Decisions

1.           To confirm the District Council’s response to the Moreton, Bobbingworth and the Lavers Neighbourhood Plan submission version and associated supporting documents.

2.           That, pursuant to Overview and Scrutiny Rule 53 (Special Urgency) the Chairman of Council be requested to waive the call-in arrangements for this decision, as any delay likely to be caused by the call-in process would seriously prejudice the Council’s interests, as a result of not meeting its statutory obligation to respond to the submission Neighbourhood Plan.

(1)   That Gracelands CMS Ltd be awarded the 1-year contract renewable annually for up to a maximum of 4-further years, for the planned block electrical testing and electrical upgrades to Council owned properties in the sum of £230,274.06 with an overall weighted price and quality score of 82.8%; 

(2)   That the overall value of the works be capped to the sum included in the Capital Programme identified for Electrical Rewires and Upgrades on an annual basis; and 

(3)   That this contract be designated as a serial contract to facilitate the annual adjustment to the tendered rates in accordance with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) BCIS ALLCOS Resource Cost Index of All Construction: All Repair and Maintenance Work #7419.

1. That the Council enters into a contract until 30 September 2020, with Metro Properties Limited (Cranbrook Hotel, Woodlands Lodge and York Hotel), Landmark Housing Group (Park Hotel); The Oasis Hotel, Old Harlow and the Thatched House Hotel, Epping at the room rates set out in Appendix One of this report, to provide interim and temporary bed and breakfast accommodation to homeless applicants;

2. That the hotels be used to accommodate homeless applicants having regard to room rates, availability, the needs of the applicant and other management reasons;

3. That, in cases where the accommodation is either unavailable, unsuitable, or should not be used for management reasons, homeless applicants be placed in bed and breakfast accommodation, not having regard to room rates, at the discretion of the Service Director for Housing and Property Services; and

4. That, should none of the hotels listed be able to provide suitable accommodation for any homeless applicant, the Service Director for Housing and Property Services be authorised to approach other hotels for a placement, ensuring that best possible value for money is achieved.   

In respect to the Council’s Procurement Rule 18 and 19 Formal Agreements and Negotiated Contracts: not to seek three quotes to secure the ongoing consultancy services of two Development Management planners for a total contract value less than £250,000 to September 2019, one conservation officer for a value less than £50,000 to June 2019 and extend Peyto Law for a contract value not to exceed £50,000 to September 2019. 

That the Cabinet considered the Council Tax Empty Dwellings Premium Policy and recommend to Full Council meeting on 21 February 2019 on adopting the following:

(1)        That with effect from 1 April 2019 properties that are long-term empty dwellings for over two years, under Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, will be charged a Council Tax premium of 100%. 

(2)        That with effect from 1 April 2020 properties that are long-term empty dwellings for over five years, under Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, will be charged a Council Tax premium of 200%; and

(3)        That with effect from 1 April 2021 properties that are long-term empty dwellings for over ten years, under Section 11B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, will be charged a Council Tax premium of 300%. 

(4)        That the existing arrangements on billing and collection costs with major preceptors continues to allow this to take place.

That the recommendations of the meeting of the Finance and Performance Management Cabinet Committee held on 24^th January 2019 be agreed. That:

(1)          Detailed Directorate Budgets for 2019/20:

Decision:

(1)          That the detailed directorate budget for Community & Partnership Services be approved;

(2)          That the detailed directorate budget for Commercial and Regulatory Services be approved;

(3)          That the detailed directorate budget for Housing and Property Services be approved;

(4)          That the detailed directorate budget for Planning Services be approved;

(5)          That the detailed directorate budget for Contract and Technical Services be approved;

(6)          That the detailed directorate budget for Business Support Services be approved;

(7)          That the detailed directorate budget for Customer Services be approved

(8)          That the detailed budget for the HRA be approved.

(2)          Risk Management - Corporate Risk Register:

Decision:

(1)          That the amended Corporate Risk Register be approved.

That Cabinet considered and, recommended the following to Council for approval:

(a)          Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2019/20;

(b)          Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Strategy;

(c)          Treasury Management Prudential Indicators for 2019/20 to 2021/22;

(d)          The rate of interest to be applied to any inter-fund balances; and

(e)          Treasury Management Policy Statement.

That, with minor agreed amendments, the draft Calendar of Council Meetings for 2019/20 be recommended to the Council for adoption.

(1)          That the Cabinet considered the Council’s 2019/20 General Fund budgets and make recommendations to the Full Council meeting on 21 February 2019 to adopt the following:

(2)          That the Cabinet recommends to the Full Council that the 2019/20 HRA budget including the revised revenue estimates for 2018/19 be agreed;

(3)          That the Cabinet notes that rent reductions proposed for 2019/20 would give an average overall fall of 1%;

(4)          That Cabinet recommends to Full Council the adoption of the Capital Strategy 2018/19 to 2022/23;

(5)          That the Cabinet notes the Chief Financial Officer’s report to the Council on the robustness of the estimates for the purposes of the Council’s 2019/20 budgets and the adequacy of the reserves.

That Grant Aid funding be awarded to Citizens Advice Epping Forest District totalling £113,840 and Voluntary Action Epping Forest totalling £39,120 via renewed Service Level Agreements for the period 1^st April 2019 – 31^st March 2020.