Decisions

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Caroline Jackson)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Communities and the Environment that sought authorisation to redirect unspent HRA funds from the existing Capital Programme in accordance with the decision making and spending delegations within the Budget and Policy Framework.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:-

The options are to either authorise the redirection of existing capital funds enabling the award of contract, or not. If not approved, it could potentially conflict with the Council’s  climate change aspirations and the need to improve the EPC rating of our homes.

The officer preferred option is to authorise officers to redirect capital funds and award a contract for the installation of Solar PV panels.

Councillor Jackson proposed, seconded by Councillor Brookes:-

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Having declared an interest Councillor Hanson did not take part in the discussions or vote on this item.

Resolved:

That Cabinet authorises officers to redirect funds to procure and award a contract for the installation of Solar PV panels to 35 sheltered bungalows, which is estimated to deliver a CO2 saving of 35 tonnes per year.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Communities and the Environment

Reasons for making the decision:

The Council has a target to be Carbon Neutral by 2030. The installation of Solar PV panels is one of a range of measures designed to improve the thermal comfort of homes, lower customers energy bills and reduce the impact of harmful carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and thus increasing the overall EPC rating of these properties. A further benefit of this will be a reduction in energy bills for residents in our sheltered bungalows, supporting health and wellbeing.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Frea)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Communities and the Environment which sought authorisation to complete an award of contract in accordance with the ‘Covid-19 Pandemic- Policy for decision making and spending delegations within the Budget and Police Framework.’  This was with regard to the purchase of electric vans.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The options are to either authorise completion of the award of contract or not.

If not approved, it would conflict with the Council’s climate change aspirations.

The officer preferred option was to authorise officers to award the contract.

Councillor Frea proposed, seconded by Councillor Brookes:-

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)             That Cabinet authorises officers to complete the award of contract for 14 electric vehicles.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Communities and the Environment

Reasons for making the decision:

The Council has a target to become carbon neutral by 2030. As part of the City Council’s ongoing Fleet Replacement Programme, a selection of vehicles was identified that could be replaced with an electric alternative, without compromising either operating or service levels. The funding for the additional electric vans was approved in the Council’s budget for 2020/21.

(Cabinet Members with Special Responsibility Councillors Brookes & Hanson)

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Communities and Environment that sought authorisation to commit expenditure in accordance with the ‘Covid-19 Pandemic Policy for decision making and spending delegations within the Budget and Policy Framework.’  Approval was sought to spend on a Mini zoo upgrade at Williamson Park, Car Parking Machine replacement and a Footpath replacement at Happy Mount Park as appended to the report.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Option 1- To support the spend for the outlined revenue and capital schemes

Option 2 – Not support the spend for the outlined revenue and capital schemes

The officer preferred option is Option1 on the basis that the outlined tasks need to be

addressed to ensure facilities and operations can achieve income levels and corporate

priorities.

Councillor Brookes proposed, seconded by Councillor Hanson:-

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

That officers be authorised to proceed with the following projects as detailed in the report:-

·        The allocation of £24K to complete the mini-zoo project at Williamson Park.

·        Approval to spend £85K to install 20 new pay and display car parking machines.

·        The allocation of £112K to replace footpaths at Happy Mount Park.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Director for Communities and the Environment

Reasons for making the decision:

The ‘Covid-19 Pandemic- Policy’ for decision making and spending delegations within the Budget and Policy Framework’ states all decisions on the use of reserves, the commencement of new capital projects or re-commencement of capital projects halted by the pandemic will require approval of cabinet irrespective of the financial level. In the area of Public Realm the 3 projects considered at this meeting were previously agreed and budgeted for and now required Cabinet approval to commence or recommence.

The decision is consistent with the Council’s priority of Healthy and Happy Communities: Keeping our districts neighbourhoods, parks, beaches and open space clean, well-maintained and safe.

Council considered a report of the Head of Democratic Services advising Members of the calculations relating to the allocation of seats in accordance with the Local Government and Housing Act 1989. Councillor Reynolds, formerly a Labour Group member, had recently become an independent Councillor unaligned to any group on the Council. The change required a re-calculation.

Councillor O’Dwyer-Henry proposed, seconded by Councillor Wood:

“That the recommendation as set out in the report, be approved.”

There was no debate, nor or any indications to speak or vote against the proposition, therefore it was clearly carried.

Resolved:

That in accordance with Section 15 of the Local Government and Housing Act, 1989 and Part 4 of the Local Government (Committees and Political Groups) Regulations, 1990, the City Council approves the calculations and allocation of seats set out in the report, including the adjustment set out in paragraph 5 of the report, whereby the Labour group pass a seat to the Green group.