Please Contact: Emma Denny
Please email: emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Please Direct Dial on: 01263 516010
5 April 2013
A meeting of the Cabinet of North Norfolk District Council will be held in the Council Chamber at
the Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer on Monday 15th April 2013 at 10.00 a.m.
At the discretion of the Chairman, a short break will be taken after the meeting has been running
for approximately one and a half hours. Coffee will be available in the staff restaurant at 9.30 a.m.
and at the break.
Members of the public who wish to ask a question or speak on an agenda item are requested to
arrive at least 15 minutes before the start of the meeting. It will not always be possible to
accommodate requests after that time. This is to allow time for the Committee Chair to rearrange
the order of items on the agenda for the convenience of members of the public. Further information
on the procedure for public speaking can be obtained from Democratic Services, Tel: 01263
516010, Email: democraticservices@north-norfolk.gov.uk
Sheila Oxtoby
Chief Executive
To: Mr T FitzPatrick, Mrs A Fitch-Tillett, Mr T Ivory, Mr J Lee, Mr W Northam, Mr R Oliver,
Mr R Wright
All other Members of the Council for information.
Members of the Management Team, appropriate Officers, Press and Public.
If you have any special requirements in order
to attend this meeting, please let us know in advance
If you would like any document in large print, audio, Braille, alternative format
or in a different language please contact us
Chief Executive: Sheila Oxtoby
Corporate Directors: Nick Baker & Steve Blatch
Tel 01263 513811 Fax 01263 515042 Minicom 01263 516005
Email districtcouncil@north-norfolk.gov.uk Web site northnorfolk.org
AGENDA
1.
TO RECEIVE APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
2.
MINUTES
(Page 1)
To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 04
March 2013.
3.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
To receive questions from the public, if any.
4.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be
considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government
Act 1972.
5.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the
following items on the agenda. The Code of Conduct for Members requires that
declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary
interest.
6.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE CABINET BY THE
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL FOR RECONSIDERATION
To consider matters referred to the Cabinet (whether by the Overview and Scrutiny
Committee or by the Council) for reconsideration by the Cabinet in accordance with the
provisions within the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules or the Budget and Policy
Framework Procedure Rules.
7.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
To consider any reports from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which may be
presented by the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and determination of
any appropriate course of action on the issues so raised for report back to that committee.
8.
JOINT STAFF CONSULTATIVE COMMITTEE
(page 6)
To receive and consider the minutes of the meeting of the Joint Staff Consultative
Committee held on 11 February 2013.
9.
CLOSED CIRCUIT TELEVISION (CCTV) WORKING PARTY
(page 10)
To receive and consider the minutes of the meeting of the CCTV Working Party held on 12
February 2013.
10.
DISCRETIONARY HOUSING PAYMENTS POLICY
(page 13)
(Policy Document – p. 16) (Equality Impact Assessment Form – p.24 )
Summary:
The purpose of the report is for Members to review the
Discretionary Housing Payments Policy in the context of the
Government changes to benefits that reduce entitlement and so
increase demand for additional discretionary help through this
scheme. The Government has allocated additional funding to this
scheme in recognition of this.
Conclusions:
The revised Policy recognises the changes in both funding and
those people affected by the changes in benefits.
Reasons for
Recommendations
Members are asked to agree the recommendation because the
Council needs to adopt a consistent approach to assessing and
awarding Discretionary Housing Payments and to ensure the
effective use of limited resources.
Recommendations: That Cabinet recommends to Full Council the adoption of the
Discretionary Housing Payments Policy
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Contact Officer:
Telephone no:
Email:
11.
Cllr W Northam
All
Louise Wolsey
01263 516081
Louise.wolsey@north-norfolk.gov.uk
BIG SOCIETY FUND REVIEW AND PROPOSALS
(page 29)
(Appendix A– p. 39) (Appendix B – p.43) (Appendix C – p.47) (Appendix D – p.49)
(Appendix E – p. 50)
Summary:
This report provides an appraisal and review of the Big Society
Fund, which has successfully operated for a year, administered
by Norfolk Community Foundation. The fund has helped many
community projects get off the ground and has hence achieved
some very positive results for local communities in the District.
Having considered a range of issues relating to the
administration process and the outcome of the funding scheme,
it is recommended that the Fund is continued in 2013/14 but that
changes be made to the way in which it is administered.
Options considered:
There are various options in relation to the future of the Big
Society Fund, ranging from not operating the fund to increasing
its value. The success of the fund in its first year suggests that
the scheme should be continued for a further year, with a similar
(but slightly increased value), discontinuing it would not be a
reasonable option; however it is considered that the
administration of the fund can be improved by undertaking this
in-house; as opposed to an external organisation. The
implications of these alternatives are discussed in the report,
together with other recommendations on how the effectiveness
of the Fund in achieving its objectives can be improved.
Conclusions:
The review of the Big Society Fund has concluded that the
scheme was successful in facilitating the delivery of many
beneficial community projects. The outcomes of the funding
scheme, however, could be better achieved by changing the way
in which the fund is administered and by setting up a different
process of support and funding for larger or more complex
projects.
Recommendations: Cabinet should make the following recommendations to Full
Council:
1. The SLA with NCF be delivered for the remaining
period (i.e. administration of outstanding
(conditional) grant awards, monitoring of projects
awarded funded in the first year and providing
reports as appropriate).
2. Set up a Big Society Fund for 2013/14 of £225,000 for
applications for grant aid of not more than £15,000
per project, in accordance with the draft prospectus
included as Appendix A.
3. Set up an ‘Enabling Fund’ of £225,000 in order to
support initiatives developed in partnership with
local communities (to help realise opportunities
arising from the provisions of the Localism Act and
to respond to local needs) or for community projects
above £15,000 in value which otherwise meet the
provisions set out in the Big Society Fund
Prospectus.
4. Establish a ‘Localism Board’ to provide a steer for
officers on the development of initiatives supported
by the enabling fund noting that decisions on
funding for them would be brought back to Cabinet
or Council for decision as appropriate (with
appropriate local member involvement).
5. The Big Society Fund should be administered’ inhouse’ by NNDC officers.
6. To approve the terms-of-reference for the ‘Big
Society Fund Grants Panel’ set out in Appendix B
and delegate any subsequent minor amendments of
those to that Panel.
7. To appoint 5 members (plus two substitutes) to the
former Big Society Board (which determined the
small grant applications last year) in accordance with
the proposed terms of reference, to constitute the
new Big Society Fund Grants Panel.
8. To note that minutes of the Big Society Fund Grants
Panel will be reported to Cabinet and that an annual
report will be produced summarising how resources
have been applied and the outcomes achieved.
Reasons for
Recommendations:
These recommendations are made in the light of the appraisal of
the scheme’s operation in the first year, taking account of the
views of the review group set up by Overview and Scrutiny
Committee. It represents the most effective means of operating
community grant funding for the next financial year.
LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW
(Papers relied on to write the report and which do not contain exempt information)
Service Level Agreement with Norfolk Community Foundation (2012)
Notes from the meeting of the Big Society Fund Review Group – Available from Democratic
Services
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Contact Officer:
Telephone no:
Email:
12.
Trevor Ivory
All
Robert Young
01263 516162
Robert.young@north-norfolk.gov.uk
THE COUNCIL’S APPROACH TO INITIATIVES ARISING FROM COMMUNITY RIGHTS
UNDER LOCALISM
(page 55)
(Appendix F – p.64) (Appendix G – p.65)
Summary:
Options considered:
This report sets out the Council’s procedures for implementing
actions in response to Community Right to Challenge and Bid
and what the Provisions mean for communities and the Council.
The following options were considered as a Council approach to
processing Expressions of Interest and Nominations that are
required through Government regulations relating to Community
Right to challenge and Community Right to bid.
Consider community expressions of interest and Challenges
through existing Council committees. This approach however,
may lack the focus required to develop officer and member
knowledge and awareness of the particular regulations set out
by Government, or enhance the processes adopted and required
for considering aspects of legal and financial procedure.
Conclusions:
This report has reviewed the current provisions that Government
have provided to support the local community interest in running
local government services as well as the procedures for listing
assets of community value. It sets out how the Council should
respond in respect of enabling communities develop their
ambitions under the Community Right to Challenge and Right to
Bid processes, and identifies the sort of issues and requirements
that may arise from an asset and service management role.
More specifically the report has assessed the implications and
actions that members and officers may wish to consider when
taking forward actions that could support the Council’s strategic
decision-making and delivery of various approaches under the
Localism agenda.
Recommendations:
Cabinet is asked to resolve:
1. That a ‘Localism Board’ (comprising relevant Cabinet
members and officers) be set up to provide a steer
with respect to Localism initiatives and community
projects (particularly in relation to expressions of
interest for local public services (under the
Community Right to Challenge) and nominations for
assets of Community Value (under the Community
Right to Bid)). Noting that decisions resulting from
the Board’s recommendations (with appropriate local
member involvement) would be reported to Cabinet/
Council as appropriate.
2. That the process identified in Appendix F be adopted
in respect of expressions of interest for local public
services (under the Community Right to Challenge)
3. That the process identified in Appendix G be adopted
for the consideration of nominations for assets of
Community Value (under the Community Right to
Bid).
Reasons for
Recommendations:
The Council is required by law (Localism Act 2011) to implement
regulations under Community Rights to Challenge and Bid. The
recommendations provide the most appropriate means by which
the Localism Agenda can support the wider community in North
Norfolk. For the Community Right to Challenge and Right to Bid
to be effective, the Council must ensure that sufficient
information is made available and that due processes are
established and followed within the regulation’s that have been
approved.
LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW
(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published
elsewhere)
Localism Act 2011
Public services (Social Value) Act 2012
Cabinet Member(s)
Ward(s) affected
Contact Officer:
Telephone no:
Email:
13.
Trevor Ivory
All
Robert Young
01263 516162
Rob.young@north-norfolk.gov.uk
EXCLUSION OF PRESS AND PUBLIC
To pass the following resolution:
“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be
excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they
involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs _ of Part I of
Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”
14.
PRIVATE BUSINESS