Agenda and decisions

Minutes of Cabinet, 27^th March 2024 for approval.

The part A minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on Wednesday 27 March 2024 were agreed as an accurate record.

Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that, in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, they are required to consider in advance of each meeting whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI), an other registrable interest (ORI) or a non-registrable interest (NRI) in relation to any matter on the agenda. If advice is needed, Members should contact the Monitoring Officer in good time before the meeting.

If any Member or co-opted Member of the Council identifies a DPI or ORI which they have not already registered on the Council’s register of interests or which requires updating, they should complete the disclosure form which can be obtained from Democratic Services at any time, copies of which will be available at the meeting for return to the Monitoring Officer.

Members and co-opted Members are required to disclose any DPIs and ORIs at the meeting.

-      Where the matter relates to a DPI they may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not stay in the meeting unless granted a dispensation.

-      Where the matter relates to an ORI they may not vote on the matter unless granted a dispensation.

-      Where a Member or co-opted Member has an NRI which directly relates to their financial interest or wellbeing, or that of a relative or close associate, they must disclose the interest at the meeting, may not take part in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not stay in the meeting unless granted a dispensation. Where a matter affects the NRI of a Member or co-opted Member, section 9 of Appendix B of the Code of Conduct sets out the test which must be applied by the Member to decide whether disclosure is required.

The Chair will invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 3, to be recorded in the minutes.

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet Resolved to:

1.      Receive the recommendation arising from the meeting of the Streets & Environment Sub-Committee held on 30 January 2024 (Appendix 1).

2.2    To provide a substantive response to the recommendation (a Scrutiny Stage 2 Report) at the Cabinet meeting on 26 June 2024

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet Resolved to:

2.1       Considered and Agreed; 

2.1.1    the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024- 2029 as detailed in      Appendix A; 

2.1   the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Summary Review detailed in AppendixB; and 

3  the Summary Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Consultation Report   detailed in Appendix C 

2.2       Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Housing to make minor amendments to the Strategy in consultation with the Executive Mayor and Cabinet Member for Homes following agreement by the Executive Mayor but prior to its recommendation and adoption by full Council. 

2.3       For the reasons set out above RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL the   adoption of: 

2.3.1    the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy 2024-2029 as set out in                      Appendix A; 

2.3.2   the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Strategy Summary Review in               Appendix B; and 

2.3.3   the Homelessness and Rough Sleeping Consultation Report in Appendix C.    

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet Resolved:

2.1     To make a one off draw down from Housing Revenue Account reserves to fund: 

1.        One off cost forinterim technical specialists to deliver the planned 12-month continuation phase of the NEC Housing project for the year 2024/25at a cost of £1.459m   

2.        Purchase of the NEC Risk moduleat a value of £56k bringing the total cost of £1.515m including the amount stated in 2.1.1. 

2.2      To note that theportion of this project met by the General Fund is £156,000 in 2024/25 forthe work done on Homelessness and Allocations. 

2.3     To note that a permanent team for the ongoing improvements and internal support of     the system is to be recruited. 

2.4     To note that any contract related decisions will be made in accordance with the Tenders and Contracts Regulations and Public Contracts Regulations 2015. 

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet Resolved: 

2.1           to note the General Fund revenue budget outturn is forecast to         underspend by £1.3mat Period 10, after the budgeted utilisation      of £63m capitalisation directions requested from DLUHC. 

2.2           to note the progress in Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)savings achievementof £32.4m (89.8%) against the total savings target of £36.1m as set out in paragraph 4.106. 

2.3           to note the work that has commenced on the Council’s            Transformation Programme as set out from paragraph 4.101. 

2.4           to note the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget       outturn is forecast to overspend by £12.0m. 

2.5           to note the General Fund capital programme 2023-24 forecast       underspend of £23.2magainst the capital budget of £124.0m. 

2.6           to note the HRA capital programme 2023-24 forecast overspend         of £1.8m against the capital budget of £39.2m. 

2.7           to note the Council’s historic borrowing and subsequentdebt         burden continues to be critical to the non-sustainability of the            Council’s revenue budget.  Dialogue with the Department for      Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) continues,     and the Council is seeking further financial support from        Government its level of structural indebtedness to        ensure it can deliver sustainable Local Government services. 

2.8           to note that the Council continues to operate Spend Control       Panels to ensure that tight financial control and assurance            oversight are maintained.     

2.9           to note that current forecasts are based on the best available          information at the time and will be subject to review and change            during the financial year. 

The Executive Mayor in Cabinet Resolved:? 

? 

2.1       To note the Housing Service responses to these severe maladministration determinations at the strategic level within the Housing Transformation Programme, and action plans at a service level to address specific service concerns raised by these HO determinations.? 

The following motion is to be moved and seconded where it is proposed to exclude the press and public from the remainder of a meeting:

“That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information falling within those paragraphs indicated in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.”