Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

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

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 16 February 2023 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.

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 are noted.

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=885

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=886

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund as at the end of the third quarter (April - December) of 2022/23 of a projected overspend of £480,000 or 0.8 percent of the gross General Fund Budget.

B    TheQuarter3 operational performanceandrisk managementthathas been achievedin 2022/23across allCouncilservices.

Cabinet received the Quarter 3 Joint Finance and Performance report 2022/23.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor Russell Perrin) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund as at the end of the third quarter (April - December) of 2022/23 of a projected overspend of £480,000 or 0.8 percent of the gross General Fund Budget.

B    TheQuarter3 operational performanceandrisk managementthathas been achievedin 2022/23across allCouncilservices.

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The Quarter 3 - HRA Budget and performance 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 £9.432 million.

Cabinet received the Quarter 3 Housing Revenue Account finance report for 2022/23.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The Quarter 3 - HRA Budget and performance 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 £9.432 million.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the progress and forecasts in the delivery of the Council’s Housing Capital Programme (HCP) as at Quarter 3 2022/23 as follows:

             i)        The current budget is £24.770 million, including £2.762 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 3 is £27.078 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Noted the progress in the delivery of the Council’s Non-Housing Capital Programme (NHCP) as at Quarter 3 2022/23 as follows:

             i)        The current budget is £19.325 million, including £4.066 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 3 is £34.800 million as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Approved the inclusion in the NHCP budget of an additional £71,000 for the installation of CCTV at various underpasses. Expenditure is to be fully financed from external grant.

Cabinet received the Quarter 3 Capital Programmes finance report for 2022/23.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the progress and forecasts in the delivery of the Council’s Housing Capital Programme (HCP) as at Quarter 3 2022/23 as follows:

                             i)        The current budget is £24.770 million, including £2.762 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 3 is £27.078 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Noted the progress in the delivery of the Council’s Non-Housing Capital Programme (NHCP) as at Quarter 3 2022/23 as follows:

                             i)        The current budget is £19.325 million, including £4.066 million carried forward from 2021/22. The projected outturn at Quarter 3 is £34.800 million as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Approved the inclusion in the NHCP budget of an additional £71,000 for the installation of CCTV at various underpasses. Expenditure is to be fully financed from external grant.

RESOLVED that subject to consultation, Cabinet adopted the draft Harlow Economic Development Strategy covering 2023 to 2028 (attached as Appendix A to the report).

Cabinet received the draft Economic Development Strategy.

Proposed by Councillor Joel Charles (seconded by Councillor Michael Hardware) it was:

RESOLVED that subject to consultation, Cabinet adopted the draft Harlow Economic Development Strategy covering 2023 to 2028 (attached as Appendix A to the report).

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet agreed for The Council to enter an Investment Partnership as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). The LLP would be 50:50 controlled by the Council and Selected Partner.

B    Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth and Regeneration, to agree and enter into a legal agreement for the LLP on behalf of The Council with the selected Partner.

C    Authority be delegated to Harlow Council members of the Investment Partnership Board in line with the Harlow Regeneration Partnership Roles, Responsibilities and Approvals Document as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Cabinet received a report to appoint a regeneration investment partner.

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

RESOLVED that:

A    Cabinet agreed for The Council to enter an Investment Partnership as a Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). The LLP would be 50:50 controlled by the Council and Selected Partner.

B    Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Growth and Regeneration, to agree and enter into a legal agreement for the LLP on behalf of The Council with the selected Partner.

C    Authority be delegated to Harlow Council members of the Investment Partnership Board in line with the Harlow Regeneration Partnership Roles, Responsibilities and Approvals Document as set out in Appendix A to the report.

RESOLVED that:

A    A waiver be granted to Contract Standing Order No.18.4 in accordance with CSO 3 to facilitate the award of a contract in excess of £350,000 by officers without a further report to the Cabinet.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth, to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the removal of the Terminus House bridge and associated works, up to a maximum contract as set out in confidential Appendix A.

C    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth, to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the demolition of Occasio House, up to a maximum contract as set out in confidential Appendix A.

Cabinet received a report on Town Centre Contract awards.

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

RESOLVED that:

A    A waiver be granted to Contract Standing Order No.18.4 in accordance with CSO 3 to facilitate the award of a contract in excess of £350,000 by officers without a further report to the Cabinet.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth, to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the removal of the Terminus House bridge and associated works, up to a maximum contract as set out in confidential Appendix A.

C    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth, to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the demolition of Occasio House, up to a maximum contract as set out in confidential Appendix A.

It was agreed that the Council Housebuilding Contract Awards report would be considered at the end of the meeting and would be considered in closed session to enable the confidential appendix to be discussed.

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The review and update of the Council House Building Programme (CHBP) as agreed at Cabinet in March 2022.

B    The outcome of both Internal Audit and Homes England Funding Audit.

C    The progress in establishing the Council House Building Programme (CHBP) Governance & Delivery Processes.

Cabinet received a report on the annual review of the council house building programme.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted:

A    The review and update of the Council House Building Programme (CHBP) as agreed at Cabinet in March 2022.

B    The outcome of both Internal Audit and Homes England Funding Audit.

C    The progress in establishing the Council House Building Programme (CHBP) Governance & Delivery Processes.

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that the changes to the Constitution and Portfolio Holder Delegations (attached as Appendix A to the report) be approved.

Cabinet received a report on changes to the Contract Standing Orders and Portfolio Holder delegations.

Proposed by Councillor Russell Perrin (seconded by Councillor Stacy Seales) it was:

RESOLVED that it was recommended to Full Council that the changes to the Constitution and Portfolio Holder Delegations (attached as Appendix A to the report) be approved.

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.

RESOLVED that the following item be taken in private session on the grounds that it is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as specified under Paragraph 3 of Part One of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, if and so long as in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs ofany particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED that:

A    A waiver to Contract Standing Order No.18.4 be granted in accordance with CSO 3 to facilitate the award of a contract in excess of £350,000 by officers without a further report to the Cabinet.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the construction of 8 – 3 bedroom houses and associated landscaping and parking, up to a maximum contract value as set out in Appendix A to the report, at Arkwrights garages and the construction of 6 – 1 and 2 bedroom bungalows and associated landscaping and parking with a maximum value as set out in Appendix A to the report, at The Yorkes.

C    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the demolition of Sherards House, three Horseshoes Road up to a maximum contract value as set out in Appendix A to the report.

Cabinet received a report to award council housebuilding contracts.

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

RESOLVED that:

A    A waiver to Contract Standing Order No.18.4 be granted in accordance with CSO 3 to facilitate the award of a contract in excess of £350,000 by officers without a further report to the Cabinet.

B    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the construction of 8 – 3 bedroom houses and associated landscaping and parking, up to a maximum contract value as set out in Appendix A to the report, at Arkwrights garages and the construction of 6 – 1 and 2 bedroom bungalows and associated landscaping and parking with a maximum value as set out in Appendix A to the report, at The Yorkes.

C    Delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Strategic Growth to contract award the appointment of a contractor for the demolition of Sherards House, three Horseshoes Road up to a maximum contract value as set out in Appendix A to the report.