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Agenda, decisions and minutes
Venue: Council Chamber, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY. Please enter the building through the Contact Centre entrance via the seafront.
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies received from Councillor Barnett and Councillor Batsford
Declaration of Interests
Minutes:
Councillor
Item
Interest
Cllr Cannon
5
Personal – Member of the Planning Committee
Cllr Evans
7
Personal – Member of the Buddy project
Minutes of Last Meeting 06/03/23 PDF 83 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 6th March 2023 be approved as a true record.
Review of the Hastings Borough Council Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles PDF 160 KB
(Stewart Bryant, Senior Environmental Health Officer)
(Council Decision)
Additional documents:
- Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Licensing Principles 2023-2026 hbc draft , item 527. PDF 532 KB
- Appendix B Indices-of-Deprivation-2019-final , item 527. PDF 1017 KB
Decision:
1. Cabinet agree the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles and recommend to Full Council for adoption.
2. Recommend a No Casino resolution to not issue casino premises licences in the borough to Full Council.
Minutes:
The Senior Environmental Health Officer reported that the purpose of the report is to seek approval to agree to the updated statement of principles which is required by the Gambling Act 2005 and recommend a No Casino resolution to not issue casino premises licences in the borough. These recommendations would be passed to Full Council. This process is needed every three years. The current resolution expired on 31 January 2022 and the Council needs to pass a new resolution at Full Council on 26 April 2023, to then come into effect 4 weeks later on the 24th May 2023. The reason to have No Casino Resolution is based around the level of deprivation within the Borough as a whole and areas such as Castle Ward to protect vulnerable people. A six-week consultation process took place whereby no negative no concerns have been raised about the amended Statement of Principles or the No Casino Resolution.
Councillors debated and agreed the ethos of the No Casino Resolution is correct and recognised the harm caused by excessive gambling.
Proposed by Councillor Roark and seconded by Councillor Rogers
RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. Cabinet agree the Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Principles and recommend to Full Council for adoption.
2. Recommend a No Casino resolution to not issue casino premises licences in the borough to Full Council.
Reasons:
It is a statutory requirement for the council to review the Gambling Act Statement of Principles and the No Casino Resolution every three years. Failure to do so could result in judicial review proceedings against the council and call in to doubt the decisions made by the Licensing Committee under the Act.
Town Living Project PDF 133 KB
(Susan Hanson, Housing Development Manager)
(Council Decision)
Decision:
That Cabinet recommends that Full Council approves:
1. to progress Phase 1 of the Town Living project;
2. to establish a capital budget of £1,037,615 (to be funded via the Town Fund programme) for the Town Living project;
3. to delegate authority to the Managing Director to complete Phase 1 of the Town Living project, including any associated procurement; and
4. to source a property/properties for Phase 2 of the Town Living project.
Minutes:
Councillor Carr was welcomed to ask questions. Councillor Car highlighted that the tenants have not been made aware of the plans set out in the report and requested an apology to the tenants.
Councillor Evans agreed an apology should be provided to the current tenants.
Andrew Palmer answered that the clients are in temporary accommodation with the aim to move them to permanent accommodation.
Andrew Palmer explained that this report is for phase one of the Town Living Project refurbishing and retrofitting the first property, which is a Council owned property currently used for temporary accommodation. The cost is around £794,000 at present and any remaining money would be used to help fund a second property as part of Stage 2. The point was made that there isn't a scheme until Full Council approves the capital funding for the project. It's not currently in the Council's capital program, so this will be a Full Council decision. There would also need to be planning permission secured and there will be necessary consultation undertaken as part of that process. The property is not in the greatest condition and will need some significant reinvestment. This would mean at some point the Council would need to spend a considerable amount of money on upgrading this property.
Training and employment opportunities would be created for whole house retrofitting and will be used as an example of how other properties can be successfully retrofitted as well.
The Housing Development Manager apologised that the clients currently living in the property had not been made aware of this report. It was explained that none of the works in the report will go ahead until Full Council approval and planning permission has been approved. The property will incur further costs for the Council later if this opportunity is not taken to use external funding.
Councillors asked officers that the clients are kept up to date at all stages. The Head of Strategic Programmes confirmed the communications on projects will be reviewed.
Councillors debated and recognised the need for sustainable and environmentally friendly housing. This will be an opportunity to create a template on how to retrofit the borough’s historical buildings.
Proposed by Councillor Evans and seconded by Councillor Rogers
That Cabinet recommends that Full Council approves:
1. to progress Phase 1 of the Town Living project;
2. to establish a capital budget of £1,037,615 (to be funded via the Town Fund programme) for the Town Living project;
3. to delegate authority to the Managing Director to complete Phase 1 of the Town Living project, including any associated procurement; and
4. to source a property/properties for Phase 2 of the Town Living project.
Reasons
1. The Hastings Town Fund Programme has awarded the Town Living project £1,037,615. Phase 1 has been awarded £794,000 which is the estimated cost of completing this phase.
2. The project will provide a best practice example of how to renovate and retrofit a listed building, increase the supply of permanent affordable housing ... view the full minutes text for item 528.
Energy Procurement- Electricity PDF 135 KB
(Sam Phyall, Energy Development and Delivery Project Manager)
(Cabinet Decision)
Decision:
1. Acknowledge the change from the Laser Framework to eEnergy, with a requirement of 100% renewable energy, as per the Council’s Green Electricity purchase plans.
2. Agree to the Bureau Service from eEnergy, at a cost of £4,800 a year, to supply Portfolio Management, Bill Validation and Bureau management.
3. To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Lead Member, to finalise the agreements.
Minutes:
The Senior Programmes Manager reported that last year a procurement for electricity for one year was agreed. This report asks to acknowledge the change from the Laser Framework to eEnergy, with a requirement of 100% renewable energy, as per the Council’s Green Electricity purchase plans. It also requests to delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Lead Member, to finalise the agreements as the tendering process happens within a single day and therefore there is no timeframe to delay the decision.
The Chief Finance Officer explained if this report is agreed it will give the opportunity to have security in our electricity supply and at a reduced rate in a time when the prices are increasing
Councillors asked regarding REGO. The Senior Programmes Manager explained that REGO (renewable energy guarantee of origin) is a certificate that suppliers can purchase when they purchase energy to state is come from a renewable source. Various companies make money in the trading of REGO’s, not necessarily the generator of the energy. If we commit to the 100% renewable energy provider, then we can ensure that the money we are paying for electricity is going to the generator
Councillors asked why eEnergy will be able to give a better rate. The Energy Development and Delivery Project Manager explained eEnegy has more 100% renewable energy providers who can bid and undercut each other.
Proposed by Councillor Willis and seconded by Councillor Roark
RESOLVED(unanimously):
1. Acknowledge the change from the Laser Framework to eEnergy, with a requirement of 100% renewable energy, as per the Council’s Green Electricity purchase plans.
2. Agree to the Bureau Service from eEnergy, at a cost of £4,800 a year, to supply Portfolio Management, Bill Validation and Bureau management.
3. To delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer, in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Lead Member, to finalise the agreements.
Reasons
1. The Council's Constitution, Part 9 Financial Rules Section 3, requires Cabinet approval for expenditure exceeding £200,000.
2. The Council’s electricity contract with the Laser purchasing group ends on 30th September 2023. A decision needs to be made about procurement options by March 2023 to ensure a new supplier can secure the Council’s energy needs from the energy market, six months in advance of the new supplier commencing.
3. Officers have engaged with the Procurement Hub and investigated three procurement options to buy the Council’s electricity from 1st October 2023.
4. All three suppliers offer a slightly different approach to procuring energy, the eEnergy Framework can offer the best chance of receiving a competitive price from a fully green electricity supplier (rather than a Renewable Energy Guarantee of Origin (REGO) backed supply) due to this framework having a higher number of suppliers offering this service.
5. Delegated Authority is required as the tendering process happens within a single day and therefore there is no timeframe to delay the decision.
Museum Committee Recommendations PDF 113 KB
(Kevin Boorman, Marketing and Major Projects Manager)
(Cabinet Decision)
Additional documents:
Decision:
That Cabinet note and approve the recommendations of the Museum Committee meeting held on 13 March 2023
Minutes:
The Marketing and Major Projects Manager explained that the visitor numbers are 20% up on what is expected for the year. He thanked the previous manager Damian Etheraads and the new Senior Creator Alice Roberts-Pratt for all their work.
Councillor debated and recognised the work of officers and volunteers at the museum.
Proposed by Councillor Rogers and seconded by Councillor Willis
RESOLVED (unanimously):
That Cabinet note and approve the recommendations of the Museum Committee meeting held on 13 March 2023
Reasons
The Museum Committee has no formal decision-making powers and acts as an advisory committee to Cabinet.
Notification of Additional Urgent Items
Minutes:
None
Urgent Items (if any)
Minutes:
None
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