Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

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 P. Whittaker declared an Other Disclosable Interest in respect of Minute Item 4/25 – Contaminated Land Strategy on the basis that he owned land previously used as a landfill site. Councillor Whittaker remained present for consideration of the report and took part on the vote thereon.

There were no other Declarations of Interest.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 26^th March 2025 were submitted for Members’ consideration.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 26^th March 2025 be approved and signed as a true and accurate record.

The Specialist Lead Officer (Contaminated Land) from Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) presented the Contaminated Land Strategy report for Members’ consideration.

During the presentation of the report, it was noted that this updated Strategy was a revision of the one published in May 2001.

The current version outlined the process for review of potential contaminated land sites and the strategic approach that was due to be taken in terms of contaminated land going forward. Contained within the new strategy was greater emphasis on the Planning process.

It was reported that there was no change to the statutory responsibilities contained within the Part 2A of the Environmental Protection Act 1990 placed on the Local Authority.

Six Districts across Worcestershire were being looked at as part of the review, with Redditch Borough Council having been the first to agree its updated strategy in 2024.

It was noted that the report had been pre-scrutinised at the Overview and Scrutiny Board meeting the previous evening however no recommendations to Cabinet had been made as a result of the pre-scrutiny. The Leader noted that there had, however, been some queries raised at the meeting in respect of two sites within the District that might potentially be contaminated and may require remediation works in the future due to previous uses. Officers had undertaken to look into these sites further as part of the strategy.

RECOMMENDED that

The Council adopts the revised strategy which should be published on the Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) website.

The Climate Change Manager presented the Warm Homes Local Grants Funding and Resources report for the consideration of Cabinet. It was explained that this funding provided an opportunity to provide support to low-income families in private accommodation (not social housing) and those who were at risk of fuel poverty and to improve energy efficiency across the District. The Warm Homes Local Grant also aligned with the Government’s objective to improve energy performance of homes.

Members were informed that Act on Energy were to provide customer engagement for the scheme and to work with residents. In addition, they would provide a list of properties that were in need of improved energy measures and were most likely to meet the eligibility criteria for the scheme. The eligibility criteria were outlined as follows:

·                 IMD:ID Eligible Postcodes – these were Households located in postcodes that fell within the most deprived 25 per cent according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD).

·                 Households with a gross income below £36,000 per year or a net income of £20,000 or less after housing costs or Households classified as low-income, that could be demonstrated by receipt of specific means tested benefits.

·                 Properties that had an Energy Performance Certificate rating between D and G.

It was noted that there would need to be careful communications around this scheme in order to manage the expectations of residents in terms of whether or not they might be eligible for funding.

In terms of funding, there was likely to be approximately £15,000 allocated to each recipient of the funding. However, this could be flexible depending on the efficiency needs of the property. Therefore, the number of properties who might benefit from this funding weretwo homes in the first year of funding, nine in the second year and eight in the final year.

Members queried the number of properties within the District that had been identified by Act on Energy as potentially in need of energy efficiency measures. It was reported that this was likely to be around one hundred homes. However, there could be more as some of these properties might be located in communities that were hard to reach and did not always engage with these partner agencies. The available funding was not enough to cover funding for all of these properties.

Cabinet requested that more research be done on eligible postcodes and whether this was an effective way to identify recipients, particularly as there might be residents whose properties were eligible but not in an eligible postcode. The Climate Change Manager explained that there was a map available showing eligible postcodes. This would be circulated to all Members following the meeting.

Rural Poverty was also apparent in the District and this was an area that could be looked into as part of this funding. Councillor S. Webb suggested that there might be an opportunity for Act on Energy to work alongside the Citizens Advice Bureau who visited these more rural locations regularly to provide information on the scheme.

Members  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16/25

The Leader presented the Cabinet Appointments to Outside Bodies report and consideration was given to the list of appointments, as detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

Members commented on the future of the appointment to the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership (WLEP) and if this would be needed in the future given the Local Government Reorganisation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet nominates Members to outside bodies as detailed in Appendix 1 to the minutes.

The Leader presented the Appointments to the Shareholders’ Committee. It was explained that this Committee formed part of the governance structure for Spadesbourne Homes Ltd. During consideration of the report, it was noted that there had been a reshuffle of Cabinet Members which had resulted in the numbers being reduced from seven Members to six for the ensuing municipal year. This had resulted in the need for a change to the Terms of Reference for the Committee to reflect the reduction in Members for this municipal year.

The nominations to the Shareholders’ Committee must be Members of the Cabinet and it was reported that Councillors S. Webb and K. Taylor would not be included in the membership of the Committee as it was deemed that there might be a future conflict due to their positions as Portfolio Holders for Strategic Housing and Planning respectively.

The nominations were received as follows:

1. Councillor K. May
2. Councillor S. Baxter
3. Councillor B. McEldowney
4. Councillor P Whittaker

Councillor K. May was nominated as Chairman for the municipal year 2025/26 and Councillor S. Baxter was nominated as Vice-Chairman for the municipal year 2025/26.

On being put to the vote it was

RECOMMENDED that

1)    the updated Terms of Reference for the Shareholders Committee be approved;

RESOLVED that

2)    The following four Members be appointed to the Shareholders’ Committee for the municipal year 2025/26

·       Councillor K. May

·       Councillor S. Baxter

·       Councillor B. McEldowney

·       Councillor P Whittaker

3)    Councillor K. May be appointed as Chairman for the municipal year 2025/26.

4)    Councillor S. Baxter be appointed as Chairman for the municipal year 2025/26.

This recommendation was made by the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee at its meeting held on 20^th March 2025.

The Leader presented the recommendation from the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee meeting held on 20^th March 2025.

Cabinet unanimously agreed that this was an appropriate recommendation and if any Member did not undertake the Know Be4 training by the given deadline, access to the Council’s IT system would be removed. 

RESOLVED that cyber security KnowBe4 training be made mandatory for all Members.

(a)      To receive and note the minutes

There are no recommendations for the consideration of Cabinet contained within the Overview and Scrutiny Board meetings minutes included in this agenda.

The minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 25th March 2025 and 15th April 2025 were submitted for the Cabinet’s consideration. It was noted that there were no outstanding recommendations contained within these minutes.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 25th March 2025 and 15th April 2025 be noted.

There was no Urgent Business on this occasion.

"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 item(s) of business on the grounds that it/they involve(s) 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:-

RESOLVED that

Under S100 A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following matters on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 4 of Part 1 of Schedule 12 of the said act, as amended. Minute Item No. 12 – Promoting Independent Living Service.

The Strategic Housing and Business Support Manager presented the Promoting Independent Living Service Contract Proposals for Members consideration. In doing so the following was highlighted:

• The Promoting Independent Living Service was previously considered by Members in 2024. As a result of this consideration, it was agreed that the current provider continued to provide services for a further twelve months.
• The Council had a statutory duty to provide the Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) through its Housing Assistance Policy.

On being put to the vote it was

RESOLVED that

Officers to work towards ensuring the continuation of the Promoting Independent Living Service.

(During consideration of this item, Members discussed matters that necessitated the disclosure of exempt information. It was therefore agreed to move to exclude the press and public prior to any debate on the grounds that information would be revealed which related to the financial and business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matters arising between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority. However, there is no exempt information contained within this minute).