Agenda, decisions and minutes

RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL ON 2 FEBRUARY 2023

RECOMMENDATION TO FULL COUNCIL ON 2 FEBRUARY 2023

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommend for approval by Council, the adoption of the Library Strategy 2022 – 2025.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1.    Approves the Barnsley Adult Social Care Local Account for 2021/22; and

2.    Agrees to promote awareness of the Local Account with elected member colleagues and constituents.

RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the provisional education outcomes in the Borough for 2022, together with the limitations of the data and the action to be taken to continually improve education outcomes.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1.    Approves the allocation of £3M to support the Affordable Warmth Programme until March 2026 as outlined in section 3 of the report; and

2.    Approves the proposed definition of households in fuel poverty for Barnsley as outlined in section 2 of the report; and

3.    Approves the proposed eligibility criteria for the Affordable Warmth Programme; and

4.    Approves the additional Free Boiler scheme element of the programme and its eligibility criteria outlined in section 2 of the report; and

5.    Approves the additional Energy Debt Support element of the programme and its eligibility criteria outlined in section 2; and

6.    Approves the launch of a competitive tender process and appointment of the successful contractor(s) to complete the heating and insulation works under the Affordable Warmth Programme with contract award delegated to Executive Director of Growth and Sustainability.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1.    Reviews, challenges, and scrutinises the contents of the Corporate Performance Report in relation to the delivery of the Corporate Plan priorities and outcomes; and

2.    Agrees that the Performance Report is shared with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to inform and support their ongoing work programme.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1.    Notes the financial position for the Council as at Quarter 2 is a projected operational overspend of £12.5M for 22/23; and

2.    As highlighted in Quarter 1, releases resources earmarked as part of the 22/23 budget setting and 21/22 final accounts processes to temporarily address the net pressure; and

3.    Agrees that the action plans requested at Q1 to mitigate overspends in the service areas listed below are finalised and submitted to Cabinet/ Audit and Governance Committee for consideration during Q3:

·       Children in Care [Children’s Services]

·       Assessment & Care Management [Children’s Services]

·       Estates – Commercial Rental Income [Growth & Sustainability]

·       Car Parking Income [Growth & Sustainability]

·       Home to School Transport [Growth & Sustainability]

4.    Notes the current 22/23 forecast of a balanced position on the Housing Revenue Account; and

5.    Approves the write-off of historic bad debts totalling £1.0M as detailed in the report; and

6.    Notes the forecast position on the approved Capital Programme and the ongoing review of the programme; and

7.    Notes the key messages from the Council’s Q2 Treasury Management activities.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1.    Authorises the acceptance of the £2,170,000 funding from the Mayoral Legacy Fund for the development of the Town Centre to Oakwell Route (£2m) and £170,000 to deliver a Pegasus crossing at West Street, Worsbrough; and

2.    Authorises the acceptance of £240,000 funding from CRSTS for the development of the Seam Active Travel Hub to Full Business Case; and

3.    Authorises the acceptance of £167,768 with the potential for a further £41,942 funding from the Capability and Ambition Fund for the development of a pipeline of Active Travel schemes in preparation for the Tranche 4 Active Travel funding announcement; and

4.    Agrees that the Executive Director, Growth and Sustainability be authorised to undertake all necessary steps to ensure continued delivery of the CRSTS/future pipeline programme.

It is likely that the public and press will be excluded from this meeting during consideration of the items so marked because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined by the specific paragraphs of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended, subject to the public interest test.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1.    Recognises that further funding of the Principal Towns programme based on detailed plans for each area will be considered within the principle of “equitable investment for all.” This will be aligned to the planning process, timing of funds and stages of development of proposals; and

2.    Notes the delivery and achievements of Phase 1 and 2 to date whilst acknowledging amendments made to programme delivery and agree that any associated underspend be carried forward; and

3.    Agrees to sign off the action plan for the next stage of the Principal Towns and Local Centres programme; and

4.    Approves the release of up to £6.87m from the existing programme budget to support the delivery of the Local Centres projects and strategic acquisitions, thus enabling progress to be made in delivery of the action plan. These funds will be released subject to Principal Towns Programme Board, S151 Officer endorsement and application of established capital programme governance processes to ensure robust, positive, and affordable outcomes in respect of business case and feasibility study work; and

In approving the release of the funding:

5.    Authorises the Service Director Regeneration & Culture to formally agree terms for the acquiring of the assets detailed in Appendix C by negotiation or use of CPO (Compulsory Purchase Order) powers, subject to further reporting; and

6.    Authorises the Service Director Regeneration & Culture to procure relevant feasibility studies and relevant consultancy to support the action plan. This is to ensure that the Council will achieve Value for Money from the Principal Towns programme and early investments. This will ensure that the Principal Towns work aligns with our Asset Management work and that all assets have future operator and are not dependant on Council operating costs or future subsidy; and

7.    Authorises, post-acquisition, the Service Director Regeneration & Culture to procure associated surveys, contractors, and demolition costs (where required) for the sites, subject to value for money considerations; and

8.    Authorises the Executive Director Core Services to complete the above transactions subject to all necessary planning permissions being obtained.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

1.    Notes the Council’s participation in the Safety Valve Programme and the requirements under the programme; and

2.    Notes the latest position of the DSG Management Plan (a key requirement of the SVP) and particularly the mitigating measures contained in the Action Plan to achieve sustainability over the medium term.