Agenda and minutes

To receive any declarations of interest of a pecuniary or non-pecuniary nature from Members in respect of the items on this agenda.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 23 November 2023.

To consider any communications to be submitted by the Mayor or the Chief Executive.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

i)             That Council approves the revisions to the Contract Procedure Rules detailed below for publication on the Council’s website;

ii)            That Council acknowledges that further revisions will be required to the Contract Procedure Rules in 2024 once more information is known about the Procurement Bill (Transforming Public Procurement) and its implementation date.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

i)             To approve the HRA draft budget business plan for 2024/25 & note the MTFS (Medium Term Financial Strategy), with any final amendments being delegated to the Cabinet Spokesperson for Growth & Sustainability and the Executive Director for Growth & Sustainability in consultation with the Cabinet Spokesperson for Core Services, the Director of Finance (S151); and Service Director Regeneration and Culture (Client lead for Berneslai Homes);

ii)            To approve a rent, non-dwelling rent, service charge and District Heating kWh increase of 7.7% in line with the Government’s Rent Cap to maintain decency and to avoid cuts to services in 2024/25 and future years;

iii)           To approve the 2024/25 Berneslai Homes Management Fee totalling £16.674M, plus Gypsy and Traveller Management fee of £0.069M charged to the General Fund. Total £16.743M;

iv)           To approve the Core Housing Capital Investment Programme for 2024/25 totalling £17.939M (Appendix 1);

v)            To approve in principle, the proposed 5-year New Build and Acquisitions Programme £42.861M (up to c200 properties), subject to individual reports as appropriate, in line with the Council’s governance arrangements (Appendix 2);

vi)           To approve a one year only £4.9M priority adjustment from Capital BHS to responsive Revenue Repairs to fund current demand whilst maintaining decency standards.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:- That the outcome of the public consultation exercise be noted and the adoption of the Housing Strategy 2024-28, which has been updated following public consultation, be approved.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:-

i)              That the council designates the polling districts and places listed in Appendix 1 for all Parliamentary and Local elections;

ii)            That the council empowers the Returning Officer to make any enforced changes to this schedule as required if buildings become unavailable in consultation with the elected members for the affected ward until the next statutory review.

To consider the appointments to the following Council Committees:-

Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Proposed – Ms Elizabeth Iles as Coopeted Parent Governor Representative for a two year term.

To consider the appointments to the following outside bodies:-

Barnsley cancer prevention and early detection group

Proposed – Councillor Burnett

Shaw Lands Trust

Proposed – Councillor Pickering for a three year term.

To receive a report of the Interim Head of Governance and Elections which seeks Full Council’s approval for a number of amendments to the Constitution, specifically related to Berneslai Homes.

To consider the following questions which may have been received from Elected Members and which are asked pursuant to Standing Order No. 11:-

1)    Councillor P Wright

A recent Freedom of Information request revealed that in the 4 months ended November 2023 there were 1,781 incidents of fly tipping across the Borough. Can the Cabinet member please tell me what the annual cost is for dealing with this scourge on our town?

2)    Councillor Christmas

There have been a series of accidents at the junction of Keresforth Road and Stainborough Road. This is the same location where a lady was knocked down suffering life changing injuries. Will the cabinet member be willing to explore all available options to stop cars parking on the blind bend, which is causing motorists to use the opposite side of the road to navigate the bend, leading them into oncoming traffic?

3)    Councillor Denton

The ‘South Yorkshire Bus Promise’ sets out what bus users in Barnsley should expect of the public bus service and what actions should be taken if standards are not met. It was developed by the SYMCA Enhanced Partnership Forum and was approved by the Enhanced Partnership Board in May 2023 with an agreement to publish on the ‘Travel South Yorkshire’ Website within 6 weeks. This still has not happened. Is the Cabinet Member familiar with this document and supportive of its content?

4)    Councillor C Wray

Could the cabinet member please update on progress regarding the Park & Ride Scheme for Barnsley Hospital following the promise in summer 2022 for a feasibility study to be carried out?

5)    Councillor Christmas

The new footbridge over the railway line between Penny Pie Park and Pogmoor Rec has been installed with lighting. However, the paths through Pogmoor Rec and Penny Pie Park have no lighting whatsoever. Residents continue to complain that the area feels unsafe to walk through after dark, particularly the elderly and women, meaning some residents choose to walk the long way around to get from Pogmoor Rd to Broadway. Can the cabinet member confirm if the council has any plans to install and improve lighting in Penny Pie Park and Pogmoor Rec to ensure it meets its commitment to make the parks accessible for all?

6)    Councillor Christmas

Does the cabinet member feel it is acceptable that run off water from the council owned green space on Saville Road, Gilroyd, continues to flood a resident’s garden, rendering the back garden and back door inaccessible, while also causing significant damp and mould within the property?