Agenda and decisions

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

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors P Davies, C Scott and W Simpson.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 22 February 2022.

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.

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.

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 an increase in the budget allocated for the new Dementia Day Care centre and the Kirklees Living Well Centre.

Wards Affected: Mirfield

Contact: Saf Bhuta - Head of Care Provision (in House) – Adults Social Care Operations

RESOLVED – That approval be given to increase from £6.3m to £8.21m the total budget required for the project, to be funded from within the Adults Service existing capital programme, to enable the award of the construction contract to the successful tenderer thereby facilitating the delivery of the new facilities.

To consider potential projects to be funded from the 2022/23 Achieve & Aspire Capital Maintenance section of the Capital Plan.

Wards Affected: All

Contact: Emma Griff, Strategic Manager Facilities – Property

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given for the business case detailed at Appendix A of the report which outlined the (i) rationale for the schools’ condition works programme, (ii) the availability of funding, (iii) the selection process, and (iv) the main categories of work, thereby enabling the projects concerned to be designed, procured and implemented.

2)    That approval be given for the detailed list of proposed works in schools for 2022/23, as detailed in Appendix B.

3)    That authority be delegated in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules to the Service Director – Learning and Early Support to manage the implementation of the identified works within the respective agreed total programme budget.

4)    That, pursuant to (3) above, the delegated powers include authority to (i) add new urgent projects to the programme without prior Cabinet approval providing that the total cost of the programme remains within the approved capital allocation set by Council & transfer resources to or from any unallocated resources within a programme area without restriction (ii) slip or delete projects in response to operational need and reallocate budget between projects during the course of the financial year 2022/23 providing that the total cost of the programme remains within the approved capital allocation to enable the effective management of the programme, and (iii) transfer resources between any project or programme area up to a maximum of £2,000,000 in any financial year.

To consider the establishment of a COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund business rates relief scheme.

Wards Affected: All

Officer: Chris Duffill, Head of Business – Economy and Growth

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given for the establishment of the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund, including the proposed eligibility criteria for applicants and the amounts of rate relief to be awarded as detailed in the report.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Growth and Regeneration and the Service Director Finance to implement and monitor the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund scheme.

3)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director Growth and Regeneration and the Service Director Finance, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate, to vary the eligibility criteria for the COVID-19 Additional Relief Fund and to make further changes to the scheme as required.

To consider proposals to provide support for households in 2022/23 in accordance with funding and associated guidance issued by Government.

Wards Affected: All

Contact: Julian Hobson – Senior Manager, Welfare and Exchequer Services

RESOLVED –

1)    That it be noted that the Rebate Fund consists of two cohorts and that the work required to make payment to those paying by Direct Debit would commence immediately after 01 April 2022, taking into account the requirements of the scheme.

2)    That it be noted that those eligible under the Rebate Fund required to make an application should be given the choice to receive payment or credit to their Council Tax account as appropriate.

3)    That where no application has been made by 16th August 2022, the Council Tax account of the liable party should be credited with £150 as a backstop position, allowable within Government guidance.

4)    That the Council would seek to maximise the number of applications from those entitled by establishing a publicity and take up campaign that would target them specifically by whatever means were appropriate including working across services and with partner organisations.

5)    That the Council adopts the Discretionary Fund eligibility criteria as detailed in the report and that implementing and monitoring the Discretionary Fund based on the criteria, be delegated to the Strategic Director for Corporate Strategy, Commissioning & Public Health and the Service Director Finance.

6)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director for Corporate Strategy, Commissioning & Public Health and Service Director Finance, in consultation with the Corporate portfolio-holder, to vary the eligibility criteria for the Discretionary Fund and to make further changes to the scheme as required to achieve the objectives of the Fund within available means.

7)    That it be noted that the Government extended the Household Support Funding support to Councils for 2022/23, and the Council’s anticipated share was £3.702m.

8)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director for Corporate Strategy, Commissioning and Public Health and Service Director for Children’s Services, in consultation with the Corporate portfolio holder, Learning, Aspiration and Communities portfolio holder, and Service Director-Finance; to direct the Council’s newly announced 2022/23 Household Support Fund allocation to appropriate interventions within the range of anticipated eligibility criteria as detailed in the report, through the Local Welfare Provision scheme.

The consider the outcome of the tender evaluation and to appoint the preferred bidder.

Wards affected: All

Contact: Asad Bhatti – Head of Asset Management, Investment and Regeneration

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the appointment of Fortem Solutions Limited for fire safety improvements to low rise residential blocks within Kirklees District.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director Homes and Neighbourhoods to sign off the final contract sum within a tolerance of 5% of the approved tender sum.

To consider the Low Carbon Project Update.

Wards Affected: Liversedge and Gomersal

Contact: James Hinchliffe, General Manager – Development.

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to the appointment of ECD Architects Ltd to provide architectural, planning and development services in designing, costing, and obtaining an implementable Full Planning Permission for low carbon and Passivhaus residential development at the former RM Grylls school site, and which shall be capable of implementation, as described in the tender exercise as detailed in the report and Private Appendix.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Service Director - Legal, Governance and Commissioning in consultation with the Strategic Director Growth and Regeneration, to enter into and execute a contract with ECD Architects Ltd to provide design, cost, and planning services to the council in developing the proposals and securing an implementable planning permission.

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.

RESOLVED – That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of 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

(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 11.

The exempt information was considered prior to the determination of Agenda Item 11.

(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 12.

The exempt information was considered prior to the determination of Agenda Item 12.