Agenda and decisions

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Kendrick and Reynolds.

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 14 November 2023.

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on 14 November 2023 be approved as a correct record.

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

No interests were declared.

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.

Cabinet noted the submission of exempt information, as set out at Agenda Item 13.

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.

No deputations or petitions were received.

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 received the following question under Council Procedure Rule 11;

Question from Ken Shaw

“I am the longest serving gym member. I joined Kirklees gyms in 1973 and have gone nearly every week. I am disabled. If I did not go to the gym I would not be able to walk at all. That is why all gyms and sports facilities should be kept open. Who authorised the Stadium closure?”

A response was provided by the Cabinet Member for Finance and Regeneration (Councillor Turner).

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.

Cabinet received oral questions under Executive Procedure Rule 2.3.

To receive the findings of the leisure centre consultation and consider changes to leisure centre provision.

Contact: Adele Poppleton, Culture and Visitor Economy

RESOLVED –

1)    That (i) the findings of the six-week public consultation held between 29 September 2023 and 12 November 2023 (as attached at Appendix 1) (ii) the contents of the Integrated Impact Assessment (iii) the capital investment required for essential repairs and (iv) the proposed funding to KAL of the £2.555M, as set out in the budget book, be noted.

2)    That the further work required to clarify the redundancy and other costs relating to the closure of facilities as identified in this report be noted.

3)    That approval be given to the £2.555M leisure offer for 2024/25, specifically: Batley Sports & Tennis Centre; Bradley Park Golf Club; Colne Valley Leisure Centre; Holmfirth Pool and Fitness Centre; Huddersfield Leisure Centre; Leeds Road Sports Complex; Scissett Baths and Fitness Centre (subject to funding being awarded by Sport England); and Spen Valley Leisure Centre (including Princess Mary Stadium & Running Track).

4)    That approval be given to Dewsbury Sports Centre (DSC), Deighton Sports Arena and Huddersfield Stadium Health & Fitness Club not being part of the leisure offer.

5)    That Officers be authorised to continue discussions regarding the future use of Deighton Sports Arena, in order to enable options to maintain community access to the facility to be explored within the next 12 to 24 months.

6)    That Officers be authorised to develop a future plan for physical activity across Dewsbury, which would contain a range of long term options, and that an assessment be made on the cost and feasibility of creating access to the dry-side facilities at Dewsbury Sports Centre.

7)    That Officers be authorised to continue to work with Kirklees Stadium Development Ltd (KSDL) to try and attract another operator for the Stadium Health and Fitness Club to aid the financial viability of the site.

8)    That approval be given to phase 2 of the Leisure Centre Transformation Programme, to focus on the future vision for sport and physical activity ensuring Kirklees citizens have access to a wide choice of activities.

9)    That a further report be considered in 2024 regarding the property implications of the proposed changes to the leisure offer provision and its impact on individual sites.

To consider a service redesign as part of a phased approach to develop an integrated model of support across Kirklees communities.

Contact: Sarah Mitchell/Mags Rogerson, Communities and Access Services

RESOLVED –

1)    That the overall approach to integrate currently segregated community services from across Community and Access Services be approved.

2)    That approval be given to commence a service change process to reduce management and staffing capacity by the required amounts to achieve integration and savings.

To consider annual rent and service charge increases for 2024/2025.

Contact: Jacqui Fieldhouse, Homes and Neighbourhoods

RESOLVED –

1)    That approval be given to increase rents by an average of £6.10 per week (7.7%) and service charges payable by between 0.08p and £1.52 per week (7.7%) for social housing from 1 April 2024.

2)    That approval be given for charges for Extra Care Services – Intensive Housing Management to increase by between £2.05 and £5.22 (7.7%) and Extra Care Services – Night Care Service to increase by £1.58 per week (7.7%).

3)    That the national and local financial challenges as outlined in the report, in preparation for the HRA budget discussions in January 2024, be noted.

To consider the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Review 2024/2025.

Contact: Julian Hobson, Welfare and Exchequer Services

RESOLVED –

1)    That the Discretionary Reduction Policy be amended so that it no longer excludes any person that does not already receive a reduction under the main reduction scheme, and that it be noted the responsibility in relation to care leavers is to age 25.

2)    That the report be submitted to the Meeting of Council on 13 December 2023 with a recommendation that; (i) the existing Council Tax Reduction scheme be reviewed and that Option 2 to reduce protection for all and implement a 25% scheme be adopted in accordance with the scheme as set out in Appendix 5, and that it take effect from 1 April 2024 (ii) that the administrative easement, as set out at Option 4 be adopted and developed in order to ensue smooth administration (iii) the findings of the statutory consultation exercise, as set out at Appendix 4, be noted and (iv) that the results of the Integrated Impact Assessment be noted.

To resolve 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 12 A of the Act.

RESOLVED - The exempt information was noted.

Exempt information in accordance with Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 namely it contains information relating to the financial and business affairs of a third party. It is considered that disclosure of the information would adversely affect KAL and therefore the public interest in maintaining the exemption, which would protect the rights of an individual or the Council, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information and providing greater openness in the Council’s decision making.

RESOLVED - The exempt information was noted prior to the consideration of Agenda Item 8.