Decisions

*RESOLVED-

1.   That the following documents be referred to the Standards and Audit Committee;

a)   the Annual Review of the Local Code of Corporate Governance for 2023/24 (Appendix 1)

b)   the Annual Governance Statement 2023/24 (Appendix 2)

2.   That the Standards and Audit Committee;

a)   consider the documents listed in 2.1 above

b)   subject to any amendments that they consider appropriate, approve the Annual Governance Statement and

c)   recommend that the Annual Governance Statement be signed by the Leader and Chief Executive

3.   That a review of the Code of Corporate Governance be undertaken in 12 months’ time.

4.   That progress on addressing the significant issues and future challenges identified in the Annual Governance Statement be monitored by the Corporate Leadership Team.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

1.   To enable the Cabinet and the Standards and Audit Committee to monitor compliance with the Code of Corporate Governance.

2.   To comply with the requirements of the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2015.

3.   To support the maintenance of sound risk management, governance and control arrangements within the Council.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the establishment of a new Housing Advisory Board comprising Members, tenants and senior officers, be approved in order to fulfil the requirements of the Social Housing Regulator and the Housing Ombudsman, and to ensure detailed and effective oversight and scrutiny of all social landlord activities.

2.   That it be noted that the Board will have no decision-making responsibilities, and that any reports requiring a formal decision would continue to be presented to Cabinet.

3.   That authority be delegated to the Service Director – Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Monitoring Officer, to establish Terms of Reference for the Housing Advisory Board, and to subsequently amend such Terms of Reference if requirements change over time.

4.   That it be agreed a progress report is received, outlining the activity of and outcomes achieved by the Housing Advisory Board, one year after its establishment.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS

1.   The Regulator of Social Housing takes a co-regulatory approach to monitoring against its consumer standards and has encouraged local authorities to prepare for the shift to a more proactive regulatory approach, following new powers being introduced from April 2024.

2.   Housing associations and arms-length management organisations (ALMOs) typically have a Board of Directors (including tenants), with reporting mechanisms and strategic oversight of their organisation’s performance.  A clear reporting / strategic governance model is now needed for the Council’s Housing Service, to ensure that the service receives effective scrutiny and oversight by tenants and Members.

3.   In addition to the Housing Regulator, the Housing Ombudsman’s new Complaint Handling Code becomes mandatory from April 2024 and demands involvement and oversight at director and elected member level, with a councillor taking the lead on complaints.  The Code includes expectations that the Council will have arrangements in place for regular detailed discussions about complaints performance, and for a formal response from the responsible Member / governing body to be published, following comprehensive scrutiny and challenge.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That Chesterfield’s inclusion as a priority town within the Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns programme be noted.

2.   That the initial capacity funding that the Government has made available to support development of the 10-year Vision statement and the first 3-year Investment Plan for Chesterfield be accepted.

3.   That authority be delegated to the Service Director - Economic Growth in consultation with the Chief Executive, the Service Director - Finance and the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth to commission appropriate external support as necessary to enable timely preparation of the 10-year Vision statement and first 3-year Investment Plan for Chesterfield.

4.   That the process of establishing the Chesterfield Town Board, including the appointment of Chair, as outlined in the report, be endorsed.

5.   That the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Asset Management be appointed as the council’s representative on the Chesterfield Town Board.

6.   That authority be delegated to the Service Director - Economic Growth in consultation with the Chief Executive, the Service Director - Finance and the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Economic Growth to submit the 10-year Vision statement and first 3-year Investment Plan for Chesterfield to the Government following the sign-off of both documents by the Chesterfield Town Board.

7.   That an updating report be prepared for Cabinet following submission of the 10-year Vision statement and first 3-year Investment Plan for Chesterfield setting out the council’s proposals for administering the Long-Term Plan for Towns programme as it applies to Chesterfield and resourcing delivery of the first 3-year investment plan.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

To enable Chesterfield Borough Council to implement the requirements of the Government’s Long-Term Plan for Towns guidance including the establishment of a Long-Term Plan for Towns Board for Chesterfield by April 2024 and the submission of a Vision statement and 3-year Investment Plan by August 2024.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the charging regime for monitoring S.106 obligations be approved, as set out in section 4 of the report, and that the charging regime be incorporated as a standard clause in relevant S.106 obligations with immediate effect.

2.   That the charging regime be published on the Borough Council’s website as soon as is practically possible.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

To enable the implementation of appropriate charges to support the provision of staffing resources to enable monitoring of and ensure developer compliance with approved S.106 Legal Agreements.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the progress made on achieving receipts from the Chesterfield Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) be noted.

2.   That the proposal to make awards of strategic CIL funding for 2023 be approved, in line with the recommendations set out in Appendix 2 of the report.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

To ensure that CIL expenditure takes place in accordance with the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Regulations and the Council’s CIL Expenditure Strategy to ensure that CIL investment supports planned growth and sustainable development and Chesterfield’s continued vitality.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the Chesterfield Housing Strategy 2024-2027 be recommended for adoption by Council.

2.   That authority be delegated to the Service Director- Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to make minor amendments to the Housing Strategy as and when appropriate.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

The purpose of the Housing Strategy 2024-2027 is to provide an overarching framework for the delivery of housing related programmes and initiatives where the Council can play an active role.

*RESOLVED –

That it be recommended to Full Council;

1.   That a Community Governance Review not be undertaken at this time, however this be reconsidered by Council if valid trigger conditions for a Community Governance Review are met in the future.

2.   That Chesterfield Borough Council continue to support Staveley Town Council’s improvement efforts including the implementation of the recommendations of the Staveley Improvement Board.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

There is an opportunity to work with Staveley Town Council to support the implementation of the recommendations made by the Staveley Improvement Board. Staveley Town Council needs some time to work through these recommendations and improve their governance arrangements and financial position.

*RESOLVED –

1.   That the refreshed partnership agreement be endorsed and the Joint Cabinet and Employment and General Committee approve that the partnership agreement can be signed on behalf of the Council.

2.   That an additional £45k be made available to enable 1.6 FTE posts to be backfilled in Housing Services, offsetting the increase in Trade Union facility time which is built into the refreshed partnership agreement.

REASON FOR DECISIONS

The refreshed agreement enables effective partnership working with Trade Unions during a period of intensive change whilst also balancing the need to maintain service delivery to our residents, businesses, and visitors.

RESOLVED –

That Chesterfield Borough Council does not list the Rectory, Church Way, Chesterfield as an asset of community value.