Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Lanie Shears.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2018.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2018 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council Procedure Rules.

To consider any petitions that have been referred to the Cabinet under the Council’s Petition Scheme.

To note the Forward Plan, which lists all upcoming Cabinet decisions and provides notice of key decisions and those expected to be taken in private session.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan is noted.

There have not been any decisions taken by Portfolio Holders under delegated powers since the last meeting of the Cabinet.

None.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Noted the draft Business Plan for HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd attached as Appendix A to the report.

B      Approved the revised terms of reference for the Shareholder Sub Committee attached as Appendix B to the report.

C      Agreed the proposed pipeline of house building sites for commencement utilising RTB receipts and other funding attached as Appendix C to the report.

D      Delegated authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to complete all necessary financial formalities to progress the above.

Cabinet received a report on the creation of HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd which set out the Articles of Association, the Company’s draft business plan, as well as proposed five year pipeline for house building sites.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Ingall (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Noted the draft Business Plan for HTS (Housing and Regeneration) Ltd attached as Appendix A to the report.

B      Approved the revised terms of reference for the Shareholder Sub Committee attached as Appendix B to the report.

C      Agreed the proposed pipeline of house building sites for commencement utilising RTB receipts and other funding attached as Appendix C to the report.

D      Delegated authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to complete all necessary financial formalities to progress the above.

RESOLVED that:

A     The Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report, be noted and referred to Council for consideration.

Cabinet considered a mid-year review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2018/19.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     The Mid-Year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy, attached as Appendix A to the report, be noted and referred to Council for consideration.

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet acknowledged the projected outturn position set out in sections three and four of Appendix A to the report for the second quarter (July - September) of 2018/19 as follows:

             i)        An adverse variation on controllable budgets of £141,000 representing 0.23 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

            ii)        A total projected underspend of £1,076,000 representing -1.78 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

           iii)        The Council performed on or above target for 48 out of 48 (100 per cent) of its quarterly performance indicators.

Cabinet received a report which set out both the Council’s financial performance, along with its performance its own performance indicators for the second quarter of 2018/19.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Ingall (seconded by Mike Danvers) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A     Cabinet acknowledged the projected outturn position set out in sections three and four of Appendix A to the report for the second quarter (July - September) of 2018/19 as follows:

                             i)        An adverse variation on controllable budgets of £141,000 representing 0.23 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

                            ii)        A total projected underspend of £1,076,000 representing -1.78 per cent of the gross General Fund Budget.

                           iii)        The Council performed on or above target for 48 out of 48 (100 per cent) of its quarterly performance indicators.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted:

             i)        An unfavourable variation against the approved HRA operational /controllable budget of £867,000 representing 1.63 per cent of the gross Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.

            ii)        A favourable non-operational variance of £660,000 representing 1.24 per cent of gross HRA budget which includes adjustments to capital programme financing as a result of the re-alignment of budgets in the housing capital programme which increases the anticipated direct revenue contribution required in 2018/19.

B    Noted the forecast balances at 31 March 2019, of £10,157,000in respect of the HRA and nil in respect of the Major Repairs Reserve (MRR).

Cabinet received a report which provided an update on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the second quarter of 2018/19 and asked that Cabinet noted variances in the HRA budget, as well as the forecast budget of the HRA and the Major Repairs Reserve.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted:

                             i)        An unfavourable variation against the approved HRA operational /controllable budget of £867,000 representing 1.63 per cent of the gross Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.

                            ii)        A favourable non-operational variance of £660,000 representing 1.24 per cent of gross HRA budget which includes adjustments to capital programme financing as a result of the re-alignment of budgets in the housing capital programme which increases the anticipated direct revenue contribution required in 2018/19.

B    Noted the forecast balances at 31 March 2019, of £10,157,000in respect of the HRA and nil in respect of the Major Repairs Reserve (MRR).

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A     The progress in the delivery of the Council’s Housing and Non Housing Capital Programmes as at Quarter 1 (30 September 2018) as follows:

             i)        Housing Capital Programme –forecast outturn of £19,819,000 (Original Estimate: £18,804,000).

            ii)        Non Housing Capital Programme – forecast outturn of £13,268,000 (Original Estimate: £15,250,000).

B    That the cost of providing three council homes at The Readings is likely to be £876,000 spanning three financial years, and that the first portion of the project will incur £147,000 in 2018/19 financed by retained receipts (£44,100) and HRA resources (£102,900).

Cabinet received a report which provided an update on the Council’s Housing and Non Housing Capital Programmes.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A     The progress in the delivery of the Council’s Housing and Non Housing Capital Programmes as at Quarter 1 (30 September 2018) as follows:

                             i)        Housing Capital Programme –forecast outturn of £19,819,000 (Original Estimate: £18,804,000).

                            ii)        Non Housing Capital Programme – forecast outturn of £13,268,000 (Original Estimate: £15,250,000).

B    That the cost of providing three council homes at The Readings is likely to be £876,000 spanning three financial years, and that the first portion of the project will incur £147,000 in 2018/19 financed by retained receipts (£44,100) and HRA resources (£102,900).

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Approved the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Vision and Design Guide (attached as appendices A and B to the report), as material planning considerations for the preparation of masterplans, the preparation of the Gilston Area Charter, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes.

B    Delgated authority to the Planning and Building Control Manager, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to agree any minor amendments following consideration of the Vision and Design Guide by the Garden Town Local Planning Authorities.

Cabinet received a report on the Harlow and Gilston Town Vision and Design Guide, which proposed its approval following a consultation.

Proposed by Councillor Danny Purton (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Approved the Harlow and Gilston Garden Town Vision and Design Guide (attached as appendices A and B to the report), as material planning considerations for the preparation of masterplans, the preparation of the Gilston Area Charter, pre-application advice, assessing planning applications and any other development management purposes.

B    Delegated authority to the Planning and Building Control Manager, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Environment, to agree any minor amendments following consideration of the Vision and Design Guide by the Garden Town Local Planning Authorities.

RESOLVED that appointments were made to the Local Development Plan Panel as appended to the minutes.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Established a Religious Diversity Working Party with the terms of reference attached as Appendix A to the report.

B    Appointed Councillors to the Working Party as set out in Appendix B to the report and grants delegated authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Governance, Equality and Diversity to appoint religious leaders in the community to the Working Party.

Cabinet considered a referral from Full Council to establish a Religious Diversity Working Party.

Proposed by Councillor Eugenie Harvey (seconded by Councillor Mark Ingall) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Established a Religious Diversity Working Party with the terms of reference attached as Appendix A to the report.

B    Appointed Councillors to the Working Party as set out in Appendix B to the report and grants delegated authority to the Managing Director, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Portfolio Holder for Governance, Equality and Diversity to appoint religious leaders in the community to the Working Party.

RESOLVED that:

A       The Non Housing Asset Management Plan (AMP) attached as appendices A and B be approved.

Cabinet received a referral from the Cabinet Overview Working Group on the Non Housing Asset Management Strategy, which proposed its approval following a consultation.

Proposed by Councillor John Strachan (seconded by Councillor Danny Purton) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A       The Non Housing Asset Management Plan (AMP) attached as appendices A and B be approved.

RESOLVED that:

A       Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the current scheme remains unchanged for 2019/20 and that the introduction of fixed period awards for Local Council Tax Support is not implemented at the current time and kept under review.

Cabinet received a referral from the Cabinet Overview Working Group on the review of the Local Council Tax Support Scheme Proposals 2019/20, which proposed its approval following a consultation.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Danny Purton) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A       Cabinet recommends to Full Council that the current scheme remains unchanged for 2019/20 and that the introduction of fixed period awards for Local Council Tax Support is not implemented at the current time and kept under review.

To note the following draft minutes of Cabinet appointed bodies. Minutes remain draft until approved by the relevant body.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted.

To deal with any matters of an urgent nature.

None.