Agenda and minutes

Venue: Burnley Town Hall

Contact: Eric Dickinson/Alison McEwan  Democracy Officers

Items
No. Item

24.

Apologies

To receive any apologies for absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gordon Birtwistle and Councillor Margaret Lishman.

25.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 229 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 August 2019

Minutes:

The Minutes of the last meeting held on the 2nd July 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

26.

Minutes of Individual Executive Member Decisions

To note that the following Individual Executive Member Decisions have been taken;

 

Minute 1- Civica Financials and Pay Upgrades (on 28th June 2019)

Minute 2- Florence Avenue (on 16th July 2019)

Minutes:

The Minutes of the following Individual Executive Member Decisions were noted;

 

Minute 1- Civica Financials and Pay Upgrades (28th June 2019)

Minute 2- Florence Avenue (16th July 2019)

27.

Empty Homes Programme pdf icon PDF 158 KB

To seek approval to make several Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for long term vacant properties in the private sector, and to dispose of the properties in accordance with the Council’s Disposal of Empty Dwellings Policy and scheme of delegation or to Calico Homes as appropriate.

 

Minutes:

Purpose

To seek approval to make several Compulsory Purchase Orders (CPOs) for long term vacant properties in the private sector.

 

To dispose of the properties in accordance with the Council’s Disposal of Empty Dwellings Policy and scheme of delegation or to Calico Homes as appropriate.

 

Reason for Decision

The owners of these properties have been contacted and have either not responded at all or have given no reasonable proposals for renovating the property or bringing it back into housing use. 

 

These properties are long term vacant properties, being empty, in one case, for over 9 years. Without intervention by the Council through acquisition by agreement or CPO the properties may remain vacant, continue to deteriorate, attract anti-social behaviour, fly-tipping and arson, all of which cause fear in local residents, resulting in a declining neighbourhood.

 

Through the Vacant Property Initiative and Empty Homes Programme over 130 properties have been acquired, refurbished and re-sold or re let, bringing those properties back into use and providing high quality accommodation.

 

Decision.

(1)   That the Head of Housing and Development Control in consultation with the Executive Member approve in pursuance of the powers obtained under Section 17 of the Housing Act 1985 (as amended) to make the following compulsory purchase orders for the purpose of renovation and/or re-sale by the most appropriate method:

 

            The Burnley (23 Bar Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (35 Barden Lane) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (5 Hollingreave Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

            

            The Burnley (11 Wilton Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (41 Spencer Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (43 Spencer Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (3 Randall Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

 

            The Burnley (4 Randall Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (6 Randall Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

 

            The Burnley (18 Randall Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

                             

            The Burnley (24 Smalley Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (33 Bivel Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

           

            The Burnley (142 Healey Wood Road) Compulsory Purchase Order    2019

 

            The Burnley (19 Elmwood Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

 

            The Burnley (150 Oxford Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

 

            The Burnley (22 Pendle Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

 

            The Burnley (48 Parkinson Street) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

 

            The Burnley (100 Springfield Road) Compulsory Purchase Order 2019

 

(2)  That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to agree terms for the acquisition of the properties, to acquire the properties in this report by agreement as an alternative to compulsory purchase in accordance with the terms of delegation;

 

(3)  That the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to make minor amendments, modifications or deletions to the CPO schedule of interests and map, should this be necessary, and to finalise the making and submission of the CPO, including promoting the Council’s case at public inquiry, if necessary;

 

(4)  That subject to confirmation by the Secretary of State that the Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to secure full title to and possession  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

28.

Safeguarding and Early Help Policy-Adults and Children pdf icon PDF 126 KB

To seek executive approval of the updated safeguarding and early help policy.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose

To seek executive approval of the updated safeguarding and early help policy.

 

Reason for decision

The council has a duty to protect the welfare, safety and health of the borough’s vulnerable adults, children and young people. This policy sets out the council’s approach to safeguarding against domestic abuse, exploitation, radicalisation, forced marriage, trafficking and modern slavery.

 

The policy was last reviewed in 2016. It has been updated following changes in personnel and to further clarify responsibilities and procedures.

 

Decision

That the updated safeguarding and early help policy policy be approved.

29.

Revenue Monitoring Q1 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 598 KB

To report the forecast outturn position for the year as at 31 March 2020 based upon actual spending and income to 30 June 2019.

 

This report introduces a new format of presenting the net budget forecast and the achievement of the savings targets.  Last year’s 2018/19 in-year budget monitoring reports showed an assumed year-end break-even position from the beginning of the year based on the assumptions that savings would be identified due to the number of vacant posts and in year-savings predicted. This new report format adopts a different approach and shows the current forecast outturn position based upon the forecast savings identified within the current reporting period. As in previous years, it is expected that as the year progresses, further in-year savings will be identified and reported at each quarter, reducing the forecast overspend position. However, as overall budgets reduce, it is inevitable that it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve and identify further savings.  The current in-year savings target of £400k will be reviewed going forward in light of the reduction in budgets.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose

To report the forecast outturn position for the year as at 31 March 2020 based upon actual spending and income to 30 June 2019.

 

This report introduces a new format of presenting the net budget forecast and the achievement of the savings targets.  Last year’s 2018/19 in-year budget monitoring reports showed an assumed year-end break-even position from the beginning of the year based on the assumptions that savings would be identified due to the number of vacant posts and in year-savings predicted. This new report format adopts a different approach and shows the current forecast outturn position based upon the forecast savings identified within the current reporting period. As in previous years, it is expected that as the year progresses, further in-year savings will be identified and reported at each quarter, reducing the forecast overspend position. However, as overall budgets reduce, it is inevitable that it is becoming increasingly difficult to achieve and identify further savings.  The current in-year savings target of £400k will be reviewed going forward in light of the reduction in budgets.

 

Reason for decision

To give consideration to the level of revenue spending and income in 2019/20 as part of the effective governance of the Council and to ensure that appropriate management action is taken to ensure a balanced financial position.

 

Decision

(1)  That the projected revenue budget forecast position of an overspend of £248k be noted, as summarised in table 1 and detailed in Appendix 1.  Also that the position as at the end of the quarter be noted on the achievement of salary and non-salary savings targets and the balances yet to be found, as can be seen in Table 2;

 

(2)   That Full Council be recommended to approve the latest revised net budget of £15.815m as shown in Table 1; and

 

(3)  That Full Council be recommended to approve the net transfers to earmarked reserves of £1.385m as shown in Appendix 2.

30.

Capital Monitoring Q1 2019-20 pdf icon PDF 135 KB

To provide Members with an update on capital expenditure and the resources position along with highlighting any variances.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Purpose

To provide Members with an update on capital expenditure and the resources position along with highlighting any variances.

 

Reason for decision

To effectively manage the 2019/20 capital programme.

 

Decision

(1)  That Full Council be recommended to approve net budget changes totalling a decrease of £1,053,740 giving a revised capital budget for 2019/20 totalling £20,291,201 as detailed in Appendix 1;

 

(2)  That Full Council be recommended to approve the proposed financing of the revised capital budget totalling £20,291,201 as shown in Appendix 2;

 

(3)  That the latest estimated year end position on capital receipts and contributions be noted showing an assumed balance of £1,853,381 at 31 March 2020 as shown in Appendix 3; and

 

(4)  That Full Council be recommended to approve a new Capital Scheme named Changing Places, totalling £99,897, funded from 3rd Party Contributions.

31.

Right To Speak

Minutes:

The Chair exercised his discretion to allow Mr John Rowe to address Members at the end of the meeting due to Mr Rowe’s late arrival, regarding Woodtop School and the sites of houses cleared at the rear of the school.