Agenda and draft minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

None.

Report of the Democratic Services Manager.

Consideration was given to a report of the Democratic Services Manager, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, detailing the Executive’s draft Forward Plan for the next six month period.

RESOLVED To:

Note the report.

Report of the Assistant Director of Development

The Assistant Director of Development introduced a report which had been circulated  prior to the meeting, to inform Members of the number of HMOs within the Borough and provide a recommendation regarding the suitability of implementing an Article 4 direction to remove permitted development rights in order to introduce a requirement for planning permission to change from a Use Class C3 Dwellinghouse (dwelling) to a Use Class C4 HMO (3-6 unrelated people who share facilities) within any particular ward.

RESOLVED To:

1) Agree that there is currently sufficient evidence to demonstrate that an Article 4 direction is necessary to protect local amenity or the well-being of Chandos Street, Ashwell Street and Beech Avenue within Netherfield Ward and approve the making of the direction that will be referred back to Cabinet for confirmation 12 months after it is made.

2) Note the total number of HMOs within the Borough.

3) Agree that there is currently insufficient evidence to demonstrate that an Article 4 direction or any other measure is necessary to protect local amenity or the well-being of the entirety of any ward or wider area within the Borough.

4) Agree that the overall number of HMOs within the Borough should be monitored.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer

The Principal Finance Business Partner introduced a report which had been circulated prior to the meeting, to determine the level of fees and charges for 2026/27 in accordance with the Corporate Charging Policy.

RESOLVED To:

1) Approve the individual fees and charges as set out in the Fees and Charges schedule 2026/27 appended to the report.

2) Approve the level of any new charges, concessions or discounts to be applied to any new or amended charges be delegated to the relevant Assistant Director in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer

The Principal Finance Business Partner introduced a report which had been circulated prior to the meeting, to inform Members of the performance monitoring of the 2025/26 Prudential Code Indicators, and to advise Members of the Treasury activity as required by the Treasury Management Strategy.

RESOLVED TO:

1) Note the report, together with the Treasury Activity Report 2025/26 for Period 8 at Appendix 1, and the Prudential and Treasury Indicator Monitoring 2025/26 at Appendix 2.

2) Approve the changes to Prudential Indicators detailed at paragraph 2.7 to align with the latest revenue and capital budgets being reported to members as part of the Budget Monitoring and Virement Report for the period April 2025 to November 2025.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer and S151 Officer

The Principal Finance Business Partner introduced a report which had been circulated prior to the meeting, to update Cabinet on the forecast outturn for Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2025/26.

To request approval from Cabinet for the changes to the budget as set out in the report.

RESOLVED TO:

1) Approve the General Fund Budget virements set out in Appendix 1.

2) Approve the re-purposing of Earmarked Reserves as set out in section 2.1.

3) Note the use of reserves during August to November 2025 as detailed in Appendix 2.

4) Approve the removal of £374,000 of total efficiency savings, of which £247,000 relate to 2025-26 as set out in section 2.2.

5) Approve the changes to the Capital programme included in section 2.3.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer

The Deputy Chief Executive and Monitoring Officer circulated a report prior to the meeting to seek approval of the Council’s Social Value Policy approach 2025-27.

RESOLVED To:

1) Approve the Social Value Policy at Appendix 1 of the report.

None.