Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Stacy Seales.

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

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 2023.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 March 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.

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

The Leader said that over the last month, the Council had announced its five priorities for the coming year.

He welcomed Neil Euesden, Interim Director of Housing, to the meeting and to the Council as a whole.

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

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=896

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=898

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=899

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 2023.

B    Recognised the End of Year operational performance and risk management that has been achieved in 2022/23 across all council services.

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

D    Approved the transfer of £0.6 million from the Budget Resilience Reserve to support the 2022/23 outturn position.

E     Approved the carry forward of resources from 2022/23 to 2023/24 as set out in the report totalling £189,965.

Cabinet received the Year End 2022/23 Finance and Performance Report.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

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 2023.

B    Recognised the End of Year operational performance and risk management that has been achieved in 2022/23 across all council services.

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

D    Approved the transfer of £0.6 million from the Budget Resilience Reserve to support the 2022/23 outturn position.

E     Approved the carry forward of resources from 2022/23 to 2023/24 as set out in the report totalling £189,965.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Outturn Report 2022/23 as set out in the report and in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approved the £241,000 in revenue carry forward requests as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Noted that the HRA effective general working balance as at 31 March 2023 is £14.548 million as set out in Table 1 of the report.

D    Noted that the Major Repairs Reserve balance as at 31 March 2023 is £0 million as set out in Table 3 of the report.

Cabinet received the Housing Revenue Account Outturn Report 2022/23.

Proposed by Councilor David Carter (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Outturn Report 2022/23 as set out in the report and in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approved the £241,000 in revenue carry forward requests as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Noted that the HRA effective general working balance as at 31 March 2023 is £14.548 million as set out in Table 1 of the report.

D    Noted that the Major Repairs Reserve balance as at 31 March 2023 is £0 million as set out in Table 3 of the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted that the Housing Capital Programme (HCP) final outturn for 2022/23 is £23.074 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approved £4.001 million reprofiling of capital schemes from 2022/23 HCP into 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Noted that the Non-Housing Capital Programme (NHCP) final outturn for 2022/23 is £28.976 million as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

D    Approved the £6.471 million reprofiling of capital schemes for Quarter 4 and £3.503 million reprofiling of capital schemes as at Quarter 3 from 2022/23 NHCP into 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 4 to the report.

E     Noted the balance of £18.678 million of retained Right to Buy (RTB) receipts held as at 31 March 2023 to finance the new build programme as set out in Appendix 5 to the report.

Cabinet received the Capital Programmes Outturn Report 2022/23.

Proposed by Councillor James Leppard (seconded by Councillor David Carter) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted that the Housing Capital Programme (HCP) final outturn for 2022/23 is £23.074 million as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

B    Approved £4.001 million reprofiling of capital schemes from 2022/23 HCP into 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 2 to the report.

C    Noted that the Non-Housing Capital Programme (NHCP) final outturn for 2022/23 is £28.976 million as set out in Appendix 3 to the report.

D    Approved the £6.471 million reprofiling of capital schemes for Quarter 4 and £3.503 million reprofiling of capital schemes as at Quarter 3 from 2022/23 NHCP into 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 4 to the report.

E     Noted the balance of £18.678 million of retained Right to Buy (RTB) receipts held as at 31 March 2023 to finance the new build programme as set out in Appendix 5 to the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Endorsed the HGGT Green Infrastructure Framework, as agreed by the HGGT Board.

B    Noted that the HGGT Partners are considering the inclusion of the development of Action Plans in the programme of work for the HGGT Partners in forthcoming years.

C    Noted that the HGGT Green Infrastructure Framework will be reviewed every five years, co-ordinated by the HGGT Partnership.

Cabinet received a report to endorse the HGGT Green Infrastructure Framework.

Proposed by Councillor Michael Hardware (seconded by Councillor Dan Swords) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Endorsed the HGGT Green Infrastructure Framework, as agreed by the HGGT Board.

B    Noted that the HGGT Partners are considering the inclusion of the development of Action Plans in the programme of work for the HGGT Partners in forthcoming years.

C    Noted that the HGGT Green Infrastructure Framework will be reviewed every five years, co-ordinated by the HGGT Partnership.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) Report (attached as Appendix A to the report) and the intention to provide a further update to Cabinet after the follow up CPC visit at the end of 2023.

B    Approved the draft action plan (attached as Appendix B to the report) developed from the reports key findings.

Cabinet received a report on the LGA Corporate Peer Challenge Report.

Proposed by Councillor Dan Swords (seconded by Councillor James Leppard) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A    Noted the Local Government Association (LGA) Corporate Peer Challenge (CPC) Report (attached as Appendix A to this report) and the intention to provide a further update to Cabinet after the follow up CPC visit at the end of 2023.

B    Approved the draft action plan (attached as Appendix B to the report) developed from the reports key findings.

Cabinet received a list of nominees to Cabinet appointed bodies.

RESOLVED that the 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.