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 Councillors Kendrick and Khan.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 July 2016.

That the Minutes of the meetings held on 26 July 2016 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.

Councillor Ahmed declared an ‘other’ interest in Agenda Item 11 on the grounds that he has a family member who is a KNH tenant.

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 18 would be considered in private session.

The Committee 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.

Cabinet received deputations from (a) Graham Paisley (Unison) and Ms Adams in relation to Agenda Item 13 and (b) Graham Paisley (Unison) in relation to Agenda Item 14.

The Committee will hear any questions from the general public.

No questions were asked. 

To consider questions from Councillors.

No questions were asked.

A report seeking approval of the Cabinet to the work undertaken to draft a policy statement on “Sustainable communities”

Officer: Steve Copley 01484 221000

(1) That the work undertaken by the Policy Committee in 2015/2016 and the draft policy statement on ‘sustainable communities’ be received and noted at this stage, rather than approved and released for wider consultation.

(2) That the work on the draft policy statement be referred to the Chief Executive and the appropriate Director(s) for further consideration of the implications, in order that a fuller report can be submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet.

A report seeking  approval of the detailed Highways Capital Plan for 2016/17.

Officer: Graham Mallory: 01484 221000

(1) That approval be given to the detailed capital Plan in the sum of £16.721m, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the considered report.

(2) That authority be delegated in accordance with Council Financial Procedure Rule 3.12, to the Director of Economy, Skills and the Environment, to manage the Highways Capital Plan, as detailed in paragraph 2.9 of the considered report.

A report informing Cabinet of the need to revise the Council’s Local Development Scheme for the Local Plan and seeking approval of the revised version.

Officer: Richard Hollinson

That the revised Local Development Scheme for the Local Plan, as appended to the considered report, be approved.

A report seeking approval to replace the current weekly payment (debit) period with a monthly one.

Officer: Helen Geldart: 01484 221000

(1) That approval be given to serving a Preliminary Notice under section 103 of the Housing Act 1985, informing tenants of proposals to vary the Council’s tenancy agreement to require tenants to pay rent monthly, and that such rent be due at the end of each monthly period.

(2) That the decision regarding whether the Council should proceed to implement the proposals to vary the Council’s secure tenancy to require tenants to pay rent monthly, and that such rent be due at the end of each monthly period, be delegated to the appropriate Director, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and Enforcement Management, following evaluation of the consultation received in response to the Preliminary Notice.

(3) That, if implemented, the proposed introduction of a monthly debit period for housing tenancies be effective from 1 December 2016.

A report seeking consideration and approval to an amendment to the 2016/17 New Homes Bonus (NHB) budget devolved to District Committees.

Officer: Vina Randhawa: 01484 221000

That the amendment to the District Committee New Homes Bonus Funding criteria, as detailed in paragraph 2.3 of the considered report, be approved.

A report providing an update about proposals for delivering the requirements of the Medium Term Financial Plan 2015-18 within the Council’s agreed Childcare Commissioning and Market Management Framework and seeking approval to proceed with proposals at Tiddlywinks Nursery, Deighton, Huddersfield.

Officer: Carol Lancaster: 01484 221000

(1) That approval be given to the proposal as set out at Model D in the considered report, resulting in the closure of the service and achieving Medium Term Financial Plan savings, Council priorities and statutory duties.

(2) That, pursuant to (1) above, support be provided to the children, families and staff effected as set out in paragraph 8 of the considered report.

A report seeking approval to commence a consultation and engagement exercise with current users of the YPAT service, along with their parents and carers, staff and key stakeholders, in order to reduce and redesign the future service offer.

Officer: Michelle Cross

That approval be given to the commencement of a consultation and engagement exercise with current users of the Young People’s Activity Team, and their parents/carers, staff and key stakeholders, in order to reduce and redesign the future service offer. 

A report providing the Council’s 2016-17 forecast financial outturn position for General Fund revenue, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Plan, as at Quarter 1

Officer: Eamonn Croston: 01484 221000

(1) That, in regards to the General fund Revenue, (i) approval be given to proposals for £2.9m earmarked (risk) reserves drawdown to resource additional children’s services development costs in 2016-2017 (ii) the forecast £6.2m forecast revenue overspend position for 2016-2017 (as set out in Appendix A, Section 1) net of the reserves drawdown in (i), be noted (iii) the forecast outturn position on collection fund and forecast movements in reserves and balances in-year be noted (iv) consideration be given to officer proposals to bring the forecast £6.2m overspend at least in line with budgets by current year end, and other actions to build up available reserves to support the Medium term Financial Plan from 2017 onwards, and (v) officers be instructed to submit a report to Cabinet as part of the Medium Term Financial Plan update, with in-year and long term mitigating actions to bring spend back in line with available resources.

(2) That, in regards to the Housing Revenue Account, (i) the forecast revenue outturn position for 2016-2017 (as set out in Appendix A, Section 1), be noted, and (ii) the forecast HRA reserves position at year end (as set out in Appendix B), be noted.

(3) That the Council forecast capital outturn position for 2016-2017 be noted.

A report providing members with an overview of the Council’s Performance at the end of Quarter 1, 2016-17.

Officer: Sue Grigg

(1) That the Quarter 1 2016-2017 Corporate Performance Report be received and noted.

(2) That the Risk Matrix at Quarter 1 be amended to incorporate (i) reputational risks associated with the current operational difficulties in Children’s Services (Family Support and Child Protection) and (ii) reputational and operational risks associated with not having an approved Local Plan in place.

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.

A report setting out a proposal and seeking approval to make a variation to the existing terms of the Short Term Loan Facility available to Kirklees College.

(The report is recommended for consideration in private because the information contained in it is exempt information within Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006. It is considered the report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). The public interest in maintaining the exemption, which would protect the interests of the Council and third party organisations concerned, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness in the Council’s decision making.)

Officer: Paul Kemp 01484 221000

(1) That approval be given to the extension of the availability of the short term loan facility to Kirklees College for a maximum of £6m until 31 December 2018 to assist in the development of the Dewsbury Education Village Project.

(2) That authority be delegated to the Assistant Director (Place) and the Assistant Director (Legal, Governance and Monitoring) to negotiate and agree the terms of a variation to the existing College Loan Agreement to facilitate the extension.