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: All Cabinet Members were present. |
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Minutes of the previous meeting
Minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2022. Minutes: The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 8 February 2022 were confirmed as a correct record. |
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Disclosure of Interests
Minutes: There were no disclosure of interests declared. |
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Outcomes of 2021/22 Corporate Plan Review
Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of report
The report outlined proposed changes to the action plan within the Corporate Plan following a review undertaken alongside the relevant overview and scrutiny committees. This included removal of actions where they had been completed or deemed no longer fit for purpose, along with the creation of new actions for the coming year.
Decision
That Cabinet:
1. Endorses the feedback received through the consultation process and approves the revised list of Corporate Plan Actions for ongoing performance management. 2. Approves that the relevant overview and scrutiny committees monitor and review the new Actions.
Alternative options considered and rejected
None.
Reason for decision The Council had approved the South Kesteven Corporate Plan 2020-23 on 1 October 2020. It was agreed by Council that actions, key performance indicators (KPIs) and targets be developed by the relevant overview and scrutiny committee, which retained oversight of the performance management arrangements at a strategic level. The Corporate Plan had reached its first anniversary in October 2021. To ensure the actions and performance indicators remained fit for purpose, they were reviewed. The review incorporated the lessons learnt from management and collection of performance information in 2020/21 and the first half of 2021/22, along with any changes to the Council’s priorities and the circumstances of service delivery within the district. Consultation included communication with Members, Corporate Management Team and other relevant service managers to improve the quality of the measures and report format, as well as the relevance of the measures to the Council’s objectives. Cabinet was presented with the report that outlined a revised action plan within the Corporate Plan with new actions and the removal of actions due to completion. A number of points were made during discussion of the report, which included: · That funding around maintenance on existing Council homes would be subject to change due to the stock condition report. · Investment of £52 million to fund new builds for social, affordable housing would be a partnership between the Council and private housing association. · Further clarity would be provided within the clean and sustainable environment priority once the effects of the Environment Act 2021 had been implemented.
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Integrated Housing Management System
Appendix 1 of this report contains exempt information under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972. The press and public may be excluded from the meeting during consideration of this Appendix, on the grounds that if they were to be present, exempt information could be disclosed to them as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act.
Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of report
The report provided Cabinet the opportunity to approve the award of a contract to meet the Council’s ambition for an Integrated Housing Management System that met its current and future business requirements.
Decision
That Cabinet:
1. Notes the content of the report and appendix, detailing the procurement process followed in respect of the Integrated Housing Management System, as part of the housing improvement plan.
2. Approves the award for a period five years with an option to extend by a further two years to Aareon UK Limited for £776,981 in order to procure its housing management system and associated modules.
Alternative options considered and rejected
None.
Reason for decision
The Council had a clear commitment in its Corporate Plan 2020-2023 to provide “Housing that meets the needs of all residents” and to be able to effectively administer its social landlord function. In order to fulfil this commitment, the award of a new Integrated Housing Management System (IHMS) was required.
A good IHMS system would deliver accurate and up to date information to both staff and customers of the Council. Accurate data to a landlord was of the upmost importance, the Council must understand its customers, properties and compliance responsibilities in real time. This had been reinforced further to the Council through the ongoing interactions with the Regulator of Social Housing. Utilising a single consistent and ever evolving set of data within one database enabled a consistent approach to service delivery. An up to date and current IHMS would provide the team with this and should enable them to continuously improve.
Upon discussion, Cabinet Members raised some comments:
· Whether the implementation stage time frame was achievable. · That the new system would be cost effective and would not cost any more than the current system. · Whether any dual running of the two systems would take place. |
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Empty Homes Strategy
Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of report
The report provided Cabinet the opportunity to adopt an Empty Homes Strategy which would provide clarity to residents and ensure South Kesteven District Council had a clear framework of the aims, options, and enforcement powers to deal with the issue of empty homes within the District and bring empty homes back into use.
Decision
That Cabinet:
1. Notes the content of the report, and the positive current position in relation to empty homes within South Kesteven.
2. Approves the Empty Homes Strategy 2022 – 2025.
3. Delegates to the Director of Housing and Property authority to make minor amendments to the Empty Homes Strategy as needed by changes to regulation or legislation.
Alternative options considered and rejected
None.
Reason for decision
On 23 February 2022, South Kesteven had 374 properties empty between six months and two years, and 142 empty for two years or more (a total of 516 empty properties for six or more months). This was due to various reasons but, most commonly, it was because the occupant had deceased, and the property was going through probate.
In comparing the figures with previous years, the total number of empty properties, which had been empty for 6 or more months, as at 31 March 2020 was 609, whereas, as at 31 March 2021, it was 567 properties. This showed an improved performance with a reduction of 51 empty properties.
In comparison to other Lincolnshire areas for 2020, apart from North Kesteven who had a rate of 0.84% of total dwellings as empty, South Kesteven had the lowest amount at 1.04% of total homes. The rate for South Kesteven in 2020 was below the East Midlands rate, which was 1.45% of total dwellings and similar to England rate of 1.05%.
Clarification was sought on the reasoning behind some Council properties being empty for more than 6 months.
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Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge
Additional documents: Minutes: Purpose of report
To provide Cabinet with an opportunity to review and consider actions undertaken, next steps and timelines associated with the recommendations of the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge held in November 2021.
Decision
That Cabinet:
Notes the progress undertaken to date and supports the proposed actions scheduled to be undertaken as set out in the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Action Plan.
Alternative options considered and rejected
None.
Reason for decision
The Council participated in the Local Government Association Corporate Peer Challenge in November 2021, the findings of which were reported to Cabinet at its meeting on 8 February 2022.
The findings of the Corporate Peer Challenge were largely positive, highlighting a number of strengths the for the Council whilst also identifying some areas for focus and improvement across the Council.
Members thanked all officers involved with the Corporate Peer Challenge.
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Key and Non-Key Decisions taken under Delegated Powers
Additional documents: Minutes: The Leader of the Council highlighted two Key and Non-Key Decisions taken under Delegated Powers:
· Property Maintenance Reserve release of funds by Councillor Robert Reid. · Utilisation of the Street Scene Reserve by Deputy Leader of the Council.
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Cabinet's Forward Plan
Additional documents: Minutes: Cabinet noted its Forward Plan. |
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Announcement
Minutes: The Leader of the Council confirmed that South Kesteven District Council would be receiving funding to deliver new changing places toilets. The changing place toilets would be equipped with hoists, curtains, adult size changing benches and would support users, families and carers to access public amenities with no difficulties.
It was noted that four changing places toilets would be installed across the district, locations were yet to be confirmed. |
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Exemption of press and public
Minutes: Under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public may be excluded from the meeting during any listed items of business, on the grounds that if they were present, exempt information could be disclosed to them as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Schedule 12A of the Act. |
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Future ways of working and making the best use of Corporate Assets Minutes: Purpose of report
To provide Cabinet with an opportunity to consider proposals in respect of future ways of working and making the best use of corporate assets.
Decision:
That Cabinet:
1. Approves the development of proposals, with other public sector bodies where appropriate, to bring forward a Customer Service Hub at the vacant ground floor premises adjacent to the Cinema Complex Grantham.
2. Identifies the current administrative offices at St Peters Hill Grantham as a surplus asset and approved the development of plans for the disposal of the asset.
Alternative options considered and rejected
Alternative options considered and rejected were set out in the body of the report.
Reason for decision
In common with most local authorities, the Council faced a need to work differently in the post-Covid environment whilst mitigating ongoing medium-term financial pressures. A summary of issues in terms of office accommodation and new ways of working, in the context of effective asset management and mitigation of financial risk were set out in the report.
Against the context of the Corporate Plan, the financial position and corporate ambition around the accommodation offer to employees, the Council had several options to enable the delivery of successful outcomes. These were set out in the report, highlighting opportunities and risks associated with each option. |