Agenda and minutes

The decisions from the meeting held on 21st January were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken.

None disclosed.

Report PLA966 by the Portfolio Holder Grow the Economy and Economic Development.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That Cabinet approves the following:

a)              Notes the comments received in response to the public consultation on the Draft Southern Quadrant Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) as set out in Appendix 1 to report PLA966.

b)              The proposed changes to the Draft Southern Quadrant Masterplan SPD set out in Appendix 2 to report PLA966.

c)              The Southern Quadrant Masterplan SPD, as amended in accordance with recommendation b) above, is adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.

d)              The Southern Quadrant Masterplan SPD to take effect following the end of the call in period and it be applied to all qualifying planning applications registered as valid after this date.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Report PLA966 from the Portfolio Holder for Grow the Economy and Economic Development.

2)              The adoption of the Southern Quadrant SPD would support all the Council’s priority themes.

3)              The purpose of the Masterplan SPD was to provide developers intending to bring forward major development proposals within the Southern Quadrant with clear guidance in terms of delivering a distinctive and high quality scheme.

4)              The responses received following the widespread consultation carried out in October 2012 which included the local community and businesses in the area, Lincolnshire County Council, relevant local service providers, relevant Parish Councils and relevant national, regional and local organisations. Drop in sessions were also held for members of the public to discuss the plans.

5)              Comments made by Members at the meeting about the quality of some of the responses made during the consultation period.

Other options considered:

Do not adopt as an SPD – the alternative would be to rely upon the policies within the adopted Core Strategy for guiding future development of the site. Those policies will not provide the level of detailed guidance given by the SPD for the development of the Southern Quadrant.

Report number LDS087 by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That the Community Right to Challenge Scheme as attached to report LDS087 be adopted.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Report LDS087 from the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

2)              The Community Right to Challenge is one of a number of new rights for communities introduced by the Localism Act 2011.

3)              The Community Right to Challenge provides a way for communities to help shape and run local services. Regulations and statutory guidance have been introduced. The Regulations:

·     specify information required in an expression of interest

·     specify grounds whereby an expression of interest may be rejected

·     state which kinds of services are excluded from the right

4)       The draft scheme had been drawn up in association with Procurement Lincolnshire. The District Council works in partnership with Procurement Lincolnshire to carry out efficient and effective procurement of goods and services.

5)              The draft scheme was considered by the Communities Policy Development Group at its meeting on 10th January 2013 who did not propose any changes to the scheme.

6)              Comments made by Cabinet Members and the Head of Legal and Democratic clarifying parts of the document.

Other options considered:

The Council has no other alternative but to make provision for the management and administration of the process to consider expressions of interests received for the provisions of services.

Report ENV577 by the Environmental Health Service Manager.

(Enclosure)

Decision:

That approval is granted to designate an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) that combines the existing two separate AQMA at Manthorpe Road/Brook Street and Wharf Road with the High Street and London Road, Grantham to produce a single AQMA as shown edged in red on the plan attached to report ENV577.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Report ENV577 from the Environmental Health Service Manager.

2)              Local authorities had a statutory duty to review and assess air quality within their districts in accordance with section 82 of the Environment Act 1995 and for them to designate by order an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA) to assist in securing improvements to air quality where repeated exceedances of air pollutants had been identified.

3)              Ongoing monitoring had identified, modelled actual exceedances of nitrogen dioxide in areas other than those which already had an AQMA which cover Brook Street/Manthorpe Road and Wharf Road, Grantham.

4)              Having one declared AQMA will enable the Council to take a holistic approach with one Air Quality Action Plan to manage air quality across the town rather than duplication of reporting a number of separate AQMAs.

5)              A questionnaire would be sent out to all residents that were within the proposed extended air quality management area and those that live just outside the proposed boundary to seek ideas to inform the AQMA.

6)              In the preparation or revision of an action plan the following persons must also be consulted, the Secretary of State, the Environment Agency, the Highway authority, every local authority that is contiguous to the authority’s area, the County Council and such other public authorities as we may consider appropriate

7)              Comments made by Cabinet Members at the meeting.

Other options considered

There were no other options other than to reject the consultant’s reports and DEFRA’s advice. However, comprehensive monitoring data and computer modelling has identified that there are breaches of air quality and signing the order will enable the Council to discharge its statutory duty and is in line with the Council’s priority of “Keeping SK Clean Green and Healthy”.

·                 Determination of General Fund Budget - Report HOF219 by the Strategic Director Corporate Focus and the Head of Finance.

(Enclosure)

·                 Determination of Housing Revenue Account Budget - Report HOF223 by the Strategic Director Corporate Focus and the Strategic Director Community & Environment Focus.

(Enclosure)

General Fund Budget 2013/14

Decision:

General Fund (Revenue)

That Cabinet recommends parts a. to c. to Council:

a.          to set a General Fund budget requirement of £14.068M for 2013/14 shown at Appendix A to report HOF219 (inclusive of special expenses) which will include the additional items listed in Appendix B to report HOF219 and the savings listed in Appendix C to report HOF219.

b.          to approve a Council Tax increase of £5 (for a Band D equivalent) for 2013/14

c.          to note the indicative base estimates for 2014/15 and 2015/16 as detailed in the summary at Appendix A to report HOF219.;

Capital Programme

That Cabinet recommends parts d. to e. to Council:

d.              to approve the General Fund Capital programme for 2013/14 to 2017/18 detailed at Appendix D page 1 to report HOF219

e.              to approve the Capital Financing statement detailed at Appendix D page 2 to report HOF219

Reserves and balances

That Cabinet recommends part f to Council:

f.                to note the movements in Revenue and Capital reserves and balances detailed in Appendix E to report HOF219.

Treasury Management and prudential indicators

That Cabinet recommends part g. to Council:

g.                to approve the Treasury Management Strategy provided at Appendix F to report HOF219.

Consideration/reasons for decision:

1)              Report HOF219 from the Strategic Director Corporate Focus and the Head of Finance in relation to:

·                  Budget estimates for 2013/14

·                 The District’s basic amount of Council Tax 2013/14 following the Governments announcement that South Kesteven had been identified as a low quartile council tax base charge and therefore had the opportunity to increase its Council Tax base by a maximum of £5 for 2013/14 (based on a Band D charge).

·                 The grant settlement the Council received for 2013/14 and future forecast decreases in the level of funding anticipated from Government.

·                  The Capital programme for 2013/14 – 2017/18

·                  Treasury Management and Investment Strategy

2)              The budget for 2013/14  and indicative budgets for 2014/15 to 2015/16 had been prepared in line with:

·                  the Council’s priorities and the corporate plan

·                 the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan which incorporated the budgetary principles of continuing to protect front line services.

·                 Service Strategies and Plans

·                 Asset Management Strategy

·                 The economic context and recent grant announcements

·                 Investment in priorities and the prudent use of reserves and balances

3)              The proposals have regard to accounting requirements and external factors affecting the budget:

·             Prudential code

·             Changes to the business rates and the introduction of the Council Tax support scheme

·             The economic climate

·             Investment income and fees and charges

·             The Actuary review of the Pensions Fund.

4)              Consultations that had been undertaken both with the four main business clubs of the District and the public.  Heavy advertising of drop in sessions in Grantham and the Deepings had been undertaken with text editorials being sent to the larger papers circulating in the district. There had also been a facility on the website to make representations about the council tax proposals. (It was noted by the Cabinet Members that the response to the consultation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 46.

Decisions CO43, CO44 and CO45 as made on 18th February can be implemented by Wednesday 27th February 2013, unless subject to call-in by the Scrutiny Committee Chairman or any five members of the Council from any political group.

Decision CO46 stands referred to Council on Friday 1st March 2013.