Decisions

Decision:  To approve the amendments to Help to Move and Housing Allocation Policies, as detailed in this decision sheet.

Reason: To ensure the best use of the social housing stock and enable it to be allocated to those most in need.

Background to report:

1. Changes have been made to the Help to Move Policy (which is replacing the Moving to a smaller Home Policy) to reflect the current demand on council properties and we would like to implement changes with immediate effect.

2. In order for the Allocation Policy to support and work alongside the new Help to Rent Policy, minor amendments are required to existing Allocations Policy which are detailed within this report.

3. The report is also proposing additional changes to our Allocations Policy to review points awarded to applicants living in a parental home with no other housing need and those that are homeless or at risk of homelessness.   This is to ensure that we continue to ensure that properties are allocated to those with the greatest housing need and will help address the demand for one bedroom accommodation. 

The forward plan was noted with the following change:

-       Add Equality and Diversity Strategy to December

There were no referrals to Cabinet

There was no public participation

There were no declarations of interest.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor G Sutton. 

Minutes of the meeting held on 21 July 2020 were agreed by Members present and signed by the Chair.

To seek delegated approval for a long term loan to the West Herts Crematorium Consortium

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND;

1.    a £6m loan to the partner authorities of the West Herts Crematorium Joint Committee (WHCJC), and a supporting Deed of Contribution and Indemnity  and delegate authority to the Corporate Director , Finance and Operations in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources to finalise terms of the required legal documentation.

2.    That Cabinet delegate authority to the Assistant Director of Finance and Operations in consultation with the Assistant Director, Corporate and Contracted services to agree a land management or lease agreement with one or all of the partner authorities of WHCJC for the proposed crematorium site on Bedmond Road.

A first quarter (April – June) review of the council’s financial performance

That Cabinet consider the budget monitoring position for each of the above accounts and:

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND;

1.    Recommend to Council approval of the revised capital programme to move £7.3m slippage identified at Quarter 1 into financial year 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix C.

2.    Recommend to Council approval of supplementary revenue budgets as follows:

·         Supplementary budget of £140k in The Forum premises budget to fund the costs of ensuring the building is safe for staff to return under Coronavirus.

·         Supplementary budget of £60k in the Premises Insurance budget to fund additional costs of Uninsured Losses, to be funded from the Uninsured Losses reserve.

·         Supplementary budget of £253k in the Building Control service to fund the final settlement of Work in Progress following the transfer of the service to Hertfordshire Building Control. This is to be funded from the Management of Change reserve.

·         Supplementary budget of £33k in the Garage service, funded from the Invest to Save reserve, to fund a specialist project manager to lead on improvements to the garage letting process.

3.    Recommend to Council approval of supplementary capital budgets as follows:

·         A capital budget of £90k in the Waste and Recycling Capital budgets for new Wheeled Bins.

·         Additional budget of £400k in the Fleet Replacement Budget, to fund additional vehicles.

·         Capital budgets of £24k and £19k to fund electrical upgrade works at Berkhamsted Civic Centre and Victoria Hall Tring respectively.

·         Capital budget of £15k for essential roofing improvements at The Denes.

To be provided

1.    That Cabinet note:

(a)  The projected financial impact of Covid-19 for 2020/21 as set out in section 1 of the report.

(b)  The service updates provided in section 2 of the report.

To seek approval to award the main contract and appoint a Principle Contractor to construct10 Units at Coniston Road

1.    That the main contract to construct 36 x social rented units at Eastwick Row, Hemel Hempstead be awarded to Jarvis Contracting Limited.

2.    That delegated authority be approved to the Council’s Assistant Director (Corporate and Contracted Services) to execute and complete all legal agreements ancillary to the JCT Design & Build Contract and/or reasonably required to complete the Project, including (but not limited to):

a.    all professional appointments;

b.    collateral warranties; and

c.     Agreements under

S.38, & S.278, of the Highways Act 1980;

S.247, Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;

S.104 of the Water Industry Act 1991, and

S.50 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.

To seek approval to award the main contract and appoint a Principle Contractor to construct 10 Units at Coniston Road

1.    That the main contract to construct 10 x social rented Houses at Land Adjacent to the corner of Coniston Road and Barnes Lane, Kings Langley be awarded to Bugler Developments Ltd. 

2.    That delegated authority be approved to the Council’s Assistant Director (Corporate and Contracted Services) to execute and complete all legal agreements ancillary to the JCT Design & Build Contract and/or reasonably required to complete the Project, including (but not limited to):

a.    all professional appointments;

b.    collateral warranties; and

c.     Agreements under

S.38, & S.278, of the Highways Act 1980;

S.247, Part III of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990;

S.104 of the Water Industry Act 1991, and

S.50 of the New Roads and Street Works Act 1991.