Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Dean and Redfern. 

Councillor Barker declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to item 12 as the land was situated in her ward.

To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2019.

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive the Budget Monitoring report for Quarter 3 2018/19.

RESOLVED to approve the outturn forecast and the updated reserves position in relation to the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and Treasury Management.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Administration summarised the report detailing financial performance relating to the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Capital Programme and Treasury Management for quarter 3 of 2018/19.

The following points were highlighted:

·         The General Fund forecasted an £858,000 underspend due to a reduced requirement for capital financing in year and increased Business Rates income.

·         The HRA forecasted an overall budget deficit of £132,000.

·         The Capital Programme forecasted an actual underspend of £243,000.

In response to a Cabinet member’s question relating to the Council’s commercial subsidiary, Aspire, the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Administration said the investment at Chesterford Research Park had contributed significantly to the Council’s income, and the return was higher than forecasts had projected. He said Council expenditure could not be maintained without the additional income generated by the investment.

RESOLVED to approve the outturn forecast and the updated reserves position in relation to the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and Treasury Management.

To consider the Uttlesford Health & Wellbeing Strategy for 2019-22.

RESOLVED to endorse and support the Uttlesford Health & Wellbeing

Strategy, attached to this report, to be implemented with effect from 1st March

2019.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Partnerships summarised the report outlining Uttlesford’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2019-22, a refreshed version of the original Strategy, which had been produced in collaboration with the Local Strategic Partnership (LSP). The primary change incorporated in the refreshed Strategy related to the “planning for healthy communities” objective which dovetailed with the emerging Local Plan and proposed Garden Communities. By updating the Strategy, the Communities Team could interact with planners and developers in order to shape the delivery plans of these developments, and ensure Uttlesford’s health and wellbeing priorities had been taken into account.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Administration welcomed the Strategy and said it was necessary to be aware of challenges such as those faced by elderly residents of his ward, where trip hazards and fuel poverty were a real concern.

In response to a Member question relating to the data from the 2011 census, the Senior Health Improvement Officer said public health data would be refreshed in cases where it could be, although the majority of data cited in the Strategy was as up-to-date as possible.

The Chairman thanked the Communities team for their work and said that the health and well-being of Uttlesford residents was centric to the Council’s agenda.

RESOLVED to endorse and support the Uttlesford Health & Wellbeing Strategy, attached to the report, to be implemented with effect from 1st March 2019.

To consider changes to the Constitution of the Police, Fire Service and Crime Panel for Essex.

RESOLVED to:

i)              Agree the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Panel arrangements as stated at Appendix 1 to the report.

ii)             Note that the rules of procedure at Appendix 1 to the report will be adopted by the Panel and do not form part of the Panel Arrangements.

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services presented the report outlining changes to the Constitution of the Police, Fire and Crime Panel for Essex. The Constitution primarily required updating to include the new functions of the panel regarding the fire service, although arrangements had also been refreshed to reflect best practice learnt over the first six years of its existence. The changes proposed to the Constitution required approval by all fifteen local authorities in the Essex police area.

 RESOLVED to:

i)          Agree the Essex Police, Fire and Crime Panel arrangements as stated at Appendix 1 to the report.

ii)         Note that the rules of procedure at Appendix 1 to the report will be adopted by the Panel and do not form part of the Panel Arrangements.

To consider the report on Audiominutes and the recording of additional committee meetings.

RESOLVED to approve the use of the Audiominutes recording system for meetings of Scrutiny, Governance Audit and Performance, Licensing and Environmental Health and Standards Committee meetings, except where business is of a confidential nature or is exempt from publication.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Administration summarised the report that sought the extension in use of Audiominutes, software which allowed the Council to record and broadcast meetings of the Council, to Scrutiny, Governance, Audit and Performance, Standards and the Licensing & Environmental Health Committee, following a request from the Chairman of Scrutiny at Cabinet on 10 January 2019. Meetings which dealt with individual cases, such as Licensing and Standards hearings, and confidential agenda items, would be exempt from broadcasting.

In response to a question from Councillor Lodge, the Director – Finance and Corporate Services said problems regarding the live broadcast ‘dropping out’ were related to the broadband signal, not the use of Audiominutes itself.

Councillor Lodge said the broadband service in the Council’s meeting rooms needed to be improved.

RESOLVED to approve the use of the Audiominutes recording system for meetings of Scrutiny, Governance Audit and Performance, Licensing and Environmental Health and Standards Committee meetings, except where business is of a confidential nature or is exempt from publication.

To consider the report on the Land at the Rear of 3 Holloway Crescent, Leaden Roding.

RESOLVED that Cabinet gives authority for Officers to negotiate and agree the terms of the proposed easement, subject to prior payment by the owner of the valuation fee.

The Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services summarised the report. The land in question had been sold by the Council under “right to buy” and planning permission had been given to develop part of the plot. As the plot was bounded by a Council-owned strip of land, the landowner had requested the granting of a right of way to enable access to the development site.

RESOLVED that Cabinet gives authority for Officers to negotiate and agree the terms of the proposed easement, subject to prior payment by the owner of the valuation fee.

To consider the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan for 2019/20.

RESOLVED to approve the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

The Chairman presented the Corporate Plan Delivery for 2019/20. As there would be a new council in May 2019, the delivery plan had been updated, but not significantly reworked, to provide continuity into the new municipal year.

He said the Corporate Plan priorities were:

(i)    Promote thriving, safe and healthy communities

(ii)   Protect and enhance heritage and character

(iii)  Support sustainable business growth

(iv)Maintain a financially sound and effective Council

Underpinning these priorities were three themes that were embedded in the way the Council delivered its services:

i)    to manage and minimise the environmental impact of Council activities

ii)   to maximise the use of digital and SMART technology to enhance     wellbeing

iii)  to demonstrate the Council’s commitment to diversity and inclusion

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Administration congratulated officers for their work contributing to the Saffron Walden Castle restoration project. 

RESOLVED to approve the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Consideration of a report containing exempt information within the meaning of section 100I and paragraph 3 part 1 Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED to exclude the press and public on the grounds that the report contained exempt information within the meaning of section 100I and paragraph 3 part 1 Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED to exclude the press and public on the grounds that the report contained exempt information within the meaning of section 100I and paragraph 3 part 1 Schedule 12A Local Government Act 1972.

To consider the purchase of a development site, Great Chesterford by the Housing Revenue Account.

RESOLVED to:

i)              Approve the purchase by the HRA of the development site in Great Chesterford for the asking price, subject to satisfactory surveys and an independent valuation confirming this to be a fair price for the site.

ii)             Authorise the Assistant Director of Housing Communities and Health to settle the final price and terms for the proposed purchase after consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder.

The Portfolio Holder for Communities and Partnerships summarised the report.

He informed Cabinet that an opportunity had arisen to purchase a development site in Great Chesterford using the HRA which would increase the Council’s housing stock. The purchase of the site would be funded from a mixture of Right to Buy receipts, which had to be used within a specific timeframe, and Council borrowing.

            RESOLVED to:

i)          Approve the purchase by the HRA of the development site in Great Chesterford for the asking price, subject to satisfactory surveys and an independent valuation confirming this to be a fair price for the site.

ii)         Authorise the Assistant Director of Housing, Health and Communities to settle the final price and terms for the proposed purchase after consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder.

The meeting ended at 7.35pm.