Agenda and decisions

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

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 21 January 2025.

Members will be asked to say if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have any disclosable pecuniary interests or any other interests, which may prevent them from participating in any discussion of the items or participating in any vote upon the items.

Most agenda items will be considered in public session, however, it shall be advised whether the 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/or 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 submit a petition at the meeting relating to a matter on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, Members of the Public must submit a deputation in writing, at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting and shall subsequently be notified if the deputation shall be heard. A maximum of four deputations shall be heard at any one meeting.

To receive any public questions.

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

Any questions must be submitted in writing at least three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

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 report.

Contact: Saf Bhuta, In-House Provision

RESOLVED –

1)    That the outcome and recommendations of the Health and Adult Social Care Scrutiny Panel in respect of the future of Council operated dementia care home provision be noted.

2)    That the detailed financial analysis as at appendix 3 of the considered report in relation to:

(i)            the 5-year summary of actual direct and net direct costs of operating these care homes under Council control,

(ii)          historical and future comparisons of budgeted and actual direct costs (deficit) of operating the care homes,

(iii)         historical and future comparisons of budgeted and actual income for both care homes,

(iv)         historical and future comparisons of budgeted and actual net costs (deficit) and the real term potential saving to the Council for 2025/26, be noted.

3)    To re-affirm the decision made by cabinet at its meeting on 10 December 2024 to progress with the sale and business transfer of Castle Grange and Claremont House as going concerns.

4)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Adults and Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, the Service Director - Finance, and the Service Director – Legal, Governance & Commissioning, to select and finalise negotiations and agree the terms of the freehold transfers and Business Transfer Agreement with a preferred bidder.

5)    That pursuant to (4) authority be delegated to the Service Director -Legal, Governance and Commissioning to execute and enter into all necessary documentation to effect the transfer of the care homes as going concerns.

To consider the Council Plan, prior to submisson to Council.

Contact: Stephen Bonnell, Partnerships, Policy and Corporate Planning

RESOLVED –

1)    That the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, as outlined at section 5 of the considered report, be noted.

2)    That the results of the public engagement as detailed at appendix L of the 2025/26 Budget Report be noted.

3)    That the 2025/26 Council Plan be submitted to the meeting of Council on 5 March 2025 with a recommendation to adopt.

To consider the report, prior to submisison to Council.

Contact: Kevin Mulvaney, Finance

RESOLVED -

1)    That the comments of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee, as outlined at section 5 of the considered report, be noted.

2)    That the Motion be submitted to the Meeting of Council on 5 March 2025 with a recommendation that;

(i)            General Fund Revenue

-       the Revenue Budget for 2025-2026, to deliver a balanced position, as attached at Appendix F, be approved

-       the forecast spending and funding plans for the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 period, as set out at Appendix A, be noted.

-       the forecast levels of statutory and other council reserves, as set out at Appendix C, be noted

-       the strategy for the use of balances and reserves (paragraph 2.18 refers) be approved

-       that the Council’s flexible capital receipts policy for 20252-2026, as set out at paragraph 2.25/Appendix G, be approved.

-       the Council tax requirement for 2025/2026, as set out at Appendix M, be approved.

-       the Council’s Statutory 151 Officer’s positive assurance statement as to the robustness of the forecasts and estimates and adequacy of financial reserves, as set out at paragraph 2.23, be noted.

-       authority be delegated to the Council’s statutory s151 Officer to amend how the finally approved precepts are recorded in the Council’s revenue budget in line with the final notifications received following decisions by the West Yorkshire Mayor Police and Crime Commissioner, the Fire and Rescue Authority and the Parish Councils, should these be received after 5 March 2025 (paragraph 3.1.3 refers)

(ii)          Treasury Management

-       the borrowing strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.16 to 2.29 refer)  

-       the investment strategy be approved (paragraphs 2.30 to 2.38 and Appendices A and B refer)

-       the policy for provision of repayment of debt (minimum revenue provision) be approved (paragraphs 2.39 to 2.40, Appendix C refers)

-       the treasury management prudential indicators be approved (Appendix D refers)

-       the investment strategy (non-treasury investments) be approved (Appendix F refers)

(iii)         Capital

-       the updated Capital Plan 2024-2032 be approved (Appendix F refers)

-       the Capital Strategy (including prudential indicators) be approved (Appendix I refers)

(iv)         Housing Revenue Account

-       the draft Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2025-2026 be approved (Appendix K refers)

-       the strategy for the use of the Housing Revenue Account reserves be approved (Appendix K refers)

To consider the report.

Contact: Matthew Garbutt, Assets and Estates

(Exempt information is detailed in an appendix to the attached report. Consideration must be given to whether the public and press should be excluded from the meeting prior to the determination of the matter to enable the exempt information to be discussed by passing the following resolution: -

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 –

1)    That the strategic leasehold acquisition of the temporary accommodation as considered in the Private Appendix and on the terms contained in the Private Appendix, be approved.

2)    That authority be delegated to the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the Service Director – Legal, Governance and Commissioning, the Section 151 Officer and the Portfolio Holder, to negotiate future leasehold property arrangements to increase the Councils stock of temporary accommodation that can be used for homeless households and reduce the Councils net spend on temporary accommodation.

3)    That pursuant to (1) and (2), authority be delegated to the Service Director – Legal, Governance and Commissioning to enter into all agreements necessary to effect the arrangements.

To consider the report.

Contact: Martin Wilby/Sharon Oldfield, Education Places and Access

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given Kirklees co-ordinated admission schemes for 2026/27 including in-year admissions, as set out in Appendix 2.

2)    That approval be given to the admission arrangements for Kirklees community and voluntary controlled schools as detailed in Appendix 1C.

3)    That approval be given for the Published Admission Numbers (PAN) for each community and voluntary controlled school set out in appendix 1D of the considered report which include:

(i)            Crossley Fields J & I School – PAN decrease from 89 to 60 in 2026/27.

(ii)          Hyrstmount Junior School – PAN decrease from 90 to 60 in 2026/27.

(iii)          Linthwaite Clough J I & EY School – PAN decrease from 45 to 30 in 2026/27.

(iv)         Netherhall Learning Campus Junior School – PAN decrease from 75 to 55 in 2026/27.

(v)          Pentland I & N School – PAN decrease from 49 to 30 in 2026/27.

(vi)         Staincliffe CE (VC) Junior School – PAN decrease from 90 to 60 in 2026/27.

(vii)        Honley C of E (VC) J I & N School – PAN decrease from 66 to 60 and removal of historic mismatch between KS1 and KS2 places in 2026/27

To consider the report.

Contact: Rory Davis/Lucie Wade, Transport Strategy and Policy

RESOLVED –

1)    That the draft Kirklees Transport Strategy, as at Appendix 1 of the considered report, be approved.

2)    That authority be given to commence public consultation for a period of eight weeks from 3 March 2025.

3)    That authority be given to commission a report detailing the outcome of the public consultation for further consideration at a future meeting of Cabinet.