Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Collop, B Long and D Tyler.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 17 July 2018.

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 July 2018 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is discussed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

Councillors J Moriarty and T Tilbrook declared a personal interest in Item 8 – Council Tax Discounts 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 as landlords.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposed to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

Cabinet Report 18 September 2018 – Accelerated Construction Programme

RESOLVED:  The press and public be excluded from the meeting under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972 for consideration of the appendices for the Accelerated Construction Scheme item on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure the information.

The Housing Strategy Officer presented the report on the Accelerated Construction Programme (ACP) which would be considered by Cabinet on 18 September 2018.

The report provided information on the funding offered to the Borough Council in August 2018 through the ACP.  The Panel was informed that the programme had been established by Central Government to support Local Authorities to unlock barriers to delivery on public sector land on which housing could be delivered.

Members were advised that the Council had been offered grant funding on seven sites subject to final negotiation and acceptance of terms by the Council.  The purpose of the report is to seek approval to accept the grant on each of the seven sites and inform the Cabinet of the requirements of the grant funding.

The Portfolio Holder – Corporate Projects and Assets and the Housing Strategy Officer responded to questions from the Panel.

RESOLVED: That the Corporate Performance Panel supports the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below:

1)            The Council formally accepts the total sum of £9,814,567 (minimum amount offered could be subject to change) offered to the Council by Homes England under the Accelerated Construction Programme.

2)            Cabinet delegates to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Housing and Community Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Projects and Assets Portfolio Holder:

a)    The Authority to negotiate and agree the final terms of contract with Homes England under which the grant will be accepted.

b)    Authority to negotiate and agree with the College of West Anglia (COWA) a development option/agreement to deliver the COWA site in conjunction with the adjacent Council owned site.

c)    Spend of the Accelerated Construction Programme grant in accordance with the terms of the contract with Homes England.

d)    The Authority to the Legal Services Manager to agree and complete any necessary and relevant legal documentation.

RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

Councillor R Bird for CP33 – Hunstanton Lawn Tennis Courts.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence.

To consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act”.

RESOLVED:  That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

Mr T Devenish from Hunstanton Sailing Club provided the Panel with an update report and responded to questions and comments from the Members.

RESOLVED:  That update report be noted and a further update report be given to the Panel in six months’ time.

RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Humphrey, Councillor Bird provided an overview as to why he had requested that the item be considered by the Corporate Performance Panel. 

Councillor Bird provided an overview of the Hunstanton recreation grounds and the lawn tennis courts and explained that the residents of Hunstanton were paying £30 per household as special expenses for facilities that they infrequently, or ever used. The Panel was informed that the issue had been constantly reviewed over the past decade.  Councillor Bird provided details of the income and expenditure for the recreation ground and lawn tennis courts.

The Executive Director, Commercial Services referred to the presentation circulated with the Agenda and drew Members’ attention to the 2018/2019 Hunstanton Recreation Ground charges.  The Panel was advised that the Hunstanton lawn tennis courts were not charged against special expenses.

The Executive Director, Commercial Services outlined the available options as set out below:

·         Continue current arrangements.

·         Look at opportunities to increase tennis access.

·         Discuss Hunstanton Town Council taking responsibility for management and maintenance of the Pavilion and Recreation ground including the tennis.

The Panel was informed that discussions had been held with Hunstanton Town Council regarding taking over responsibility for management and maintenance of the pavilion and recreation ground including the tennis, who had agreed in principle to take the proposal forward.

Members were invited to ask questions, a summary of which is set out below.

The Chairman, Councillor Humphrey asked if the Lawn Tennis Association could assist in keeping the courts to the standard required and added that an online booking system would be worthwhile and proposed that the Executive Director, Commercial Services and relevant officers continue discussions with Hunstanton Town Council to which the Panel agreed.

In response to questions, the Executive Director, Commercial Services explained that the Lawn Tennis Association had developed coaching schemes and advised that discussions with the Town Council had involved the whole site and included the bowls and croquet club.

Councillor Morrison commented on the proposal for Hunstanton Town Council to take over responsibility and maintenance and highlighted the importance of both the national and county tournaments and that residents should be proud to host the tournaments.  He added that Hunstanton currently had no tennis club and further commented that the residents should look to promote tennis.

Councillor Nockolds, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and Health provided background information relating to the lawn tennis courts which were open to the public and provided an overview of the booking arrangements.  The Portfolio Holder added that since Alive Leisure had taken over no sports development work had been undertaken.  Members were advised that the Portfolio Holder had had discussions with the Lawn Tennis Association and their Development Officer (T Devenish) to consider establishing a scheme to encourage tennis in Hunstanton.

At the invitation of the Chairman, Councillor Bird addressed the Panel and explained that both residents and Councillors had done their best to promote sporting activities on the recreation ground and that he supported the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CP37

The Revenues and Benefits Manager presented the report which covered three proposed changes to Council Tax discounts for 2018/2019 and 2019/2020.  The first is a review of the one month, 100% discount for empty and unfurnished properties.  The second is the increased premiums payable for long term empty properties.  The third is the introduction of a 100% discount for care leavers.  The first two changes were proposed to take effect commencing from 1 April 2019, with the Care Leavers’ discount commencing from 1 April 2018.

The Panel was advised that the Council could decide to do nothing and keep the discounts as they are, to make the recommended changes for 2018/2019 and 2019/2020, or to implement only some of the recommendations.

In response to questions to the percentage of rates not being collected and increasing the liability of non-payment, the Revenues and Benefits Manager explained that the Borough Council collection rates were above the national average.  Members were advised that the Borough Council also had a hardship fund to assist with payment.  The Revenues and Benefits Manager confirmed that the premium did not apply to any empty property while waiting for probate to be granted or where the owner was in a care home.

Following questions on identifying empty properties, the Revenues and Benefits Manager outlined the Council’s current procedure and added that with some current cases the Borough Council had been successful in obtaining a charge order against a property.

The Revenues and Benefits Manager provided clarification on the definition of an empty property.

In response to further questions, the Revenues and Benefits Manager provided an overview of the reasons why a property could be left empty of a period of time.

Councillor Mrs Westrop commented that she supported the recommendation relating to the Care Leavers discount, but commented that it indicated that when a carer leaver lived with a household not normally receiving a discount then it might be considered to extend a care leaver discount to that residence and that Cabinet be asked to consider this when determining the decision.

RESOLVED:  The Panel recommend to Cabinet:

1)               The Panel supports the proposal to remove the one month 100% discount for empty and unfurnished properties from 1 April 2019.

2)               The Panel supports the maximum increases to the long term empty property premises starting from 1 April 2019.

3)               The Panel supports the introduction of the Care Leavers’ discount on the criteria listed above.

In providing the Panel with an annual update via a Powerpoint presentation (copy attached to the minutes), the Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager reminded Members that the Council’s Equality Policy was reviewed during 2017 and a new policy was agreed by Cabinet and Council in January 2018.  As part of the review progress, it was agreed that an annual equalities update should be reported to the Corporate Performance Panel.  This is therefore the first annual update and covered the following points:

·         A re-cap on the new Equality Policy.

·         An overview of the actions undertaken to implement the new policy.

·         An update on the work of the Officer Equality Working Group in the year to date.

·         A re-cap of the Council’s six equality objectives.

·         A review of progress against each of the equality objectives. 

There were no questions or comments from the Panel.

RESOLVED:  That the annual update report be noted.

The Panel received and noted the Forward Decisions List.

To note the Committee’s Work Programme for 2018/2019..

The Chairman invited Members to forward any items for inclusion on the Panel work Programme.

The Panel noted the Annual Employment Monitoring Report for 2017/2018.

The Policy, Performance and Personnel Manager responded to questions relating to:

·         The number of disciplinary procedures relating to female and male employees.

·         Data collection regarding age profile.

·         The number of applicants for employment re gender.

To note that the date of the next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will take place on 22 October 2018.

The next meeting of the Corporate Performance Panel will be held on Monday 22 October 2018 at 6.00 pm in the Council Chamber, Town Hall, Saturday Market Place, King’s Lynn.