Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

Under the Code of Conduct members are reminded that in declaring disclosable interests you should make clear the nature of that interest and whether it is pecuniary or non-pecuniary.

There were no declarations of interest.

No questions were received.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 02 March 2021

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2021.

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor N Rushton and

RESOLVED  THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2021 be confirmed as an accurate record of the proceedings.

Reason for decision: To comply with the constitution. 

It was moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor N Rushton and

RESOLVED THAT:

By reason of special circumstance in that an additional item of business needs to be considered before the next meeting of the Cabinet, the item entitled "Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG)" be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Reason for decision: To enable the consideration of urgent business.

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader of the Council

Councillor R Blunt presented the report, which provided Cabinet with information on the performance and progress made against the Council Delivery Plan actions and performance indicators for Quarter 3 of 2020-2021.

Portfolio Holders then spoke in turn on progress within their service areas:

• In Community Services, particular regard was given to the progression of the new leisure centre, various recycling and carbon-reduction initiatives, and the obesity strategy, for the latter it was noted there was a correlation between countries with higher obesity rates and those worst affected by COVID-19.
• In Customer Services, it was noted that more customers than before were accessing the Council’s services digitally, and the waiting time for customers contacting the Council by phone continued to fall. There were no updates with regard to Property Services except that work to review the Council’s accommodation needs was ongoing.
• In Housing there were several plans progressing for the building of new-build Council houses and the purchasing of existing stock, and the development of the Appleby Magna Caravan Site was on track.
• In Business and Regeneration, the Economic Development team had seen increases in the quantity and variety of service requests to support individuals and businesses, however the team had continued to meet national targets and was progressing various regeneration programmes and a limited number of events across the district. 
• In Finance, the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account were both expected to show a small surplus, albeit lower than previously expected, and the Journey to Self Sufficiency Fund would help cushion against the impact of future risks. It was also noted that officers had faced vast additional strain through the design,  administration, and expeditious delivery of various grant schemes to local businesses.
• In Planning and Infrastructure, despite a small downturn at the beginning of the first lockdown the service was now receiving and processing a high number of applications within required timescales. And various industrial projects in the District continued to grow alongside proposals for a Freeport and locally-led Development Corporation centred at East Midlands Airport.

It was then moved by Councillor R Blunt, seconded by Councillor R Ashman and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet notes the progress against the corporate objectives and performance indicators during quarter 3.

Reason for decision: To report Q3 2020/21 Council Delivery Plan performance.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder

Councillor R Ashman presented the report, which provided an update on the proposals for a locally led Development Corporation following the approval of Council on 16 March 2021 for the allocation of funding in 2021/22, and sought Cabinet approval for several delegations relating to the incorporation and future decision-making of the Interim Vehicle. The report and proposals within were welcomed by Members. 

It was moved by Councillor R Ashman, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Approves the expenditure of £167,000 to support the Interim Vehicle for the first year

2)    Delegates authority to the Strategic Director (Place) in consultation with the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder to approve the detailed terms of the funding agreement and ancillary documents/agreements to give effect to the expenditure and to facilitate the incorporation and operation of the interim vehicle

3)    Endorses the appointment of the Chief Executive to act as director of the interim vehicle, once established, in accordance with the council’s right to appoint one director under the terms of the proposed articles of association and members agreement; and

4)    Delegates the function to make decisions on behalf of the council as member of the interim vehicle, once established, to the Planning and Infrastructure Portfolio Holder.

Reason for decision: The proposed delegations in the report require Cabinet approval.

Report of the Strategic Director of Place

Presented by the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder

Councillor T Gillard presented the report, which sought Cabinet approval for the reallocation of funding from the  Ashby Canal Trust and the reconstruction of the aqueduct over the Gilwiskaw Brook at Snarestone to Ashby Canal Association and the next phase of restoration of the Ashby Canal. The report and proposals within were welcomed by Members. 

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Approves the reallocation of £20,000 to Ashby Canal Association for the purposes of the restoration of the Ashby Canal.

2)    Endorse the Cultural Services Team Manager to enter into a grant funding agreement with Ashby Canal Association and make payment once the total project funding is secured.

Reason for decision: Cabinet approval is needed to reallocate the funding.

Councillor T Gillard presented the report, which sought approval from Cabinet to accelerate the spend of the Council’s £2,850,000 Additional Restriction Grant fund award. As a consequence of government guidance an acceleration was required in order to ensure the Council received additional funding through the government’s recently announced “Restart” grants for businesses. The report and proposals within were welcomed by Members. 

It was moved by Councillor T Gillard, seconded by Councillor N Rushton, and

RESOLVED THAT CABINET:

1)    Reviews and approves the Additional Restrictions Grant proposals set out in the report.

2)    Delegates authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder to review and amend the Additional Restrictions Grant proposals set out in the report, to respond and adapt to the changing economic environment and local business recovery needs.

3)    Delegates authority to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder to varying the funding allocations set out in this report to ensure to smooth administration of the various proposals in this report.

4)    Delegates authority to the Section 151Officer in consultation with the Business and Regeneration Portfolio Holder to award a contract for the delivery of the rapid business growth grants and the business start-up support initiative set out in this report

5)    Delegates authority to the Strategic Director of Housing and Customer Services to award Enterprising growth grants up to and including the value £100,000.

Reason for decision: Guidance published by the Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy in March 2021 now require local authorities to shorten their ARG spend profiles by 9 months from 31 March 2022 to 30 June 2021.