Agenda and decisions

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

To approve the Minutes of the meetings of the Cabinet held on 1 September and 22 September 2020.

That the minutes of the meetings held on 1 September and 22 September 2020 be 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.

Councillors Mather and Pattison advised that, in their capacity as Board Members for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing, they had been granted dispensations on Agenda Item 9, and were permitted to speak but not vote on the item

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.

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.

Due to current Covid-19 restrictions, Members of the Public may submit written questions to the Leader, and/or Cabinet Members.

Any questions should be emailed to executive.governance@kirklees.gov.uk no later than 10.00am on Monday 19 October 2020.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11(5), the period allowed for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes. A maximum of four questions per person may be submitted.

Cabinet will receive any questions from Elected Members (via remote access).

In accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 2.3 (2.3.1.6) a period of up to 30 minutes will be allocated.

To receive the findings of the Ad-hoc Scrutiny panel on the consultation process and the on-going work relating to the future arrangements for management of Kirklees social housing stock.

Wards affected: All

Contact: David Stickley, Legal Services

1.    That the responses form the Ad-hoc Scrutiny Panel as  set out in Appendix A be noted, including the Panel’s recommendation for further work to be undertaken in respect of:

- youth engagement

- strengthening the tenant voice

- learning from the consultation to be put in place

- how any changes in governance structure for housing going forward enables engagement and listening to the wider tenant and leaseholder body.

- ensuring that the housing panels contribute to the cabinet decisions

2.    That the request for how ward councillors can have greater involvement moving forward be explored.

To receive the outcome of the formal tenant engagement on the management and maintenance of the housing stock and status of the recommendations from the previous Cabinet report of 2nd June 2020 and consider the ratification of a previous ‘in principle’ decision to change the model for management of its housing stock to an in-house delivery model.

Wards affected: All

Contact: Naz Parkar, Service Director - Growth and Housing

         1. That Cabinet note the outcome of the formal tenant and leaseholder engagement on the management and maintenance of the housing stock carried out June – September 2020.

         2. That Cabinet notes the work and recommendations of the Ad-Hoc Scrutiny Panel.

         3. That Cabinet ratifies their previous ‘in principle’ decision to change the model to an in-house delivery model in light of the information provided in the report and agrees to proceed to seek a mutual termination of the current contract with KNH by 31.3.21 in order to directly manage the arrangements for its housing stock

         4. That Cabinet approves the proposed approach to Assurance and Tenant Involvement.

         5. That authority be delegated to:

             - the Strategic Director for Adults and Health in consultation with the Portfolio holder to take all relevant steps to implement the decision.

            - the Service Director Legal, Governance and Commissioning to enter into all relevant legal documents on behalf of the Council to enable the implementation of the decision.

To determine the Cabinet’s approach to the annual update of the Council’s Medium Term.

Wards affected: All

Contact: Eamonn Croston – Service Director, Finance

1. That the funding and spend assumptions informing the updated budget forecasts as set out in section 2.3 to 2.15 of the report be noted

2. That the current and forecast earmarked reserves and general balances as set out at Appendix B be noted

3. That the corporate budget timetable and approach set out at Appendix F be noted.

4. That the report be submitted to Council on 21 October 2020 with a recommendation:

(i) That the revised Minimum Revenue Provision Policy as set out in Section 2.14 of the report be approved

(ii) That the decision on preferred option for Business Rates Pool arrangements for 2021/22 to be delegated to the Chief Executive and Service Director – Finance, in consultation with the Leader and Corporate Portfolio holder, as per Section 2.4 of the report be approved

(iii) That the updated multi-year capital budget plans as set out at Appendix D be approved

(iv) That the flexible capital receipts strategy set out in Section 2.17 of the report be approved

(v) That the financial planning framework set out in Section 1.4 of the report be approved

(vi) That the budget consultation approach and timetable set out in Section 3 of the report be approved.

To consider ‘Our Council Plan’ which provides a one-year extension to the existing 2018 – 2020 Corporate Plan.

Wards affected: All

Contact: Kate McNicholas, Head of Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning

Cabinet recommends approval of ‘Our Council Plan’ to full Council at its meeting on 21 October 2020 (with delegated authority to the Chief Executive to make any subsequent required amendments in consultation with the Leader).

To consider proposals for Kirklees Council’s initial actions to tackle the inequalities that the coronavirus pandemic has cast a significant light upon.

Wards affected: All

Contact: Kate McNicholas, Head of Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning

Cabinet approves the three priority actions and recommends that Council notes the report and endorses the establishment of the Inequalities Commission