Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

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

Councillor Stacy Seales declared a pecuniary interest in item 18, as a remunerated Council appointed Director of HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd. She would leave the room whilst the item was considered.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2022 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.

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

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

The questions, together with the answers, are appended to the minutes.

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.

To note recent Portfolio Holder decisions taken under delegated powers, as attached.

RESOLVED that the following decisions be noted.

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=873

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=874

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommended to Full Council that:

A    The General Fund element of Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2023/24 to 2025/26 (attached as appendix B to the report) is adopted.

B    The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) element of the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2023/24 to 2025/26 (as attached as Appendix C to the report) is adopted.

C    The planned Council Tax freeze for 2023/24 for the Harlow Council element of the 2023/24 Council Tax demand is approved.

D    That the anticipated New Homes Bonus for 2023/24 of £572,205 be used to increase the funds available within the Budget Stabilisation Reserve to a projected balance of £1.35million when combined with other proposals set out in this and the General Fund Budget report.

E     That movements in reserves set out in the report are approved.

The Cabinet received the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 – 2025/26.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommended to Full Council that:

A    The General Fund element of Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2023/24 to 2025/26 (attached as appendix B to the report) is adopted.

B    The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) element of the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2023/24 to 2025/26 (as attached as Appendix C to the report) is adopted.

C    The planned Council Tax freeze for 2023/24 for the Harlow Council element of the 2023/24 Council Tax demand is approved.

D    That the anticipated New Homes Bonus for 2023/24 of £572,205 be used to increase the funds available within the Budget Stabilisation Reserve to a projected balance of £1.35million when combined with other proposals set out in this and the General Fund Budget report.

E     That movements in reserves set out in the report are approved.

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    The General Fund estimates for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A to the report, are approved.

B    The proposed transfers between the General Fund and Earmarked Reserves, referred to within the report and set out in Appendix C to the report, are approved.

C    The proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix E to the report, are approved.

D    The Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix F to the report, is approved.

E     The Council's Band D Council Tax for 2023/24 is set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out in the 2023/24 MTFS.

Cabinet received a report on the General Fund Budget for 2023/24.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    The General Fund estimates for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A to the report, are approved.

B    The proposed transfers between the General Fund and Earmarked Reserves, referred to within the report and set out in Appendix C to the report, are approved.

C    The proposed Fees and Charges, as set out in Appendix E to the report, are approved.

D    The Pay Policy Statement, as set out in Appendix F to the report, is approved.

E     The Council's Band D Council Tax for 2023/24 is set at £288.90 representing a 0% increase as set out in the 2023/24 MTFS.

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    The HousingRevenue Account(HRA) BusinessPlan, asset outin Appendix A   to this report,is approved.

B    Authority is delegated to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to make minor amendments and finalisation of the Plan and Appendices, following consultation.

Cabinet received the Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2022-2052.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    The HousingRevenue Account(HRA) BusinessPlan, asset outin Appendix A   to this report,is approved.

B    Authority is delegated to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, to make minor amendments and finalisation of the Plan and Appendices, following consultation.

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    Approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estimates as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approve a working balance of £3.529 million for the HRA (set out in paragraph 23 of the report).

C    Approve that tenant rents are increased by 7 percent with effect from 3 April 2023. This equates to an average weekly rent of £104.18 an increase of £6.82 (set out in paragraph 3 of the report).

D    Approve that the rents and personal charges for temporary accommodation are increased with effect from 3 April 2022 as set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

E     Approve that garage rents within the ‘retain and invest’ category are increased by 5 percent with effect from 1 April 2023.  This equates to an average weekly rent of £12.35, an increase of £0.56.  Also approve the proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces (set out in paragraph 5 of the report).

F     Approve that tenant service charges are increased to recover full cost with effect from 3 April 2023 (see paragraphs 6 to 8 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

G    Approve that other housing related support charges for sheltered accommodation are increased to recover full cost with effect from 3 April 2023 (see paragraphs 9 to 13 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

H    Approve that the leasehold service charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2023 to ensure that all leaseholder costs are recovered (see paragraphs 16 to 19 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

I       Approve that all other tenant charges are increased with effect from 3 April 2023 in order to recover cost (see Appendix 2 attached to the report).

Cabinet received a report on the Housing Revenue Account Budget 2023/24.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    Approve the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) estimates as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approve a working balance of £3.529 million for the HRA (set out in paragraph 23 of the report).

C    Approve that tenant rents are increased by 7 percent with effect from 3 April 2023. This equates to an average weekly rent of £104.18 an increase of £6.82 (set out in paragraph 3 of the report).

D    Approve that the rents and personal charges for temporary accommodation are increased with effect from 3 April 2022 as set out in paragraph 4 of the report.

E     Approve that garage rents within the ‘retain and invest’ category are increased by 5 percent with effect from 1 April 2023.  This equates to an average weekly rent of £12.35, an increase of £0.56.  Also approve the proportionate increases for other garages, car ports and car spaces (set out in paragraph 5 of the report).

F     Approve that tenant service charges are increased to recover full cost with effect from 3 April 2023 (see paragraphs 6 to 8 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

G    Approve that other housing related support charges for sheltered accommodation are increased to recover full cost with effect from 3 April 2023 (see paragraphs 9 to 13 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

H    Approve that the leasehold service charges are increased with effect from 1 April 2023 to ensure that all leaseholder costs are recovered (see paragraphs 16 to 19 of the report and Appendix 2 attached to the report).

I       Approve that all other tenant charges are increased with effect from 3 April 2023 in order to recover cost (see Appendix 2 attached to the report).

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    The following Capital and Treasury Reports be approved:

             i)        The Capital Strategy Report (Appendix A to the report).

            ii)        The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24 (Appendix B to the report).

           iii)        The Investment Strategy Report 2023/24 (Appendix C to the report).

           iv)        The MRP Statement 2023/24 (Appendix D to the report).

Cabinet received a report on the Capital and Treasury Report 2023.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    The following Capital and Treasury Reports be approved:

                             i)        The Capital Strategy Report (Appendix A to the report).

                            ii)        The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24 (Appendix B to the report).

                           iii)        The Investment Strategy Report 2023/24 (Appendix C to the report).

                           iv)        The MRP Statement 2023/24 (Appendix D to the report).

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    Approve the 2023/24 Housing Capital Programme (HCP) totalling £38.891 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approve of the inclusion in the Housing Capital Programme of an additional £18 million over 3 years for a Housing “Catch up Stock Need” as set out in Table 2 of the report.

C    Approve the updated New Build programme as set out in Table 3 of the report.

D    Approve the 2023/24 Non-Housing Capital Programme totalling £13.471 million (attached as Appendix 2 to the report), noting the additional £2.789 million investment in response to Business Cases received as detailed in Table 11 of the report.

Cabinet received a report on the Capital Programmes 2022/23 – 2024/25.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that:

A    Approve the 2023/24 Housing Capital Programme (HCP) totalling £38.891 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approve of the inclusion in the Housing Capital Programme of an additional £18 million over 3 years for a Housing “Catch up Stock Need” as set out in Table 2 of the report.

C    Approve the updated New Build programme as set out in Table 3 of the report.

D    Approve the 2023/24 Non-Housing Capital Programme totalling £13.471 million (attached as Appendix 2 to the report), noting the additional £2.789 million investment in response to Business Cases received as detailed in Table 11 of the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Endorsed the revised approach set out in the report together with the updated timetable for the preparation of the Harlow Local Development Plan Review.

B    Agreed that the development plan for Harlow town centre will now be contained within a consolidated, single plan for the whole district.

C    Approved the Local Development Scheme (LDS) as set out in Appendix B to the report.

Cabinet received a report on the Local Plan review.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Hardware (seconded by Councillor Nicky Purse) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Endorsed the revised approach set out in the report together with the updated timetable for the preparation of the Harlow Local Development Plan Review.

B    Agreed that the development plan for Harlow town centre will now be contained within a consolidated, single plan for the whole district.

C    Approved the Local Development Scheme (LDS) as set out in Appendix B to this report.

RESOLVED that the Commercialisation Framework, attached as Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

Cabinet received a report to approve the Commercialisation Framework.

Proposed by Councillor Stacy Seales (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that the Commercialisation Framework, attached as Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

RESOLVED that:

A    A building cleaning and janitorial services contract is entered into with HTS (Property & Environment) Limited (HTS) for a period of three years commencing on 1 April 2023, subject to agreement of the terms and conditions with an option, at the sole discretion of the Council, to extend the contract for three years; and

             i)        so far as any new sites are concerned, the conclusion of mandatory formal consultation with the transferee’s existing employees and confirmation that HTS will provide pension protection which is the same as, broadly comparable or better than those they had the right to acquire prior to the transfer; and

            ii)        clarification on the final cost of the new services taking into account the matters referenced above and any necessary minor adjustments to the Council’s cleaning specification.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to finalise the terms and make the necessary legal and financial arrangements.

Councillor Seales left the meeting.

Cabinet received a report to award a contract for corporate cleaning and janitorial services.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Michael Hardware) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A    A building cleaning and janitorial services contract is entered into with HTS (Property & Environment) Limited (HTS) for a period of three years commencing on 1 April 2023, subject to agreement of the terms and conditions with an option, at the sole discretion of the Council, to extend the contract for three years; and

                             i)        so far as any new sites are concerned, the conclusion of mandatory formal consultation with the transferee’s existing employees and confirmation that HTS will provide pension protection which is the same as, broadly comparable or better than those they had the right to acquire prior to the transfer; and

                            ii)        clarification on the final cost of the new services taking into account the matters referenced above and any necessary minor adjustments to the Council’s cleaning specification.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Director of Housing, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to finalise the terms and make the necessary legal and financial arrangements.

Councillor Seales returned to the meeting.

RESOLVED that appointments be approved as appended to the minutes.

None.

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.

Such other business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be received as a matter of urgency by reason of special circumstances to be specified in the minutes.

None.