Agenda and minutes
PDF 145 KBVenue: Virtual via Cisco Webex
Contact: Democratic Services
Note: View the meeting live-stream via the Cotswold District Council Facebook page
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Apologies Minutes: There were no apologies for absence |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest from Members.
There were no declarations of interest from Officers |
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To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8 February 2021 Minutes: RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting of Cabinet of 8 February 2021 held be approved as a correct record.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0. |
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Chair's Announcements (if any) Minutes: The Leader extended his thanks to all NHS and key workers for their continued efforts in tackling Covid-19.
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Public Questions To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than two minutes each and relate issues under the Committee’s remit. Minutes: No questions had been received from members of the public.
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Member Questions To deal with written questions by Members, relating to issues under the Committee’s remit, with the maximum length of oral supplementary questions at Committee being no longer than one minute. Responses to any supplementary questions will be dealt with in writing if they cannot be dealt with at the meeting. Minutes: No questions had been received from Members. |
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Summary Finance/ Service Performance Report (Quarter 3) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet received the Summary Finance/Service Performance Report for Quarter 3.
The Chief Executive and Deputy Chief Executive jointly introduced the report and highlighted various aspects and responded to questions from the Cabinet. The Executive Director - Commissioning agreed to research whether a target response time for Officers responding to emails existed and to update the Cabinet after the meeting.
The Cabinet commented that it was rewarding to see evidence of the progress that had been made in the Council’s corporate priority areas.
The Cabinet also wished to record their thanks to the Group Manager - Commissioning and her team for their continued work in helping to support vulnerable residents in the District during the pandemic.
The Cabinet Member for the Planning Department, Town and Parish Councils wished to highlight the continued efforts of the Council’s Planning department and commented that he hoped the evidence presented within the report removed some of the concerns that had recently been expressed by Members regarding the department’s performance.
RESOLVED: That the report be noted.
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Strategic Outcomes Planning Model - Leisure Strategy Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet was requested to consider the findings and recommendations proposed by consultants commissioned to develop a Strategic Outcomes Planning Model - Leisure Strategy for the District and approve the Strategy.
The Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing introduced the report and highlighted the responses to the survey undertaken by the Council, which indicated 98% of respondents considered exercise and activity was important. The Cabinet Member also wished to place on record her thanks to the Strategic Projects Lead (Leisure) Officer for her work on the Strategy.
The Deputy Leader thanked the Cabinet Member for her work in relation to the item and highlighted that there were grants available via the newly launched Cotswold Crowdfund scheme.
The Cabinet Member for the Environment, Waste and Recycling commented that the challenge going forward would be to ensure participation amongst the older residents of the District whilst also providing suitable facilities for young residents.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet:
a) endorse the findings of the consultant and approve the Strategic Outcomes Planning Model - Leisure Strategy, including its key intervention recommendations;
b) delegate authority to Officers to work in partnership with other organisations to establish the feasibility and funding sources for the projects identified within the strategy and to prepare business cases, where opportunities arise, to bring them forward for consideration;
c) grant authority to undertake a leisure management options appraisal to determine the most suitable delivery model, contract scope and contract terms for the Council’s leisure facilities, when the current contract expires.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0.
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Acquisition of the Telephone Box in Salperton Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet was requested to consider whether the Council should acquire the telephone box at Salperton from British Telecom.
The Leader and Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing jointly introduced the item and explained ongoing discussions with Cirencester Town Council had resulted in an agreement by the Town Council to establish a crowdfund project on the box, if the Cabinet agreed its acquisition.
The Cabinet expressed support for the acquisition, commenting that it was important to support the retention of the area’s heritage and noting that the box would be permitted to be located within the market place under permitted development rights.
RESOLVED that Cabinet: a) agree to acquire the telephone box at Salperton and transfer it to Cirencester Town Council for relocation to the Market Place in Cirencester in a joint project;
b) grant delegated authority to the Group Manager for Commissioning in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing to agree the final terms for the acquisition of the telephone box and any subsequent transfer to Cirencester Town Council.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0. |
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An Anti-idling campaign for Cotswold District Minutes: The Cabinet received a report proposing an anti-idling campaign for the District in order to improve air quality and reduce carbon emissions. The Leader introduced the item and explained that this was a matter regularly raised by residents in his Ward. The Cabinet expressed its support for the campaign and highlighted that other actions taken by the Council, such as the in-cab technology for refuse vehicles, would help to support the campaign. RESOLVED that Cabinet endorse the proposals for an anti-idling campaign across the District.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0.
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Civic Pride Programme Minutes: The Cabinet received a report detailing the implementation of a new Civic Pride service.
The Leader introduced the report and explained that he hoped this Programme would move towards a reduction in complaints Members received from residents about the poor managements of pavements, highways and areas in the District. The Leader advised that he did however wish to propose an Amendment to the recommendations, which would be to remove the five towns listed within the report, as detailed in paragraph 2.2, to ensure the Programme was District-wide focused from the start.
The Cabinet expressed its support for the Programme and the subsequent Amendment and highlighted that residents regularly undertook volunteering action to help improve their areas. They added that the Council should do everything it could to ensure it was leading any such campaigns, including engaging with the County Council.
RESOLVED that Cabinet approve:
a) the creation of the Civic Pride Programme; b) the secondment of the current Enviro-Crime Officer to lead the project; c) the creation of two new (2 year FTC) Civic Pride posts; and d) the seed funding approach, as outlined in paragraphs 3.1, 3.2 and 3.3 of the report for a District-wide Programme.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0.
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Planned Expenditure of the Homeless Prevention Grant 2021/22 Additional documents: Minutes:
The Cabinet was requested to consider the planned expenditure of the Homelessness Prevention Grant for 2021/22.
The Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness introduced the report and heighted various aspects.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet recommend to Council that the expenditure detailed within paragraph 2.2 of the report be approved.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0.
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Council Tax - Covid 19 Hardship Fund 2020/21 Minutes: The Cabinet was requested to approve to utilise surplus Covid-19 Hardship Funds to support those residents in financial need in partnership with Stroud and Cotswold Citizen Advice Bureau.
The Deputy Leader and Deputy Chief Executive introduced the report and explained various aspects. The Deputy Leader also advised that he wished to propose an Amendment to the recommendation (b) regarding payments being increased to £300 for those who had already received a Council Tax hardship payment.
The Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness expressed her support for the Fund and explained that all Members should be encouraged to liaise regularly with town and parish councils within their respective wards to ensure the residents affected were reached by the Fund.
The Leader, on behalf of the Cabinet, wished to extend his thanks to the Citizens Advice Bureau for their continued work.
RESOLVED: That Cabinetrecommend to Council the proposals detailed within paragraph 2.7 a) and b) of the report, with paragraph 2.7 b) amended to state ‘The balance of funding will be used to top up all Covid-19 Hardship payments to £300, including those who have already received a Council Tax Hardship payment, these will be increased up to £300.’
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0.
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Affordable Housing Schemes - Expenditure of S106 Commuted Sums Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet received an update report on the Section 106 commuted sums for affordable housing and to request Cabinet’s approval for proposals for expenditure of unallocated funds.
The Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness introduced the report and highlighted that the Council was seeking to deliver genuinely affordable homes. The Cabinet Member then explained an Amendment to the recommendations that the £147,000 referred to in recommendation (c) of the report be amended to £102,000.
The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Forward Planning commented that she considered the Council needed to put ‘a line in the sand’ to ensure that going forward, developers were only permitted to build homes that were suitably future-proof in regard to tackling the climate emergency.
RESOLVED: That Cabinet:
a) notes the current position on Section 106 commuted sums as shown in Annex A;
b) recommend to Council to approve the allocation of a capital grant of £478,500 to develop 15 social rented homes in Moreton-in-Marsh as detailed in paragraph 2.4.4, the award of the capital grant to be included within the Council’s capital programme and funded from the Section 106 commuted sums;
c) recommend to Council to approve the allocation of a further capital grant of £102,000 to enhance the environmental sustainability of 15 social rented homes in Moreton-in-Marsh as detailed in paragraph 2.4.5, the award of the capital grant to be included within the Council’s capital programme and funded from the Section 106 commuted sums;
d) recommend to Council to approve the allocation of a capital grant of up to £400,000 to deliver affordable housing at The Sunground, Avening, the award of the capital grant to be included within the Council’s capital programme and funded from the Section 106 commuted sums;
e) recommend to Council that delegated authority is given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Homelessness to approve the final amount of grant to the Registered Provider for The Sunground, Avening scheme up to £400,000;
f) recommend to Council that authority is delegated to the Chief Finance Officer to update the Capital and Treasury Management Strategies accordingly.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0. |
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Offer of Grant from BEIS Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet received a report detailing the offer of a Government capital grant to carry out substantial carbon and energy reduction works on three Cotswold District Council buildings, and to seek delegation to the Deputy Chief Executive to accept the grant (with a tight deadline) if offered.
The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Forward Planning introduced the report and proposed the recommendations to the Cabinet.
The Deputy Leader expressed his support for the recommendations and commented that it was encouraging to see positive action and drive being taken by Council Officers.
RESOLVED that Cabinet:
a) note the report;
b) approve receipt of a capital grant of £1.237m, subject to assessment by officers of risks and issues, a report will be considered at a future Council meeting to consider including the project in the Council’s Capital Programme;
c) delegate authority to the Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and the Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Forward Planning to accept the offer of grant, and to bind the Authority with the conditions of grant.
Record of Voting - for 8, against 0, abstention 0, absent 0.
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Schedule of Decisions Taken by the Leader of the Council and/or Individual Cabinet Members Minutes: Cabinet noted the decisions taken by Cabinet Members since the previous Meeting of the Cabinet, which were set out in full in the agenda.
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Issue(s) Arising From Overview and Scrutiny and/or Audit (if any) Minutes: There were no issues arising.
The Meeting commenced at 6.00pm and closed at 8.15pm. |