Agenda item

To consider recommendations of the Cabinet in respect of:

a)    Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy – To consider the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy 2022 to establish Street Art in South Holland to provide safe and welcoming public spaces for our local communities (Cabinet minute 51) ( Cabinet agenda item 6a);

b)    2021/22 Financial Report Quarter 3 – To provide information on the Quarter 3 (to December 2021) financial position of the Council (Cabinet minute 52) (Cabinet agenda item 7);

c)      Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework – To introduce a Housing Delivery Framework to inform future investment decisions for Welland Homes relating to housing developments (Cabinet minute 57) (Cabinet agenda item 12)

Consideration was given to the report of Cabinet which sought approval for the Cabinet’s recommendations.

a)    Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy

The report was presented by the Leader on behalf of the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Facilities.  

The Chairman clarified that no decision was required on this item, other than the Council note the Graffiti and Street Art Management Policy.

b)    2021/22 Financial Report Quarter 3

The report was presented by the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercialisation and Partnerships.

It was noted that Table 8 (General Fund Capital Programme Revised 2022/23) within Appendix A to the Cabinet report included incorrect figures.  Members were provided with a new copy of the updated table, showing the following:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

·         Revised Budget 2022/23 column for Crease Drove Industrial Units should read £1,350,000

·         Revised Budget 2022/23 column for Grants for Growth should read £217,000

·         Although both of these items had been amended, the overall total remained the same.

Members considered the report, and the following points were made:

·         In relation to the Public Works Loan Board, members asked whether the amount detailed with the borrowing costs resulted in tenants having to pay around £500 - £600 per annum each to service the loan. 

o   The Portfolio Holder responded that a fact of the loan meant that all properties held in the HRA had a mortgage of approximately £17,000 on each of them and that the Councillor’s observation was therefore correct.

DECISION:

1)    That the necessary budget carry forwards for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital programme as detailed in tables 8 and 12 of Appendix A to the Cabinet report be approved.

2)    That virements (internal transfers) up to the value of £1.676m to reflect the efficiency savings which currently are still in service areas and due to be offset against the budget for efficiency savings be approved.

c)    Welland Homes Housing Delivery

The report was presented by the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Planning.

The report introduced a Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework. The Policy Framework set out the criteria for how the capital programme budget for Welland Homes schemes should be allocated by the Executive.  This was a new policy, as the Authority did not currently have a policy framework for approving new Welland Homes schemes.  Currently, in the absence of an approved policy, all decisions regarding new housing and schemes were considered by the Council.  The criteria within the Policy included the type of delivery models within scope of the framework, including design and build projects, acquiring completed buildings and purchasing land.  It also set out the property requirements which would be supported, including the property types and location.  Any scheme within budget and the required scope could be approved by the Executive.  Welland Homes could still pursue projects outside of the scope of the framework, but these would require Council approval. The Authority currently had an approved capital budget for the delivery of 21 further homes by Welland Homes.  Currently, the company held 39 homes in ownership.  The framework would enable Welland Homes to deliver new homes which provided housing solutions to meet local housing demand.  It would support Welland Homes to meet its business plan objectives.

Members considered the report and the following points were made:

Members commented that they were pleased that Cabinet had agreed to include the additional recommendation to inform ward members on any housing schemes which met the criteria, prior to a public report being submitted to Cabinet for decision.

DECISION:

1)    That the Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework, at Appendix A to the Cabinet report, which informs and guides future Executive decisions for the Capital Programme for Welland Homes housing delivery, be approved.

2)    That the Welland Homes Housing Delivery Framework be included as a local choice policy in the Council’s Policy Framework and that the Constitution, at Article 4.3, be amended accordingly.