There were no announcements from the Chairman or Head of Paid Service.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are required to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

To confirm the Record of Decisions made at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21 February 2017.

The Record of Decisions made by the Cabinet on 21 February 2017, copies of which had been previously circulated were confirmed by Cabinet.

To receive items raised by members of scrutiny which have been submitted to the Leader (copied to Chief Executive and Democratic Services Officer) by 4.30 pm on Friday 17 March 2017.

The Chairman had not been formally notified of any items raised by Scrutiny.

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 56/2017

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 56/2017 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Hemsley, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to gain approval for the Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2017-22 following consultation.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)                 The former Highways depot at Ashwell was no longer believed to a suitable site.  Strategy to be updated to reflect this.

ii)               The Council’s affordable housing target was for 40 additional properties per year; in general would expect just over 50% to typically be 1 or 2 bedroom properties.

iii)              The housing register as at 1 April 2016 showed less demand for 3 and 4 or more bedroom properties than for 1 and 2 bedroomed properties.  However, the number of people on a list was not always the best indicator of the most urgent cases.  Council was working with some builders to  influence the market with regards to larger properties especially for ex-forces personnel.

iv)             The Action Plan 2017-22 (Appendix 1 of Appendix B to Report No. 56/2017) would be monitored by the Housing Working Review Group.  An Annual Report would be taken by the Health and Wellbeing Board; linking in with the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA).

v)               The Council was to receive grant funding of £40,000 for each of two years, to reduce homelessness.  Terms and Conditions would need to be considered by officers prior to a further decision being taken on how to review and allocate the funding.

vi)             There was a demand for properties for younger families and single people.

vii)            Respondents to consultation Ref. HHS7 in the summary of consultation responses and proposed changes (Appendix A to Report No. 56/2017) to be clarified.  Mr Walters expressed his disappointment that respondents had failed to engage meaningfully with the proposed change; that this was a wasted opportunity.

viii)           That this strategy needed to be highlighted in the poverty papers going forward.

DECISION

1)    That Cabinet AGREED to adopt the Housing and Homelessness Strategy 2017-22, attached as Appendix B to Report No. 56/2017.

Reason for Decision

1.     The production of a Homelessness Strategy was a statutory requirement and it was appropriate to produce a combined Housing and Homelessness Strategy to avoid duplication and to enable a cross-cutting strategic approach.  It would assist in meeting the challenges of homelessness prevention, service provision and temporary accommodation and the provision of new affordable housing at a difficult time.  It set out a strategic framework which would continue to promote the delivery of these objectives over the medium and long term.

Report No. 63/2017

Report No. 63/2017 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Walters, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to update Cabinet on the proposed bid submission to the Discover England Fund for the A1 England tourism project which sought to increase inward investment from tourism into Rutland and partners’ areas.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)                 Concerns were raised over the Council’s liability once the grant was awarded and accepted. 

ii)               Timeline discussed (shown below):

iii)              Compliance with State Aid Rules - Legal advice would be sought once grant offered.

iv)             If the bid was successful Cabinet would be required to agree the Term and Conditions.

DECISION

1)    That Cabinet AGREED to support the submission of a £1,000,000 grant funding bid to the Discover England Fund and NOTED the £400,000 match funding requirement if the bid was successful.

Reasons for Decision

1.     This was an excellent opportunity for the Council to lead in a project to drive foreign investment from tourism in England, particularly benefitting Rutland for whom tourism contributes significantly to economic growth and employment.  It would also raise the profile of Rutland both nationally and abroad.

2.     The flexible combination of grant, cash match and in-kind funding means that there is no requirement on the Council to commit funding from its revenue budgets or reserves and thus, despite the positive project outcomes, the Medium Term Financial Plan would be not be adversely impacted.

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10.00a.m. Mr Hemsley left the meeting

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Report No. 57/2017

Report No. 57/2017 from the Director for Places (Development and Economy) was received.

The purpose of the report was to seek Cabinet approval for the Langham Neighbourhood Plan prior to forwarding it to the Full Council for the plan to be ‘made’ following an examination by an Independent Examiner and a referendum on the plan with the local community.

Mr Wilby advised that questions on education received from Miss Waller would be responded to by Gill Curtis, Head of Service – Lifelong Learning; and Robert Shore, Adult Learning Manager had been requested, if necessary,  to contact the Langham Neighbourhood Steering Group and Parish Council regarding the comments on Further Adult Education

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)                 The RCC Neighbourhood Plan Working Group was working on a new draft policy.

ii)               Communities should be encouraged to review plans.

iii)              That there would be a stronger narrative with the report when taken to Council regarding the aspirations and that which was achievable; to be contained within Neighbourhood Plans.

DECISION

1)    That Cabinet RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL the making of the Langham Neighbourhood Plan in Appendix A to Report No. 57/2017.

2)    That Cabinet APPROVED the publication of the Decision statement in Appendix B to Report No. 57/2017 as part of the making of the Langham Neighbourhood Plan.

Reasons for Decision

1.     The Langham Neighbourhood Plan had been prepared in accordance with the relevant legislative requirements, including public consultation, independent examination and local referendum.  More than 50% of those voting in the referendum voted in favour of the plan and therefore the Council was formally required to make the plan.

2.     Subject to Cabinet approval, it was recommended that the Langham Neighbourhood Plan be made by resolution of the Council on 10^th April 2017.  Once made, the neighbourhood plan would become part of the statutory development plan.  It would thereafter be an important consideration in the determination of planning applications for development in Langham.

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10.15a.m. Mr Hemsley re-joined the meeting

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(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 58/2017

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 58/2017 from the Director for Places (Environment, Planning and Transport) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Mathias, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to consider the evaluation methodology for the replacement tree maintenance contract.

DECISION

1)    That Cabinet APPROVED the proposed evaluation methodology for the tree maintenance contract as set out in Appendix 1 to Report No. 58/2017.

2)    That Cabinet AUTHORISED the Director for Places (Environment, Planning and Transport) in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Places (Highways, Transport and Market Towns, to award the contract in accordance with the evaluation criteria.

Reason for Decision

1.     The recommendation was the Cabinet approved the proposed evaluation methodology for the replacement tree maintenance contract (attached as Appendix 1 to Report No. 58/2017) using a 60/40 quality/price split.  This weighting would ensure a good quality service whilst mitigating the risk of any adverse financial impact on the Council.

(KEY DECISION)

Report No. 59/2017

Report No. 59/2017 from the Director for Places (Environment, Planning and Transport) was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Mathias, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to consider the revised Highway Inspection Policy attached as Appendix 1 to Report No. 59/2017.

During discussion the following points were raised:

i)                 That consideration be given to developing a system by which parish clerks could be advised that Highways was in receipt of an issue.

ii)               That the number of reported issues responded to could be reported in the quarterly Performance Management Report and a monthly report to parish clerks.  

DECISION

1)    That Cabinet APPROVED the Highway Inspection Policy attached at Appendix 1 to Report No. 59/2017.

Reason for Decision

1.     To deliver the Council’s strategic aims to ‘safeguard the most vulnerable and support the health and wellbeing needs of our community’, by providing a safe highway network and to fulfil the Council’s statutory duties with regard to highway maintenance and road safety.

Cabinet is recommended to determine whether the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and in accordance with the Access to Information provisions of Procedure Rule 239, as the following item of business is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 7: Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.

Cabinet is recommended to determine whether the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and in accordance with the Access to Information provisions of Procedure Rule 239, as the following item of business is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 7:  Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecuted of crime.

Cabinet AGREED to remain in public session unless detailed discussion was held on the exempt information at which point the meeting would move into exempt session.

Report No. 52/2017

Report No. 52/2017 from the Director for Resources was received.

The Portfolio Holder, Mr Hemsley, introduced the report, the purpose of which was to seek approval of a Risk Based Verification Policy for the administration of Housing Benefit and Local Council Tax Support (LCTS).

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The meeting entered exempt session

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During discussion the following point was raised:

i)                 All self-employed applicants are required to produce supporting evidence to validate income and outgoings.  The Council requests up-to-date information and does not rely on the last filed accounts.

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The meeting returned to public session

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DECISION

1)    That Cabinet APPROVED the Risk Based Verification Policy detailed at Appendix A to Report No. 52/2017, as recommended by the Council’s Section 151 officer (Assistant Director – Finance).

Reason for Decision

1.     Members were required to approve a Risk Based Verification Policy prior to implementation by officers.

To receive items of urgent business which have previously been notified to the person presiding.

No items of urgent business had previously been notified to the Chairman.