Agenda and decisions

That Cabinet approve the Heating & Gas Servicing Policy to ensure legal compliance and improved service delivery in line with legislation, regulation and industry best practice, subject to delegated authority being given to the Portfolio Holder for Housing to re-word the policy in relation to mechanically sealing gas supplies.

That Cabinet approve the Gas Meter Make Safe Policy to ensure legal compliance and improved service delivery in line with legislation, regulation and industry best practice.

That Cabinet approve the Passenger Lifts, Stair Lifts & Hoists Policy to ensure legal compliance and improved service delivery in line with legislation, regulation and industry best practice.

That Cabinet:

a)       make the existing Housing Complaints Coordinator role permanent;

b)      approve the additional roles of a Complaints and Learning / Improvement Officer (1FTE) on a permanent basis and a Complaints Coordinator (1 FTE) for a fixed term period of 1 year, with a further review to consider if this second role needs to be permanent;

c)       approve the required budget for 2026/27 of £119,450 to be funded from the HRA Service Improvement reserve;

d)       note the annual budget required (c. £100k) for future years will be added into the base budget at budget setting for 2027/28 onwards; and

e)       note the recruitment of temporary support until the above roles are approved and recruited (for approx. 6 months from April 2026).

That Cabinet approve the:

a)       creation of two additional Data Analyst posts for Housing Directorate systems managed within the Housing Systems Analyst team;

b)      creation of a Housing Systems Adoption Officer reporting to the Assistant Director - Housing Strategy & Service Development; and

c)       release of £82,900 from the HRA Service improvement reserve for 2026/27, with the full year cost being added into the base budget from 2027/28 onwards.

That Cabinet:

a)       note the progress and outcomes and feedback on the GTKY visits programme to March 2026;

b)      support the continued delivery of the GTKY programme as a key assurance and tenancy sustainment mechanism;

c)       note the link to the Tenant Census planned for 2026;

d)      support the risk-based approach to determine whether tenancy enforcement action is progressed regarding failed access; and

e)       note the onward progression of the report to Local Influence & Assurance Board.

That Cabinet note the current performance of the Council’s housing and the forward plan for service delivery for the Asset management functions of Stock Condition; Decent Homes; Energy Performance; and the Housing Health & Safety Rating System (HHSRS).

That Cabinet:

a)     note the updates associated with the LRF projects, as detailed throughout this report;

Stodman Street Re-Development

b)     approve a revenue budget from the Change Management Reserve as detailed in the exempt appendix to the report;

Castle Gatehouse

c)     approve an additional capital budget of up to £1,500,000, funded by the Change Management Reserve, as detailed in section 1.5 of the report; and

Ollerton Regeneration

d)     agree to commit £500,000 capital monies (fully funded by the LRF grant and NSDC committed Reserves) within the existing approved programme and add this to the proposed capital budget for 2026/27 to progress essential enabling works ahead of the completion of legal agreements and confirmation of planning consent, as set out in section 1.7 of the report.

That Cabinet:

a)       note the report;

b)      approve the scoping consultation proposals contained in Appendix 1 to the report;

c)       delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development to agree the final Scoping Consultation document in consultation with the Planning Policy Board ready for consultation in July 2026; and

d)      delegate authority to the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Economic Development to amend the proposed timetable for the Local Plan Scoping consultation, should this be necessary if the Council receive the Inspectors Report on the Amended Allocations and Development Management DPD.

That Cabinet:

a)      agree the results of the consultation and the Council’s proposed responses contained in Appendix 1;

b)      agree the proposed approach to affordable housing SPD set out at paragraph 2.5 of the report; and

c)       approve the adoption of the Developer Contributions & Planning Obligations SPD as set out at Appendix 2 as a Supplementary Planning Document. 

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.