Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair will read out the following statement:

“This meeting is being webcast live to our website (https://harlow.public-i.tv/core/portal/home) and will be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended.

By continuing to attend this meeting, you are consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

I would like to remind all those participating in the meeting to use their microphones when they speak, and to turn them off once they have finished talking.”

The Leader said the meeting was being webcast live and would be available for repeated viewing after the meeting has ended. By continuing to attend the meeting, you were consenting to being filmed and to appearing in the webcast.

None.

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

Councillor Saggers declared a non-pecuniary interest as a council leaseholder and a pecuniary interest as a remunerated council appointed director of HTS (Property and Environment) Ltd.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2024.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2024 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 set out the progress the council had made under each objective of the five corporate priorities through the financial year. He thanked all officers of the council and HTS for their work to deliver each priority.

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 decision be noted.

https://moderngov.harlow.gov.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=951

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted:

               i)         The forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 is an adverse variance of £371,000.

              ii)         The update contained within the report that this has changed to a forecast favourable variance at the end of Period 10 (January 2024) of £26,000.

B     Noted:

               i)         The forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 is an  adverse variance of £778,000.

              ii)         The update contained within the report that this has increased to a forecast adverse variance at the end of Period 10 (January 2024) of £822,000.

C     Noted the forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the Non-Housing Capital Programme as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 with a projected favourable variance of £2.946 million.

D     Noted the forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the Housing Capital Programme as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 with a projected favourable variance of £3.358 million.

E     Approved the Period 9 reprofiling into 2024/25 within the Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes included within Appendices C and D.

F      Recommended to Full Council the approval of the Budget allocations identified for 2023/24 within the Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes included within Appendices C and D to the report.

G     Noted the council’s Oflog metric data at Quarter 3.

Cabinet received the Financial Performance Report, Quarter 3 2023/24.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted:

                                 i)         The forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the General Fund as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 is an adverse variance of £371,000.

                                ii)         The update contained within the report that this has changed to a forecast favourable variance at the end of Period 10 (January 2024) of £26,000.

B     Noted:

                                 i)         The forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 is an  adverse variance of £778,000.

                                ii)         The update contained within the report that this has increased to a forecast adverse variance at the end of Period 10 (January 2024) of £822,000.

C     Noted the forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the Non-Housing Capital Programme as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 with a projected favourable variance of £2.946 million.

D     Noted the forecast outturn position set out within the report in respect of the Housing Capital Programme as at the end of quarter 3 (April – December) of 2023/24 with a projected favourable variance of £3.358 million.

E     Approved the Period 9 reprofiling into 2024/25 within the Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes included within Appendices C and D.

F      Recommended to Full Council the approval of the Budget allocations identified for 2023/24 within the Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes included within Appendices C and D to the report.

G     Noted the council’s Oflog metric data at Quarter 3.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved:

A     The Corporate Plan delivery plan for 2024 - 2025, attached as Appendix A to the report.

B     The supporting Communications Framework, attached as Appendix B to the report.

Cabinet received a report on the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan and Communications Framework.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved:

A     The Corporate Plan delivery plan for 2024 - 2025, attached as Appendix A to the report.

B     The supporting Communications Framework, attached as Appendix B to the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved the amendment of the proposed company structure of the Harlow Investment Fund to adopt Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) arrangement.

Cabinet received a report on a proposed amendment to the structure of the Harlow Investment Fund.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved the amendment of the proposed company structure of the Harlow Investment Fund to adopt Limited Liability Partnership (LLP) arrangement.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted the review and update on the Council House Building Programme (CHBP) as agreed at Cabinet in March 2023.

B     Acknowledged that an all-Members Briefing was held by the Regeneration Team in October 2023.

Cabinet received the council house building programme annual update report.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A     Noted the review and update on the Council House Building Programme (CHBP) as agreed at Cabinet in March 2023.

B     Acknowledged that an all-Members Briefing was held by the Regeneration Team in October 2023.

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved the draft Climate Change Strategy at Appendix B of this report for consultation.

Cabinet received a referral from the Scrutiny Committee on the Climate Change Strategy.

Proposed by Councillor Nicky Purse (seconded by Councillor David Carter) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet approved the draft Climate Change Strategy at Appendix B of this report for consultation.

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted the approvals made by the committee in respect of Risk Management.

Cabinet received a referral from the Audit and Standards on the risk management report.

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

RESOLVED that Cabinet noted the approvals made by the committee in respect of Risk Management.

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.