Decisions

That Cabinet:

a)        note the current position regarding the A46 Newark Bypass, including the Development Consent Order approval, the scheme’s inclusion within Road Investment Strategy 3 (2026–2031) in March 2026, and the recent uncertainty following the cancellation of the Skanska contract and Department for Transport letter of 30 June 2026 reproduced at Appendix A;

b)       strongly reaffirm the Council’s support for the earliest possible delivery of the A46 Newark Bypass as nationally important infrastructure;

c)        strongly support that the Council should continue to work with partners, coordinated through the East Midlands Combined County Authority, including East Midlands Councils/Transport for the East Midlands, Nottinghamshire County Council, Lincolnshire County Council, local Members of Parliament and regional business partners, to lobby Government for the scheme to be delivered as soon as possible within the RIS3 period;

d)       delegates authority to the Leader of the Council and Director – Planning and Growth to finalise and submit any letters, consultation responses or joint representations required to support delivery of the scheme in accordance with recommendations b) and c) above; and

e)        notes that officers will continue to keep under review the local implications of any delay, particularly for the Newark Urban Area, the ongoing work for the new Local Plan, and the Council’s land and property interests at the Newark Lorry Park.

That Cabinet:

a)    review and endorse the proposed approach to debt collection as set out in Appendices A and B; and

b)   approve the additional budget requirement for 1 additional FTE of £72,800 (based on 25/26 values) funded 50% each between the GF and HRA based upon the reserves identified in the financial implications.

That Cabinet:

a)     approve the overall General Fund, Capital & HRA Budget Strategy for 2027/28;

b)     note the consultation process with Members;

c)     note that Budget Officers continue work on the assessment of various budget proposals affecting services for consideration in setting the Council's budget;

d)     note that Budget Managers work with Finance Officers in identifying further efficiency savings, increasing income from fees and charges and in identifying new sources of income;

e)     to review thepolicies and principles on Budgeting, Council Tax, Reserves and Provisions, Charging, Value for Money and make any recommendations to Council;

f)      note that the additional budget required as a result of the restructure due to LGR in 2026/27 of £273,987 be funded by reserves set aside during 2025/26, and that the additional £16,384 to fund the 2027/28 budget be funded by the reserves set aside during 2025/26. The savings generated from 2028/29 onwards, then occur within the budget thereafter; and

g)     approve the additional x1 FTE in the Planning Policy and Infrastructure team as per 3.7.7 funded for two years from grant funding and added into the general fund thereafter.

Approve the additional x1 FTE in the Heritage Culture and Visitors Business Unit as per 3.7.8 funded from the overall restructure savings identified in the table at 3.7.9.

That Cabinet:

a)      adopts a new fixed penalty notice for household waste duty of care in Section 2.6;

b)       adopts revised tariffs provided in Section 2.7; and

c)       publicises the revised tariffs on the Council’s website.

That Cabinet:

a)     consider the comments from the Policy and Performance Improvement Committee in relation to the Corporate Planning, Performance Management and Assurance Framework (appendix 1) and the refreshed performance indicators (appendix 2); and

b)     after which,  note and endorse the Corporate Planning, Performance Management and Assurance Framework (appendix 1) and the refreshed performance indicators (appendix 2).

That Cabinet note the likely impact of the local government framework outcomes as identified in the report.

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.

That Cabinet:

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

b)      review the Annual Performance Report attached as Appendix 2;

c)       review the compliance report attached as Appendix 3; and

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

Cabinet AGREED that:

a)     the final outturn of revenue and capital spending for 2025/26 be noted;

b)     the capital financing proposals as set out in table 5 at paragraph 1.18 of the report, be noted;

c)     the Capital Programme reprofiling of £14.289m carried forward into 2026/27, as per appendices E and F to the report, be noted;

d)     the movement in Provisions and Impaired Estimates on Debtors be noted; and

e)     the individual contributions to, and withdrawals from, the revenue and capital Usable Reserves, be noted.

To approve the awards recommended by the cross-party panel for the Community Grant Scheme.

That the awards detailed within the report are approved.