Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Leader advised that the proceedings were being audio recorded and live streamed by the Council.

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes from the meeting held on 23 July 2024 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Leader welcomed Councillor Claire Penny as the new Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development and thanked Councillor Keith Melton for the work he had undertaken as Portfolio Holder for Climate Change. The Leader advised that whilst the Portfolio for Climate Change was no longer an individual portfolio, the issue of climate change would be a focus for all Portfolio Holders.

That Cabinet:

a)      note the General Fund projected favourable outturn variance of £0.145m;

b)      note the Housing Revenue Account projected unfavourable outturn variance of £0.048m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

c)      approve the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix C;

d)      approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £63.232m; and

e)      note the Prudential indicators at Appendix F.

The Business Manager – Financial Services, presented a report which set out the forecast outturn position for the 2024/25 financial year for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets, which detailed performance against the approved estimates of revenue expenditure and income; report on major variances from planned budget performance; and report on variations to the Capital Programme for approval; all in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.

The report detailed a summary of actual income and expenditure compared to the revised budget and how any surpluses or deficits have been allocated to/from reserves. Members considered the report and welcomed the Council’s financial position, noting the variances due to vacancies and the forecast management fee for Active4Today which had been reduced due utility costs which had reduced. In response to a question, the Business Manager for Housing Maintenance and Asset Management explained that all vacancies for in the Direct Labour Organisation were filled which would reduce the use of external contractors, however, it was likely to take some time to catch up with the back-log of works required.

 AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)      note the General Fund projected favourable outturn variance of £0.145m;

b)      note the Housing Revenue Account projected unfavourable outturn variance of £0.048m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

c)      approve the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix C;

d)      approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £63.232m; and

e)      note the Prudential indicators at Appendix F.

Reasons for Decision:

To consider the provisional 2023/24 financial outturn position on the Council’s revenue and capital budgets.

Options considered:

Not applicable.

That Cabinet:

a)      review the Community Plan Performance Report attached as Appendix 1;

b)      review the compliance report attached as Appendix 2; and

c)      consider the Council’s performance against its objectives highlighting any areas of high performance and identifying areas for improvement.

The Transformation and Service Improvement Manager was in attendance to present the Community Plan Performance for Quarter 1 2024/25. The report and accompanying presentation highlighted customer feedback, various projects undertaken by Business Units across the Council, responsive repairs telephone calls, levels of occupation within the Newark Beacon site, and garden waste collection.

The Cabinet noted that a report to their next meeting would include more detail on the Council’s oral health project and work to support oral health and access to dental care. Members also noted recent anti-social behaviour in the Bridge Ward which Officers and Partners were working to address. The Portfolio Holder for Housing explained that complaints within housing were viewed as positive by the Housing Ombudsman as it provided assurance that Tenants had the confidence to complain safely and that their concerns would be addressed. The Portfolio Holder for Biodiversity and Environmental Services highlighted work undertaken by Business Units across the Council in relation to the environment and biodiversity.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)      review the Community Plan Performance Report attached as Appendix 1;

b)      review the compliance report attached as Appendix 2; and

c)      consider the Council’s performance against its objectives highlighting any areas of high performance and identifying areas for improvement.

Reasons for Decision:

Performance management is used to drive improvement by analysing data and progress against key activities as well as building a picture of the context of performance using district statistics, customer feedback and workforce information.

Options considered:

Not applicable.

That Cabinet note:

a)       the exceptions to performance of the housing service compliance functions; and

b)       the new format for performance for Quarter 1 2024.25 onwards.

The Housing Maintenance and Asset Management was in attendance to present the position at the end of Quarter 1 – 2024/5 20 June which set out the Council’s performance against the Council’s legal and regulatory landlord responsibilities for a range of building safety measures including fire protection, gas, asbestos, electrical and water as well as summarising details of the Council’s housing stock. Damp and mould ratings and response levels were also detailed. The new format of reporting had been recommended by the Council’s External Auditors. The Homes Standard had been replaced with the Safety and Quality Standard from 1 April 2024.

Gas servicing was now 98.5% compliant with 39 now outstanding, and two homes where the oil had not been serviced reduced from 8 last quarter. There were 27 properties without a EICR electrical certification of less than five years old, which was an improvement on last quarter performance of 39. There were two cases of hoist and stairlift inspection outstanding but both had appointments booked.

AGREED (unanimously) that Cabinet note:

a)        the exceptions to performance of the housing service compliance functions; and

b)       the new format for performance for Quarter 1 2024.25 onwards.

Reasons for Decision:

To enable the Cabinet to monitor performance and compliance relating to the Council’s legal and regulatory landlord responsibilities for 27 building safety measures including fire protection, gas, asbestos, electrical and water.

Options considered:

Not applicable.