Agenda and minutes

To sign and confirm the minutes of the last meeting.

The minutes of the last meeting held 12 April 2023 were signed.

To receive apologies for absence.

No apologies were received

To receive declarations of interests in respect of any item on the agenda.

None

To answer any written questions received from members of the public no later than 5 p.m. two clear working days prior to the meeting – for this meeting the deadline is 5 p.m. on ………………..

None

There were none for this meeting

There were none for this meeting

(A report by Suzanne Rolfe, Insights and Transformation Manager)

The Leader introduced a report which presented Cabinet with the performance and risk information for Boston Borough Council for Quarter 4 of 2022/23.

The report explained that a joint performance management framework had been agreed across the South & East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership for 2022/23 to support the delivery of services.

The report advised that there were 54 KPI’s in total, 23 of which were trend only indicators. Of the 32 target measures, 22 were on or better than target, 6 were within tolerance and 4 were worse than target.

Indicators and targets had been developed to stretch performance in services.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet note the report.

(A report by Rhonda Booth, Democratic Services Manager)

The Leader presented a report which asked Cabinet to consider appointments to various external organisations.

Under the Constitution, some appointments to external organisations were delegated to Cabinet to determine. Cabinet were requested to make appointments to the organisations for 2023/24.

The following amendments were noted;

• Officers had confirmed that no Member appointment was necessary to the Boston Health and Wellbeing Network.
• Local Community Framework Investment Panel was now obsolete.
• The Boston Strategic Health Group had been disbanded and was now the South and East Lincolnshire Council’s Partnership Healthy Living Board which required the relevant Portfolio Holder appointment.
• Triton Knoll Local Liaison Committee was in-active, therefore no appointment was required.
• The Leader advised that appointments would be made for a 4 year term, running until the Annual Council Meeting in 2027 and on the basis that Members continue to be a member of the authority.

RESOLVED that:

• The Leader be appointed to;
  • East Lincolnshire Community Safety Partnership
  • East Midlands Councils
  • Greater Lincolnshire LEP
  • Local Government Association General Assembly

• Councillor Emma Cresswell be appointed to the South and East Lincolnshire Council’s Partnership Healthy Living Board as the relevant Portfolio Holder.
• Councillor Andy Izard be appointed to Boston in Bloom and the Boston Woods Trust as relevant Portfolio Holder.
• Councillor Andy Izard be appointed to PATROL (Parking and Traffic Regulations outside London)

Councillor Broughton be appointed to the Local Government Association Coastal Special Interest Group.

(A report by Matthew Hogan, Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development)

The Appendix to this report is confidential by virtue of paragraph 3 Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, it is therefore attached to this agenda as item7.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing & Planning introduced the report which advised that in February 2023, Cabinet agreed to take part in the Local Authority Housing Fund programme, with a view to bringing eight properties into the Council’s ownership to meet short, medium and long-term housing needs within the district. In March 2023, Council approved the 2023/24 Capital Programme which included provision for this project and accordingly accepted an allocation of £691,500 in government funding. The Council had subsequently entered into an agreement with government to take part in the scheme and source eight properties by November 2023.

The Portfolio Holder advised that the report provided a business case relating to the purchase of the first five properties identified to deliver the project and sought a decision from Cabinet on whether to proceed to acquire the homes. The properties comprised five 2-bedroom newbuild houses which would be acquired with the benefit of all relevant documentation and a 10-year structural warranty.

The Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) programme was intended to support local authorities to provide accommodation to Ukrainian and Afghan families who were settled in the UK legally under various government schemes. 

The Portfolio Holder for Housing & Planning confirmed that the Council would solely own all 8 houses. Following the end of the term of housing for the Ukrainian and Afghan families, the Council would then be able to use them to support families in the local community or there would be the opportunity to sell the properties.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet agree to:

• Approve the business case and the acquisition of five houses within the district.
• Reiterate the decision of Cabinet in February 2023 which delegated authority to the Assistant Director – Strategic Growth and Development, in conjunction with the Deputy Leader of the Council, to conclude contractual matter, including those which may represent a minor variation to this business case, in respect of the scheme.
• Delegate to the Portfolio Holder for Housing & Planning on behalf of the Cabinet, any further decisions relating to the purchase of additional properties in respect of this project, to reflect the need to act commercially to secure the homes (any decision to be in line with the Cabinet decision of February 2023)

Agree that Boston Borough Council’s contribution towards this project should increase from the notional figure provided in the outline business case presented to Cabinet in 2023, which was £838,500 to £962,494 (an increase of £123,994), to reflect the nature and price of homes currently available for sale. The additional funding to be financed from the rental income.

To discuss the exempt appendix to the report at agenda item 5.