Agenda and minutes
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Minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2018
(Enclosure) Minutes:
The Leader announced that there were a number of minor amendments that needed to be made to the draft minutes of the meeting held on 6 September 2018. Cabinet Members agreed to these amendments being made outside the meeting and the minutes being resubmitted for approval at Cabinet’s next meeting on 1 November 2018. |
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Disclosure of Interests (if any)
Minutes:
No interests were disclosed.
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*Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy and the Equality Act 2010
Report number CSL131 of the Cabinet Member for Environment. (Enclosure) Additional documents: Minutes:
Decision
The Cabinet agrees to implement the provisions of Section 165, 166 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010 and that the draft policy as set out at Appendix E of report number CSL/131 is adopted and included in the Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Licensing Policy.
Considerations/Reasons for Decision
Other options considered and assessed
The Council could determine not to implement the provisions of the Act.
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The Cabinet Member for Environment presented report CSL131, advising Members that while the adoption of Sections 165, 166 and 167 of the Equality Act 2010 was at Councils’ discretion the introduction of these Sections of the Act was seen as an opportunity. Their adoption would provide a service to vulnerable members of the community by ensuring that people with disabilities could not be refused access to adapted vehicles, nor could they be charged an inflated rate.
The Cabinet Member for Environment stated that there were currently 6 adapted vehicles in operation within the district. Cabinet Members noted that operators with adapted vehicles would be listed on the Council’s website. Drivers of adapted vehicles did not have the discretion to choose whether they were included on the listings; the only way in which a vehicle could be excluded was by applying for, and being granted, an exemption.
Cabinet Members agreed the recommendations in the report. |
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*Grounds Maintenance Company
Report number ENV703 of the Cabinet Member for Environment. (Enclosure) Additional documents: Minutes:
Decision
· Cabinet Member for Environment – Councillor Dr. Peter Moseley (Chairman) · Assistant Director Commercial and Operational – Ian Yates · Strategic Advisor (Housing Led Regeneration) – Tracey Blackwell
Considerations/Reasons for Decision
Other options considered and assessed
The core grounds maintenance service could be delivered by establishing one company – Environment SK without the need for a separate commercial entity. The advice received to date indicates that the Council would need to be assured that commercial trading levels would not be at risk of exceeding the thresholds sets out in procurement regulations. Effectively this could limit the ambition of the company in terms of developing its commercial strategy and competing for new contracts. From the Council’s perspective this could limit the opportunities available to derive new revenue streams and therefore its ability to cross-subsidise other corporate services or invest in local priorities.
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In presenting report number ENV703, the Cabinet Member for Environment referred to recent work that had been undertaken to determine the best way for the Council to deliver its grounds maintenance service. A decision had been ... view the full minutes text for item 36. |
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*Housing Policies (Mutual Exchanges, Succession and Assignment)
Report number HSG134 of the Cabinet Member for Housing. (Enclosure) Additional documents: Minutes:
Decision
Cabinet approves the Mutual Exchange, Assignment and Succession Policies as appended to report number HSG134 and delegates responsibility for any further minor changes prior to publication to the Cabinet Member for Housing.
Considerations/Reasons for Decision
Other options considered and assessed
The original intention of the Mutual Exchange charge was to apply it to all applicants with the allowance of ‘exceptional reasons’ to waive it.
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In presenting report number HSG134, the Cabinet Member for Housing informed Members that the provisions covered by the three draft policies were already in use by the Council; the revised documents were designed to provide updated guidance and direction to SKDC staff and to clarify procedures for service users.
Members suggested that paragraph 4.8.3 of the draft Mutual Exchange Policy should specify the senior officer who could exercise a waiver in respect of applicants affected by extenuating circumstances; it was suggested that this could be the Housing Management Lead. The draft policy documents also indicated that they would be kept under review. Members felt that this should be set out more explicitly and suggested that the policies should be reviewed on an annual basis by the Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee with the outcome of the review being fed back to the Cabinet. A minor amendment was also suggested in respect of paragraph 5.2 of the draft Succession Policies and Procedures with the removal of the words ‘Use and Occupation’, so that the revised sentence would read:
“Whilst a succession application is being considered and the occupant is still resident in the property, the Council will grant a licence to allow the Council to collect income from the property.”
Rather than amending the policies at the meeting, it was suggested that the wording of the recommendation be adjusted to delegate responsibility to the Cabinet Member for Housing to make any minor amendments prior to the publication of the policies.
Some discussion ensued on the administrative cost of dealing with an application for the mutual exchange of a property. Cabinet Members were advised that as part of its considerations the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee had considered whether it would be appropriate to introduce a fee to cover these costs. The consensus of the Committee was that there were some circumstances where it would not be appropriate to charge, or where potential applicants could not afford the charge, and would be prevented from moving. An analysis of cost and reward indicated that a fee did not represent good value to the customers and so the Committee recommended its removal from the policy.
Members ... view the full minutes text for item 37. |
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Health and Safety Policy
Report number ENV702 of the Cabinet Member for Environment. (Enclosure) Minutes:
Decision
Cabinet approves and fully endorses its commitment to the Council’s Health and Safety General Policy Statement (attached as Appendix 1 to report number ENV702)
Considerations/Reasons for Decision
Other options considered and assessed
The requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 underpin the requirement to have in place appropriate policies. No other options have therefore been considered.
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Cabinet considered report number ENV702, which was presented by the Cabinet Member for Environment. He stated that health and safety was important across the organisation and should be embedded as a core part of the Council’s activities. To this end the Cabinet Member with responsibility for Human Resources stated that he would ensure that the importance of health and safety would be reiterated to all managers. Cabinet Members recognised that health and safety was the responsibility of everyone in the organisation and that it should not be about stopping people doing things, but ensuring everything that the organisation did was safe and subject to appropriate assessments.
Cabinet Members agreed the recommendations in the report. |
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SKDC survey of residents 2018
Report number ACEX007 of the Cabinet Member for Growth and Communities. (Enclosure) Additional documents: Minutes:
Decision
Cabinet notes the contents of report number ACEX007 and agrees
Considerations/Reasons for Decision
Other options considered and assessed
No other options were considered.
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When presenting report ACEX007, the Cabinet Member for Growth and Communications drew Members’ attention to the correction statement that was circulated as part of the addendum to the Cabinet agenda. She said that she was pleased with the volume of responses; the survey had been sent to 4,000 residents selected at random and publicised via web channels. The survey return was 37%, which compared favourably to other Councils which were receiving returns of 20 to 30% and gave confidence that the responses were statistically representative of the wider district. As part of the report, the Cabinet Members was proposing a benchmarking exercise, which would test the Council’s performance against other local authorities. It was also proposed that any issues of concern be referred to the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee for examination and for it to refer any recommendations for actions back to Cabinet.
Members noted that a large number of areas with lower satisfaction levels, including potholes, grass verges and street lighting, were the responsibility of Lincolnshire County Council; the outcomes relevant to Lincolnshire County Council would be forwarded to them. Members of the Communications Team were thanked for their work on the survey, which it was hoped would happen every two years.
Other Cabinet Members commented on the return rate, it was however, noted that return rate from the under-35 group was the lowest. A number of methodologies were used to capture information from residents in different age brackets however it was suggested that exploring wider opportunities to use emerging technologies and alternative devices could generate an even greater response across all age brackets.
Members of the Cabinet agreed the recommendations within the report. |
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Matters Referred to Cabinet by the Council or Overview & Scrutiny Committees
Report number LDS316 of the Leader of the Council. (Enclosure) Minutes:
Report number LDS316 of the Leader of the Council summarised the activity of the Overview and Scrutiny Committees since the last report was presented to Cabinet on 6 September 2018.
Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee
The Chairman of the Communities and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee referred to a recent multicultural event that he had attended in Leicester celebrating 100 years of the RAF.
He added that he had also attended a meeting with John Turner, who was due to address the Committee on the future of Grantham Hospital. In the meantime, the Chairman had agreed to update the Committee with any information shared by Mr Turner at meetings of the Lincolnshire Health Scrutiny Committee. Rather than only sharing information with Lincolnshire County Council as the top tier of local government, it was suggested that a letter be sent asking representatives from the Hospitals Trust and Clinical Commissioning Group to speak directly with South Kesteven District Council.
Finally he referred to the motion that had been passed by Council in respect of modern slavery. He had asked Detective Chief Superintendent Davison from Lincolnshire Police to talk about his experiences from working on the recent modern slavery case in Lincolnshire when he attended a future meeting of the Committee.
Culture and Visitor Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee
The Chairman of the Culture and Visitor Economy Overview and Scrutiny Committee spoke briefly about a festival that she had attended in Coventry. Reference was also made to the success of the recent Gravity Fields Festival that had taken place in Grantham. The success of the festival was echoed by other Members who were present, together with the weight it gave to the need to develop the science strand of the Cultural Strategy.
Rural Overview and Scrutiny Committee
The Chairman of the Rural Overview and Scrutiny Committee referred to the rural engagement vehicle. It was felt that this would bring a real benefit to the local community. Contact had been made with all Councillors inviting them to commit Ward events to this year and next year’s diary so that the vehicle could be booked. |
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Report number LDS317 of the Leader of the Council. (Enclosure) Minutes:
Report number LDS317 of the Leader of the Council informed the Cabinet that no individual Members had made decisions since the last meeting of the Cabinet was held on 6 September 2018 and prior to the publication of the agenda for this meeting.
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Representations received from Non Cabinet Members
Report number LDS318 of the Leader of the Council. (Enclosure) Minutes:
Report number LDS318 of the Leader of the Council informed Cabinet Members that no non-Cabinet Members had submitted requests to speak prior to the publication of this Cabinet agenda. |
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Cabinet Forward Plan
Report number LDS319 of the Leader of the Council. (Enclosure) Additional documents: Minutes:
Report number LDS319 of the Leader of the Council gave an indication of the items that would be presented to Cabinet over the following 12-month period. The report also included items that were scheduled to be considered at Council meetings during the municipal year. |
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Close of meeting
Minutes:
The meeting was closed at 15:06. |
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Date decisions effective: Decisions CO35, CO36, CO37, CO38 and CO39 as made on Thursday, 4 October 2018 can be implemented on Monday 15 October 2018, unless subject to call-in by the Chairman of the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Committee or any five members of the Council from any political group. |