Agenda and minutes
PDF 77 KBVenue: Council Chamber - South Kesteven House, St. Peter's Hill, Grantham. NG31 6PZ
Contact: Democratic Services
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Register of attendance and apologies for absence
Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Nick Robins and Linda Wootten. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting
To consider the minutes of the meeting held on 9 November 2021. Minutes: The minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021, were proposed, seconded and AGREED as a correct record. |
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Disclosure of Interests (if any)
Minutes: There were none. |
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Localised Council Tax Support Scheme 2022/23
Report of The Deputy Leader of the Council. Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of the Report
To provide Cabinet with an opportunity to review the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme in advance of the 2022/23 financial year.
Decisions
That Cabinet:
1. Recommends to Council the Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 based on the same overarching criteria as the current year scheme as detailed in paragraphs 1.11 and 1.12 of the report.
2. Approves the continuation of the £20,000 Discretionary Payment Fund for 2022/23 in its budget proposals.
Options considered and rejected
Other options considered and rejected were set out in the body of the report and associated appendices.
Reasons for decision
The options in relation to the Council’s Local Council Tax Support Scheme were considered by the Finance, Economic Development and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 3 December 2021 where it supported the recommendation set out in the report.
Further to public consultation on the proposed scheme, 8,236 surveys were sent out of which 308 were returned which equated to 3.74%. 81,82% of those who had responded supported the current scheme with 87.99% supporting the continuation of the Discretionary Payment Fund.
Consultation with major preceptors had also been undertaken, with the Lincolnshire Police and Crime Commissioner and Lincolnshire County Council being supportive of the current scheme remaining in place with the existing criteria for 2022/23.
Councillor Kelham Cooke, Leader of the Council, supported the retention of the existing scheme and felt that it was right to continue this tried and tested entitlement. He added that it was always a challenge to ensure sustainability alongside offering support where it was required, stating that the existing scheme worked well in this regard. He acknowledged that the consultation undertaken demonstrated a consensus to implement the 2022/23 scheme based on the existing criteria, which had also been supported by the Finance, Economic Development and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
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Council Tax Base 2022/23
Report of The Deputy Leader of the Council. Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of the Report
To provide Cabinet with an opportunity to recommend to Full Council the Council Tax Base for the financial year 2022/23.
Decisions
That Cabinet recommends to Full Council the Council Tax Base for the forthcoming financial year (2022/23) equating to 48,706.7 in accordance with the relevant legislation.
Options considered and rejected
None.
Reasons for decision
The Council Tax Base formed part of the calculation of the Council Tax for the local area and the number of properties that formed the Council Tax Base must therefore be agreed.
The Council tax varied between different bands according to proportions laid down in legislation. These proportions were based around Band D and were fixed so that the bill for a dwelling in Band A would be a third of the bill for a dwelling in Band H. Applying the relevant proportion to each band’s net property base produced the number of ‘Band D’ equivalent properties for the area.
Councillor Kelham Cooke, Leader of the Council, supported the increase of the Council Tax Base as highlighted in the report and the expansion of affordable homes in the district. An increase in the tax base would further help support residents in South Kesteven and help deliver the priorities set out by the Council.
Councillor Robert Reid, Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, highlighted that the Council’s collection rate was often overlooked, with the Council’s target rate of performance being 98.75% for 2022/23. This level of collection represented a remarkable achievement from officers, which was also achieved with the blend of having a good Local Council Tax Support Scheme in place, and was a clear demonstration of the fairness and outreaching efforts that applied across all Council Taxpayers.
It was noted that these continued to be difficult times for people across the district and that support was available either by the Council or other external organisations which should be promoted in order that people knew how to access them. |
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Deepings Leisure Centre Options
Report of The Cabinet Member for Leisure.
A Joint meeting of the Finance, Economic Development and Corporate Services & Culture and Visitor Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committees will consider this item on 30 November 2021, which is subsequent to the publication of the agenda for this meeting of Cabinet.
A copy of the report due for consideration at the Joint Scrutiny meeting is therefore attached to this agenda. An extract of the minutes from that meeting, confirming any recommendations, will be published in due course, prior to this meeting of Cabinet. Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of report
To provide Cabinet with an opportunity to consider potential options in relation to the future of the Deepings Leisure Centre and provide a recommendation to Full Council.
Decision
That Cabinet:
1. Notes the feasibility work undertaken to establish options for leisure provision in the Deepings.
2. Recommends to Full Council approval of Option C with a budget allocation of £10.663m for leisure facilities to meet the local needs in the Deepings area, subject to meaningful community consultation and the inclusion of a financial review.
3. Recommends to Full Council that it includes the implications of the borrowing costs associated with Option C in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and further work be undertaken to ensure financial sustainability.
4. Recommends to Full Council that it requests the relevant Cabinet Member to call upon the Department for Education and the Anthem Trust to resolve the lease of Deepings Leisure Centre in order to allow LeisureSK Ltd and South Kesteven District Council representatives to reopen the Deepings Leisure Centre as soon as possible.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Full details of other options considered and rejected were set out in the report, which consisted of:
· Option A – basic refurbishment. · Option B – basic refurbishment and enhanced gym provision. · Option B Plus – basic refurbishment and enhanced gym provision with the addition of an enhanced entrance to the leisure centre, the accommodation of a larger studio on the first floor and the replacement of the male and female swim change areas to a changing village.
Other options considered and rejected included:
· An option which included a 50-metre pool. · An option at an alternative site at the Landis & Gyr Building in Market Deeping. · An option at an alternative site at Linchfield Road. · An option for a smaller leisure facility for the Deepings.
Reason for the decision
Cabinet considered a comprehensive report which provided Members with the background relating to The Deepings Leisure Centre and options available relating to the provision of a Leisure Centre in The Deepings.
Councillor Barry Dobson, Cabinet Member for Leisure, presented the report and made the following points:
· The joint meeting of the Finance, Economic Development and Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Culture and Visitor Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered this report at its meeting on 30 November 2021. Members of the two Committees were provided with the opportunity to ask questions of the consultants appointed to undertake the feasibility and design work, namely David Rushton from Sports and Leisure Consultancy and Paul Weston of Paul Weston Architects. · An extract of the minutes from the meeting held on 30 November 2021 had been published and circulated to Cabinet, which set out in detail the aspects of the report considered by Overview and Scrutiny Members, a detailed overview of the points made at the meeting and the Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations. The Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee agree, unanimously to recommend to Cabinet that Full Council: - Approves Option C with a ... view the full minutes text for item 66. |
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EXCLUSION OF THE PRESS AND PUBLIC
Under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public may be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that if they were to be present, exempt information could be disclosed to them as defined in paragraph 1 & 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act. Minutes: Members considered whether it was necessary to exclude the press and public at this stage of proceedings.
It was agreed that, since there was no need to discuss any information that would disclose exempt information as defined in Paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public could remain in the meeting. |
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Deepings Leisure Centre Options - Exempt appendices
Additional documents: Minutes: This item was considered as part of minute number 66. No discussion ensued on the exempt appendices so the press and public were not excluded from the meeting. |
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Asset Disposal Programme to Support Growth
Report of The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property. Minutes: Purpose of the Report
To provide Cabinet with a proposed methodology to dispose of Council property assets for a range of purposes, including direct delivery of services, revenue generation and supporting corporate plan objectives.
Decisions
That Cabinet:
1. Approves the sequential disposal methodology outlined in the report with regard to General Fund Asset disposals.
2. Delegates authority to the Director of Housing and Property, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property, the Deputy Leader, Chief Executive, Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer, to dispose of General Fund assets up to a value of £2 million, exclusive of any applicable VAT, subject to legal and valuation advice.
Options considered and rejected
There was not currently a specific process for asset disposal so the methodology set out in the report recommended a way forward to ensure capital receipts could be generated in a timely manner.
No other options were considered.
Reasons for decision
In responding to the Council’s challenging budget position, the Authority was required to be innovative in how its property assets would be utilised to stimulate economic growth activity, attract investment and create income to support service delivery in keeping with the ambitions of the Corporate Plan 2020-2023.
The report set out principles and process that would ensure good governance and best value was achieved with regards to a programme of General Fund land and property disposals over the timescale of the Corporate Plan and Medium Term Financial Strategy. This would involve:
· Identifying assets for disposal · Asset valuation · Disposal and methods of disposal · Officer delegation
It was reported that a review of the Council’s assets was underway in order to identify those which had strategic, operational or income generating potential.
Councillor Kelham Cooke, Leader of the Council, agreed that it was really important for the Council to use its role as an ambassador of the local economy to not only identify General Fund capital projects but also identify those assets which no longer served to benefit the Council’s residents or local businesses. Creating such a framework would assist the Council to set out those assets which could be transitioned to more beneficial projects whilst, in the interests of residents, provide necessary governance and ensure that schemes were fiscally prudent and responsible, limiting borrowing wherever possible. The framework aimed to prioritise best value in the Council’s land and property assets, assessing their contribution to the local economy and communities and would be measured via in-depth analysis on a case by case basis. It was important, however, to recognise that the Council needed to be commercially minded as well as fair in its appraisals.
Councillor Cooke highlighted recent examples whereby the Council had worked with Town and Parish Councils regarding assets the District Council held which had now been transitioned over, as Town and Parish Councils sought for more ownership and investment in their respective areas and their sense of ‘place’. |
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Sport and Physical Activity Strategy
Report of The Cabinet Member for Leisure. Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of the report
To provide Cabinet with an opportunity to formally adopt a Sport and Physical Activity Strategy for South Kesteven District Council, which set out the Council’s vision, mission, aims and objectives for increasing rates of physical activity over the next five years.
Decisions
That Cabinet approves the adoption of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy as the Council’s strategic document to underpin the Corporate Plan 2020-2023 priority of Healthy and Strong Communities.
Options considered and rejected
Not to implement a Sport and Physical Activity Strategy.
Reasons for decision
On 22 June 2021 the Culture and Visitor Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered an update on the development of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy. It was proposed that the Strategy would focus on providing opportunities for residents to be more active and identify a broad range of opportunities to incorporate sport and physical activity into everyday life.
In further developing the Strategy it was recognised that the Council alone could not deliver its corporate ambition to build healthy and strong communities. To maximise the opportunities for residents to increase their physical activity levels and adopt a healthy lifestyle, importance was placed on the Strategy reflecting the collective ambitions and views of partner organisations and key stakeholders.
Alongside the work of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy, it was reported that the Council had committed to the Mental Health Challenge for Local Authorities and had acknowledged the role it needed to play in improving the mental wellbeing for everyone in the community. Initial conversations had taken place with the National Health Service, the Neighbourhoods Team and social prescribers and further work would take place to look into delivering a whole systems approach and develop integrated care systems. Discussions had also taken place with Active Lincolnshire, the county’s Active Partnership, to consider how the Strategy aligned with the county-wide agenda and to update their local club and activity finder. Alignment with Sport England’s ‘Uniting the Movement’ campaign had also been considered.
A copy of the Sport and Physical Activity Strategy was appended to the report.
Councillor Annie Mason, Cabinet Member for People and Safer Communities, commended the well written Strategy which covered all the necessary areas, linked well into the Mental Health Challenge and included a very clear action plan. The report also included one of the best Equality Impact Assessments she had read and took this opportunity to thank Emma Sharpe, Leisure and Events Officer, for an excellent piece of work.
Councillor Kelham Cooke, Leader of the Council, added his thanks to the team for the work they had undertaken on the development of the Strategy and said that this was important for the Authority, not just for residents but also the district’s local NHS services. Access to sport and physical activities was crucial, acknowledging that everyone currently lived in times of stress and anxiety. It was important to emphasise the improvements to mental health that fresh air and exercise could make, with the nature of South Kesteven ... view the full minutes text for item 70. |
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Key and Non-Key Decisions taken under Delegated Powers
Minutes: There were none. |
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Cabinet's Forward Plan
Report of The Leader of the Council. Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet noted the content of its Forward Plan for the period 29 November 2021 – 28 November 2022.
In closing the meeting, reflecting that this was the last meeting of Cabinet in 2021, the Leader of the Council thanked all officers at South Kesteven District Council for their contributions in what had been a very challenging year. He said that they had all stepped up to the mark in making South Kesteven a better place to live, work and visit and added his particular thanks to the Chief Executive for her leadership.
The meeting closed at 14:55 |