CABINET
Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday, 11thJuly 2017 at Retford Town Hall
Present:Councillor S A Greaves (Chair),
Councillors K Dukes, J Evans,J A Leigh, D G Pidwell and S Scotthorne,
Advisory Member:Councillor H M Brand.
Liaison Members:Councillors H Burton, S Fieldingand T Taylor.
Officers:D Armiger, S Brown, K Childs, L Dore,D Hill, L Prime, C Staniforth, S Wormald.
(The meeting opened at 6.40pm).
(The Chair welcomed all to the meeting, apologised for the late start and read out the Fire Evacuation Procedure. He enquired as to whether any member of the public or press wished to film/record the meeting or any part thereof; however, although there was a member of the public present, this was not taken up).
5.QUESTION TIME - PUBLIC
Council Procedure Rules were suspended for fifteen minutes to allow questions from the public; however, there were no members of the public present.
6.APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors K H Isard, S E Shaw, andJ White; also from MrN Taylor and Mrs R Theakstone.
7.DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS AND OFFICERS
(a)Members
Councillor H Brand declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item No. 14(b) - Misterton Centre, as she is a member of Misterton Parish Council as mentioned in the report.
(b)Officers
There were no Declarations of Interest by officers.
8.MINUTES OF THE MEETINGS HELD ON 14TH MARCH AND 20TH JUNE 2017
RESOLVED that the Minutes of the meetings held on 14th March and 20th June 2017 be approved.
9.MINUTES FOR ACTION AND IMPLEMENTATION
RESOLVED that the Minutes for Action and Implementation be received.
10.OUTSTANDING MINUTES LIST
RESOLVED that the Outstanding Minutes List be received.
11.FORWARD PLAN
The Director of Regeneration and Neighbourhoods advised that Agenda Item No. 17(b) - BDC/A1 Housing Management Agreement (Key Decision No.646), would not be considered this evening as in the absence of the Chief Executive, there was uncertainty whether it was the final report. It would therefore be deferred and moved on the Forward Plan to the September meeting.
RESOLVED that the Forward Planbe approved and Agenda Item No. 17(b) be deferred to the Cabinet meeting in September 2017.
SECTION A – ITEMS FOR DISCUSSION IN PUBLIC
Key Decisions
12.REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – POLICY, STRATEGY AND COMMUNICATIONS - COUNCILLOR S GREAVES
(a)Revised Sheffield City Region Consultation (Key Decision No. 530)
Members were presented with a report which provided an update on devolution developments since the reports to Council on 17th March, 30th June and 8th September in 2016. The report detailed the timeline of events which followed including a judicial review decision brought by Derbyshire County Council concerning the inclusion of Chesterfield in the proposed combined authority. Thejudicial review was published in December 2016 which meant it was no longer possibleto meet the timescales of electing a City Region Mayor in May 2017.
The Leader explained that since the consultation process started in September 2016, it had been discovered that: any elected mayor would have the same planning powers as the London Mayor; under the electoral arrangements, voting rights would mean Bassetlaw would only have one vote where all the unitary authorities would have two. In addition, future arrangements for National Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) under the putative city region pilot arrangements suggest that only 20% of the 50% NNDR share raised in Bassetlaw would be allowed to be retained by Bassetlaw. For these reasons, the recommendation was to formally withdraw the application for full constituent status of the Sheffield City Region at this time.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
The implications of the Brexit vote, Ministerial changes following the resignation of the previous Prime minister, and impact on Parliamentary timetables of prospective EU repeal legislation has altered national priorities significantly. Devolution and the growth agenda does not have the prominence it did a year ago.
The Sheffield City Region still remains as a driver for inward investment, job creation, business growth and developing and enhancing the skills of local people with a number of very clear successes, with potential for more in the future. However, there are concerns about proposed voting arrangements for a future Mayoral Combined Authority which do not provide parity for Bassetlaw compared to the South Yorkshire Authorities. Matters of Governance have to be right for the benefit of all parties.
In the last six months concerns have also been expressed about the prospect of Mayoral Orders which go beyond the bounds of the Devolution Deal that has been reached. Spatial Planning and matters of housing numbers are a matter for Bassetlaw and Bassetlaw Members alone, and each authority has its own responsibilities to accommodate future housing growth, so this development has caused disquiet.
RESOLVED that:
- The issues that have arisen since September 2016 be noted.
- Cabinet recommends to Council that the application for full constituent status of the Sheffield City Region be formally withdrawn and that Bassetlaw will remain a non-constituent member of the City Region like Bolsover, Derbyshire Dales and N E Derbyshire.
(b)The Council Plan 2017-2020 (Key Decision No. 622)
The current Corporate Plan expires in 2017 and Members were therefore asked to consider the draft of the new Council Plan and recommend its adoption to Full Council. The framework for the draft Council Plan had been approved at the Cabinet meeting in March 2017. The report and appendices had also been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in March 2017 and since then, sessions have been held for all political groups enabling Members to make informal comment and provide input.
The Council Plan outlines priorities for service provision to the community and sets out the overall strategic direction for the Council ensuring that Council Policy is implemented through its delivery. The Leader expressed his gratitude to everyone for their input. The portfolio holder for Corporate Services welcomed the Plan and its focus - particularly on the development of employment. He added that future Performance Indicators should be more focussed with a clearer set of targets to work towards.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
Members have made some political choices about what they wish to see emphasised in the next three years and these are reflected in the overall mission statement, Council values, ambitions, priorities. These are reflected in the document and will guide the work of the Council over the life of the plan.
Performance management information on project and initiative progress will be reported to Cabinet, and subsequently scrutinised by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee throughout the next two and a half years.
RESOLVEDthat the Council Plan 2017-2020 be recommended to Full Council for adoption.
(Councillor S Fielding joined the meeting during this Agenda item).
(c)Quarter 4 2016/17 Performance (Key Decision No. 640)
Members were presented with the Quarter 4 Performance Report which provided an update on the delivery of the Corporate Plan and the performance of a suite of key performance indicators.
The Head of Corporate Services commented that there were four Performance Indicators at exception level but that the report showed the best performance for nine years. He added that the new Council Plan will move away from some of the objectives and provide more commentary as some of the charts can be confusing.
Options, Risks and Recommendations
In presenting performance reports to Cabinet we ensure Portfolio-holders take responsibility for delivery of the Corporate Plan and are committed to ensuring the Council is properly managing corporate performance.
Failure to manage delivery of the Corporate Plan adequately could result in service failures and/or impacts on current budgets.
RESOLVED that the contents of the Quarter 4 Performance Report be noted and it be confirmed that Cabinet is satisfied with the action that is being taken to address areas of poor performance.
(Councillors J Leigh and D G Pidwell joined the meeting during this Agenda item).
(d)Performance Indicator Outturn 2016/17 (Key Decision No. 641)
Members were presented with the end of year analysis of the Performance Indicator Outturn for 2016/17 and asked to consider thisin regard to how it compares to previous years. They were also asked to agree any further actions to be taken in areas of poor performance.
In previous years this report has focussed on the entire indicator set monitored by the Authority through its performance management framework. However, it was agreed that from 2015/16, this would be revised to focus on statutory performance standards and ‘required returns’ to Government as noted on the Single Data List. This provides Cabinet with a streamlined report focussed on core responsibilities which the Council has a duty to deliver on.
The Head of Corporate Services reminded the meeting that the information in the Appendix covered forty-six Performance Indicators - a considerably less number than there used to be. Performance Indicators showing as red related to: FOI requests - not met due to increased service demand; data protection requests - not met due to 32 out of 208 requests taking longer than ten days; planning appeals allowed - exceeded local and national targets but in line with national trends. Fly-tipping enforcement remains at a high level (amber Performance Indicator) as the number of incidents did not decrease enough to trigger a change in the score and mirrors national trends.
Cabinet Members commented on FOI and Data Protection requests and how they might be resolved in future and in respect of fly-tipping it was mentioned that Bassetlaw has better results than other Nottinghamshire local authorities and while under target has improved in the last three years.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
In presenting performance reports to Cabinet we ensure Portfolio-holders take responsibility and are committed to ensuring the Council is properly managing corporate performance.
Effective monitoring of performance allows us to respond to both under-performance and over-performance. The risk associated with the failure of this monitoring is that poor performance may be adversely affected without regular scrutiny.
RESOLVED that the Performance Indicator Outturn Report for 2016/17 be noted.
13.REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER –REGENERATION – COUNCILLOR JWHITE
(a)Worksop Townscape Heritage Scheme - Update (Key Decision No. 628)
Members were presented with a report which provided an update on the progression of the Townscape Heritage bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).
The report detailed the progress following the initial report to Cabinet in March 2015 and the Round 1 bid submission in September 2015 through to the Round 2 bid submission in May 2017. It noted that there are nine high priority buildings in the area which would benefit from remedial work to restore the external appearance of the properties for both businesses and users.Three of the buildings are owned by the Council. The Council will be informed in September 2017 by the HLF whether the Round 2 bid has been successful. The total cost of delivering the scheme for five years is £2,329,878. £1,277,200 (55%) is sought from the HLF.
The Director of Regeneration and Neighbourhoods commented on the long length of time it takes to process a bid for funding but that in having reached this stage, he was hopeful of a positive outcome. There would no doubt be conditions to be agreed to if the bid is successful and a further update report to Cabinet will follow in due course.
The Leader considered it would be useful to update all businesses in Worksop town centre regarding the bid at this stage and which also advised what the Council hoped to achieve with the funding if successful.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
None at this update stage.
RESOLVEDthat the update to the position of the Townscape Heritage Lottery Fund Bid be noted.
14.REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER - CORPORATE SERVICES - COUNCILLOR K DUKES
(a)Welfare Reform Update (Key Decision No. 556)
Members were provided with an update on the Welfare Reform Agenda and the Council’s Response to Welfare Reform.
The report examined:
- Universal Credit (UC) in Bassetlaw
- Impact on temporary and supported accommodation
- The Council’s ongoing activities relating to Welfare Reform
- Citizen’s Advice Bureau
- North Nottinghamshire Support Partnership
- Nottinghamshire Child Poverty Strategy
- Welfare Reform and Work Bill 2015 – The Future
- Potential impact on the Housing Needs Service
The report noted that the full UC rollout at Worksop and Retford Jobcentres will be from December 2017 and likely to be a digital only model, i.e. only accessible on-line. It also included the preparation and action plan towards this date.
Welfare Reform, particularly the rollout of UC and its potential impact on individuals and communities, will present one of the biggest challenges facing the Council. It manifests itself in many different aspects and cuts across most areas of activities. One of the biggest ways of avoiding financial exclusion is to improve access to employment and improve educational attainment. The Council has made a significant contribution in this arena through its growth agenda.
The Council undertook initial preparatory work through its scrutiny review of welfare reform. Although much of that work remains valid, there have, as the report detailed, been significant national changes. At the same time, the levels of support are under significant pressure. A reduction in local authority funding and cessation of voluntary sector initiatives means the support framework is fragile. The Council is now at the point where it needs to revaluate its approach and determine its priorities for the future. The actions agreed by Cabinet in response to the Scrutiny Review of the Council’s response to Welfare Reform were appended to the report. Proposed actions were listed within Section 5 of the report.
The portfolio holder for Corporate Services commented on the wide-ranging report and on concerns with related challenges and pitfalls, particularly for the vulnerable in the community. He highlighted sections in the report that noted:the difficulties A1 Housing had encountered with the UC Centre; personal budgeting support referrals; issues regarding any shortfall in the future funding of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme; the reduced funding for crisis grants and community care grants; the impact on the Housing Needs Service; the supply of Council housing;and other related matters in the report. He thanked BCVS for their support with North Nottinghamshire Support Partnership, the successor to Advice Bassetlaw. He also thanked the Council’s officers for their invaluable support. He added that he had asked officers to train and update Members on the changes relating to Welfare Reform.
Cabinet and Liaison Members discussed: food banks and their users - it was suggested that someone from the Bassetlaw Food Bank Project be invited to provide a presentation to Members on its work; access to on-line facilities for those in rural areas who do not have their own access at home - there are plans to build a team of people (some from A1 Housing) who can assist and also to create ‘signing-on’ points around the District; the reduction in the number of available properties for rent, especially in the private sector.
The Leader commented that welfare reforms were being driven by national policies which were forcing people into further financial difficulties. The report was welcome regarding the work to be done but concerns remained. He noted the proposals and actions that needed to be taken as summarisedin the report.
Options, Risks and Reasons for Recommendations
Other than dealing with its statutory responsibilities through the administration of benefits, housing services and housing needs, the Council can choose to do little else to respond to the potential impacts of welfare reform.
The Council has already determined that it has a much wider remit to play in responding to these changes, as indicated in the Corporate Plan. Its primary response is through initiatives to encourage and support local business and educational development. These all require partnership working as the Council does not hold all the answers, or responsibilities. The impact on individuals, families and communities as a result of financial exclusion is of direct importance to the Council. It is on this basis that the proposals have been presented for consideration.
RESOLVEDthatthe potential changes to Welfare Reform and the actions taken by the Council and its partners to respond to those changes be noted.
15.REPORT(S) OF THE CABINET MEMBER – HEALTH AND COMMUNITY WELL-BEING - COUNCILLOR S SHAW
(a)Children and Young People’s Plan 2016-2020 (Key Decision No. 501)
Members received an update on progress against the Council’s Children and Young People’s Plan. The Plan was renewed by Cabinet in June 2016 and helps to monitor the activities and progress on issues to ensure a proper level of consideration is being given. The five outcomes from ‘Every Child Matters’ had formed the basis of the Council’s new action plan and the report provided a summary of activity against the objectives of: Be Healthy, Stay Safe, Enjoy and Achieve, Make a Positive Contribution and Achieve Economic Well-Being.