Agenda and minutes

All Cabinet Members were present.

The minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2021 were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken.

No interests were disclosed.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources and the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property.

(Notice is hereby provided that this item has not been included on the Forward Plan and is being considered in accordance with the General Exception Rule under Article 17, paragraph 17.7.2 c) of the Council’s Constitution as it cannot reasonably be deferred to the next meeting of Cabinet)

Purpose of report

To approve the Council’s provisional outturn position for the financial year 2020/21.

Decision

On being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

1.    To recommend to Governance and Audit Committee the provisional revenue and capital outturn report and associated appendices for the financial year 2020/21.

2.    To recommend to Governance and Audit Committee the proposed reserve movements.

3.    To approve the budget carry forwards to be included into the 2021/22 budget framework.

4.    To approve that the allocation of the Covid recovery reserve to be delegated to the Chief Executive and the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources.

Other options considered and rejected

No other options were considered.

Reason for the decision

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced the report which set out the Council’s provisional outturn position for the financial year 2020/21. The document provided an update on the financial position of the Authority and recommended actions to ensure that financial resources were in line with the budget and targeted towards the Council’s priorities.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property.

Purpose of report

To provide background on Choice Based Lettings schemes in advance of any consultation on a possible change of approach from direct lettings to a Choice Based Lettings scheme, and also to provide information on future amendments to the Council’s existing Allocation Policy.

Decision

On being put to the vote, it was AGREED:

1.    To note the content of the report and the likely benefits of a Choice Based Lettings Approach.

2.    To approve:

a)    The consultation with partners and housing register applicants, as detailed in the report, to support the review of the Council’s Allocation Policy and the introduction of a Choice Based Lettings process.

b)    The consultation materials, processes and timescale as suggested in and appended to the report, and delegate to the Director of Housing and Property authority to make minor amendments to the materials and process as needed.

c)    The submission of a future report with a revised Allocation Policy and Choice Based Lettings scheme, taking into account the Council’s statutory responsibilities and the consultation responses.

Other options considered and rejected

a)    Do nothing and continue with a direct lettings approach.

b)    Change to a Choice Based Lettings approach.

Reason for the decision

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property introduced the report which set out a potential change to the way the Council allocated its vacant properties, from a direct letting approach to one where applicants bid for suitable homes to meet their needs, through an automated bidding system known as Choice Based Lettings.

Purpose of report

To provide an overview of decisions taken by individual Cabinet Members since the last meeting of the Cabinet on 15 June 2021.

Decision

On being put to the vote it was AGREED to note the contents of the report.

Other options considered and rejected

No other options were considered.

Reason for the decision

The Leader of the Council introduced the report which set out the Key and Non-Key decisions which had been taken under delegated authority since the Cabinet last met on 15 June 2021.

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property had made a Non-Key decision on 8 June 2021 regarding the approval to award the management of specific Council operated commercial assets to an external management agent. This decision was effective from 18 June 2021.

Cabinet noted the contents of its Forward Plan for the period 1 July to 30 July 2022.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Housing and Property.

Appendix 4 of this report is considered exempt under Section

100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, should Members wish

to discuss its contents the press and public may be excluded from

the meeting during any listed items of business, on the grounds that

if they were to be present, exempt information could be disclosed to

them as defined in the paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the

Act.

Purpose of report

To propose a Housing Customer Feedback Policy.

Decision

On being put to the vote, it was AGREED that Cabinet:

a)    Note the content of the report in relation to the management of complaints, compliments and comments in respect of the Council’s role as a social landlord.

b)    Approve the proposed Housing Customer Feedback Policy.

c)    Delegate to the Director of Housing and Property authority to make minor changes to the Policy as required by changes to legislation or regulation.

Other options considered and rejected

No other options were considered.

Reason for the decision

The Cabinet Member for Housing and Property introduced the report which detailed the proposed Housing Customer Feedback Policy, setting out how the Housing Service would manage feedback. The document outlined the Authority’s need as a social landlord to listen and act on the views of its service users and to comply with the Social Housing White Paper and the Housing Ombudsman Complaints Handling Code.

The meeting closed at 14:25.