Agenda and draft minutes

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

It was moved by Councillor Williams, seconded by Councillor Sutton and

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2024                    be confirmed as a correct record.

There were no interests declared at this meeting.

To provide members with the 2023/24 end of year summary for Performance Indicators, Service Improvement Plans, Corporate risks and Service area risks

Members were provided with the end of year summary for 2023/24 for performance indicators, service improvement plans, corporate risks and service area risks.

Members noted the 2023/24 end of year status and reviewed the corporate and service area red risks that posed a higher level threat to the council’s objectives and priorities.

In response to questions from members, officers confirmed that there was a full review being carried out for all targets as some targets were not capturing some of the regulatory changes, and these would be updated for the next financial year to reflect current practice.

In response to a question from members around the under performance of the housing stock, it was confirmed that it was taking longer for voids work to be completed due to the complexity of the voids and targets were due to be reviewed for housing stock/repairs as some of the targets and performance indicators were not reflecting the changes. Members asked for additional information around these targets to be provided at the next meeting including the number of voids and suggested this may be a matter for the Housing working group to look at.

In response to questions from members about the conditions of the ground at the crematorium, officers confirmed that:

-       The costs of continuing with a council owned and operate option was not viable due to increasing costs of construction and risk on the financial viability of the project. Therefore a partner was being sought and a report would be presented to members on the future of the crematorium site if a prospective partner came forward.

-       The history of the site conditions and issues involved had been communicated to members on prior occasions.

-       The current ground conditions on the site were now considered suitable for construction on the site.

-       A consultant with considerable experience in this area was now working with the council to put together options to find and attract a potential partner.

-       Should a commercial partner be appointed, the site would be a crematorium operated by a commercial operator in partnership with the council.

-       If the decision was made to sell the land a formal valuation would be needed to confirm any potential sale price. A value in the range  £1,250,000 - £1,500,000 maybe possible but this would need to be confirmed to members should such a disposal be agreed.

Members also requested that additional information be provided at the next meeting to support the number of fly tipping incidents being reported and enforcement actions taken. Members felt this area would be a candidate for a smarter target when next reviewed.

Members noted the report.

To inform members of business rates performance from 1 April 2023 – 31 March 2024.

Members were informed of the business rates and pooling performance from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

Members noted the report.

To inform members of the draft financial outturn for 2023/24

Members were updated on the financial outturn for 2023/24.

In response to a question from members around the Housing Repairs Account (HRA) debt write offs in relation to deceased debtors, officers reported that the amounts owed would be recovered from the estate of the deceased where possible, but this was sometimes not successful as there were no contacts available for who was managing the estate. This led to no response to letters that could not be followed up any further.

Members approved the recommendations in the report.

To inform members of the forthcoming work programme

Members were updated on the future of the work programme.

Members noted the report.