Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on Tuesday, 8 March 2022, were declared a true record and signed by the Vice-Chairman.

To answer questions submitted by citizens on the Council or its services.

There were no citizens’ questions.

To answer questions submitted by Opposition Group Leaders on items on the agenda.

There were no Opposition Group Leaders’ questions.

The report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services is attached.

It was RESOLVED that the 2022-25 ICT Strategy be approved for adoption. 

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Access, Councillor Moore, presented the report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services outlining the ICT Strategy for 2022 to 2025.

Councillor Moore confirmed that the current Strategy had expired this year, and stated that in terms of ICT, much had changed over the last few years, in particular how the Council worked following the Covid-19 pandemic, and it was therefore important that the Strategy was reviewed to ensure that the Council continued to improve the ways it did business, increase efficiency, flexibility and innovation, whilst remaining secure.

Cabinet noted that the Strategy would build on the strength from previous strategies and would focus on five strategic themes, details of which were highlighted in the report.

Councillor Moore referred to the Action Plan for the next three years, together with the financial resources required to implement the Plan, and highlighted the main actions required to deliver the core strategy objectives, details of which were highlighted in the Strategy, attached as an Appendix to the report.  Cabinet was reminded that this was an emerging strategy, and things would change that would have an impact on the Action Plan and the Capital Programme.

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Inglis reiterated the importance of the Council’s ongoing investment in its ICT provision, to ensure continuous improvement and efficiencies.  Working practices had changed significantly due to the pandemic, and Cabinet was reminded how effectively the Council had dealt with those changes, and that would continue. 

Councillor Inglis welcomed the proposed enhancement and update of the Council’s website planned for 2023, which would ensure an enhanced user experience.

Councillor Brennan thanked officers for producing an excellent document and in particular welcomed the incorporation of the ‘Think Green’ theme, which was often not thought about in conjunction with ICT provision.

Councillor Brennan also noted and welcomed the proposed update and upgrade of the Council’s website and advised that this was much needed to ensure that it was more user friendly and intuitive for the Council’s customers and residents.

Councillor Edyvean echoed previous comments, including the importance of ensuring that the website was kept up to date, providing easy access to Council services and was relevant to local residents.

It was RESOLVED that the 2022-25 ICT Strategy be approved for adoption. 

The report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)           a short term cash advance of up to £250k be approved to be repaid by East Leake Parish Council once it has received additional external funding; and

b)           the Borough Council’s Capital Programme be temporarily adjusted to reflect the agreed loan figure of up to £250k.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Finance and Customer Access, Councillor Moore, presented the report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services proposing a temporary cash advance for East Leake Parish Council.

Councillor Moore advised that East Leake Parish Council was currently developing a much needed sports pavilion, which had been partly funded by developers and a very generous contribution from the Football Foundation. Additional funds would be made available through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) money, together with funding from a Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) loan, which the Parish Council was negotiating.  In the meantime, Cabinet was advised that the Parish Council had a short-term cash flow need, and had requested a short-term loan of £250k, which had been fully endorsed by the East Leake Growth Board.

Councillor Moore advised that a legal agreement had been drawn up, incorporating an agreed interest rate, and that the loan would be repaid once the Parish Council had received the additional funding.        

In seconding the recommendation, Councillor Brennan stated that the current pavilion was no longer fit for purpose and given the housing and population growth in East Leake, it was essential that the village had an up to date facility to use.  Cabinet was reminded that the Parish Council had worked extremely hard to bring this important project forward and this would only be a short term loan, which was expected to be repaid promptly.  

Councillor Edyvean reiterated the importance of this project to East Leake, and that the Council looked forward to seeing it come to fruition.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)           a short term cash advance of up to £250k be approved to be repaid by East Leake Parish Council once it has received additional external funding; and

b)           the Borough Council’s Capital Programme be temporarily adjusted to reflect the agreed loan figure of up to £250k.

To move “That under Regulation 21(1)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972”.

It was resolved that under Regulation 21(1)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2000, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth is attached.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)           the review of the Council’s freehold interest in the commercial land at Candleby Lane, Cotgrave be considered; and

b)           the sale of the Council’s interest at Candleby Lane, Cotgrave as set out in paragraph 4.23.1 of the report be supported, and the Director of Development and Economic Growth be granted delegated authority to execute the sale documents and associated steps to completion.

The Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Business and Economic Growth, Councillor Edyvean, presented the report of the Director – Development and Economic Growth providing an update on the proposed sale of the Council’s Freehold Interest at Candleby Lane, Cotgrave.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Edyvean and seconded by Councillor Moore.

It was RESOLVED that:

a)           the review of the Council’s freehold interest in the commercial land at Candleby Lane, Cotgrave be considered; and

b)           the sale of the Council’s interest at Candleby Lane, Cotgrave as set out in paragraph 4.23.1 of the report be supported, and the Director of Development and Economic Growth be granted delegated authority to execute the sale documents and associated steps to completion.