Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was submitted from the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration (Councillor Clare Cleary).

There were no declarations of interest or dispensations.

To approve the Minutes of the last meeting of Cabinet held on 19^th July 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 19^th July 2017 were submitted for approval as a correct record.

Resolved                               -   That the Minutes be received and approved as a correct record.

To receive the Minutes of the following meetings:-

a)         Regeneration and Housing Panel  -  27^th March and 22^nd May 2017

b)         Leader’s Policy Development Board  -  14^th June 2017

The Minutes of the following meetings were submitted:-

a)         Regeneration and Housing Panel  -  27^th March and 22^nd May 2017

b)         Leader’s Policy Development Board  -  14^th June 2017

Resolved                               -   That the Minutes be received and noted.

Report attached.

PART B:  PORTFOLIO ITEMS

A copy of a signed Urgent Cabinet Decision form and accompanying report relating to Risks Associated with the THI and Public Realm Schemes was submitted for information.

Resolved                               -   That the use of the Urgent Cabinet Decision Procedure be noted.

To receive reports from Cabinet Members.

Deputy Leader of the Council (Councillor Paul Cox)

There were no reports.

Report attached.

Portfolio Holder for Education, Leisure and Arts (Councillor Ken Moss)

The Deputy Leader of the Council (Councillor Paul Cox) submitted a report seeking consideration and approval of the 2017/18 Food Service Plan.  The Plan was appended to the report.  Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

1)         The Food Service Plan was reviewed annually to ensure the service could meet demands and set out priorities for the coming year. 

2)         The Plan had been updated and included inspection targets for 2017/18 and a number of Performance Indicators.  It detailed a project that would commence in September 2017 until March 2018 which would target non-compliant premises to improve compliance across the Borough.  The Plan also provided focus to the Food Safety Team, Councillors, Food Business Operators and Consumers.

Alternative Options Considered and Reasons for Rejection

Without a Food Service Plan, the Food Safety Team could not demonstrate the demands of the service against current resources, nor could they meet their statutory requirements which might result in further action by the Food Standards Agency.

Resolved                               -   That the proposed Food Service Plan, as attached to the report, be approved.

Report attached.

PART C:  EXEMPT ITEMS

The Portfolio Holder for Education, Leisure and Arts (Councillor Ken Moss) submitted a report seeking completion of the process for the formal declaration of two significant Local Nature Reserves in Hyndburn.  The Reserves were Peel Park (including land at the Coppice, Arden Hall and Plantation Road) and Woodnook Vale (including land at King George V Playing Fields, some areas of Bullough Park and Rothwell Heights).  Approval of the report was deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

1)         To bring due recognition of the significant habitat, heritage and community value of the spectacular natural greenspaces, as well as rewarding the efforts of those who had contributed to enhancement and positive management over many years.

2)         Transformational improvements in site infrastructure, habitat management and range of community involvement activities had been achieved, particularly in the last five years and ongoing enhancements were intended through a continuing programme of mostly grant funded improvements and activities.

3)         Hyndburn could be rightly proud of its achievements, reflecting the many years of volunteering and effort by local people who loved and enjoyed the natural greenspaces.

4)         The intention to declare new local nature reserves was a long standing aspiration of the Council, as reflected in the Corporate Strategy.

Alternative Options Considered and Reasons for Rejection

The decision could be taken not to declare local nature reserves and simply allow the natural greenspaces to continue to support local recreation and enjoyment of nature without a formal declaration as local nature reserves.  That was not recommended as it would fail to achieve the opportunity of a nationally recognised designation, reflecting the high quality and diversity of the spaces, especially following recent major improvement programmes.  Also, since 2006, the Council had been committed to declaring new local nature reserves, as reflected in the Corporate Strategy.

Resolved                           (1)   That land in the ownership of Hyndburn Borough Council at Peel Park and Woodnook Vale, Accrington be formally declared Local Nature Reserve status, pursuant to Part III, Sections 19 and 21 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act 1949 (as amended);

                                (2)   That the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer be delegated authority, in consultation with the Executive Director (Legal and Democratic Services), for an adjacent area of woodland to be added to the Woodnook Vale Local Nature Reserve at a later date;

                                (3)   That continued joint working with Lancashire County Council be supported to encourage them to bring forward complementary Local Nature Reserve declaration for the greenway and woodland in Lancashire County Council ownership to be included within the Local Nature Reserve boundary for Woodnook Vale; 

                                (4)   That continued joint working with Globe Enterprises Limited be supported, for consideration for Platts Lodge, Accrington to be included in the Local Nature Reserve boundary for Woodnook Vale;

                                (5)   That the Chief Planning and Transportation Officer be delegated authority to complete the declaration processes, including the outcomes of resolutions (2), (3) and (4) above, and to advertise the declarations through public notices and organise celebration activities;

                                (6)   That it be celebrated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 112.

Report attached.

The Portfolio Holder for Resources (Councillor Gareth Molineux) submitted a report on the financial spending of the Council for the Accounting Year 2017/18.  The financial detail of the report was shown as a table at the end of the report.  The spend for the first four months of the financial year was £3,280.924 compared to a Budget for July of £3,346,764 giving a small adverse variance of £65,840.  The current forecast spend to the end of the financial year in March 2018 was £11,062.000 compared to a Budget of £11,197,000.  That forecast produced a positive variance of £134,000.  The main areas of financial pressure were Waste Services, Parks and Cemeteries, Planning and Transportation and Regeneration and Property Services.  Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

To inform Cabinet of the financial spending of the Council at the end of July 2017 and the prediction of the outturn position to the end of the financial year in March 2018.

There were no alternative options for consideration or reasons for rejection.

Resolved                               -   That the report be noted and Corporate Management Team be asked to look to reduce costs and increase income over the remainder of the year to improve the Council’s overall financial position.

Recommended                     -   That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it is likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there will otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraphs of Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the item.

Details of any representations received by the Executive about why the following report should be considered in public  -  none received.

Statement in response to any representations  -  not required.

Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration (Councillor Clare Cleary)

Recommended                     -   That, in accordance with Section 100A(4)  Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during the following item, when it was likely, in view of the nature of the proceedings that there would otherwise be disclosure of exempt information within the Paragraph at Schedule 12A of the Act specified at the item.

(The report will contain exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Paragraph 3  -  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Report attached.

Exempt information under the Local Government Act 1972, Schedule 12A, Paragraph 3  -  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Regeneration (Councillor Clare Cleary) submitted a report seeking approval to the sale of the Council’s freehold reversionary interest in Plot 12B, Metcalf Drive, Altham Industrial Estate.  The site was shown edged red on the plan appended to the report.  Approval of the report was not deemed a key decision.

Reasons for Decision

The reasons for the decision were set out in the exempt report.

Alternative Options Considered and Reasons for Rejection

The alternative options considered and reasons for rejection were set out in the exempt report.

Resolved                               -   That the sale of the Council’s freehold reversionary interest in Plot 12B, Metcalf Drive, Altham Industrial Estate, (as shown red on the plan attached to the report), to Raven Engineering Ltd Pension Fund for £140,000.00 be approved.