Use the below search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the council’s decision making bodies.
Alternatively you can visit the officer decisions page for information on officer delegated decisions that have been taken by council officers.
The Council has an ongoing acquisitions
programme to increase the number of council homes in the Borough
and we have a requirement to ensure we invest the 1:4:1 receipts
from the sale of council homes from the RTB.
After a full review of the 1:1 receipts programme in order to
ensure all receipts are spent effectively within the timescales we
are moving to a 3 year approach; given the delays in the new build
programmes (partly due to Co-vid 19) a proposal to increase the
Housing Revenue Account acquisitions budget from £1m to
£3m utilising some of the underspend in the 2019/20 capital
programme. This was approved at Cabinet on the 9th June 2020. The
increase in budget to £3m (for 2020/21) will ensure that RTB
141 receipts are spent and not returned to Government with
interest.
Work to identify suitable sites for investment by the Housing
Revenue Account has been carried out to ensure we maximise the
outcomes of the investment by ensuring it supports overall Housing
Delivery in the Borough. Parameters set by the Housing Service for
a property / site to be suitable was that the site must be
providing housing that met waiting list demand – primarily
2/3/4 bedroom houses, was cost effective when input into the
housing acquisitions calculator, would not impact on other onsite
affordable provision, and would increase local new build housing
supply. In addition, the site also had to have developer who was
willing to consider Council investment would not be detrimental to
the overall scheme.
The site identified that most closely met the requirements was the
development at the former Ringwood Centre Brimington. The site has
already delivered 22 homes but had stalled before commencement on
the final phase of 12 three-bedroom houses. The final phase has
planning permission and is a mix of detached and semi-detached
three-bedroom homes.
The developer – Rockliffe Homes – needed to have
reservations on six of the units before being able to commit to
starting in site.
The three bedroom semi-detached properties are marketed at
£180K. The developer is currently offering them at
£174K to the Council. The properties have been run through
the acquisitions calculator and are a suitable, viable purchase.
Stamp Duty at 5% (or potentially lower) will also be payable on the
properties
The maximum price of the six properties will therefore be
(£174Kx6x1.05) £1,096,200.
Advice from Kier will be sought to agree a final price based on
amendments to the specification and other potential cost reduction
such as marketing fees that would be redundant.
The plots the identified between the Council and the developer to
purchase are the units: Plots 28/29, 30/31 and 32/33 to CBC.
To progress and start on site the developer needs to have exchange
on contract agreed. If the developer is on site for July 2020 the
units will be ready for occupation in Spring 2021. It is proposed
to purchase the properties based on 10% deposit at exchange on
contracts and 0% on completion. There are no procurement issues as
there are no development agreements in place.
Therefore in summary the investment in the site will ensure the
development of twelve three-bedroom homes.
•Investment will help economic recovery from the impact of
covid-19.
•The investment will deliver six three bedroom council
properties for households on the Councils Waiting List.
•The investment will ensure that risk of returning RTB141
receipts is minimised
Decision Maker: Assistant Director - Housing
Decision published: 19/06/2020
Effective from: 15/06/2020
Decision:
Option 1 - To purchase the six homes for
£174K each + SDLT to ensure the development takes place and
that the risk of Returning 141 RTB receipts is reduced.
Lead officer: Liz Cook
Decision Maker: Joint Cabinet and Employment & General Committee
Made at meeting: 09/06/2020 - Joint Cabinet and Employment & General Committee
Decision published: 15/06/2020
Effective from: 15/06/2020
Decision:
No declarations of interest were received.
To report on the General Fund Revenue and
Capital Outturns for 2019/20, provide details of significant
variations from the revised estimates and consider carry forward
requests.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 09/06/2020 - Cabinet
Decision published: 09/06/2020
Effective from: 09/06/2020
Decision:
*RESOLVED –
1. That the General Fund Revenue and Capital Outturn reports for 2019/20 be noted.
2. That the General Fund carry forward requests, as set out in paragraph 4.6 of the officer’s report, be approved.
3. That the level of General Fund Reserves and Balances, as detailed in section 6 and Appendix C of the officer’s report, be approved.
4. That the transfers between reserves identified in paragraphs 6.4 and 6.5 of the officer’s report be approved.
5. That the General Fund surplus for the financial year 2019/20, as set out in paragraph 6.6 of the officer’s report, be transferred to the budget risk reserve.
6. That the capital financing arrangements, as set out in Appendix D of the officer’s report, be approved.
REASON FOR DECISIONS
In the interest of sound financial management.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Richard Staniforth
To report on the revenue outturn for 2019/20
and to provide explanations of significant variations from the
revised estimates approved by Cabinet on 25th February
2020.
Decision Maker: Cabinet
Made at meeting: 09/06/2020 - Cabinet
Decision published: 09/06/2020
Effective from: 09/06/2020
Decision:
*RESOLVED –
1. That the report be noted.
2. That the revenue carry forward request, as detailed in paragraph 3.4 of the officer’s report, and the capital carry forward request in respect of schemes which were not finalised during 2019/20, as detailed in paragraph 4.2 of the officer’s report, be approved.
REASONS FOR DECISIONS
1. To enable the Housing Revenue Account revenue outturn to be included in the Council’s overall Statement of Accounts.
2. To consider the carry forward requests which will allow for the completion of the revenue and capital projects which were not finalised during the financial year.
Wards affected: (All Wards);
Lead officer: Helen Fox, Steve Spencer
Decision Maker: Joint Cabinet and Employment & General Committee
Made at meeting: 09/06/2020 - Joint Cabinet and Employment & General Committee
Decision published: 09/06/2020
Effective from: 09/06/2020
Lead officer: Rachel O'Neil
Decision Maker: Joint Cabinet and Employment & General Committee
Made at meeting: 09/06/2020 - Joint Cabinet and Employment & General Committee
Decision published: 09/06/2020
Effective from: 09/06/2020
Decision:
*RESOLVED –
1. That the submission of claims to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough staff, who have been unable to carry out their roles for the council, where the funding for their posts has been largely generated through third party income through sales, fees and charges and where there has been a significant reduction in the associated revenue streams, be approved.
2. That furloughed staff will continue to receive 100% of their wages and will see no changes to their pension contributions.
3. That it be noted that, for the council to furlough staff, the individual staff member must voluntarily agree to be furloughed as it constitutes a temporary contract variation.
4. That the Executive Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Governance and in conjunction with the Human Resources & Support Services Manager, be granted delegated authority to take forward claims to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme for the period June-October 2020 in line with the latest Government guidelines.
REASONS FOR DECISIONS
To enable the council to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to furlough appropriate staff and receive a grant towards the costs. This will help to alleviate the significant financial pressures that the council is facing in responding to the coronavirus outbreak and minimise the long-term risk of having to consider staff redundancies.
Lead officer: Kate Harley