Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ian Razzell.

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 declarations of interest.

Mark Andrews, Chief Executive and Head of Paid Service, gave an update to Members on the Ukraine Scheme. He was pleased to tell Members that most of the government’s guidance had been received and Rutland now had dedicated project resource and a programme approach and implementation plan to move forward. Eighteen families had come forward to sponsor a family from Ukraine, but that number was changing and growing each day.

A Rutland specific step by step guide to support sponsors and the local community would be also available. A dedicated email address (ukraine@rutland.gov.uk) had been set up for those with any queries.

To confirm the Record of Decisions made at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8^th March 2022.

Consideration was given to the record of decisions made following the meeting of Cabinet on 8 March

RESOLVED

That the record of decisions made at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 March 2022 were APPROVED.

To receive items raised by members of scrutiny which have been submitted to the Leader and Chief Executive.

No items had been raised by Scrutiny.

To receive Report No. 68/2022 from the Portfolio Holder for Planning, Highways and Transport.

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor O Hemsley, Leader of the Council:

1.    APPROVED the Issues and Options report (Appendix 1) for the purposes of public consultation.

2.    DELEGATED authority to the Strategic Director of Places, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Planning, to make any minor changes to finalise the consultation document and facilitate the requirements of consultation software as well as to make any changes agreed at Cabinet;

3.    APPROVED the Statement of Community Involvement (Appendix 2) including minor revisions to the text; and

4.    APPROVED the Local Development Scheme (Appendix 3) setting out the timetable for the preparation of the Local Plan.

Report No. 68/2022 as amended by an addendum was introduced by Councillor O Hemsley, Leader of the Council. During his presentation Councillor Hemsley responded to a query raised outside of the meeting regarding housing space capacity. The figures that were in the report were for the whole planning period of the core strategy and in developing a long term plan there would be clearly variations over that planning period to where the supply is located.

The addendum to the report took into account the updated information on calculation of Rutland’s local housing needs figure, following the publication of the Office of National Statistics (ONS) the latest housing affordability index which had not been available during the original drafting of the report. The updated local housing needs for Rutland were now calculated at 142 dwellings per annum as of March 2022 compared to the previous figure of 129 dwellings back in February 2021. The implications of this change to the draft Rutland Issues and Options Report was set out in Appendix A to the addendum.

In response to a query it was confirmed that consultation would include a whole range of methods of communication. There will be virtual and face to face opportunities which Members strongly welcomed. The plans for the consultation would be with the Local Plan Working Group in the near future to put those details in place.

Strategic Director of Places Penny Sharp wanted to reassure Members that a very comprehensive Community and Engagement Plan throughout the duration of the Local Plan process but particularly at the Issues and Options stage.

The main route for people to respond to the Issues and Options would be online. There will be different sections on the website where people can direct themselves to the areas that they are interested in. Current work was being undertaken with the providers of the consultation platform to see if it could be made clear for the public to be able to navigate themselves. If some members of the public can not get access to the online platform, there was the ability for people to respond via hard copy also.

RESOLVED

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor O Hemsley, Leader of the Council:

1. APPROVED the Issues and Options report (Appendix 1) for the purposes of public consultation;

2. DELEGATED authority to the Strategic Director of Places, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder with responsibility for Planning, to make any minor changes to finalise the consultation document and facilitate the requirements of consultation software as well as to make any changes agreed at Cabinet;

3. APPROVED the Statement of Community Involvement (Appendix 2) including minor revisions to the text; and

APPROVED the Local Development Scheme (Appendix 3) setting out the timetable for the preparation of the Local Plan.

To receive Report No. 67/2022 from the Monitoring Officer.

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor O Hemsley, Leader of the Council:

1.    AGREED to cease the use of emergency powers delegated to the Chief Executive in May 2020 in relation to the Covid 19 Pandemic.

2.    NOTED the need to keep the situation under review and report back should future outbreak management require it.

Report No. 67/2022 was introduced by Councillor O Hemsley, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Partnerships, Economy, and Infrastructure. The purpose of the report was to recommend ceasing the use of the Civil Emergency delegated powers agreed on 9 April 2020.

It was noted that this was the last virtual meeting for Cabinet and the May meeting would be held in person.

Mark Andrews, Chief Executive highlighted to Members that we are not back to normal. In terms of Covid rates, the over 60’s population was higher than it’s been since January 2021 and clearly without free testing, we are a little in the dark on terms of what happens next. He urged members of the community who were eligible for the spring booster they take that and also people take care of themselves within the community and wear masks where appropriate.

RESOLVED

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor O Hemsley, Leader of the Council:

1. AGREED to cease the use of emergency powers delegated to the Chief Executive in May 2020 in relation to the Covid 19 Pandemic.

NOTED the need to keep the situation under review and report back should future outbreak management require it.

To receive Report No. 66/2022 from the Leader of the Council.

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor O Hemsley, Leader of the Council:

1)    APPROVED the new Communications and Engagement Strategy.

Report No. 66/2022 was introduced by Councillor O Hemsley, Leader and Portfolio Holder for Policy, Strategy, Partnerships, Economy and Infrastructure.

Communication and engagement was an essential component for supporting the delivery of the Council’s strategic aims. Done effectively it could play a key role in promoting the Council and its contribution to the County, generating support for decision making and helping to develop services based on community needs.

Members welcomed this Strategy, in particular with the two main strategic aims strengthening the Councils relationship with communities and building confidence in the Councils work.

RESOLVED

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation:

APPROVED the new Communications and Engagement Strategy.

To receive Report No. 72/2022 from the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation.

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation:

1.    APPROVED the updated Risk Management Policy and noted the current status of the Council’s key risks.

Report No. 72/2022 was introduced by Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation.

The updated Risk Management Policy was attached at Appendix A. The Risk Management Policy was last updated in 2016.  The Policy had been updated by the Director for Resources mainly to reflect changes made to risk management practice since the last policy update.

The Risk Management Policy had been reviewed by Internal Audit and Zurich Municipal, the Council’s insurers, with comments taken into account. The Audit and Risk Committee had also reviewed the policy and some minor changes had been made.

RESOLVED

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation:

1. APPROVED the updated Risk Management Policy and noted the current status of the Council’s key risks and considered whether additional action was required.

To receive Report No. 69/2022 from the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation.

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation:

1.    APPROVED the amendments proposed to the Council’s Information Governance Policies set out in Appendix 1 – 4.

Report No. 69/2022 was introduced by Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation.

The report asked Cabinet to approve the Council’s Information Governance Policies. These comprise the Data Protection Policy, Document Retention and Disposal Policy, the Data Incident Response Policy, and the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act (RIPA) Policy. 

RESOLVED

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation:

APPROVED the amendments proposed to the Council’s Information Governance Policies set out at in Appendix 1 – 4.

It was subsequently noted that although the revisions to the Data Incidence Response Policy were detailed in the covering report, it was subsequently noted that the accompanying appendix 4 had not been circulated in the public pack, it is attached to these minutes as a record of the document approved.

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 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

It was moved by the Chair that the meeting remain in a public session as it was felt Cabinet would be able to consider the following items without divulging the contents of the confidential appendices to the reports. This was seconded and upon being put to the vote the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That the meeting continue in a public session without exclusion of the press or public.

To receive Report No. 71/2022 from the Portfolio Holder for Communities, Environment and Climate Change.

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor L Stephenson, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Environment and Climate Change:

1.    APPROVED the Director for Places, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with portfolio for Communities, Environment and Climate Change, to progress to procurement of a dry-side only leisure management contract for the Catmose Sports Centre on a nil-cost basis for both the Council and Catmose College, following soft market testing undertaken in partnership with Welland Procurement.  Award of any contract will be subject to Cabinet approval as part of the procurement process.

2.    APPROVED the termination of the Council’s lease for the Catmose Pool and Auxiliary Sports Hall area of the Catmose Campus; and the contribution of a maximum of £150,000 to Catmose College to facilitate the demolition of the Pool, which will reduce the risks associated with the derelict part of the site and enable the Campus rebuild work to be expedited.

Report No. 71/2022 was introduced by Councillor L Stephenson, Portfolio Holder for Communities, Environment and Climate Change.

Councillor L Stephenson updated Cabinet on the progress of the leisure review and enabled Cabinet to consider the options for the future of the Catmose Sports facility.

Following the closure of the Catmose Pool for safety reasons during the pandemic, Cabinet agreed on 16th November 2021 that the pool should not be re-opened.  The pool had continued to deteriorate, and Officers advised it was necessary to remove risks associated with the derelict site by demolishing it.

Officers had worked with Catmose College to understand the costs of this work and had reached an agreed provisional cost assessment of £150,000.  As the Council currently held a lease on this part of the campus which lasts until 28th February 2032. It was considered beneficial to both the school and to the Council to terminate that contract.

A stakeholder group had been established to inform the development of future leisure options, which includes representatives of the Local Sports Alliance; Active Together; Public Health; and has consultees from the Clinical Commissioning Group and Rutland Access Group. There had been two meetings to date, terms of reference had been agreed and a mapping exercise had already been undertaken of current provision across the County. Next steps included accessibility, capacity of existing provision and cost.

Members thanked Director of Places on their work around the negotiations with the demolition works of the swimming pool.

RESOLVED

In consultation with Cabinet Councillor K Payne, Portfolio Holder for Finance, Governance and Performance, Change and Transformation:

1. APPROVED that the Director for Places, in consultation with the Cabinet Member with portfolio for Communities, Environment and Climate Change, to progress to procurement of a dry-side only leisure management contract for the Catmose Sports Centre on a nil-cost basis for both the Council and Catmose College, following soft market testing undertaken in partnership with Welland Procurement.  Award of any contract will be subject to Cabinet approval as part of the procurement process.

APPROVED the termination of the Council’s lease for the Catmose Pool and Auxiliary Sports Hall area of the Catmose Campus; and the contribution of a maximum of £150,000 to Catmose College to facilitate the demolition of the Pool, which will reduce the risks associated with the derelict part of the site and enable the Campus rebuild work to be expedited.

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

There were no items of urgent business.