Agenda and decisions

That Cabinet recommend to Council at its meeting on 11 February 2025:

a)        the HRA budget for 2025/26, as set out in Appendix A to the report;

b)        an increase of 2.7% in the 2025/26 rents of all current HRA tenancies will be applied from 7 April 2025;

c)        the 2025/26 service charges, as set out in Appendix C to the report; and

the Capital Budget set out in Appendix D to the report are committed expenditure in the Capital Programme for 2025/26 to 2028/29.

Reason for Decisions:

To advise Members of the proposed HRA budget and charges in rent and service charge levels for 2025/26 and for these to be recommended to Council at its meeting on 11 February 2025.

Options Considered:

Various modelling was undertaken to assess the impact of different rent levels on the viability of the HRA 30-year business plan to arrive at the recommendation above.

Consideration was also given to varying increases between general needs and supported (sheltered and extra care) accommodation but no rationale was found to support this, alongside the equitable nature of any decision to do so.

That Cabinet approve the Implementation of the Information Security Management System for the Council.

Reason for Decision:

To align with the community plan objective 8: To be a top performing, modern and accessible Council.

Community trust in the Council to manage and use their data in a secure and compliant way, whilst demonstrating transparency.

Options Considered:

Various alternative frameworks and the option to take no action have been evaluated. However, this international standard for information security is mandated by the Council for procuring systems and technology, where applicable.

That Cabinet approve the revised sale price of £XXXXXX for the land at Lowfield Lane, Balderton as detailed in the report, subject to confirmation from Nottinghamshire County Council on the Green Adoption at £XXXXXX; any adjustment in the offer in relation to the Green Adoption sum to be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Performance and Finance for decision following consultation with the Cabinet.

Reason for Decision:

In order to ensure that the Council secures the best consideration for the land which was previously purchased by the Council for residential redevelopment on the basis that it was both a largely allocated housing site and was entirely within the Newark Urban Area where the principle of residential development is acceptable.

Options Considered:

The Council could refuse the revised offer outright and request Arkwood to proceed to complete the sale on the original terms or seek to negotiate a higher sale value somewhere between the original and revised offers. Neither of these options are considered realistic, deliverable or in the Council’s interest. Arkwood has set out its position that it is entitled to terminate the contract for sale in the circumstances if the revised offer is not accepted; Officers consider this position to be justified as the viability of the development has been materially affected due to the factors set out in exempt Appendix A. The revised offer exceeds the independent valuations obtained and detailed at paragraph 2.6 above, therefore it is not considered necessary to seek to negotiate a higher sale value.

The Policy & Finance Committee report of 27 January 2022 explored the alternative option of selling the land on the open market; this option was rejected as it did not deliver the Council’s strategic aims of both housing delivery, and financial sustainability relative to the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan provided by Arkwood’s involvement. In addition, as the Council’s wholly owned company, Arkwood does not seek as high a commercial return as other developers and is therefore able to deliver a more diverse mix of housing including lower value units which generate lower returns, but which are much needed in the community. The position on this alternative option has not changed, in particular with reference to the independent valuations referenced at paragraph 2.6 of this report. The Council’s Acquisitions and Disposals Policy allows for disposal to be negotiated with a single party such as Arkwood. There is also a risk that by going to the open market the Council could fail to secure a buyer at all if Arkwood withdraw interest.

The Policy & Finance Committee report of 29 June 2017 confirmed the land purchase based on use for strategic residential development, as most of the land was already allocated for that purpose. The proposal offers the best disposal value that can reasonably be obtained, together with associated benefits of delivering much needed housing especially considering new targets now being introduced by Government, and the Medium-Term Financial Plan benefits already set out in this report. There are no  ...  view the full decision text for item 9.

That Cabinet approve:

a)        option 3 as set out in the report, to continue to carry out annual safety inspections and the required remedial maintenance, until the next Principal Bridge Inspection is due in 2030 at a cost of up to £XXXXXX; and

b)       the Capital budget be reduced from £333,500 to £XXXXXX which will decommit £XXXXXX from the Asset Maintenance Reserve.

Reason for Decision:

To ensure the bridge remains in a safe condition, the most viable option to the Council, based on the current condition of the bridge.

Options Considered:

Option 1 - Pay Commuted sum to Nottinghamshire County Council to have the bridge adopted and to remove future liability of the bridge from NSDC.

Option 2 - To retain the bridge and to carry out a bridge major refurbishment.

Option 3 - Continue to carry out annual safety inspections, remedial and recommended maintenance, until the next Principal Bridge Inspection is due, 2030.

Option 4 - Close the bridge and decommission 

That Cabinet defer any decision on the allocation of funds to further Motion for the Ocean activities given the impending review of Community Plan objectives.

Reason for Decision:

To further consider allocation of budgets linking into the review of Community Plan priorities.

Options Considered:

Alternative options in relation to Motion for the Ocean activities were set out in detail in paragraph 6 of the report and summarised at paragraph 7.

The Committee will be invited to resolve:-

‘To consider resolving that, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government

Act 1972, the 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 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.’

None.

Categories of “Exempt Information”

Under Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended

1. Information relating to any individual.

2. Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

3. Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

4. Information relating to any consultations or negotiations, or contemplated consultations or negotiations, in connection with any labour relations matter arising

between the authority or a Minister of the Crown and employees of, or office holders under, the authority.

5. Information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

6. Information which reveals that the authority proposes –

(a) to give under any enactment a notice under or by  virtue of which requirements are imposed on a person : or

(b) to make an order or direction under any enactment.

7. Information relating to any action taken or to be taken in connection with the prevention, investigation or prosecution of crime.