Agenda and decisions

To receive apologies for absence of Members who are unable to attend this meeting.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor Khan.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 16 April 2019.

Approved as a correct record.

The Councillors will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have disclosable pecuniary interests, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items, or any other interests.

No interests were declared.

Most debates take place in public. This only changes when there is a need to consider certain issues, for instance, commercially sensitive information or details concerning an individual. You will be told at this point whether there are any items on the Agenda which are to be discussed in private.

It was noted that Agenda Item 16 would be considered in private session.

The Cabinet will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

Cabinet received deputations from Charly Matthews, Amy Bairstow, David Whittingham and Peter Rock in respect of Agenda Item 9 at the consideration of that item.

The Committee will hear any questions from the general public.

Cabinet received questions from Trish Jennings, Charly Matthews, David Burns, Tejinder Ajiz, Helen Tones, Paula Bairstow, Elena Ali, Darren Bairstow and Adele Brady in respect of Agenda Item 9 at the consideration of that item.

To receive questions from Councillors.

Cabinet received questions from Councillor Bolt in regards to (i) the availability of Cabinet Members for questions following this meeting (ii) progress made in investigating and recovering S106 monies for the Mirfield area (iii) the provision of safe and secure parking and improvement of facilities for HGVs and (iv) when the Leader would provide notice of the Members of Cabinet and their portfolios.

A response was provided by the Leader of the Council.

Cabinet received questions from Councillors Cooper, PAC Davies and Munro in respect of Agenda Item 9 at the consideration of that item.

Cabinet to note the appointment of Cllr Peter McBride as Deputy Leader.

Ward: N/A

Portfolio: N/A

Contact:  Andrea Woodside, Principal Governance Officer Tel: 01484 221000

That it be noted that (i) under Articles 7.2.4 and 7.3.4 of the Council’s Constitution, the Leader of the Council had appointed Councillor McBride as Deputy Leader of the Council, with effect from 13 May 2019 and (ii) Councillor McBride would take Cabinet Portfolio Holder responsibility for the Economy Portfolio.

A report presenting Cabinet with the outcomes from the non-statutory consultation ‘Future options for Almondbury Community School: The basic need for school places across Huddersfield South & East and South West’ and seeks approval to move to the representation stage of the legal process.

Ward: Almondbury

Portfolio: Learning and Aspiration

Contact: Jo-Anne Sanders, Service Director, Learning and Early Support and Martin Wilby, Senior Strategic Manager. Tel: 01484 221000

1) That, pursuant to the non-statutory consultation process, authority be delegated to Officers to publish the following statutory proposals in relation to Almondbury Community School;

(i)             to change the age range of the school from age 3 to16 years to age 3 to 11 years (with effect from September 2020)

(ii)           to change the planned admission number of the primary phase from 60 (Key Stage 1) and 110 (Key Stage 2) to 30 in both Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 (with effect from September 2020), thereby providing 210 places from Reception to Year 6 (through a phased approach)

(iii)          to admit no new pupils to Year 7 from September 2020.

2) That Officers be authorised to (i) continue to explore the consolidation of primary year groups at Almondbury Community School into the current Key Stage 1 building on Fernside Avenue, and report on the indicative level of investment required (ii) continue to explore the opportunity to work with King James’s School and make amendments to its current catchment area, creating 30 additional planned places from September 2020, therefore in the longer term creating an additional 150 secondary places at the school through the admission of 30 additional pupils per year, and report on the indicative level of investment required (iii) work with Newsome High School to make amendments to its current catchment area to include the catchment area of Lowerhouses CE(VC) Junior, Infant and Early Years School which forms part of the current Almondbury Community School secondary catchment area (iv) explore with Netherhall Learning Campus High School the impact of changing their catchment area to include parts of Moldgreen Community Primary School and Dalton School primary catchment areas (south of A642) which form part of the current Almondbury Community School secondary catchment area (v) continue to work in partnership with local secondary schools and the Regional Schools Commissioner to plan for the transitional arrangements to support pupils, families and the staff of Almondbury Community School if the proposal are approved (vi) continue to engage with and support children and families, particularly those in challenging circumstances who may be affected by the proposals (vii) continue to work with King James’s Academy Trust to further assess the level of capital investment that would be required to enable King James’s School to create 30 additional planned places and that this information be submitted to a future meeting (vii) continue to assess the level of investment which would be required to enable the existing Key Stage 1 building of Almondbury Community School on Fernside Avenue to be utilised by the revised age range and that this information be submitted to a future meeting and (viii) submit a report detailing the outcome of the statutory consultation and representation period to a future meeting to inform a final decision of Cabinet.

The purpose of this report is for Cabinet to consider the objections received as a result of advertising the Council’s intention to dispose of open space at Raikes Lane/The Mount, Birstall.

Ward: Birstall and Birkenshaw

Portfolio: Corporate

Contact: Gary Fowler – Team Leader, Disposals & Acquisitions. Tel: 01484 221000

That the objections be noted and that approval be given to the disposal of open space at Raikes Lane/The Mount, Birstall, Batley in order to (i) enable the land to be better utilised and maintained (ii) achieve a capital receipt and (iii) provide a potential opportunity for local small scale development and support to the local labour market. 

The purpose of this report is for Cabinet to consider the objections received as a result of advertising the Council’s intention to dispose of open space at Rowley Hill/Common End Lane, Lepton, Huddersfield.

Ward: Almondbury

Portfolio: Corporate

Contact: Gary Fowler – Team Leader, Disposals & Acquisitions. Tel: 01484 221000

That the objections be noted and that approval be given to the disposal of open space at Rowley Hill/Common End Lane in order to (i) enable the land to be better utilised and maintained (ii) achieve a capital receipt and (iii) provide a potential opportunity for local small scale development and support to the local labour market. 

To consider proposals to review earmarked reserves as part of 2018-19 final accounts process. 

Ward: N/A

Portfolio:  Corporate

Contact: James Anderson, Senior Finance Manager and Sarah Hill, Finance Manager. Tel: 01484 221000.

1) That approval be given to (i) the Waste Management Strategy Reserve at £11m (ii) the increase in Strategic Management Reserve by £1.4m to £5.4m and (iii) the Commercialisation reserve at £0.5m.

2) That, pursuant to (i) and (iii) above, approval be given to the funding of reserves proposal through the transfer of £4.1m unallocated MRP release from Central Budgets, and re-direct of existing financial resilience reserves of £8.8m, as part of the 2018-2019 final accounts process.

This report seeks Cabinet approval for delegated authority to the Strategic Director (Economy and Infrastructure) as per the delegated powers scheme to declare an Air Quality Management Area in Thornton Lodge and Longroyd Bridge, Huddersfield (to be known as Air Quality Management Area 10.

Ward: Crosland Moor and Netherton and Newsome

Portfolio: Communities and Environment

Contact: Martin Wood, Operational Manager, Public Protection Service. Tel: 01484 221000

That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Economy and Infrastructure) to declare an Air Quality Management Area in Thornton Lodge and Longroyd Bridge, Huddersfield.

This report requests that Cabinet considers the opportunity to acquire a Strategic Freehold Asset (subject to leases) in Huddersfield Town Centre in line with the Huddersfield Town Centre Masterplan.

Ward: Newsome

Portfolio: Corporate and Economy

Contact: Naz Parkar, Service Director Growth and Housing and David Martin, Head of Service for Corporate Landlord and Capital. Tel: 01484 221000

1) That approval be given to the acquisition of the strategic freehold asset, in accordance with the terms as set out at Agenda Item 16 (exempt information).

2) That approval be given to capital funding from the Strategic Priorities allocation for Huddersfield Town Centre, as identified in the Council’s approved Capital Plan for 2019/20 to 2023/24.

3) That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Economy and Infrastructure) and Service Director (Legal, Governance and Commissioning) to negotiate and agree the final terms for the acquisition of the asset as identified at Agenda Item 16 (exempt information).

4) That authority be delegated to the Service Director (Legal, Governance and Commissioning) to enter into and execute any agreements or instruments relating to the acquisition of the asset as identified at Agenda Item 16 (exempt information).

5) That authority be delegated to the Service Director (Economy and Skills) to undertake the strategic and operational management of the proposed strategic purchase, alongside the Service Director (Legal, Governance and Commissioning) to agree relevant operational leases and terms.

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item 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.

That acting under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as specifically stated in the undermentioned Minute.

Private appendices in relation to item 14.

The information was considered prior to the determination of Agenda Item 14.