Council and councillors

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no announcements made.

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.

There were no declaratioins of interest.

To confirm the Record of Decisions made at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21^st April 2020

The Record of Decisions made at the meeting of Cabinet held on 21st April 2020 were confirmed.

To receive items raised by members of scrutiny which have been submitted to the Leader and Chief Executive (copying Governance) by 12 noon, Friday 15^th May 2020

There were no items raised by Scrutiny

Report no: 75/2020

Cabinet noted the progress update in respect of the St George’s Project.

Councillor Hemsley as the relevant Portfolio Holder, updated Cabinet and explained that there was continued work with the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and Homes England and work is being undertaken to progress the draft terms and conditions and the draft contractual documentation.

It was reported that Homes England had asked all Local Authorities who are/potential beneficiaries of HIF funding to assess the impact of COVID-19 on the proposed infrastructure programme. Rutland County Council has flagged that the Local Plan Regulation 19 consultation is currently suspended. However, Members were informed that a Local Plan Regulation 19 update report would be submitted at the next Cabinet meeting on the 16^th June 2020.

RESOLVED:

That the progress update in respect of the St George’s Project be noted.

Reason for decision:

Progress on the project is in line with the programme.

Report No:50/2020

Cabinet approved the Whistleblowing Policy appended to the report.

Councillor Hemsley, as the relevant Portfolio Holder elaborated on the report and explained that the Whistleblowing Policy had already been considered by the Audit and Risk Committee and their recommended revision had been incorporated in the policy.

RESOLVED:

That the Whistleblowing Policy appended to the report be approved.

Reason for decision:

The Council’s Whistleblowing Policy has been reviewed and updated to take account minimal changes and it is therefore recommended that this Policy be approved and implemented immediately.

Report No: 51/2020

Cabinet approved the following revised draft Policies and Procedures:

a) Compliments Comments and Complaints Policy and Procedure (Appendix A of the report).

b) Adults Social Care Complaints Policy and Procedure (Appendix B of the report).

c) Children’s Social Care Complaints Policy and Procedure (Appendix C of the report).

Councillor Hemsley, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, elaborated on the report and explained that the Council’s main complaints policy was due for review and the two supporting protocols appended to the report had been reviewed to ensure consistency across all of the Councils complaints policies.

It was noted that additional wording had been added with regards to Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) complaints which was done to ensure that customers were aware that complaints in this area had their own regulations that would be followed.

Councillor G Brown notified Cabinet that the report had also been considered at the Audit and Risk Committee on the 4^th February 2020 and their recommendations had been incorporated.

The Strategic Director of Resources, in response to a question asked, explained that the flow chart contained within Appendix B or the report would be re-visited in order to ensure that service failures and service requests are more clearly defined.

RESOLVED:

That the following revised draft Policies and Procedures be approved:

a)    Compliments Comments and Complaints Policy and Procedure (Appendix A of the report).

b)    Adults Social Care Complaints Policy and Procedure (Appendix B of the report).

c)     Children’s Social Care Complaints Policy and Procedure (Appendix C of the report).

Reason for decisions:

The Draft Compliments, Comments and Complaints Policy and Process, The Draft Adults’ Social Care Complaints Policy and Procedure and the Draft Childrens’ Social Care Policy and Procedure are presented for approval.

Report No: 68/2020

(KEY DECISION)

1.     Cabinet approved the priorities of single persons or childless couple’s accommodation and five and six-bedroomed properties in section 3 of this report

2.     Cabinet approved an affordable housing commuted sum allocation of £932,400

3.     Cabinet authorised the Strategic Director of Places to undertake a bidding process for grant applications from housing associations and from within the Council, setting out in a separate document for bidders the priorities in section 3, other lower priority bids that may be accepted and the details of the scoring matrix to be used by the Council

4.     Cabinet authorised the Strategic Director of Places to hold informal discussions with the bidders if appropriate

5.     Cabinet requested that the Strategic Director of Places bring a further report to Cabinet on the outcome of the bidding process and recommending a way forward, including proposed budget recommendations for the capital programme.

Councillor Walters as the relevant Portfolio Holder, elaborated on his report and explained that officers had examined the current situation regarding the Council’s housing register (waiting list).

The Council had been given the opportunity to look at the bidding priorities and in response to questions asked, Councillor Walters explained that the Council would continue to support young families in line with the Corporate Plan and noted that the definition of a traditional ‘family’ had changed significantly in recent years.

Councillor Stephenson commented that she was very much in favour of the recommendations as she considered them to be evidence and needs based.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the priorities of single persons or childless couple’s accommodation and five and six-bedroomed properties in section 3 of the report be approved.

2.     That an affordable housing commuted sum allocation of £932,400 be approved.

3.     That the Strategic Director of Places be authorised to undertake a bidding process for grant applications from housing associations and from within the Council, setting out in a separate document for bidders the priorities in section 3 of the report, other lower priority bids that may be accepted and the details of the scoring matrix to be used by the Council

4.     That the Strategic Director of Places be authorised to hold informal discussions with the bidders if appropriate

5.     That the Strategic Director of Places be requested bring a further report to Cabinet on the outcome of the bidding process and recommending a way forward, including proposed budget recommendations for the capital programme.

Reason for decision:

The proposals in the report would enable affordable housing commuted sums to be spent to meet a range of local housing need and to achieve value for money.

Report No: 70/2020

(KEY DECISION)

1) Cabinet noted the implications of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the Care Act Easements.

2) Cabinet delegated authority to activate the Easements to the Strategic Director for People, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Safeguarding Adults, in line with the process proposed in this Report.

Councillor Walters, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, submitted his report and elaborated thereon, explaining that on the 31^st March 2020, the Coronavirus Act 2020 had come into force and that the legislative changes under the Coronavirus Act enabled local authorities, working with providers, to streamline assessments, reviews and care planning, and to prioritise care and support. This would ensure that the most urgent and acute needs would be met. It was noted that there was no current intent to enact the easement.

The Strategic Director of People noted that the Care Act Easements would be used only as a last resort to mitigate risk, and where there are no alternative options. He explained that there would soon be increased pressures as services would slowly return to normal and the balance of recovery and dual demands would increase.

RESOLVED:

1) That the implications of the Coronavirus Act 2020 and the Care Act Easements be noted.

2) That authority to activate the Easements be delegated to the Strategic Director for People, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Safeguarding Adults, in line with the process proposed in the report.

Reason for decisions:

The Care Act Easements may only be used as a last resort. Currently we are confident that the Easements are not required and will attempt to avoid using these new powers unless necessary. Adult Social Care has, for several years, operated a preventative approach to care and support and are working proactively to respond to the needs of our community at this time.

The impact and requirements of the new Care Act Easements are to manage service impact during the Coronavirus crisis. The Easements allow for certain Local Authority duties to be suspended in order to prioritise for those most in need during this time. Delegation to the Strategic Director for People will enable the Easements to be agreed quickly to manage increased demand on statutory services.

Report No: 72/2020

(KEY DECISION)

Cabinet approved the allocation of capital receipts of £81,000 to pay for the provision of replacement CCTV and security lighting equipment at Oakham Enterprise Park.

Councillor G Brown, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, submitted his report and elaborated thereon. He explained that the Council as commercial landlord was obliged to keep its premises in good order and. Recently, there had been a number of issues on the site including thefts of vehicles and materials; improvements to the external lighting and the replacement of the CCTV, it having reached the end of its operational and economic life, would offer enhanced security and assurance. Additionally, the installation by others of ANPR equipment scheduled to be located nearby, would enable any unauthorised activity to be tracked and addressed in partnership with the local police provision.

RESOLVED:

That the allocation of capital receipts of £81,000 to pay for the provision of replacement CCTV and security lighting equipment at Oakham Enterprise Park be approved.

Reasons for decision:

The Council is required by a variety of statutory and regulatory duties, primarily

 · Health and Safety at Work Act etc.1974 and

 · Landlord and Tenant Act 1954

Ensuring business premises are ‘well maintained, safe and healthy places for people to visit and work, so far as reasonably practicable’.

The use of Oakham Enterprise Park as a site for local employment and training now requires additional investment to ensure security and lighting provision is maintained to a satisfactory standard as defined by regulatory duty and local lease agreements

An inability to maintain this asset in accordance with the above may result in reduced future lettings and an increased risk profile as tenants perceive adverse impact on their business and employees.

Proposed equipment that has been specified to remediate the security and lighting deficiencies at Oakham Enterprise Park offers sustainable and resilient solutions that are suitable and sufficient for reuse should an estate wide redevelopment be proposed in the future.

Report No: 49/2020

Cabinet noted that the Risk Based Verification Policy has been reviewed and no changes were required.

Councillor G Brown, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, elaborated on his report and noted the Risk Based Verification Policy had been in place for a number of years but a requirement of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) was to approve the Policy annually. It was noted that Auditors checked the policy was being adhered to and it was further reported the Council had very low levels of fraud and bad debts and therefore risks were very low.

RESOLVED:

That the Risk Based Verification Policy had been reviewed and no changes were required.

Reason for decision:

Members are required to review the RBV Policy annually. The Policy was last reviewed on 16th April 2019 (Report 58/2019).

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