Agenda and decisions

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

Cabinet Members will be asked to advise if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion or participating in a vote upon the item, or any other interests.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 12 October 21.

Most agenda items will be considered in public session, however, it shall be advised whether Cabinet will consider any matters in private, by virtue of the reports containing information which falls within a category of exempt information as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

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.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11(5), the period allowed for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Cabinet will receive any questions from Elected Members.

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

To consider the outcome of an independent review of safety and compliance.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Asad Bhatti – Head of Building Safety

1)    That the review and its findings be noted.

2)    That approval be given to the direction of the improvement plan.

3)    That the progress with delivery of remedial actions be noted.

To consider varying the Council’s Tenancy Agreement to replace the monthly payment (debit) period with a weekly one.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Lisa Ramsden – Service Manager, Neighbourhood Operations, Housing Management

1)    That approval be given to change the existing Tenancy Agreement from a monthly to weekly debit period.

2)    That approval be subject to a period of consultation with tenants.

3)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director of Homes & Neighbourhoods to consider the feedback from the consultation and to decide and apply any amendment to the Tenancy Agreement by means of serving Notice of Variation of Tenancy.

To consider the annual setting of rent and service charge increases for 2022-23.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Jacqui Fieldhouse – Head of Finance, Homes and Neighbourhoods

1)    That approval be given to increase rents by an average of £2.91 per week (4.1%) and service charges payable between 0.02p and 0.84p per week (4.1%) for social housing from 4 April 2022.

2)    That approval be given to increase charges for Extra Care Services – Intensive Housing Management by between 0.98p and £2.50 (4.1% - CPI + 1%) and Extra Care Services – Night care Service by £1.19 per week (6.6%).

3)    That the national and local financial challenges for the Housing Revenue Account budget discussions in January 2022 be noted.

To consider schools projects to be funded from the 2021/22 to 2025/26 Achieve and Aspire Strategic Priorities and Baseline Need funding sections of the Council’s Capital Plan.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Martin Wilby – Head of Service for Education, Places and Access

1)    That approval be given for the secondary school places capital allocation of £2.7M for the implementation of building work at Manor Croft Academy to enable the permanent provision of 150 additional secondary school places and an interim modular build solution for September 2022.

2)    That approval be given for the secondary school places capital allocation of £600K for the building work at Thornhill Community Academy to support an agreed bulge of pupils.

3)    That the basic need capital investment of £104K agreed under delegated authority from Cabinet on 13 April 2021 for Westborough High School to support additional pupils as part of agreed bulges of pupils be noted.

4)    That the basic need capital investment of £250K agreed under delegated authority from Cabinet on 13 April 2021 for North Huddersfield Trust School for building works required to support agreed bulges of pupils be noted.

5)    That approval be given for the basic need allocation of £215K for reinstatement and remodelling works at Reinwood Infants and Reinwood Juniors, to be funded from the 2021/22 £604K Basic Need funding programme.

6)    That approval be given for the capital allocation of £650K from the Capital Maintenance grant for a permanent new build replacement of a failed temporary classroom at Headlands CE (VC) J I & N School.

7)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director for Development and the Service Director for Learning and Early Support to increase or decrease the budget allocations to the schemes to facilitate the delivery of the tendered schemes providing that the total resources allocated to the programme areas is not exceeded.

8)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director for Development and the Service Director for Learning and Early Support to identify, develop, and implement capital projects using the £500K allocation in Financial Year 2022/23, with approved schemes being retrospectively reported to Cabinet.

To consider the White Rose Forest – Northern Forest and Urban Tree Challenge funding agreements.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Guy Thompson - Programme Director White Rose Forest

1)    That approval be given for the Council as the accountable body for the White Rose Forest to enter into a grant agreement with the Community Forest Trust for funding from the Nature for Climate - Northern Forest fund.

2)    That approval be given to enter into a grant agreement with the Forestry Commission for funding from the Urban Tree Challenge programme.

3)    That approval be given to receive capital and revenue funding from the ‘Nature for Climate Fund’ – Northern Forest fund and the Urban Tree Challenge Fund, both as the accountable body for the White Rose Forest and the Northern Forest Urban Tree Challenge Fund and as a grant recipient.

4)    That approval be given to enter into both capital and revenue grant agreements (in the Council’s capacity as accountable body) with the other parties to the White Rose Forest Project and the Northern Forest Urban Tree Challenge Fund (from time to time).

5)    That approval be given to enter into grant agreements (in the Council’s capacity as accountable body) with third party landowners who are not party to the White Rose Forest Project joint venture agreement.

6)    That approval be given to use the grant funding to recruit and, or procure the resources required to deliver the programme over multiple years.

7)    That approval be given to pursue and secure further funding including match-funding opportunities to support the creation of the Northern Forest.

To consider the Community Asset Transfer of Dunromin, 20a Ravens Lodge Terrace, Scout Hill, Dewsbury to the 20:20 Foundation.

Wards affected: Dewsbury West

Contact: Giles Chappell – Asset Strategy Officer

1)    That authority be delegated to the Director of Development to negotiate and agree terms for the grant of a 125 year lease of Dunromin, 20a Ravens Lodge Terrace, Scout Hill, Dewsbury, WF13 3EF, being the land and buildings shown edged red on Plan reference 17-0266 and enter into a deed of surrender for the existing lease to the Scout Hill Action Group.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director - Legal, Governance and Commissioning to enter into and execute all necessary documentation in connection with the grant of a 125 year lease of Dunromin, 20a Ravens Lodge Terrace, Dewsbury to 20:20 Foundation and the surrender of the current lease to Scout Hill Action Group and enter into a Polling Station Agreement.

To consider the Community Asset Transfer of Netherton Moor Community Centre to Netherton Community Centre Community Interest Company.

Wards affected: Crossland Moor and Netherton

Contact: Mark Varley – Asset Strategy Officer

1)    That authority be delegated to the Director of Development to negotiate and agree terms for the grant of a 125 year lease of Netherton Community Centre, Rowan Avenue Mews, Netherton, Huddersfield, HD4 7WH.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director - Legal, Governance and Commissioning to enter into and execute all necessary documentation in connection with the grant of a 125 year lease of Netherton Community Centre to Netherton Community Centre Community Interest Company.

To receive the Half Yearly Monitoring report on Treasury Management activities 2021-22.

Wards affected: all wards

Officer: James Anderson – Head of Accountancy Service

That the half-year treasury management performance in 2021/22 be noted.

To consider the Council’s Inclusion and Diversity (I&D) Strategy 2021-23, and to note the I&D 2020-21 Annual Report.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: David Bundy – Corporate Policy Officer, Policy, Partnerships and Corporate Planning.

1)    That the Inclusion and Diversity Strategy 2021-23 and the priority areas be referred to Council with a recommendation of approval.

2)    That the Inclusion and Diversity Annual Report 2020-21, and progress made on Inclusion and Diversity, be noted and referred to Council for information.

To consider using funding from the NHS to support the adult social care sector.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Richard Parry – Strategic Director for Adults and Health

1)    That approval be given to use the available NHS funding to bring forward the benefits of the uplift in the National Living Wage due on the 1 April 2022 for the lowest paid care workers in domiciliary, residential, and nursing care homes for adult across Kirklees to ensure all staff are receiving at least the 2022 National Living wage rate from 1 December 2021 at the latest.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Director of Adults and Health, in consultation with the Section 151 officer and the Cabinet member for Adults and Health, to design an appropriate approach to utilising short-term funding to support the adult social care sector over this Winter.

To consider the Transport Services Capital Investment Vehicle Replacement Programme (VRP); 21/22 - 25/26.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Nick Clegg-Brearton – Fleet and Transport Manager

1)    That approval be given to the existing capital plan allocation of £6.25m for 21/22 to 25/26 to facilitate a Vehicle Replacement Programme. This includes a potential drawdown of future years funding to meet commitments.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director Highways and Streetscene to manage the implementation of the VRP including any unforeseen issues that require urgent fleet replacements.

To consider the key outcomes and recommendations of the Outline Business Case for the procurement of a new Waste Management Contract.

Wards affected: all wards

Contact: Nigel Hancock – Programme Manager

1)    That approval be given to re-procure the Energy from Waste at contract end in 2023

2)  That approval be given to the following recommendations in respect of the outline business case:

(a)To proceed to a pre-procurement phase in line with Option 3 as set out in the report.

(b)That HWRCs and closed landfills are delivered in-house, subject to further detailed consideration in advance of procurement.

(c) That the procurement route is through the Competitive Dialogue (CD) process.

(d)That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director for Environment & Climate Change, and Service Directors for Legal, Governance and Commissioning and Finance to commence procurement in Autumn/Winter 2022.

(e)That oversight be provided by a Project Board and a new Member Reference Group.

(f)  That an update to be provided to Scrutiny and Cabinet in Autumn 2022.

(g)That a full business case be presented to Cabinet in the Spring of 2024 requesting approval to appoint a preferred bidder.

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.

(Exempt information relating to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely that 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 outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness in the Council’s decision making).

To receive exempt information in relation to Agenda Item 18

(Exempt information relating to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely that 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 outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness in the Council’s decision making).

To receive exempt information in relation to Agenda Item 19

(Exempt information relating to Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, namely that 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 outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness in the Council’s decision making).

To receive exempt information in relation to Agenda Item 8