Agenda and decisions

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Contact: Emma Denny  Email: emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 286 KB

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 09 September 2019.

3.

Public Questions and Statements

To receive questions and statements 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

Decision:

There was one item of urgent business, the item was also exempt (see agenda items 9 & 10)

 

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 requries that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest

6.

Members' Questions

To receive oral questions from Members, if any

7.

Overview & Scrutiny Matters pdf icon PDF 67 KB

The following recommendation was made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at the meeting on 18th September:

 

To recommend to Cabinet:

 

The creation of an executive/scrutiny protocol to support early and regular engagement between the executive and scrutiny (see attached appendix for further detail)

Decision:

RESOLVED to agree

 

To the creation of an executive/scrutiny protocol to support early and regular engagement between the executive and scrutiny

 

Reason for the decision:

 

To support best practice in response to new statutory guidance on overview and scrutiny in local government,

8.

DETERMINATION OF COUNCIL TAX DISCOUNTS 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 395 KB

Summary:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options considered:

This report sets out alternative options for the level of council tax discounts which Full Council will resolve shall apply to classes of dwelling for the financial year 2020/21.

 

The determinations are made by the Council under sections 11A and 11B, and of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, subsequent enabling powers and Regulations made under the Act.

 

The recommendations take advantage of the reforms included in the Local Government Finance Act 2012 as amended to generate additional revenue. 

 

Conclusions:

 

The legislation provides local authorities with the power to make changes to the level of council tax discount in relation to classes of property. The Council has to approve its determinations for each financial year. The calculation of the tax base for 2020/21 will be made on the assumption that the determinations recommended below will apply. 

 

Recommendations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for

Recommendations:

 

Members recommend that Full Council shall resolve that under section 11A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, and in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 and other enabling powers one of the following applies:

 

Recommendation 1

 

(a)          The discounts for the year 2020/21 and beyond are set at the levels indicated in the table at paragraph 2.1.

(b)          The premium for long term empty properties (those that have been empty for a consecutive period longer than 24 months) is set at 100% of the Council Tax charge for that dwelling

(c)           The premium for long term empty properties (those that have been empty for a consecutive period longer than 60 months) is set at 200% of the Council Tax charge for that dwelling

(d)          To continue to award a local discount of 100% for eligible cases of care leavers under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended).

(e)          That an exception to the levy charges may be made by the Section 151 Officer in conjunction with the Portfolio holder for Finance, on advice of the Revenues Manager in the circumstances laid out in section 3.6 of this report.

 

Recommendation 2

 

(a)          those dwellings that are specifically identified under regulation 6 of the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings)(England) Regulations 2003 will retain the 50% discount and;

(b)          those dwellings described or geographically defined at Appendix A which in the reasonable opinion of the Head of Finance and Asset Management are judged not to be structurally capable of occupation all year round and were built before the restrictions of seasonal usage were introduced by the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, will be entitled to a 35% discount.

   

In accordance with the relevant legislation these determinations shall be published in at least one newspaper circulating in North Norfolk before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the determinations.

 

To set appropriate council tax discounts which will apply in 2020/21 in accordance with the legal requirements and to raise additional council tax revenue.

 

 

 

 

               

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr E Seward

Ward(s) affected

All

 

Contact Officer,  ...  view the full agenda text for item 8.

Decision:

RESOLVED to recommend

 

That Full Council shall resolve that under section 11A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, and in accordance with the provisions of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 and other enabling powers one of the following applies:

 

Recommendation 1

 

(a)          The discounts for the year 2020/21 and beyond are set at the levels indicated in the table at paragraph 2.1.

(b)          The premium for long term empty properties (those that have been empty for a consecutive period longer than 24 months) is set at 100% of the Council Tax charge for that dwelling, with the

(c)           The premium for long term empty properties (those that have been empty for a consecutive period longer than 60 months) is set at 200% of the Council Tax charge for that dwelling

(d)          To continue to award a local discount of 100% for eligible cases of care leavers under section 13A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended).

(e)          That an exception to the levy charges may be made by the Section 151 Officer on advice of the Revenues Manager in the circumstances laid out in section 3.6 of this report.

 

Recommendation 2

 

(a)          those dwellings that are specifically identified under regulation 6 of the Council Tax (Prescribed Classes of Dwellings)(England) Regulations 2003 will retain the 50% discount and;

(b)          those dwellings described or geographically defined at Appendix A which in the reasonable opinion of the Head of Finance and Asset Management are judged not to be structurally capable of occupation all year round and were built before the restrictions of seasonal usage were introduced by the Town and Country Planning Act 1947, will be entitled to a 35% discount.

   

In accordance with the relevant legislation these determinations shall be published in at least one newspaper circulating in North Norfolk before the end of the period of 21 days beginning with the date of the determinations.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

To set appropriate council tax discounts which will apply in 2020/21 in accordance with the legal requirements and to raise additional council tax revenue.

 

9.

North Walsham - High Street Heritage Action Zone Programme pdf icon PDF 262 KB

Summary:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Options considered:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Conclusions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recommendations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for

Recommendations:

North Norfolk District Council has received an agreement in principle from Historic England, to provide funding to create a High Streets Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) in North Walsham. The Council has secured an offer of up to £975,000, with the final amount subject to the successful completion of a Programme Design. The project is expected to commence in April 2020 and will run for four years. This paper broadly outlines the anticipated deliverables of the programme and requests that sufficient match funding is made available to support its delivery.

 

The programme requires match funding of at least 50%. Whilst it is anticipated that the programme will draw in private investment, it is anticipated that it is highly unlikely that the scheme could be delivered through private funding alone. It is therefore considered that public funds will be required in order to achieve the ambitions set out within the bid and to capitalise on the potential benefits that this programme could yield.

 

The HSHAZ programme poses the opportunity to make a significant difference in bringing to life the heritage and historic character of North Walsham town centre. The outcome of this is that it will help it to become a thriving economic hub and cultural heart, welcoming to both local residents, the surrounding rural community and visitors.

 

 

It is recommended that:

 

1)    Cabinet welcome and support the opportunity that this programme provides to regenerate North Walsham town centre and recommend to Full Council that up to £975,000 be allocated from capital receipts to match fund the programme delivery.

 

2)    Cabinet resolve to delegate the formulation of the detailed programme to the Head of Economic & Community Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic & Career Development and the Portfolio Holder for Culture & Wellbeing, following a process that includes Historic England and local stakeholders.

 

3)    Cabinet resolve to establish a Cabinet Working Party to support the project development and delivery.

 

 

To support the Council in its ambitions to make town centres vibrant places to live and do business.

 

 

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr Richard Kershaw

Ward(s) affected:

North Walsham Market Cross, North Walsham East, North Walsham West

Contact Officer, telephone number and email:

Stuart Quick, Economic Growth Manager

stuart.quick@north-norfolk.gov.uk, 01263 516263,

 

 

Decision:

RESOLVED that

 

1)    Cabinet welcome and support the opportunity that this programme provides to regenerate North Walsham town centre and recommend to Full Council that up to £975,000 be allocated from capital receipts to match fund the programme delivery.

 

2)    Cabinet resolve to delegate the formulation of the detailed programme to the Head of Economic & Community Development in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic & Career Development and the Portfolio Holder for Culture & Wellbeing, following a process that includes Historic England and local stakeholders.

 

3)    Cabinet resolve to establish a Cabinet Working Party to support the project development and delivery.

 

Reasons for the decision:

 

To support the Council in its ambitions to make town centres vibrant places to live and do business.

 

10.

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 ofSchedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

Decision:

RESOLVED 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 2 & 4 of Part I of Schedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

 

11.

Private Business

Decision:

The Council wishes to resolve the issues around the senior management structure of the organisation identified both in the Capability review and by the LGA. The matter is now more urgent as the Council wishes to complete the development and delivery of the corporate plan and start delivery of its new agenda.