Agenda

Executive Summary

The Managing Performance Report attached, as Appendix A, enables the Council to assess delivery against objectives detailed in the Corporate Plan Delivery Plan 2019-2023 and operational service performance for the first quarter of the 2023/24 civic year – i.e. 1st April – 30th June 2023.

Options considered

Options considering action regarding performance are presented separately, issue by issue, to the appropriate Council Committee where committee approval is required.

Consultation(s)

The Section 151 officer and the Monitoring Officer reviewed this report prior to it being presented to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 13 September 2023.

Recommendations

That Cabinet resolves to note this report, address any recommendations from Overview and Scrutiny committee and endorse the actions being taken by Corporate Leadership Team detailed in Appendix A – Managing Performance.

Reasons for recommendations

To ensure the objectives of the Council are achieved and service performance monitored, reviewed and as necessary improved.

Background papers

The 2019 – 2023 Corporate Plan and In-Phase performance management system

Wards affected

All

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Tim Adams

Contact Officer

Steve Blatch, Chief Executive

Email:- steve.blatch@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

The large part of this report is concerned with ensuring the objectives within the Corporate Plan 2019-23 are achieved.

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                

Achieving the objectives in the Corporate Plan 2019-23 and delivering services effectively and efficiently is a part of ensuring the MTFS is achieved.

Council Policies & Strategies

Corporate Plan 2019 - 23

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

 No

Has the public interest test been applied

Not applicable. Item not exempt.

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

Not applicable. Quarterly performance management report presented throughout the life of the Corporate Plan 2019-23.

Executive Summary

NNDC has been offered government grant through Round 2 of the Local Authority Housing Fund (LAHF) to acquire four homes to meet housing need.

Three homes are to be initially used to meet the needs of resettled Afghan households and one is to provide Temporary Accommodation (TA) for homeless households.

The grant available can cover up to 40% of the capital cost of homes with a further £20k per home for associated costs. This report considers options for delivering these four homes and the associated costs and implications.

Options considered

a)   NNDC takes up the offer of Round 2 LAHF and delivers four homes – match funding the grant largely using existing Capital funding earmarked for Temporary Accommodation

b)   NNDC takes up the offer of Round 2 LAHF and works with a partner Registered Provider to deliver four homes

c)    NNDC takes up the offer of Round 2 LAHF and delivers four homes – match funding from borrowing

d)    NNDC does not take up the offer of Round 2 LAHF

Consultation(s)

Portfolio Holder for Housing & People Services

Assistant Director People Services

Housing Options Manager

Estates and Asset Strategy Manager

Flagship Housing Group – Head of Development

Recommendations

1.    NNDC accept the Round 2 LAHF grant

2.    Officers seek to work with Flagship to acquire three of the four homes, and officers seek to identify one LAHF home to acquire for use as TA to be match funded from our existing TA budget

3.    In the likely event that Flagship are unable to find three homes to purchase, that officers seek to identify up to four homes to acquire to be match funded using the existing TA budget and HPG funding

4.    Cabinet give delegated authority to the Section 151 Officer / other member of Corporate Leadership Team, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples Services, to agree the specific purchase of up to four properties (within the identified budget limits).

Reasons for recommendations

To seek approval for the Council to accept the LAHF grant and agree the delivery option recommended

Background papers

Cabinet March 2023 – LAHF Round 1 Opportunity

Cabinet June 2023 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation Unit

Cabinet June 2023 – Outturn Budget report 2022/23

Cabinet November 2022 - Purchase of Temporary Accommodation Unit 

Wards affected

District-wide (potentially)

Cabinet member(s)

Councillor Wendy Fredericks - Portfolio Holder for Housing & Peoples Services

Contact Officer

Nicky Debbage / Graham Connolly, Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager, nicky.debbage@north-norfolk,gov.uk 

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

Meeting Our Local Housing Need

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                  

One of the four homes will be used immediately for Temporary Accommodation for homeless households delivering savings compared to the cost of alternatives such as bed and breakfast. The remaining three homes can be used as Temporary Accommodation in the longer-term.

Council Policies & Strategies

Housing Strategy 2021 – 2025

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

 Y

Has the public interest test been applied

NA

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

NA

Executive Summary

Cabinet in February 2021 agreed to the establishment of an annual budget in the Capital Programme to provide grants, using section 106 capital receipts held by the council, to support Registered Providers to deliver new affordable homes.

A budget of £500k in 2021/22 and £300k per annum 2022/23 - 2024/25 was established. No grants have yet been paid so this budget has been carried forward.

This report now details the programme of grants for 2023/24 and seeks support to provide s106 grant totalling £1,186,000, which will provide 71 affordable homes (an average of less than £17k grant funding per home).

Options considered

The housing section 106 monies held can only be used to fund delivery of affordable homes.

The option of retaining the monies for alternative future affordable housing schemes is rejected as this runs the risk of some of the current proposed affordable housing schemes not going ahead.

Additionally, as some section 106 receipts have a time limit on their use, not using them risks needing to repay them.

Consultation(s)

Portfolio Holder for Housing and Peoples Services 

Finance team

S106 Officer

Recommendations

That Cabinet support the granting of £1,186,000 of existing s106 housing monies in 2023/24 to support Registered Providers deliver new affordable housing schemes as detailed in the report.

Reasons for recommendations

To provide support for £1,186,000 grant funding to help deliver affordable homes

Background papers

Cabinet February 2021 - Use of s106 Commuted Sums to support delivery of affordable homes in North Norfolk

Cabinet March 2022 - Proposed 2022/23 programme of Section106 Commuted Sums to support delivery of affordable homes in North Norfolk

Wards affected

Holt, Stibbard, Coastal, Priory, Bacton, Suffield Park

Cabinet member(s)

Cllr Wendy Fredericks, Portfolio Holder Housing & Peoples Services

Contact Officer

Nicky Debbage, Housing Strategy & Delivery Manager, nicky.debbage@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Links to key documents:

Corporate Plan:          

Meeting our Local Housing Need – specifically:

-       Supporting the delivery of more affordable housing, utilising partnership and external funding wherever possible.

-       Working with partners to deliver more rural exception sites

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)                                  

NA

Council Policies & Strategies

Housing Strategy 2021-25

Corporate Governance:

Is this a key decision 

Yes

Has the public interest test been applied

NA

Details of any previous decision(s) on this matter

NA

Executive Summary

According to the latest Office for National Statistics (ONS) census data, North Norfolk is the local authority area with the highest average age in England and Wales. With a median age of 54, the average age of people living in North Norfolk is 14 years higher than the national average (40 years old).
An Age-Friendly Community is a place that enables people to age well and live a good later life. Somewhere that people can stay living in their homes, participate in the activities they value, and contribute to their communities, for as long as possible.

Alignment with the UK network for Age Friendly Communities and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities will support the delivery of work by both NNDC and the North Norfolk Health and Wellbeing Partnership (NNHWP) in developing a culture of Age Friendly Communities across the district through sustainable projects and schemes.

This alignment requires the political buy in of the Council and to align with the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Network of Age Friendly Cities and Communities there needs to be written confirmation of political support from the leader of the Council.

Options considered

• To commit to the development of Age Friendly Communities and align with the UK and global networks of age friendly (cities and) communities.

This is the recommended option, as it would confirm commitment to supporting our demographic, which is the oldest population in the UK. It will also allow for access to peer support from other Age Friendly Communities nationally and globally, and to access resources which may not be available without the affiliations.

Age Friendly Communities and the work surrounding it already has the endorsement and support of the NNHWP and its Older Persons Working Group. In committing to this alignment it may open up opportunities to access funding for this work.

• To not align with age friendly communities networks, and not commit to the development of age friendly communities and associated projects.

This option is not recommended as it would restrict the work of the NNHWP and its working groups in relation to Older People. Political buy-in is required to make the alignments as without it, any work completed would stand alone and be detached from national and global collaborations and there would be restricted access to support and potential resources including funding.

Consultation(s)

Consultation has been held with the NNHWP and its Older people working group, including public health.

The NNHWP, of which NNDC are the lead organisation, released a strategy and action plan for 2023 to 2026. The strategy was devised in consultation with partners from across statutory and voluntary organisations and charities, and three priority areas were addressed at individual workshops, which included input from wider stakeholders.

Older people were identified as a priority area and, in response, a number of actions were identified to support work in this area.

The first of these actions was the adoption of Age Friendly Communities and alignment with  ...  view the full agenda text for item 12.