Agenda and minutes

Members will disclose any pecuniary and any other significant interests they may have in relation to the matters to be considered at this meeting.

None.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the previous meeting of Cabinet.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting of 7 September 2022 were approved as a correct record.

To receive and respond to any questions from members of the public.

Public questions for Cabinet may be submitted at any time by writing to Democratic Services or via email democratic.services@wyre.gov.uk. Public questions for this meeting must be received by noon on the Thursday before the meeting is held and do not need to specifically relate to items on this agenda. Questioners should provide their name and address and indicate to which Cabinet member the question is to be directed.

The total period of time allocated for public questions will not normally exceed 30 minutes.

None

Report of the Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Communities.

The Neighbourhood Services and Community Safety Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Communities submitted a report asking Cabinet to agree to implement the enforcement powers contained in The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 including the use of civil penalty notices under the Housing and Planning Act 2016.

Decisions

Cabinet agreed

·         to adopt and implement the regulations in order to allow the council to carry out its statutory function in relation to electrical safety standards in the private rented sector and that the Housing and Planning Act Enforcement Powers Policy be updated to incorporate the regulations.

·         to adopt the same process of issuing and determining levels of civil penalties for the offences in the regulations, in line with the Housing and Planning Act Enforcement Powers Policy adopted by the council in 2020.

·         to delegate to the Head of Housing and Community Services all powers to issue, use and enforce the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020.

·         that the monies received from civil penalties, issued under The Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020, be ring-fenced and used to support private rented sector enforcement activities

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Resources.

The Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report asking Cabinet to agree the draft Localised Council Tax Support (LCTS) Scheme prior to commencing consultation.

Decision

Cabinet agreed that the draft changes to the scheme be agreed and subject to a six week consultation period prior to a further report being submitted to Council outlining the results of the consultation exercise and seeking confirmation of the final scheme.

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Resources.

The Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report asking Cabinet to consider the review of the 2022/23 Capital Programme and progress of schemes for the five month period covering the period from April 2022 to 31 August 2022, undertaken by spending officers. Noting amendments to the Capital Programme since it was last reported to Cabinet and the financial impact over the term of the Programme, through to the end of 2026/27.

Decisions

1.    Cabinet agreed that the 2022/23 Capital Programme, and its funding, totalling £14,922,641 be approved, noting the following specific amendments:

Additional external funding received:

• Additional £75,000 funding from Regenda Housing Association, which will enable increased expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grants in 2022/23.

Multi-year scheme re-profiling:

• Wyre Beach Management – following project delays, the expenditure for the scheme has been re-profiled. There has been no change to the overall allocation of £42,566,934 from the Environment Agency. Delays have led to a reduction in expenditure in 2022/23 amounting to £3,324,754, which will now move to future years.

• Innovative Resilience Fund ECO-CoBS project - additional expenditure of £422,000 in 2022/23, as part of the full project spend of £6,830,000, with funding received from the Environment Agency and DEFRA. The total project expenditure, completing in 2026/27, is based on initial scheme allocations and may be subject to change

Portfolio Holder approval:

• £1,102,829 expenditure on heat decarbonisation works and energy efficiency measures at Fleetwood Market, funding from the Department for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) via the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme and Capital Receipts (Portfolio Holder decision 02/03/22).

• £53,340 expenditure on Copse Road Depot VMU Roller Shutter doors to be funded from Capital Receipts (Portfolio Holder decision 31/03/22).

• £65,304 expenditure on Changing Places facilities at Central Car Park at Fleetwood, funding from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, contribution from Fleetwood Town Council and Capital Receipts (Portfolio Holder decision 26/05/22).

• £23,118 expenditure on Thornton-Cleveleys Duck Pond Shelter, funded from the Insurance Reserve and a £6,156 contribution from our insurers. (Portfolio Holder decision 18/08/22).

2.    Cabinet approved the Capital Programme over the term through to the end of 2026/27 totalling £67,384,731.

3.    Cabinet noted the progress of, and expenditure incurred on, capital schemes for the first five months of the 2022/23 financial year.

Report of the Resources Portfolio Holder and Corporate Director Resources.

The Resources Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Director Resources (Section 151 Officer) submitted a report asking Cabinet to consider the council’s Medium Term Financial Plan for the financial years 2022/23 to 2026/27.

Decisions

Cabinet

·         considered the Medium Term Financial Plan for the financial years 2022/23 to 2026/27and the consequential action required in order to address the issues resulting from the five year Financial Forecast (current year plus four years);

·         noted the revised expenditure projections incorporating the slippage from 2021/22, and the resulting impact on the level of the council’s Reserves and Balances at 31 March 2022

·         agreed the top-up and use of all Reserves and Balances as indicated in Appendix 3 to the Medium Term Financial Plan.

Cabinet thanked Clare James and her team for the report and for the presentation provided.