Issue - meetings

 

A key decision by the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources is required which has not been on the Forward Plan giving 28 days notice of that decision. Under the Constitution, Part 4B-Access to Information Procedure Rules, this decision can still be taken if a notice is given setting out the reasons why compliance with the publicity requirement is impractical.

 

A strategic decision is needed in order to enable recruitment of key staff to deliver some key projects related to meeting the Council’s objectives related to business transformation and sustainability as set out in the report.  These staff are needed to progress key work related to these objectives that need to be completed during 2023/24 to feed into the next budget round.

 

Taking the decision at Strategy & Resources Committee on 3 July 2023 allows this decision to be pre-scrutinised before it is taken.

Matter for Decision

 

The Place Group brings together leadership and management of the Councils corporate estate, property investments, responsibility for delivering new council, affordable homes and estate regeneration. The Place Group is tasked with delivering some key programmes and projects for the Council in addition to those currently undertaken including:

 

      i.         Delivering the asset management plan to meet the Net Zero Carbon (NZC) and Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) objectives through a combination of retrofit, redevelopment and disposal

    ii.         Rationalisation of the Council’s office and civic accommodation through the Corporate Space Strategy

   iii.         Refurbishment of the Market Square

  iv.         General Fund Redevelopment Programme for commercial property

To achieve these, initial change to some roles and additional resource is required as set out in this report. Funding will be from General Fund Reserves initially but costs capitalised once capital plan items are brought forward and approved.

 

These projects will support improving sustainability, how we engage with and the services we provide to our customers and communities and generate new income streams and capital receipts.

 

The scale of the projects is as set out in 3.9 below and previous reports on these programmes and projects.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Finance & Resources:

 

To recommend to Full Council approval of funding for additional resource as set out in Section 4 (a) the report.

 

Reason for the Decision

 

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

 

Not applicable.

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The Assets & Property Assistant Director introduced the report.

 

The Assets & Property Assistant Director said the following in response to Members’ questions:

 

      i.         These were high value schemes therefore salary levels were set at levels that Officers deemed to be appropriate to attract the right people for the roles being created.

    ii.         There was extensive financial information in the background reports and the appendices which set out the various schemes and profit margins.

   iii.         The office accommodation report set out expected costs, capital receipts and income from letting parts of the Guildhall or Mandela House.

The Leader of the Council said the following in response to Members’ questions:

 

  iv.         It was less about income and more about the ability to deliver what was promised at the October 2022 Strategy and Resources Committee which was to get the Guildhall up to standard, and to also look at Mandela House. Unless staff were in place would not be able to do the job properly. Therefore, it was very important to have new staff in place to get going on the project. This was one of the most major pieces of work that would be done at the Council in the coming 4 - 5 years.

The Committee unanimously endorsed the recommendations.

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

 

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.