Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Simon Carter, Michael Hardware and James Leppard.

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

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2022.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 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.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Acknowledged the outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund for the year ending 31 March 2022.

B     Recognised the End of Year operational performance and risk management that has been achieved in 2021/22 across all Council services.

C     Approved the movements through reserves as set out in the Appendix 3c to the report.

D     Approved the transfer of £1.215 million from the Budget Resilience Reserve to meet the 2021/22 overspend.

E     Noted the carry forward of resources from 2021/22 to 2022/23 as set out in the report totalling £217,986 approved under delegated powers by the Leader.

Cabinet received the year end joint finance and performance report for 2021/22.

Proposed by Councillor Russell Perrin (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords):

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Acknowledged the outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund for the year ending 31 March 2022.

B     Recognised the End of Year operational performance and risk management that has been achieved in 2021/22 across all Council services.

C     Approved the movements through reserves as set out in the Appendix 3c to the report.

D     Approved the transfer of £1.215 million from the Budget Resilience Reserve to meet the 2021/22 overspend.

E     Noted the carry forward of resources from 2021/22 to 2022/23 as set out in the report totalling £217,986 approved under delegated powers by the Leader.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund for the first quarter (April-June) of 2022/23 of a projected overspend of £80,000 or 0.13 percent of the gross General Fund Budget.

B    Noted the Quarter 1 operational performance and risk management that has been achieved in 2022/23 across all Council services.

Cabinet received the Quarter 1 joint finance and performance report for 2022/23.

Proposed by Councillor Russell Perrin (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund for the first quarter (April-June) of 2022/23 of a projected overspend of £80,000 or 0.13 percent of the gross General Fund Budget.

B    Noted the Quarter 1 operational performance and risk management that has been achieved in 2022/23 across all Council services.

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The Quarter 1 - HRA Budget Monitoring report as set out in the report and in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    That the forecast HRA general working balance as at 31 March 2023 will be £6.793 million.

Cabinet received the Quarter 1 Housing Revenue Account report for 2022/23.

Proposed by Councillor Russell Perrin (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The Quarter 1 - HRA Budget Monitoring report as set out in the report and in Appendix 1.

B    That the forecast HRA general working balance as at 31 March 2023 will be £6.793 million.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Notes the progress and forecasts in the delivery of the Council’s Housing Capital Programme (HCP) as at Quarter 1 2022/23 as follows:

             i)        The current budget is £39.395 million, including £2.762 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 1 is £34.715 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Notes the progress in the delivery of the Council’s Non-Housing Capital Programme (NHCP) as at Quarter 1 2022/23 as follows:

             i)        The current budget is £22.786 million, including £4.066 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 1 is £22.786 million as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Approves the inclusion in the NHCP budget of an additional £60,083 for the installation of electric vehicle charge points within Harlow Council owned Car Parks. Expenditure is to be fully financed from a grant from The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.

Cabinet received the Quarter 1 Capital Programmes report for 2022/23.

Proposed by Councillor Russell Perrin (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords):

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Notes the progress and forecasts in the delivery of the Council’s Housing Capital Programme (HCP) as at Quarter 1 2022/23 as follows:

                             i)        The current budget is £39.395 million, including £2.762 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 1 is £34.715 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Notes the progress in the delivery of the Council’s Non-Housing Capital Programme (NHCP) as at Quarter 1 2022/23 as follows:

                             i)        The current budget is £22.786 million, including £4.066 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 1 is £22.786 million as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Approves the inclusion in the NHCP budget of an additional £60,083 for the installation of electric vehicle charge points within Harlow Council owned Car Parks. Expenditure is to be fully financed from a grant from The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles.

RESOLVED that:

A    The Community Safety Strategy 2021/22 – 2024/25 be approved, subject to consultation, to support and strengthen the council’s work with statutory and non-statutory partners to identify and tackle: all forms of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime; help reduce reoffending; increase visibility and engagement with residents; and support victims of crime.

B    Cabinet authorised that consultation be undertaken on this draft for a period of six weeks. Minor amendments will be submitted to the Director of Communities and Environment who will, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Business and Community Resilience, develop the final version of the strategy following the conclusion of the consultation period.

Cabinet received a report to approve the Community Safety Strategy for consultation.

Proposed by Councillor Joel Charles (seconded by Councillor Alastair Gunn) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A    The Community Safety Strategy 2021/22 – 2024/25 be approved, subject to consultation, to support and strengthen the council’s work with statutory and non-statutory partners to identify and tackle: all forms of anti-social behaviour (ASB) and crime; help reduce reoffending; increase visibility and engagement with residents; and support victims of crime.

B    Cabinet authorised that consultation be undertaken on this draft for a period of six weeks. Minor amendments will be submitted to the Director of Communities and Environment who will, in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Business and Community Resilience, develop the final version of the strategy following the conclusion of the consultation period.

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet noted the revised geographical extent of the areas covered by the Article 4 Directions, as defined in Appendix A to the report, together with the supporting statement in Appendix B to the report.

B    The revised Article 4 Directions be confirmed to limit the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to limit changes from Use Class E (retail and office) to Residential Use in Harlow Town Centre, Pinnacles, Templefields and Burnt Mill upon receipt of formal confirmation from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that they will support the Direction.

C    Delegated authority is provided to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to make any minor amendments to the Directions as required by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

Cabinet received a report to confirm revised Article 4 Directions throughout the town.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor Steve LeMay) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet noted the revised geographical extent of the areas covered by the Article 4 Directions, as defined in Appendix A to the report, together with the supporting statement in Appendix B to the report.

B    The revised Article 4 Directions be confirmed to limit the provisions of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (England) Order 2015 to limit changes from Use Class E (retail and office) to Residential Use in Harlow Town Centre, Pinnacles, Templefields and Burnt Mill upon receipt of formal confirmation from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities that they will support the Direction.

C    Delegated authority is provided to the Director of Strategic Growth and Regeneration in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, to make any minor amendments to the Directions as required by the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities.

None.

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

None.

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.