Agenda and decisions

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

Cllr Erin Hill currently granted leave of absence.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Hill, McBride and Sheard.

To approve the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 19 December 2017.

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 Pandor and Scott declared an ‘other’ interest in Agenda Item 8 on the grounds that they have family members residing in KNH properties.

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 all agenda items would be considered in public 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.

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 David Storrie and Suzanne Gannon at Agenda Items 10 and 12, respectively, at the consideration of those items.

The Committee will hear any questions from the general public.

No questions were asked.

To consider questions from Councillors.

No questions were asked.

To seek Member approval for a 1% reduction in dwellings rents in 2018/19 and for the proposed garage rents annual uplift of 3.9% in 2018/19.

Ward: All

Officer: Helen Geldart Head of Housing, Kirklees Council Tel: 01484 221000

(1)  That the proposed dwelling rent, garage rent, service and other charges as set out at Appendix 1 of the considered report, be approved.

(2)  That the national and local financial challenges as outlined in the report be noted in preparation for the Housing Revenue Account budget discussions in February 2018.

To consider a proposal to build 8 new 2 bedroom, 4 person properties for General Needs social housing rent on council owned land at Sycamore Avenue and Leymoor Avenue, Golcar, Huddersfield

Ward: Golcar

Officer: Helen Geldart, Head of Housing, Kirklees Council Tel: 01484 221000, and Asad Bhatti, Head of Asset Management, KNH Tel: 01484 221000

(1)  That approval be given to progress the Golcar Housing scheme.

(2)  That approval be given to the proposed procurement approach, namely the use of the Efficiency North Framework and the appointment of GS Kelsey.

(3)  That authority be delegated to the Service Director (Legal, Governance and Commissioning) to finalise and enter in to all appropriate contracts, deeds and documents in relation to the appointment of the design and build contractor in consultation with the Service Director (Economy, Regeneration and Culture).

A report providing an update on the proposed Bradley Urban extension site

Ward:  Ashbrow

Officer: Liz Jefferson, Regeneration Group Leader Tel: 01484 221000

(1)  That the masterplan for the Bradley Urban Extension, including sport and leisure facilities, as detailed in paragraph 2.4.1 of the considered report, be endorsed and that officers be authorised to continue to progress the design of the sports and leisure area.

(2)  That approval be given for the Council, acting as landowner, to pursue the allocation of the Bradley Park site for housing through the local plan hearing process, and authorise officers to commission the necessary work to progress it.

(3)  That it be noted that Officers will prepare a procurement strategy to secure a development partner for the site, and that this will be subject to a further Cabinet report that will seek authority for the implementation of the procurement strategy.

To update Cabinet on the results of the consultation with service users and the wider public on potential changes to a number of services affecting children and adults with disabilities and their carers

Ward: All

Officer: Sue Richards, Service Director, Integration Tel: 01484 221000

(1)  That, in relation to the Access Fund, approval be given to Option 5 (invest in specialist outreach support as part of the early help offer), as detailed within the considered report, and that work commence to determine the investment strategy for capacity building in the Access Fund.

(2)  That, in relation to home to school transport for children with special educational needs and/or disability, (i) the current home to school transport policy be updated and separated into two policies and submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet (ii) the post 16 home to school transport policy be reviewed and submitted to a future meeting of Cabinet later this year and (iii) work commence to explore the creation of a separate travel assessment unit as detailed within the considered report.

(3)  That, in relation to social care transport for disabled children, working age adults and older people, approval be given to the implementation of a combination of options 3 and 4, as detailed within paragraph 2.3.1 of the considered report, and that it be ensured that all reasonable means have been explored before offering council funded transport to new service users with eligible social care needs, with the adoption of a phased approach to implementation for existing service users.

(4)  That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Adults) to implement (3) above, and that consideration be given to working towards a full cost recovery model.

(5)  That, in relation to short breaks for disabled children, approval be given to the proposals as detailed in the considered report, therefore continuing overnight short break provision and developing further after-school services and the provision for breaks within the community.

To update Cabinet on the results of the consultation with service users and the wider public on potential changes to a number of services affecting children attending mainstream schools

Ward: All

Officer: David Martin – Head of Service for Capital Delivery and Facilities Management Tel: 01484 221000

(1)  That approval be given to the adoption of Option 3, as detailed in the considered report, in relation to mainstream provision, ie, applying the nearest geographical school, rather than catchment school, when considering applications for boarding cards/bus/train passes, and thereby returning to a statutory only policy.

(2)  That the proposal at (1) above (i) be applied as a minimum to all new applicants for a train/bus pass/boarding card and for applications relating to school transition points or a change of address from September 2019 and (ii) shall only apply to all new boarding card/bus/train pass holders from September 2019.

(3)  That the Service Director (Commercial, Regulatory and Operational Services) be authorised to investigate the possibility of moving from a system of bus/train pass/boarding card provision upfront to a system based on retrospective reimbursement of the cost of a bus/train pass/boarding card bought by parents/carers for their child/children for journeys to and from school, and that, should this prove feasible and deliver savings that outweigh the cost of delivery, be authorised to implement the system from September 2019 onwards.

(4)  That the Service Director (Commercial, Regulatory and Operational Services) be authorised to investigate the feasibility of setting up a cycling scheme that would provide a bicycle, helmet and cycling safety training in lieu of a boarding card/bus/train pass in circumstances where an individual/family decides that this would be the most appropriate provision for their circumstances and be delegated authority to implement the detail of the scheme.

(5)  That the existing Home to School Transport Policy be split into two separate policies whereby one will cover mainstream provision and one will cover SEN provision.

(6)  That a new mainstream transport policy be prepared for consideration in early 2018.  

Ward:

Newsome/Crosland Moor and Netherton

Officer: David Martin – Head of Capital Delivery & Facilities Management Tel: 01484 21000

(1)  That it be noted that a Prior Notification of Demolition application for the demolition of the Clock Tower at Mount Pleasant Primary School has been submitted.

(2)  That approval be given to (i) the allocation of an additional £125k Basic Need Capital Grant funding to the new Mount Pleasant Primary School scheme and (ii) the authorisation of a revised Section 151 letter to be issued if required by the ESFA.

To report to Cabinet changes to planning application fees being proposed by national government and to agree to move to the new nationally set charges once they are introduced by the required legislation

Ward: All

Officer:  Simon Taylor – Head of Strategic Investment Tel: 01484 221000

That approval be given to the implementation of the fee increase, as detailed within the considered report, as soon as is possible following the introduction of the relevant legislation.