Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 4^th September 2006 were approved as a correct record.

No declarations made.

Report by the Corporate Head of Finance and Resources.              (Enclosure)

DECISION:

The Cabinet:

1. Recommends to Council the approval of the revised capital programme as attached at appendix A to report CHFR20 ;
2. Notes the comments of the Section 151 officer regarding the proposed temporary use of Useable Housing Capital Receipts to finance the 2006/07 capital programme;
3. Notes that the Section 151 officer will determine the actual financing of the capital programme when closing the accounts for 2006/07 when full details of the delivery of the programme and available financing options are known ;
4. Notes that the Section 151 officer will consider the longer term impact of capital financing in conjunction with the Capital and Treasury Management advisors as part of the preparation of budgets for 2007/08 and provide further advice to the Council in the Budget Report for 2007/08 .

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)               Report number CHFR20 by the Corporate Head of Finance and Resources providing an update on the progress of the delivery of the Capital Programme for 2006/07 and identifying for approval amendments to the programme to take account of the outturn position for 2005/06 (detailed in CHFR10) and the current officer and contractor capacity to deliver the programme by the end of the financial year;

(2)               The revised capital programme attached at appendix A to report CHFR20;

(3)               The Council’s Category A priority on the use of resources;

(4)               Demand for Disabled Facilities Grants and the opportunity to submit applications for additional Specified Capital Grant within the 2006/07 financial year;

(5)               Changes to the original programme: Aire Road, Grantham; Demolition of East Street Car Park, Grantham; Wharf Road, Stamford; multi-storey car park, Welham Street, Grantham; access to Council services and the modernisation programme; wheeled bin procurement; provision for existing assets; Health and Social Care Community Innovation Centre and Financial Ledger modules;

(6)               The full utilisation of the capital reserve with no significant receipts would mean an increase in the Council’s underlying need to borrow;

(7)               The reduced level of anticipated capital receipts in the 2006/07 financial year leading to a short term capacity issue which it was hoped would be corrected by the capital receipt from the sale of surplus land anticipated in 2007/08;

(8)               To provide an internal financing option instead of borrowing by the use of housing capital receipts.

Report number PLA615 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                    (Enclosure)

DECISION:

The Cabinet agreed to:

1.                  Note the work completed to date on producing the core documents of the Local Development Framework (LDF);

2.                  Endorse the extension of the preferred options consultations for the Core Strategy and the site allocations and Development Control policies;

3.                  Agree to the revised LDF timetable appended to this report (Appendix 1) as the basis for the revision of the Local Development Scheme ;

4.                  Send a letter to the Department for Communities and Local Government and copied to the Government Office for the East Midlands expressing concern over the lack of sufficient guidance from central government and the implicit costs of unexpectedly having to extend work .

Considerations/Reasons for decision

(1)               Report number PLA615 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on the status for Local Development Framework for South Kesteven and seeking endorsement for the extension to the preferred options consultation that was undertaken on the Core Strategy and Housing and Economic DPD (revised timetable attached as appendix 1);

(2)               Letter dated 11^th August 2006 from the Department for Communities and Local Government, attached as appendix 2 to report PLA615;

(3)               National examinations of the soundness of LDF core strategies where the first two submitted were deemed unsound by the Planning Inspectorate and concerns that preferred options work undertaken by SKDC could also be found to be unsound, causing abortive work;

(4)               GOEM recommendations that the council extend or redo consultation on preferred options to reflect more fully Government guidance set out  in PPS12, which required full consideration of all options;

(5)               Amending the timetable would mean that the next stages of the plan would be prepared in the most cost-effective, resource-effective and timetable-effective way;

(6)               Delays would mean that the LDF could be aligned with the emerging Lincolnshire Spatial Strategy, which would have a plan period to 2026 and increase the housing target;

(7)               Housing allocations in the old Lincolnshire Structure Plan could prevent the Council from meeting its affordable housing targets;

(8)               The identified need to produce three Area Action Plans for Grantham and Stamford and a supplementary planning document for affordable housing.

Other options considered and assessed:

1.                  To progress on to the next stages of the Core Strategy and Housing and Economic DPD, i.e. the submission draft consultation and retain the timetable for production of all LDF documents as set out in the Local Development Scheme (April 2005). The risks with ignoring advice from Government Officer and progressing with the production of the Core Strategy and the Housing and Economic DPD as originally timetabled were significant. The option should not be pursued as the Government’s view on the matter as set out in the DCLG letter dated 11 August 2006 (Appendix 1). Progressing with the LDF based on the current timetable would result in an adopted Core Strategy and Site Allocations that fail to reflect the emerging Regional Spatial Plan. The lifespan of the documents would be extremely limited because key issues such as housing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Report by the Strategic Director.                                                          (To follow)

DECISION:

1.                  The Cabinet recommends to Council the draft Corporate Plan for 2006 to 2009, subject to amendments to be notified by each of the Portfolio Holders ;

2.                  Any further minor contextual amendments to the plan be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader prior to submission to the next meeting of full council for adoption ;

3.                  To welcome the input of staff members, which has led to the creation of a useable, workable document.

Considerations/Reasons for Decision

(1)               Report number SD6 by the Strategic Director showing: how the Draft Corporate Plan for 2006-2009 (attached as appendix 1 to the report) dovetails with other plans, including Service Plans, legislative requirements for corporate planning and steps taken to review and refresh the council’s vision before inclusion within the Corporate Plan;

(2)               A requirement by law, for all authorities within England and Wales to publish certain corporate planning and performance information on an annual basis and it being made available to the public;

(3)               The “Golden Thread” process would focus resources and attention on the delivery of Council priorities and what the community has stated was important to them;

(4)               The Corporate Plan would help the Council work with the LSP to deliver partnership objectives of the Community Plan;

(5)               Residents of the District, while supporting the concept of ‘PRIDE’, did not feel connected to it;

(6)               Comments made during the CPA refresh in February 2006, which highlighted confusion regarding ambition and core values and ambiguity concerning the word ‘Pride’;

(7)               Input from staff, managers and Members who were fully involved in the envisioning process;

(8)               The Plan would provide a reporting link between the council, government, partners and the public;

(9)               The plan highlights performance measures and targets which could be used to assess the Council’s progress in meeting its aims and objectives;

(10)          Recommendations made by the Resources DSP.

Councillor Mrs. Frances Cartwright: Portfolio – Housing Services and Organisational Development

DECISION:  

That approval is given to accept the tender received from Swan Windows of Oadby, Leicestershire in the sum of £177,918.33 for the supply and fix of new PVCu windows to 104 properties in the District.

[Decision made on 02.10.06]

Councillor Terl Bryant: Portfolio – Resources & Assets

DECISION:

That approval is granted to obtain a copy of the Collaborative Planning module to integrate with the existing financial ledger system.

[Decision made on 02.10.06]

DECISION:

That approval is granted to accept the tender submitted by Rilmac (Insulation) Ltd of Lincoln in the sum of £12,619.00 for the supply and installation of thermal pipe laggings and associated work to the Main Plant Room located at South Kesteven District Council Offices, Grantham.

[Decision made on 02.10.06]

DECISION:

That approval is granted to use the appraisal, scoring and allocation of grant award as shown on the appendices attached to report PLA617.

[Decision made on 02.10.06]

Councillor John Smith: Portfolio – Economic Development

DECISION:  

That approval is granted that South Kesteven District Council offer the Welland Enterprise Agency a sum of £4,500 in 2006-2007 to provide a six stage Business Development Training Programme for the Deepings and southern area in South Kesteven.  The local Business Club, with support from the Town Centre Manager, will work to promote the programme and ensure its successful delivery to the target audience.

[Decision made on 09.10.06]

EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC

In accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, it was resolved that the public be excluded because of the likelihood in view of the nature of business to be transacted that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 3 and 5 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended. With the press and public excluded, the following item was considered.

Report number PLA618 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                    (Enclosure)

DECISION:

1.                  That the Council withdraw from negotiations with the current development over the sale of land at South Road, Bourne ;

2.                  The Council receives advice from the District Valuer and the site is re-marketed for sale as roadside services with a stipulation that completion should occur before the 31^st March 2007 or a reasonably agreed date with the new purchaser once marketed .

Considerations/Reasons for Decision:

(1)               Exempt report number PLA618 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder on the development of South Road, Bourne;

(2)               Recommendations from the Capital Asset Management Group;

(3)               The Council’s Category A priority on town centre redevelopment.

Other options considered and assessed:

To continue negotiations with Henry Davidson Developments Limited and enter into a co-operation agreement for twelve months.

Minute items CO54 and CO56 stand referred to the next ordinary meeting of the full Council on 26^th October 2006. All other decisions as made on 9^th October 2006 can be implemented on 18^th October 2006, unless subject to call-in by the Chairman of the relevant Development and Scrutiny Panel or five members of the Council.