Agenda, decisions and minutes

6. Future Funding Bicester Vision Community Interest Company (CIC).

Councillor Lynn Pratt, Non Statutory Interest, as Cherwell District Council's appointed outside body representative to Bicester Vision and through that appaointment, a Director and member of the Executive Board of Bicester Vision and would leave the meeting for the duration of the item.

There were no petitions or requests to address the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2020 (to follow as meeting held after agenda publication).

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 February 2020 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of Assistant Director – Growth and Economy

Purpose of report

The newly incorporated, Bicester Vision CIC (Community Interest Company) will be give a presentation to Executive about how their activities align with the Council’s business plan and emerging Cherwell Industrial Strategy. 

To consider whether to fund the company for a three-year period and delegate the final decision to the Corporate Director Communities, in consultation S.151 Officer and Lead Member for Economy, Regeneration and Property.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1      To receive a presentation from Bicester Vision about their plans and how these align with the Council’s business plan and emerging Cherwell Industrial Strategy.

1.2           To delegate authority to the Corporate Director Communities, in consultation  with the S.151 officer and the Lead Member for Economy, Regeneration & Property, to determine whether to support the funding of Bicester Vision for a three year term, in the sum of £15,000 per annum.

Resolved

(1)            That the presentation from Bicester Vision about their plans and how these align with the Council’s business plan and emerging Cherwell Industrial Strategy be noted.

(2)            That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director Communities, in consultation  with the S.151 officer and the Leader of the Council, to determine whether to support the funding of Bicester Vision for a three year term, in the sum of £15,000 per annum.

Prior to consideration of the report, the outgoing Chairman, Phil Shadbolt, the incoming Chairman, Lyndon Robinson, and the Partnership Manager, Grae Laws, of the newly incorporated, Bicester Vision CIC (Community Interest Company) gave a presentation about how their activities aligned with the Council’s business plan and emerging Cherwell Industrial Strategy. 

The Assistant Director – Growth and Economy submitted a report to consider whether to fund the company for a three-year period and delegate the final decision to the Corporate Director Communities, in consultation S.151 Officer and Lead Member for Economy, Regeneration and Property.

Resolved

(1)            That the presentation from Bicester Vision about their plans and how these align with the Council’s business plan and emerging Cherwell Industrial Strategy be noted.

(2)            That authority be delegated to the Corporate Director Communities, in consultation  with the S.151 officer and the Leader of the Council, to determine whether to support the funding of Bicester Vision for a three year term, in the sum of £15,000 per annum.

Reasons

Members are invited to receive the presentation and decide whether to continue the funding of the new CIC for a three year period.

Alternative options

Option 1: Withdraw support for Bicester Vision – this option was rejected because CDC may wish to continue supporting Bicester Vision.

Option 2: Explore other options for participating in some other public-private partnership in Bicester – this option was rejected because there are no other such partnerships in Bicester.

Report of Assistant Director – Planning and Development

Purpose of report

To seek approval of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) for the production of the Council’s planning policy documents.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1          To approve the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) presented at Appendix 1.

Resolved

(1)            That the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) (Annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

The Assistant Director – Planning and Development submitted a report to seek approval of an updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) for the production of the Council’s planning policy documents.

Resolved

(1)            That the updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) (Annex to the minutes as set out in the Minute Book) be approved.

Reasons

An updated Local Development Scheme (LDS) has been prepared. It provides a programme for the preparation of the Council’s key planning policy documents that will be relevant to future planning decisions. The Council has a statutory responsibility to prepare and maintain an LDS. The LDS will be used by officers, the public, partners and developers and other stakeholders to monitor the production of documents and to plan for associated consultations. Approval of the LDS is needed to assist project management and ensure that the Council meets its statutory responsibilities for plan-making.

Alternative options

Option 1: Not to approve the LDS

The Council has a statutory responsibility to maintain an up to date LDS.  If the Council did not prepare its own LDS the Secretary of State could impose one.  Aside from that legal duty, not to approve the LDS could undermine the confidence of the public and stakeholders about the Council’s plan-making programme. The LDS would need to be re-presented to the Executive at a future meeting or to the Lead Member for Planning.

Option 2: To reconsider the content of the LDS

The LDS has been prepared having regard to the Council’s statutory responsibilities and current resources. It is considered by officers to be appropriate for the present and foreseeable circumstances.

Report of Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning

Purpose of report

1)    To seek approval of revised Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence fees and of those recoverable costs associated with the issue of certain notices and orders.

2)    To seek approval of the introduction of fees associated with advisory visits for landlords and for the issue of Empty Homes VAT-exemption letters.

3)    To seek approval that the periodic review and setting of HMO licence fees will, in future, be delegated to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning.

4)    To seek approval of a revised Recovery of Costs Policy which sets out how recovery of certain enforcement costs will be applied and which, in future, makes the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning responsible for reviewing and setting those costs.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1          To approve the proposed House in Multiple Occupation (HOM) licence fee structure.

1.2           To approve the revised administrative charges the Council can recover for certain notices and orders issued under the Housing Act 2004.

1.3           To approve the introduction of a fee for advisory visits.

1.4           To approve the introduction of a fee for issuing Empty Homes VAT-exemption letters.

1.5           To approve the delegation of future HMO Licence fee setting in accordance with the Housing Act 2004 and Orders under it to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning and Housing.

1.6           To approve the Recovery of Costs Policy 2019 (Appendix 6) which includes future delegation of the setting of recoverable costs to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning to the extent permitted by the Housing Act 2004 and Orders under it.

Resolved

(1)            That the proposed House in Multiple Occupation (HOM) licence fee structure be approved.

(2)            That the revised administrative charges the Council can recover for certain notices and orders issued under the Housing Act 2004 be approved.

(3)            That the introduction of a fee for advisory visits be approved.

(4)            That the introduction of a fee for issuing Empty Homes VAT-exemption letters be approved.

(5)            That the delegation of future House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licence fee setting in accordance with the Housing Act 2004 and Orders under it to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning and Housing be approved.

(6)            That the Recovery of Costs Policy 2019 (Annex to the Minutes as set put in the Minute Book) which includes future delegation of the setting of recoverable costs to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning to the extent permitted by the Housing Act 2004 and Orders under it be approved.

The Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning submitted a report to seek approval: of revised Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO) licence fees and of those recoverable costs associated with the issue of certain notices and orders; the introduction of fees associated with advisory visits for landlords and for the issue of Empty Homes VAT-exemption letters; for the periodic review and setting of HMO licence fees to, in future, be delegated to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning; and, of a revised Recovery of Costs Policy which sets out how recovery of certain enforcement costs will be applied and which, in future, makes the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning responsible for reviewing and setting those costs.

Resolved

(1)            That the proposed House in Multiple Occupation (HOM) licence fee structure be approved.

(2)            That the revised administrative charges the Council can recover for certain notices and orders issued under the Housing Act 2004 be approved.

(3)            That the introduction of a fee for advisory visits be approved.

(4)            That the introduction of a fee for issuing Empty Homes VAT-exemption letters be approved.

(5)            That the delegation of future House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) Licence fee setting in accordance with the Housing Act 2004 and Orders under it to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning and Housing be approved.

(6)            That the Recovery of Costs Policy 2019 (Annex to the Minutes as set put in the Minute Book) which includes future delegation of the setting of recoverable costs to the Assistant Director Housing and Social Care Commissioning to the extent permitted by the Housing Act 2004 and Orders under it be approved.

Reasons

HMO licence fees

Revision of the Council’s HMO fees is required as a consequence of legal rulings with which the Council must comply. The costs associated with processing and enforcing HMO licences have been thoroughly reviewed.  The proposed HMO licence fee structure incorporates the changes required to ensure the Council is compliant, the newly reviewed costs incurred by the Council in carrying out its licensing function, and also recently determined corporate overheads.  The proposed licence fee structure therefore reflects the real cost to the Council of its HMO licensing activity.

HMO licence fee structure also implements the introduction of a higher fee for new HMOs found operating without a licence as provided for by the HMO Licence Policy 2018. This revision reflects a reapportioning of the cost of the enforcement element of HMO licences and ensures landlords are paying proportionately towards enforcement costs, with non-compliant landlords contributing more.

Revised charges for notices and orders

The recoverable charges made by the Council were last set in 2016.  They have been reviewed to take account of the Council’s increased costs and also to more properly reflect corporate overheads following recent review. The proposed recoverable costs reflect the true costs incurred by the Council in issuing relevant notices and orders under the Housing Act 2004.

Charges for advisory visits

It is judged appropriate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103.

Report of Executive Director: Finance and Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes

Purpose of report

This report summarises the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring position as at the end of each month.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1      To note the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report.

Resolved

(1)            That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

The Executive Director: Finance (Interim) and Head of Insight and Corporate Programmes submitted a report which summarised the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring position as at the end of each month.

Resolved

(1)            That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

Reasons

The Council is committed to performance, risk and budget management and reviews progress against its corporate priorities on a monthly basis.

This report provides an update on progress made so far in 2019-20 to deliver the Council’s priorities through reporting on Performance, the Leadership Risk Register and providing an update on the financial position.

Alternative options

Option 1: This report illustrates the Council’s performance against the 2019-20 business plan. As this is a monitoring report, no further options have been considered. However, members may wish to request that officers provide additional information.      

There were no items of urgent business.