Decisions

RECOMMENDED:     That the arrangements for council meetings as detailed in section 2 of the report continue and should members wish to change this after the election, Council reconsider the timings.

RESOLVED:  That Cabinet approve the appointment of a Senior Democratic Services Officer as detailed in section 3 of the report.

Reason for Decision

To respond to the Motion to Council on 23 February 2022 and the arrangements for council meetings as covid restrictions are removed

RESOLVED:

1. That the Council enter a Memorandum of Understanding with DLUHC based on the attached prospectus for the Local Authority Housing Fund (see appendix 2 of the report). Authority be delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing People and Communities to agree the final terms of the Memorandum of Understanding with DLUHC.
2. That the Council accept the total sum of £1,719,141 offered to the Council by DLUHC under the Local Authority Housing Fund to deliver the programme understanding the match funding requirements as set out in the report and prospectus attached to the report.
3. That, subject to agreement from West Norfolk Housing Company, the properties be acquired by West Norfolk Housing Company, funded by the grant, debt financing and other available funding
4. That the Council requests that West Norfolk Housing Company works with the Council to deliver the properties through the fund.
5. That the principle of allocating properties acquired through the fund to eligible Ukrainian and Afghan households be agreed. A further report setting out a policy approach will follow separately.

6.    That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director Programme & Project Delivery to

a.    alter the proposed NORA 4 tenure mix, originally agreed by Cabinet on the 4th February 2020 (CAB 106), where necessary, to facilitate the disposal of properties previously identified as Private Rent and/or Open Market Sale, to West Norfolk Housing Company (WNHC) as affordable housing

b.    negotiate the terms of any disposal with West Norfolk Housing Company.

Reason for Decision

The recommendations will ensure that the opportunity presented by the Local Authority Housing Fund to deliver affordable housing in the borough will be fully realised and will help to relieve pressures on the council’s homelessness services.

RECOMMENDED:      That the updated wording for the two delegated authorities for Officer decisions as shown at 2.1.4 and 2.2.4 is supported and recommended to Council for approval.

Reason for Decision

To ensure decisions can continue to be made in a timely manner

RECOMMENDED:    

1.    The Council will not proceed with housing on the bus station site in view of external factors affecting the viability of the scheme and the opportunity to pursue a viable alternative, and will remove the project from the Capital Programme;

2.    NCC will continue to proceed with the improved library / adult education facility (including the library, toilets, and changing places toilet) on the site enabled with the addition of land owned by the Borough which will include the provision of an area for West Norfolk tourism information (subject to further negotiation);

3.    NCC will proceed with the Bus Back Better Grant to improve coastal travel, cycle facilities and sustainability, invest to improve the bus station as a transport interchange and to agree terms with Borough Council for the land;

4.    The Borough Council, supported by Norfolk County Council, to negotiate with Homes England in respect of the ACP funding originally allocated to development of this site.

5.    The Borough Council will work with all parties on developing a joint strategic approach to regeneration and growth in the wider Hunstanton area through an agreed Masterplan;

6.    That the Assistant Director for Property and Projects, in consultation with the Portfolio Holders for Property and Finance, S151 officer and Monitoring Officer be given delegated authority to finalise the legal arrangements for the land.

Reasons for Decision

To deliver on the Council’s corporate objectives, in partnership with Norfolk County Council, to:

·         Protect and enhance the environment, including tackling climate change; delivering on the Council’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2035; and

Create and maintain good quality places that make a difference to people’s lives.

The Forward Decisions list was noted

RECOMMENDED: 1)             That Council note the revision to the Forecast for 2022/2023 as set out in the report.

2)         That Council approves the Policy on Earmarked Reserves and General Fund Balance and the maximum balances set for the reserves as noted in the report and at Appendix 7 to the report.

3) That Council :

1) Approves the budget requirement of £22,287,700 for 2023/2024 and notes the projections for 2024/2025, 2025/2026 and 2026/2027.

2) Approves that the pension lump sum payments are paid in advance for three years at a value of £5.430m.

3) Approves the level of Special Expenses for the Town/Parish Councils as detailed in the report.

4) Approves the Fees and Charges 2023/2024 detailed in Appendix 4.

5) Approves a Band D council tax of £143.87 for 2023/2024.

4)         That Council approves a minimum requirement of the General Fund balance for 2023/24 of £1,114,390.

5)         That pursuant to Section 25 of the Local Government Act, Council is asked to have due regard to this statement at Section 9 of this report when considering and approving the budget and the level of council tax for 2023/2024.

Reason for decision

In order to set a budget for 2023-27.

RECOMMENDED:     That the Capital Strategy 2023/2024 as attached to the report be approved.

Reason for Decision

Not to approve these policies would contravene the requirements of both legislation and good

practice. In addition, the external auditors may comment in their report to those charged with

governance (ISA260).

RECOMMENDED:  That Council approve:

1)      The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/2024, including

treasury indicators for 2023-2027.

2)    The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2023/2024

3)     The Investment Strategy 2023/2024

Reason for the Decision

The Council must have approved a Treasury Management Strategy Statement,

Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy

2023/2024 by 31 March 2023.

RECOMMENDED:  1) That the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2022-2027 capital programme as detailed in the report be approved.

2) That new capital bids as set out in section 5, table 6 of the report to be funded from available capital resources and included in the capital programme 2022-2027 as detailed in the report be approved.

3) That a report on the new capital bids in section 5 table 6 of the report, is brought back to Cabinet for further review before new capital projects can be progressed.

Reason for Decision

To report amendments, rephasing and resources to the 2022-2027 Capital Programme

RESOLVED: 

1.    That the projects for allocation of UKSPF funding for 2022/23 and 2023/24 against the agreed interventions contained in the West Norfolk Investment Plan (WNIP) as set out in section 4 of the report be approved.

2.    That delegated authority be granted to the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing & Place to finalise the financial allocations to the identified projects in section 4 of the report , in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business Culture and Heritage.

3.    That the priorities for allocation of REPF funding for 2023-25 as set out in section 5 of the report be approved.

4.    That the governance arrangements to support the delivery of UKSPF & REPF as set out in section 8 of the report be approved, to include reference to Parish Councils in the Membership list.

5.    That the third party delivery options for the REPF as set out in sections 6, 7 and 8 in this report with delegated authority to the Assistant Director for Regeneration, Housing & Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Business Culture and Heritage to agree any changes be approved.

6.    That a further report be brought back to cabinet no later than December 2023 to agree the priorities for UKSPF funding in 2024-25.

Reason for Decision

To ensure timely delivery of two complementary government grant funding streams in line with the government guidance, West Norfolk Investment Plan and Corporate Business Plan objectives. The UKSPF will support residents and business to; build pride in place, high quality skills training, supporting pay, employment, productivity growth and increasing life chances. REPF will support investment in micro and small enterprises in rural areas and in the development and promotion of the rural visitor economy, enhancing active travel provision in rural areas, investing in capacity building and infrastructure support for local rural groups and supporting volunteering and social action groups in rural communities.

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 items of business 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.

The forward decisions list was noted.