that:

“As and when these properties are offered for sale, so far as possible the Council’s share should also be sold and; 

That any Capital receipt be ring-fenced to provide funding to assist the Council in meeting its Strategic Purpose   “Help me find somewhere to live in my locality”

The capital receipts received from this decision amounted to  £547,912.26, and to date none of this capital money had been spent.  This report was asking Members to approve a plan to increase the supply of affordable housing to support its homelessness function through the use of these capital receipts in partnership with Bromsgrove District Housing Trust (BDHT).

The Council had seen a significant reduction in the number of affordable housing units becoming available since Covid. Some of this was due to households not being able to afford to move. It was also due to a shortage of new build developments in the District.

The cost of B&B had increased significantly over this period.  This was not unique to Bromsgrove. According to analysis of the Local Government Association’s (LGA) revenue account data, the total amount spent by councils on temporary accommodation had soared by more than £733m since 2015/16. According to the LGA, temporary accommodation bills presented a growing risk to councils. Other authorities were under the same pressure.

Some Members referred to paragraph 2.2 in the report, which detailed that Bromsgrove District Council had launched a low cost housing scheme approximately 27 years ago. Through this scheme the Council currently held a 30% share in each of the 111 remaining low cost housing properties.

Members questioned if this would make it more difficult to purchase under the shared ownership scheme.

The Housing Development & Enabling Manager stated that yes it would.

Councillor S. A. Webb took the opportunity to thank the Housing Development & Enabling Manager and the team.

RESOLVED that the Supply and Demand of Temporary Accommodation report, be noted; and

RECOMMENDED that

1)    the low cost housing receipts be used to purchase existing properties, flip shared ownership into social or affordable rented accommodation or invest in new build developments with BDHT to increase the supply of affordable housing and temporary accommodation to meet the growing demand; and

2)    delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director Community and Housing Services following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing, to approve individual proposals for new developments or the purchase of existing satisfactory dwellings and flipping Shared Ownership to affordable or social rented properties and the spend relating to these, as and when they were brought forward.

The Climate Change Manager presented the Carbon Reduction Strategy Annual Review.

The UK Government had committed to Net Zero by 2050.

Members were informed that the Strategy and Action Plan supported the Council’s priorities of Environment, Housing and Infrastructure, and carbon reduction measures were contained with the Council Plan In addition, it supported the delivery of achieving carbon reduction across council services.

This Strategy was specifically to achieve carbon reduction and net zero for our internal activities across all service areas. Furthermore, the Strategy also identified our influencing role in supporting the reduction of carbon emissions from other organisations e.g., our contractors.

The Section on Measuring and Setting Emissions Targets in the Strategy outlined the targets to be achieved to ensure net zero by 2040. The Strategy was key to addressing Climate Change. The Strategy and action plan sought to deliver a 50% reduction by 2030 and 100% by 2040. As part of our current work to establish a figure for the council’s activities we arrived at an estimated figure of 1,746 tonnes of carbon emissions per year for 2021.

As highlighted in the report the Councils fleet would be fuelled by HVO until alternative vehicles were sourced.

As  detailed in the Strategy, currently the carbon emission figure for the district of Bromsgrove was 669,200 tonnes per year (2019). The latest carbon emission for BDC was 818 tonnes (2019). In order to reach an interim target of 50% by 2030 we needed to reduce our emissions by approximately 41 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year.  To achieve net zero in the remaining 10 years to 2040 we would need a target of approximately 51 tonnes of savings per year.

Carbon savings had been made at Parkside and the Leisure Centre.  Staff mileage claims were being looked.  Claims were reducing but this did not take into account officers driving from Parkside to the Depot.

Other initiatives including in the Strategy were:-

·       Support BDHT to apply for funding to improve efficiency of housing stock.

·       Reduce staff travel and make further use of video conferencing.

·       Assess the viability of Council car parks and other sites for EV charges and Solar Canopies. Continue to work with Worcestershire County Council on a standardised approach to EV charger facilities. 

The Strategy and Action Plan would be reviewed annually and refreshed every three years.

Members raised a number of questions with regards to video conferencing and meetings that brought people together face to face.

The Chief Executive informed Members that there was currently a Government consultation on Local Authority Remote Meetings – Call for Evidence, which related to formal council meeting.  Senior officers would respond to the consultation, once their responses had been shared with Group Leaders.

Should Members require face to face meetings, officers would try and accommodate this.  Officers did join meetings remotely, but meetings were not routinely hybrid meetings.  Senior officers did promote face to face meetings for team engagement.

RECOMMENDEDthat the Council endorses the findings of the Annual Review of the Carbon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43/24

The Deputy Leader announced that prior to the commencement of the meeting, it was agreed that the running order of the agenda would, if necessary, be changed in order to accommodate the officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services who had a prior commitment until 14:45pm.

The Climate Change Manager therefore continued and presented the District Heat Network Revisions.

Members were informed that Bromsgrove District Council was developing a zero-carbon heat network project to supply clean heat to homes, businesses, and public buildings in Bromsgrove Town Centre, with potential for future expansion to Bromsgrove Town. A feasibility study conducted in 2019 identified a low-carbon district heating network based on an open loop aquifer ground source heat pump as the preferred technology. However, the project's original approach, which included a natural gas-fired combined heat and powerplant, was no longer aligned with current government decarbonisation targets.

The Council had already secured £247,500 in funding for the project in 2020. This included £227,500 from the Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (BEIS) Heat Network Delivery Unit (HNDU) and contributions from Bromsgrove School £10,000 and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust £10,000.  In addition, the Council had matched the funding with a contribution of £112,500.

The government's approach to heat network development had evolved since the feasibility study, with a focus on:

·       Phased out of Combined Heat and Power.

·       Heat Network Zoning.

·       Green Heat Network Fund (GNHF).

Recognising the importance of maximizing the initial impact of the project, the Council proposed to explore alternative locations for Phase 1 of the heat network within the Bromsgrove Town Centre area.

Bromsgrove District Council recognised that it did not currently have the internal expertise and knowledge to fully   deliver a district heat network project. Therefore, the Council was actively seeking a strong and experienced partner organisation to collaborate with.

The key criteria for partner selection included:

·        Proven track record.

·       Financial strength and stability.

·       Commitment to sustainability.

·        Community engagement.

Members thanked the officer for a very interesting report, which was in theory fantastic.  However Members questioned the practicality for new developments, and it being expensive to retro fit.  The Government was looking to phase out combined heating power, which then left air / water heat pumps or small plant that burnt waste.

Members further commented that moving forward the Council needed to know where houses were going to be built in order to agree what would be put in place. 

In response the Deputy Chief Executive stated that it was about putting an infrastructure in place prior to a major development.

The Chief Executive reassured Members that mitigation strategies were included in the report. 

A brief debate followed on the English Devolution White Paper.

The Assistant Director Assistant for Planning, Leisure and Culture Services briefly stated that in terms of the Local Plan review, it was in our gift to concur what the Council wanted, and that developers could be asked to look at new developments.

RESOLVED that

1)    the revised approach to deliver the Bromsgrove District Heat Network, be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 44/24

The Assistant Director Community and Housing Services briefly presented the  report, and in doing so referred to paragraph 2.3 in the report.

“Section 83A of the Environment Act 1995 requires Local Authorities (in response to declaring an AQMA) to prepare a written Air Quality Action Plan (AQAP). This must set out how the local authority and other stakeholders will take the necessary measures to secure the achievement, and maintenance, of air quality standards and objectives in the area to which the plan relates and must in relation to each measure specify a date by which it will be carried out and how it will be reviewed.”

The report further highlighted that in September 2023 officers contacted DEFRA raising concerns regarding the process and requested an alternative timetable for submission of AQAPs for four Worcestershire districts including Bromsgrove District Council. A revised timetable for submission of an AQMA was agreed and submission of a final AQAP was due to be submitted by April 2025.

The Assistant Director Community and Housing Services then took the opportunity to introduce the officers from Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS), the Technical Services Manager and the Specialist Lead Officer (Air Quality).

The Technical Services Manager informed Members that a piece of work was carried out with colleagues from Public Health and BDC to look at nitrogen  dioxide (NO₂₎  levels and the legal requirements.

The highest concentration of NO₂ was 36.6µ/m³ (microgrammes per meter cubed) recorded across the monitoring network in 2023 within the Worcester Road AQMA). As this was within the 10% of the national Air Qaulity objective for annual ro annual NO₂ the Council were required were required to put in place an Air Quality Action Plan.

The last exceedance of NO₂ or measured concentrations within 10% of the annual objective within the Redditch Road and Lickey End AQMAs were recorded in 2016. Due to the number of years, they had not exceeded the annual objective, Bromsgrove District Council were now required to undertake the work to revoke both of these AQMAs.

Therefore, following discussions with the Defra LAQM team in May 2024 it was confirmed that an AQAP was required for the Worcester Road, Bromsgrove AQMA only.

In response to questions from Members with regards to levels declining due to cleaner running engines, the WRS officers commented that there was a national trend with figures declining. This could possibly be due to cleaner running engines from vehicle manufacturers. However, modern vehicles would  decline their efficiencies over time.

Recent data from Worcestershire County Council. Highways indicated that travel had gone up but NO₂  levels were down.

RECOMMENDED that  

1.1     the Draft Air Quality Action Plan 2025-2030 be approved;

1.2     a Consultation on the Plan be undertaken for 2 months from Mid-

           December to February 2025: and

1.3     authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Community and Housing,   following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Licencing Worcestershire Regulatory Services, to approve the final Plan following the consultation, and for submission  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45/24

The Assistant Director Planning and Leisure Services presented the Bromsgrove Play Audit and Investment Strategy, and in doing so informed Members that the Bromsgrove Play Audit and Investment Strategy was presented at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting on 9^th December 2024.

Appendix 1 to the report detailed all of the play areas locations and their condition.

Appendix 2 to the report detailed the order of investment needed for play areas that would be within 10/15 minutes walking time for nearby residents.

The report detailed that currently there were 85 play areas across the district. A total of 40 of these were owned and managed by Bromsgrove District Council, the other 45 were owned / managed by other organisations including parish councils, community associations, and private management companies.

Bromsgrove Play Investment Strategy was focused on the 40 play spaces that Bromsgrove District Council were responsible for.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor P. M. McDonald, Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board stated that the Board had raised a few minor questions, with regards to some minor detail anomalies in the cfp document.

Councillor McDonald drew Members attention to the Boards suggested amendment to Recommendation 2 in the report, as follows:-

2.       That the approach to capital investment as presented in The Bromsgrove

           Play Audit and Investment Strategy (Appendix 2) is accepted and that

           officers are requested to prepare bids for capital funding, as applicable,

           to be considered in due course and in the context of other funding bids

           in consultation with Ward Members.

The Leader thanked Councillor McDonald.

The Leader further referred to the English Devolution White Paper and sought reassurance from the Deputy Chief Executive (and s151 officer) in securing funding for Bromsgrove ensuring that the Council had enough reserves. We needed to ensure sustainable provision.

The Deputy Chief Executive (and s151 officer) that the capital programme funding and capital spend, along with earmarked reserves would be looked at.

The Deputy Leader commented that funding could not be secured for broken play equipment only for the replacement of play equipment.  Should this be referred to in the Risk Management, as this could impact on the delivery of the Strategy.

In response the Assistant Director Planning and Leisure Services agreed this  was correct and that Parish Council mapping needed to be carried out and included in the next MTFP. The Deputy Chief Executive further agreed that this would be included in Tranche 2 of the MTFP.

Further discussions followed on the play areas that were managed by management companies and their maintenance.

RESOLVED that   

1)    the approach to improve the accessibility of equipped children’s play as presented in the Bromsgrove Play Assessment, as detailed at Appendix1 to the report, be adopted; and

the amended Recommendation, from the Overview and Scrutiny Board, as referred to in the preamble above, as follows:-  

2)    the approach to capital investment as presented in, The Bromsgrove Play Audit and Investment Strategy, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report, be accepted and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46/24

The Deputy Chief Executive presented the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) – Tranche 1 Budget including Fees and Charges.

MTFP 2025/6 Tranche 1

The Council sets a 3-year Medium Term Financial Plan every year, with the final Council Tax Resolution being approved by Council in February.  This year’s process takes account of the following factors:

·       The starting point from the 2024/5 MTFP being neutral starting balances.

·       This was the first budget of a new National Government and would be for only 1 year in duration. Future budgets would be multi year.

·       The present cost of living crisis which continued to impact our most vulnerable residents.

·       Three years accounts (2020/21 to 2022/23) where the Council had/would receive a disclaimer opinion (like many other Councils). 

·       The continued uncertainty of the existing movement of the Government to funding projects as per the Chancellors Statement on the 30^th October and not knowing yet those allocations.

·       Uncertainty over what would be required by the new Government, and other stakeholders.

·       Loss of key personnel, present vacancies rates, and staff retention

·       Business Rates and Council Tax Income – and associated collection rates and reliefs linked to the “cost of living” crisis and C-19 grants working their way through our system.

·       Inflation now moving back to the Government target of 2%.

As such, it was prudent to split the budget process into two tranches,

·       Having an initial Tranche which sought to close as much of the deficit as possible using information known as at the end of October, after the Chancellors Statement but before the Local Government Settlement) and seeking approval for those savings to be implemented at Council in January,

·       Having a second Tranche after the Christmas break, for which approval would be sought in February, that takes account of the Local Government Settlement whose final detail would not be known until early January.

The emerging national picture was in many ways quite similar to last year

·       The War in Ukraine had still not been resolved impacting inflation rates that impacted everyone.

·       Councils having declared “Climate Emergencies” and having challenging carbon reduction targets to deliver by 2030, 2040 and 2050.  These needed to move into implementation.

·       We had the Office for Local Government in 2023 looking at Council data to assess performance and trying to predict if Councils were getting into difficulty.

·       The data provided was important as the Government now worked on an allocation’s method using data to inform its decisions.

·       In the Local Government area

·       There were a number of Local Authorities who had now issued S114 Statements.

·       Bromsgrove would have 3 years of accounts that would have a Disclaimer Opinion issued by the External Auditor. 

·       That in the Local Government sector, there were still circa 700 Audits up to 2022/23 that were still not Audited at this time across Councils in England.

The Chancellors Autumn Statement made on the 30^th October had the following impacts on Council budgets:

·       A 3.2% real-terms increase in Core Spending Power (CSP) for the whole sector  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47/24

The Deputy Chief Executive presented the Quarter 2 Finance and Performance Monitoring report.

Members were informed that the purpose of this report was to set out the Council’s draft Revenue and Capital Outturn position for the second quarter of the financial year July 2024 – September 2024 and associated performance data. This report presented:-

·       The Council’s forecast outturn revenue monitoring position for 2024/25 based on data to the end of Quarter 2.

·       The position in respect of balance sheet monitoring as requested by the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee.

·       The spending as of Q2 of Ward Budget Funds.

·       The updated procurement pipeline of Council projects to be delivered over the next 12 months in order to properly plan for the delivery of these projects.

·       The organisations performance against the strategic priorities outlined in the Council Plan Addendum, including operational measures to demonstrate how the council was delivering its services to customers.

Financial Performance

The draft position was a £343k overspend position, up from the £103k position set out in the Q1 report. As this was expenditure at Q2 it was important to note that, at this stage in the financial year there were a number of instances where annual expenditure or accruals may distort the profiling as reflected in the Q2 actual. The above profiles had assumed support services and grant were adjusted to budgetary levels and accruals were netted out of the figures.

Detail of the overspends were set out in paragraph 3.5. The overspends (£1.364m) were offset by additional income (£1.02m) in Corporate Financing from additional grant income together with increased investment interest receivable and lower interest payable. It should be noted that in the Planning, Regeneration and Leisure area there were £385k of additional UKSPF costs. These needed to be assessed at this should be grant funded. This would bring the overspend position back to parity.

As set out in the MTFP report, additional funding had been added for the level of the Pay Award made recently, which was above the 4% allowed for in the 2024/5 budget.

Cash Management

Borrowing - As of the 30th September 2024, there was no short-term borrowings. The Council had no long-term borrowings.

Investments - On 30^th September 2024 there were £4.5m short-term investments held.

Capital Monitoring

A capital programme of £7.1m was approved in the Budget for 2024/25 in April 2024. The table in 3.9 and the detail in Appendix A set out the Capital Programme schemes that were approved for the MTFP time horizon.

The outturn spend was £1.994m against a capital budget totalling £7.069m and was detailed in Appendix A. It should be noted that as per the budget decision carry forwards of £7.166m would be rolled forward from 2023/24 into 2024/25 to take account of slippage from 2023/24.

Included in this funding the Council also had the following Grant Funded Schemes which were being delivered in 2024/25:

·       The two Levelling Up schemes – Old Fire Station and Market which were funded via £14.5m of Government Funding,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48/24

RESOLVED: that under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act, as amended, the relevant paragraph of that part, in each case, being as set out below, and that it is in the public interest to do so:-

It was agreed by Members that exclusion of the press and public was not necessary in relation to Minute Numbers 50/24 and 51/24 (To confirm the accuracy of the minutes of the Cabinet held on 21^st October 2024 and the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 17^th October and 19^th November 2024).  The meeting remained in public session for its entire duration.

The minutes from the Cabinet meeting held on 21^st October 2024 were submitted for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED that the minutes from the Cabinet meeting held on 21^st October 2024 be approved as a true and accurate record.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board was present for consideration of this item. It was noted that there were no outstanding recommendations from the meetings of the Board held on 17^th October and 19^th November 2024.

This included the Recommendation from the Foodbank and Community Shop Provision Task Group – Proposed Amendment to Recommendation, as detailed in the Minutes from the meeting held on 19^th November 2024, Minute Number 54/23. The suggested Recommendation to Council had now been approved by the Overview and Scrutiny Board.

RESOLVED that the minutes from the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting held on 17^th October and 19^th November 2024 be noted.

In the brief absence of the Council’s Principal Solicitor and with the agreement of the Leader, the Deputy Chief Executive presented the Shareholders Committee - Committee Arrangements and Appointment of Members.

The report detailed the arrangements for the operation of the Shareholders Committee for the Council company, Spadesbourne Homes Limited.

The draft Terms of Reference for the Cabinet Shareholders Committee were detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

The Table of Reserved Matters for the Shareholders Committee were detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

Members were now being asked to nominate five Members of the Cabinet to sit on the Shareholders Committee, with one of those Members also being nominated as Chairman of the Committee.

Having joined the meeting, the Council’s Principal Solicitor commented that the report was quite self-explanatory.

At a meeting of Cabinet held on 12^th July 2023, Members had agreed to establish a housing company limited by shares and wholly owned by the Council to manage retained housing stock initially at Burcot Lane in Bromsgrove. This company was named Spadesbourne Homes Limited.

A further report on this subject, detailing proposed arrangements for the governance structure for the company, specifically the introduction of a Shareholders Committee as a sub-committee of the Cabinet, was considered at a meeting of the Cabinet subsequently held on 13^th September 2023.

As the Shareholders Committee was a sub-committee of Cabinet, only Cabinet Members could be appointed to serve on the Committee.

A brief discussion took place with Members agreeing the nominations and Chairman of the Shareholders Committee, as follows:-

1.     Councillor K. J. May – Committee Member and Chairman

2.     Councillor S. R. Colella

3.     Councillor S. J. Baxter

4.     Councillor P. J. Whittaker

5.     Councillor B. McEldowney

RESOLVED that

1)    the proposed terms of reference for the Shareholders Committee be noted;

2)    Members agree five Members of the Cabinet to be appointed to sit on the Shareholders Committee for the remainder of the 2024/25 municipal year. (Members nominated as detailed in the preamble above);

3)    Members agree one of these five Members of the Cabinet to be the Chairman of the Shareholders Committee. (Chairman nominated as detailed in the preamble above); and

4)    the matters reserved to the Shareholders Committee for determination under the terms of the Council’s agreement with Spadesbourne Homes Limited, be noted.

There was no Urgent Business on this occasion.