Agenda and decisions

That Cabinet approve:

a)       the introduction of a flat fee charge of £176 for re-rating inspection visits on a full-cost recovery basis, with effect from 1 April 2025 in accordance with the fee calculations; and

b)       the incorporation of the new fee into the annual fees and charges review to be undertaken each year as part of the budget setting process to ensure the fee continues to be based on cost recovery.

That Cabinet:

a)        notes the contents of the report, including the updates associated with each funding programme, as well as future anticipated updates detailed within this report;

Levelling Up Fund 3 Grant from Government

b)        delegated authority be given to the Director - Planning & Growth and Deputy Chief Executive and Director - Resources, to accept a potential future LUF 3 grant offer via an Memorandum of Understanding,, following a legal assessment of the terms and conditions of grant funding, in accordance with paragraph 1.20 of the report;

Ollerton Project:

c)          approves an initial release of £500,000 of any LUF 3 grant when received in accordance with b) above, subject to a legal review of the terms and conditions of the grant funding and in accordance with paragraph 1.22 of the report;

d)         subject to b) above, delegated authority be given to the Business Manager - Economic Growth & Visitor Economy of additional spend from the approved Capital Budget beyond the £500,000 detailed in c) above, subject only to securing legal control of the required land, subject to planning, securing a match funding resolution to any funding gap, in accordance with paragraph 1.22 of the report;

Clipstone Project:

e)         delegated authority be given to the Business Manager - Economic Growth & Visitor Economy to approve spend of the in principle capital budget for Clipstone Phases 1-3, subject only to: 1) receipt of the full LUF 3 grant from Government as detailed in b) above; 2) no demonstrable funding gap to deliver the scheme in accordance with the Council’s approved Capital budget; and 3) all required land-take to deliver that phase of the scheme being secured or within control of the District Council in accordance with paragraph 1.23 of the report;

Long Term Plan for Towns Fund

f)           delegated authority be given to the Director - Planning & Growth and Deputy Chief Executive and Director - Resources, in consultation with the Newark Town Board, to accept a future Long Term Plan for Towns Fund grant offer of up to £20 million, subject to a review of the terms and conditions, new guidance and the submission of the Investment Plan; and

g)          delegated authority be given to Deputy Chief Executive and Director - Resources, in consultation with the Newark Town Board, to approve grant awards in accordance with the Newark Town Board’s Assurance Framework and Long-Term Plan for Towns Investment Plan as detailed at paragraph 1.13 and Annex 1 of the report.

That Cabinet note the report and agrees:

a)       to adopt the feasibility report as at Appendix A as a key component of our evidence base to support future funding applications; provide strength to our S106 pipeline of projects; enhance policy development, and heighten the role of Newark and Sherwood District Council and its ongoing commitment to the active travel agenda; and

b)       to endorse ongoing partnership work with Nottinghamshire County Council, Active Travel England and relevant partners to support early exploratory work through future feasibility studies within the recommended priority areas where funding for these has been secured.

That Cabinet recommends to Full Council the uprating of the applicable amounts, premiums, state benefits and disregard criteria in accordance with the annual uprating amounts applied by the Department for Works & Pensions (DWP); whilst continuing the current Localised Council Tax Support Scheme for 2025/26 financial year.

That Cabinet:

a)       approve the proposal for music development through use of the existing community plan objectives budget within the Heritage & Culture Business Unit; and

b)       acknowledge the requirement for a carry forward into 2025/26 to complete delivery of the proposals

That Cabinet:

a)        approve, in principle, the equity loan model detailed at Appendix 1 to the report, with delegated authority being granted to the Director - Housing, Health & Wellbeing in consultation with the Section 151 Officer and the Assistant Director - Legal & Democratic Services to finalise the final terms and form of agreement;

b)        delegated authority be given to the Director - Housing, Health & Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director – Resources and Section 151 Officer, to enter into individual equity loan agreements in accordance with the principles detailed in the Appendix; and

c)        re-confirm that delegated authority is granted to the Director of Housing Health and Wellbeing, in consultation with the Director of Resources and the Assistant Director Legal & Democratic Services, to acquire privately owned properties, or enter into option agreements for their acquisition, where essential for land assembly to deliver the Yorke Drive regeneration project.

That Cabinet:

a)       continue to support the approach to securing a ‘No ManCo’ (Management Company) approach for future Open Spaces coming forward as part of Fernwood North (BDW) and Fernwood Central (Allison Homes). This approach shall be secured by S106 variations for both Phases, the details of which to be delegated to the Director – Planning & Growth in consultation with the Assistance Director Legal Services. S106 Agreements shall be subject to standard due diligence clauses covering design, implementation and handover of Open Spaces;

b)       delegated authority be given to the relevant Director and Assistant Director – Legal & Democratic Services authority to seek and secure S106 legal agreements from Fernwood Parish Council and Barratt David Wilson (BDW) to enter into arrangements to secure the future public ownership, management and maintenance of Open Space on the Fernwood North (Barratt David Wilson, BDW) Phases, subject to the terms set out in Exempt Appendix A, save for an additional caveat which allows Fernwood Parish Council (FPC) to take ownership, management and maintenance of Open Space at any time (including prior to any initial land transfer), subject to requisite notice (such period to be agreed) to the District Council;

c)        should FPC elect to own and manage Open Space in accordance with resolution b) above at any time, that the relevant Directors be authorised to underscore the importance of all Open Space across Fernwood (Fernwood Central – Allison Homes, Fernwood North – Persimmon, and Fernwood West (Business Park and Residential) being in a single ownership in order to ensure continuity of responsibility and consistency of service standards across the Parish; and

d)       should FPC elect not to agree the terms detailed in resolution b) above, that a further report and implications be brought to a future Cabinet (no later than January 2025).