Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November 2016.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 November 2016 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

Councillor Harvey

To consider a report on a request for a supplementary capital estimate for property acquisitions in the Borough.

The Cabinet considered a report requesting agreement to a substantial supplementary capital estimate to enable the Council to be in a position to take advantage of a number of opportunities for property acquisitions within the Borough, and future opportunities.

Resolved to recommend Council to approve a supplementary capital estimate for property acquisitions within the Borough of £80m for the remainder of 2016/17. 

Reason for decision

Due to the scale of funding reductions facing the Council and additional pressures in areas such as housing and recycling, the Council needs to continue to acquire assets which both support the economic development and well-being of the Borough and provide an investment income for the Council.

Councillor Williams

To receive the half-yearly report on the Council’s Treasury Management for 2016-17.

The Cabinetconsidered an interim statement of treasury activities for the first six months of the financial year, to the end of September 2016. The report covered treasury activity and the associated monitoring and control of risks.

Resolved to note the treasury position achieved during the first six months of 2016/17 and the financial environment in global markets.

Councillor Harvey

To consider a report on the proposal to establish a Spelthorne Mayor’s Charity Fund.

The Cabinet considered a report on the establishment of a Mayoral Charity Fund. The objective of the Charity would be, “to raise money for charities and other good causes as selected each year by the Mayor of Spelthorne. These charities and other good causes must be located and undertake their work within the Borough of Spelthorne, so that the money raised will improve the lives of disadvantaged people within Spelthorne, or otherwise improve the quality of life for people within the borough.”

Resolved:

1.         that Cabinet approves the creation of a registered charity for the      Mayoral Fund; and

2.         that the Leader of the Council, the Chief Finance Office, and the    Community Development Manager be approved as the trustees.

Reason for decision

To enable the Mayoral Fund to act as a Charity and for donors to gift aid and make it more attractive for sponsors to match fund.

Councillor Harvey

To consider a report on the proposed Calendar of Meetings for 2017-2018.

The Cabinet considered a report on a calendar of meetings for the period from May 2017 to May 2018.

Cabinet discussed an amendment to the proposed dates for Cabinet and Council meetings in December 2017 in order to avoid holding meetings in the week leading up to Christmas.

Resolved to recommend the calendar of meetings for 2017-2018 as set out in the appendix to the report to Council for approval, subject to bringing forward the dates for Cabinet and Council in December 2017 to 12 and 14 December respectively.

Reason for Decision

The calendar of meetings provides a framework for the democratic and decision-making procedures that will underpin the delivery of the Council key priorities.

Councillor Harvey

To consider a report on the development of the Bugle Returns public house site in the Borough.

It may be necessary to exclude the press and public during consideration of this item due to the fact that Appendices 1-4 to the reportcontain exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006, Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because divulging the information contained in the appendices to the public prior to the development of the site would be likely to give an advantage to a person entering into or seeking to enter in a contract with the Authority for the redevelopment.

The Cabinet considered a report on development of the Bugle Returns Public House site in Upper Halliford for housing.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

(a)       Refurbishment for residential purposes

(b)       Redevelopment for an alternative use

(c)       Demolish the building and use the site for recreation/leisure only

Resolved:

1.    To agree the demolition of the existing building and redevelopment of the front part of the site for residential development;

2.    To agree the proposed capital provision of £2.4m for the redevelopment of the front part of the site (including contingencies) over the period January 2017 – 2019;

3.    To give delegated authority to the Group Head of Regeneration and Growth (in consultation with the Leader as Cabinet Member for Strategic Assets) to agree the actual spend of the budget and to deal with any minor variations (with the agreement of the Deputy Chief Executive responsible for Finance as required);

4.    To give delegated authority to the Group Head of Regeneration and Growth (in consultation with the Leader as Cabinet Member for Strategic Assets) to agree any subsequent minor amendments to the proposals as a result of results of surveys, advice from the Local Planning Authority or other responses; and

5.    To note the current position regarding the options for the open land and lakes to the rear of the site and that a subsequent report will come to Cabinet.

Reason for Decision

This is a cross cutting development which will help the Council deliver on all four of its key priorities:

(1) Housing (developing an existing site for housing)

(2) Financial sustainability (use existing assets to obtain ongoing, sustainable revenue streams and capital appreciation)

(3) Economic Development (using assets to stimulate the local economy)

(4) Clean and Green Environment (robustly protect our Green Belt and provide high quality public spaces)

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments.

The Council has purchased the south west corner of the BP campus in Sunbury-on-Thames, completing their ownership of the site. BP will remain on the site as tenants, leasing back the offices from the Council for a minimum period of 12 years. The arrangement will generate a significant annual income for Spelthorne and forms a key part of the Council’s strategy to develop new ways of generating long term income streams to protect its services.

Spelthorne’s recycling rate is up to 49.2% (from 46.9% for the same period last year) thanks to an increase in the amount of food waste being collected and the recycling team’s ongoing efforts to educate residents.

A new communal hut has been built at the Commercial Road allotments in Staines-upon-Thames which will be officially opened in the spring thanks to a grant from the Tesco ‘Bags of Help’ scheme. 

Spelthorne MP Kwasi Kwarteng played the role of Speaker of the House as part of a Parliament event organised for schools. Teams comprising year 11 students from Thamesmead, Matthew Arnold and Sunbury Manor schools spent the afternoon learning the finer points of the Parliamentary process before breaking into groups to debate the lowering of the voting age to 16.

Cllr Ian Harvey has announced that a ‘windfall’ grant of £20,000 per ward (£260,000 total) is being made available to local community groups, thanks to an improvement in the Council’s finances following the BP purchase. Organisations interested in applying should contact one of their ward councillors.

Businesses in Staines-upon-Thames have voted for the introduction of a Business Improvement District (BID) that will generate over £1.5m over the next five years for town centre projects which will improve the visitor experience and increase footfall for retailers. The ballot turnout was 45% and 76% voted in favour of establishing a BID.

The winter Bulletin has been delivered to homes in the Borough and features articles about the purchase of the BP campus, Christmas recycling tips and local leisure events.

Housing Options have launched the Spelthorne Rent Assure scheme to attract private landlords to rent their properties to homeless households. The Council is offering to pay local market rate rent directly to landlords for up to two years. The first tenant moved in at the beginning of December and three more are planned before Christmas.

Following an increase in the number of evictions from A2Dominion tenancies the Housing team has established an early intervention scheme to help tenants avoid eviction wherever possible.

The Spelthorne Disability Sports Club celebrated their 10 Year anniversary with a party on 17 December. The Club, which was set up by Leisure Services for young people with disabilities, is managed by a team of dedicated volunteers and meets every Saturday at Spelthorne Leisure Centre.

Congratulations to Andy Bennett from Littleton Sailing Club who won the `Outstanding Service to Sport’ award at the Surrey Sports Awards on Tuesday 6 December at the HG Wells Centre in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2323.

To consider any items which the Chairman considers as urgent.

There were none.

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following item, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

RESOLVED to move the exclusion of the Press and Public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information)

(Variation) Order 2006.

Councillor Harvey

To consider a report on the acquisition of an investment asset in the Borough.

This report contains exempt information within the meaning of Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in the bidding process for the site by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council.  This in turn prejudices the community by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the community to acquire a site through the Council for the social, environmental and economic benefit of the borough.

Cabinet considered a report on an investment acquisition in the Borough.

Alternative options considered and rejected by the Cabinet:

To not proceed with the acquisition of the site.

Resolved to:

1.    Approve the acquisition of the investment asset identified in the exempt report;

2.    Formally agree the offer submitted, and authorise the Chief Executive to undertake any necessary subsequent negotiations (including a further bid if required) and complete the acquisition (in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Finance);

3.    Authorise the Chief Finance Officer to decide the most financially advantageous funding arrangements for the purchase and ensure the acquisition is prudentially affordable; and 

4.    Authorise the Head of Corporate Governance to enter into any legal documentation necessary to acquire the asset.

Reason for Decision

It will bring in a steady income stream for the term of the lease and give the Council the ability to redevelop the site in the future (releasing further development value).

The income stream will assist in the future financial stability of the Council.