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 24 February 2026 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That Cabinet note:

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

b)      interim arrangements for monitoring damp and mould ahead of introduction of Awaab’s Law; and

c)    the ongoing actions to improve and maintain performance.

The Business Manager - Building Safety & Asset Investment presented a report which set out the performance position as of 31 December 2025 (Quarter 3) for housing related compliance and provided an update on activities in the service area. The report 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.

The Cabinet welcomed the performance improvements which had been made and in respect of improving the messaging to tenants who fail to give access and the intention to cap supply the Business Manager advised that a gas meter safety policy would be coming forward to Cabinet in due course.

AGREED     (unanimously) that Cabinet note:

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

b)          interim arrangements for monitoring damp and mould ahead of introduction of Awaab’s Law; and

c)           the ongoing actions to improve and maintain performance.

Reasons for Decision:

To provide assurance on the work undertaken to ensure the safety of tenants and compliance with the regulatory standards.

This links to two ambitions in our Community Plan:

Ambition 2:  Increase the supply of housing, in particular decent homes that residents can afford to buy and rent, as well as improving housing standards; and

Ambition 7: Be a top performing, modern and accessible Council that get its everyday services right for the residents and businesses that it serves.

Options Considered:

None, this report sets out performance data for Quarter 3.

That Cabinet:

(a)      note the General Fund projected outturn variance of £0m;

(b)     note the Housing Revenue Account projected favourable outturn variance of £0.117m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

(c)      approve the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix E to the report;

(d)     approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £53.759m; and

(e)     note the Prudential indicators at Appendix H to the report.

The Business Manager - Financial Services presented a report which detailed the forecast outturn position for 2025/26 as at 31 December 2025 (Quarter 3) for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets. The report detailed performance against the approved budget 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.

Members noted a projected favourable variance on Service budgets against the revised budget of £0.385m, with an overall favourable variance of £0m to be transferred to General Fund reserves. The favourable variance of £0.385m on service budgets managed by business managers represented 1.84% of the total service budgets. The Council had been fully compliant with all prudential indicators during the reporting period.

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)           note the General Fund projected outturn variance of £0m;

b)          note the Housing Revenue Account projected favourable outturn variance of £0.117m to the Major Repairs Reserve;

c)           approve the variations to the Capital Programme at Appendix E to the report;

d)          approve the Capital Programme revised budget and financing of £53.759m; and

e)                note the Prudential indicators at Appendix H to the report.

Reasons for Decision:

To consider the forecast outturn position for the 2025/26 financial year for the Council’s General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue and capital budgets.

To show 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.

Options Considered:

Not applicable, this report presents budget performance information.

That Cabinet:

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

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

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

The Senior Transformation and Service Improvement Officer presented a report which detailed the Quarter 3 Community Plan Performance Report (1 October to 31 December 2005). The report and accompanying presentation highlighted various projects undertaken by Business Units such as ‘Flood Mary’; the in-house CCTV Control Room project; the ‘free tree’ scheme; and the Farndon Underpass Mural transformation project. The presentation also focused on the performance in respect of the supply of housing and in particular decent homes that residents can afford to buy and rent, as well as improving housing standards. 

AGREED      (unanimously) that Cabinet:

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

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

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

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure that Cabinet are aware of all relevant performance updates in line with the Community Plan.

Options Considered:

None, this report provides an update on the Council’s performance.

That Cabinet:

(a)       approve the proposed amended First Consideration Proposed Future Actions and Monitoring as the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy;

(b)      approve publication of the proposed Biodiversity Report 2024-2025; and

(c)   approve that future Biodiversity Reports will be published annually.

The Biodiversity & Ecology Lead Officer presented a report which set out a proposed Biodiversity Strategy and presented the statutorily required Biodiversity Report for 2024 - 2025. The Cabinet had approved publication of the Biodiversity Report - First Consideration on 4 June 2025. It was proposed that this First Consideration report be amended to account for the current situation as was set out in the report.

AGREED     (unanimously) that Cabinet:

a)           approve the proposed amended First Consideration Proposed Future Actions and Monitoring as the Council’s Biodiversity Strategy;

b)          approve publication of the proposed Biodiversity Report 2024-2025; and

c)           approve that future Biodiversity Reports will be published annually.

Reasons for Decision:

As set out in the summary for Alternative Options Considered, some of the proposed actions align with Ambition 6 of the Community Plan, particularly ‘Play an active role in biodiversity net gain for the district, including the potential to own our own biodiversity offset sites, as well as looking at how our own developments can contribute.’

Options Considered:

None, as there is a statutory requirement to have agreed actions within a First Consideration report and the proposed Biodiversity Strategy provides a mechanism for that.

The statutory requirement can be no more than 5-year reporting intervals but given imminent changes to mandatory BNG and impending Local Government Reform, and a Council fully engaged with biodiversity matters, annual reporting was considered appropriate.

That Cabinet approve:

a)      the implementation of a six-month food waste collection pilot across two rounds of approximately 1,500 properties each;

b)      the comparative testing of provision versus non-provision of compostable liner bags;

c)      a further report being brought to the Cabinet in spring 2027, detailing the pilot outcomes and recommendations prior to the District wide rollout;

d)      a Capital budget of £27,500 for the purchase and delivery of 3,300 external food waste caddies, 3,200 internal food waste caddies, to be funded from the Food Waste Reserve; and

e)  a revenue budget of £9,500 for the six-month supply of caddy liners for 1,500 properties, communication material and hiring a van to deliver the caddies, to be funded from the same ring-fenced reserve. 

The Waste and Recycling Manager presented a report which sought approval to introduce a pilot scheme of around 3,00 properties in September 2026 in preparation for the full District wide introduction of food waste collection service in October 2027. It was considered both prudent and operationally necessary to undertake a pilot ahead of full rollout.

The proposed pilot would enable the Council to gather essential data and experience regarding service delivery and resident participation. The areas identified for the pilot were Southwell, Lowdham and Yorke Drive and the Hawtonville estate in Newark which offered a suitably mixed demographic. One of the key variables of the pilot would be to test the inclusion of compostable / degradable bags. Full details of the proposed pilots were set out in the report and it was noted that feedback from the pilots would be reported to the Policy & Performance Improvement Committee in addition to the Cabinet. 

AGREED     (unanimously) that Cabinet approve:

a)           the implementation of a six-month food waste collection pilot across two rounds of approximately 1,500 properties each;

b)          the comparative testing of provision versus non-provision of compostable liner bags;

c)           a further report being brought to the Cabinet in spring 2027, detailing the pilot outcomes and recommendations prior to the District wide rollout;

d)          a Capital budget of £27,500 for the purchase and delivery of 3,300 external food waste caddies, 3,200 internal food waste caddies, to be funded from the Food Waste Reserve; and

e)      a revenue budget of £9,500 for the six-month supply of caddy liners for 1,500 properties, communication material and hiring a van to deliver the caddies, to be funded from the same ring-fenced reserve. 

Reasons for Decision:

The proposal aligns with the Community Plan to enhance the climate and the environment and provide value for money, whilst there is also a statutory requirement to provide a kerbside food waste collection service from October 2027.

Options Considered:

Consideration was given to not running a pilot food waste round and base future round sizes and expected yields on general benchmark data that is available. However, the Council wishes to maximise use of the service to benefit residents, provide value for money and increase recycling, rather than simply deliver the service. A pilot is deemed a positive development in order to achieve this ambition. 

That Cabinet approve:

a)      the proposed SPDs at Appendices A & B to the report; and

b)     public consultation be undertaken for 6-weeks on the proposed amendments for referral back to Cabinet for adoption.

The Business Manager - Planning Policy & Infrastructure presented a report which sought approval to consult on the Draft Interim Affordable Housing Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and the Draft Developer Contributions & Planning Obligations SPD. The Government had legislated that as part of the new plan making system SPD’s could not be adopted after 30 June 2026. Cabinet had agreed at their last meeting to prioritise the updating of the Affordable Housing and Developer Contributions & Planning Obligations SPD’s given they supported the delivery of affordable housing, important facilities and infrastructure that help create sustainable communities. The draft SPD’s which were attached as appendices to the report had been considered and endorsed by the Planning Policy Board subject to a small number of minor amendments.

AGREED     (unanimously) that Cabinet approve:

a)           the proposed SPDs at Appendices A & B to the report; and

b)          public consultation be undertaken for 6-weeks on the proposed amendments for referral back to Cabinet for adoption.

Reasons for Decision:

To allow the District Council to consult on the Draft SPDs.

Options Considered:

Cabinet has already agreed to produce SPDs on Affordable Housing and Developer Contributions & Planning Obligations therefore no alternative options have been considered at this point.