Agenda and minutes

Venue: Burnley Town Hall

Contact: Alison McEwan  01282 477259

Items
No. Item

32.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Cllrs Emo and Towneley.

33.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 236 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on xx 2017

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 13th August were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

34.

Right To Speak

To consider questions, statements or petitions from Members of the Public

Minutes:

Debbie Hernon of Charter Walk Shopping Centre addressed the meeting under the Right to Speak policy regarding initiatives to make the shopping centre more accessible and inclusive.

35.

Strategic Plan pdf icon PDF 129 KB

To consider the updated Strategic Plan.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive thanked the Scrutiny Committee for feedback received following discussion of the item at the meeting.

 

Purpose

 

To seek Executive endorsement of the Strategic Plan.

 

Reason for Decision

 

The Strategic Plan sets out a clear vision for the future at a time of challenging budget decisions: one that is evidence based, shared by all units of the Council, and is in tune with the aspirations of local people.

 

Decision

 

That the Executive recommend the Strategic Plan to Full Council for approval.

 

 

 

36.

Community Housing Fund - Woodtop School pdf icon PDF 224 KB

To seek approval to accept a grant award of £200,000 from Homes England to progress residential development of the former Woodtop School; and to authorise the acceptance, draw down and distribution of related grant payments.

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To access Homes England funding to progress residential development of the former Woodtop School site through community engagement.

 

Reason for Decision

 

The Council owned Woodtop School site has been identified for residential development and is a key component of neighbourhood regeneration in South West Burnley. By working in partnership with Calico Homes and the local community we can use inward investment from Homes England to help achieve our objective of utilising the historic grade II listed building to provide modern high-quality homes.

 

The proposed development will make a significant contribution to the ongoing regeneration of the South West Burnley and address the current negative impact that the derelict building has on the wider community.

 

Decision

 

That the Executive:

 

(1)  Approves the grant award of £200,000 from the Homes England Community Housing Fund to progress the Woodtop School housing development.

 

(2)  Authorises the Head of Legal and Democracy to sign the Terms and Conditions Agreement with Homes England to enable acceptance and drawdown of the grant.

 

(3)  Authorises the Head of Housing & Development Control to distribute grant payments in accordance with the terms and conditions of the grant.

 

37.

Disabled Facilities Grant - Social Care Capital Projects pdf icon PDF 216 KB

To seek approval for Disabled Facilities Grant funded capital projects.

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To seek approval to utilise Disabled Facilities Grant on two identified social care capital projects.

 

Reason for Decision

 

(1)          To provide first class facilities and services for disabled residents and visitors to the borough; and

 

(2)          To expand the provision of short break services in Burnley to support individuals with disabilities to receive consistent supportive care which enables them to remain in their current caring situations. 

 

Decision

 

That the Executive:

 

(1)       Approves the use of £56,622 Disabled Facilities Grant to provide a Town Centre Sensory Room and Changing Places Facility for the benefit of disabled residents and visitors to Burnley Town Centre.

 

(2)       Approves the use of £250,148 Disabled Facilities Grant to extend Haddon House in Burnley to provide a short break unit for adults with learning and physical disabilities.

38.

Selective Licensing Fees pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To consider amendments to fees and charges for selective licensing areas.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To seek approval to amend the Fee and Charging Policy for the selective licensing areas.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To consider recent case law on licensing fees and to reflect the reduction in the time taken to process an application for selective licensing when it is made and assessed using the online software; Verso.

 

Decision

 

To amend and approve the new Fee and Charging Policy (Appendix 1) for the selective licensing areas as detailed in paragraph 8 of this report to reflect recent case law and efficiencies made when applications are made online.  The paper application fee, discounts for GLAS and an early application discount remain unchanged.

39.

Council Tax Premium and Policy pdf icon PDF 250 KB

To consider the extension of Council Tax Premium, and the adoption of a Council Tax Premium Policy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To consider the extension of Council Tax Premium and to adopt a Policy to allow it to be applied consistently.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To bring empty homes back into use in line with the Council’s strategic commitment.

 

Decision

 

That the Executive recommends to Full Council:

 

(i)    to adopt the Council Tax Premium Policy

(ii)  to apply the following progression of increased premiums, in addition to those already approved-:

From 1 April 2020

·         Properties empty for a period of more than 5 years – the maximum premium will be 200% - equivalent to a Council Tax charge x 3

From 1 April 2021

·         Properties empty for a period of more than 10 years – the maximum premium will be 300% - equivalent to a Council Tax charge x 4

40.

Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy pdf icon PDF 243 KB

To consider adopting an updated Non-Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief Policy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To consider adopting an updated Non-Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief Policy to allow it to be applied consistently.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To outline the areas of local discretion within business rates and the council’s approach the various awards within Discretionary Rate Relief (DRR).

 

Decision

 

That Full Council be recommended to adopt the updated Non-Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief Policy.

41.

Revenue Budgets 2020-23 - Latest Position and Savings Proposals pdf icon PDF 339 KB

To consider the latest position regarding balancing the Council’s revenue budgets 2020-23, and to outline proposed budget savings.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To update The Executive on the latest position regarding balancing the Council’s 2020/23 revenue budgets; and

To outline proposed savings for recommendation to Full Council.

 

Members were made aware of an additional clause to be considered at Para. 7 of the report and an additional briefing note was circulated regarding potential savings from the Recycling initiative as a supplement to the agenda. 

 

7 x) Given the funding pressures the Council is facing, the above incorporates the removal of the £250k operational savings target. 

 

Reason for Decision

 

To progress the preparation of the Council’s 2020/21 revenue budgets.

 

Decision

 

The Executive recommend that Full Council approve:

 

a)        savings approved at previous Full Council meetings totalling £277k (as at Section 8) to assist in balancing the 2020/21 and 2021/22 revenue budgets – as detailed in Appendix 1

 

b)        further proposed savings totalling £242k to assist in balancing the 2020/21 and 2021/22 revenue budgets – as detailed in Appendix 1

 

 

42.

Exclusion of the Public

To determine during which items, if any, the public are to be excluded from the meeting and to consider the exclusion of the public from the meeting before discussion takes place on the following items of business on the grounds that in view of the nature of the business to be transacted if the public were present there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information within the meaning of Part 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To consider when it may be relevant to exclude the public from the meeting.

 

Reason for Decision

 

Minute number 43 contains exempt information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 

Decision

 

That the public be excluded from the meeting before discussion takes place on the items relating to minute 43 in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, if the public were present, there would be a disclosure to them of exempt information, within the meaning of Paragraph 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

 

The four members of the Council in attendance remained to observe the item subject to the business transacted remaining confidential.

43.

Surrender and Renewal of Lease at 19 Croft Street

To approve terms for the surrender of the existing lease and the grant of a new lease of 19 Croft Street.

Minutes:

Purpose

 

To approve terms for the surrender of the existing lease and the grant of a new lease of 19 Croft Street.

 

Reason for Decision

 

To update the existing arrangements and enable the new Headlessee to undertake improvements to the buildings.

 

Decision

 

That the surrender of the existing lease and grant of a new lease of the Land shown edged red on the plan below, be approved on the outline terms set out in the report, and;

a)    the Head of Property and Finance be authorised to agree detailed terms, and

b)    the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to complete the legal formalities

c)    the Head of Property and Finance be granted delegated authority to agree terms for the surrender of existing leases and the grant of new leases.