Decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Simon Bloxham and Daniel Allen.

Having given due notice, Councillor Michael Muir substituted for Councillor Simon Bloxham and Councillor Dave Winstanley substituted for Councillor Daniel Allen.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the report.

RESOLVED: That application 20/02412/FP be GRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager with the following amended recommendation:

“Recommendation 6.1:

A.    Clarification from HCC Highways regarding local sustainable transport. The response will be shared with the applicant; Parish Council and Chair of Planning Control Committee. If this results in a change to the sustainable transport S106 Contribution for this to be agreed by the Chair of Planning Control Committee;

B.    The completion of a satisfactory legal agreement and the applicant agreeing to extend the statutory period in order to complete the agreement if required; and

C.    Providing delegated powers to the Development and Conservation Manager to update conditions and informatives as set out in the report above; and

D.    Conditions and Informatives as set out below:”

RESOLVED: That application 22/00741/FP be DEFERRED planning permission for the following reasons:

1.     For officers to advise upon and for Members to consider late submissions relating to biodiversity.

2.     For officers to advise upon and Members to consider late submissions relating to the effect of the proposal upon traffic and access.

3.     Members would like to visit a comparable and operating solar farm to understand likely noise impacts arising from the proposal.

4.     For officers to advise upon and for Members to considerproposed conditions by Bygrave Parish Council.   

5.     Members are minded to await the decision of the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities as to whether or not will be calling-in the application for his determination before making a decision on the application.

This item was deferred from this Committee to a later meeting, as the Planning Officer is waiting on a response from the Environmental Health consultee and to allow time to review comments received relating to Air Quality.

RESOLVED: That application 23/00549/OP beGRANTED planning permission subject to the reasons and conditions set out in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager with the following amendment to condition 8:

“Condition 8:

As part of the details at Reserved Matters stage, a Biodiversity Net Gain Plan shall be submitted and approved by the Local Planning Authority, using the Defra Biodiversity Metric to demonstrate how a minimum of 10% Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) will be fulfilled by this development”

Reason: To achieve a BNG of at least 10%, in accordance with Policy NE4 of the Local Plan.

RESOLVED: That application 23/00666/FP be REFUSED planning permission due to the reasons outlined in the report of the Development and Conservation Manager.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 6 July 2023, 11 July 2023 and 27 July 2023 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

The Chair confirmed that the registered speakers were in attendance.

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be recorded.

(2)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(3)   The Chair clarified matters for the registered speakers, the Chair advised that members of the public had 5 minutes for each group of speakers i.e., 5 minutes for objectors and 5 minutes for supporters. This 5 minute time limit also applied to Member Advocates.

The Chair advised that for item 7, the speaking time had been increased to 10 minutes per group.

(4)   The Chair advised that Section4.8.23(a) of the Constitution applied to the meeting.

(5)   The Chair advised that Item 8 on the agenda had been deferred to a later meeting, as the Planning Officer is waiting on a response from the Environmental Health consultee and to allow time to review comments received relating to Air Quality.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1)   Noted the 2021/22 Annual Statement of Accounts as set out in Appendix A.

(2)   Noted the audit work completed to date, the findings from that work and the resultant changes made to the Statement of Accounts.

(3)   Approved the 2021/22 Annual Statement of Accounts, and that the Chair of the Committee signed the Statement of Accounts to confirm that they have been approved by the Committee.

REASON FOR DECISIONs: To ensure that the Council abides by the Audit and Account Regulations 2015, which require the approval and publication of audited Statement of Accounts.

RECOMMENDED TO CABINET:

(1)   That Cabinet note this report.

(2)   That Cabinet approves the changes to the 2023/24 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a £1.119million decrease in net expenditure.

(3)   That Cabinet notes the changes to the 2024/25 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a total £270k increase in net expenditure. These will be incorporated in the draft revenue budget for 2024/25.

REASONS FOR REFERRAL: Members are able to monitor, make adjustments within the overall budgetary framework and request appropriate action of Services who do not meet the budget targets set as part of the Corporate Business Planning process.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET:

(1)   That Cabinet notes the forecast expenditure of £10.438M in 2023/24 on the capital programme, paragraph 8.3 refers.

(2)   That Cabinet approves the adjustments to the capital programme for 2023/24 onwards, as a result of the revised timetable of schemes detailed in table 2 and 3, increasing the overall estimated spend in 2024/25 and beyond by £1.271M.

(3)   That Cabinet notes the position of the availability of capital resources, as detailed in table 4 paragraph 8.6 and the requirement to keep the capital programme under review for affordability.

(4)   That Cabinet is asked to note the position of Treasury Management activity as at the end of June 2023.

REASON FOR REFERRAL:

(1)   Cabinet is required to approve adjustments to the capital programme and ensure the capital programme is fully funded.

(2)   To ensure the Council’s continued compliance with CIPFA’s code of practice on Treasury Management and the Local Government Act 2003 and that the Council manages its exposure to interest and capital risk.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1)   Approved the amended AGS and Action plan (Appendix A).

(2)   Noted the current position of the actions within the AGS Action Plan, outlined at Appendix B.

REASONS FOR DECISIONS:

(1)   The AGS must be considered and approved by this Committee before the approval of the Statement of Accounts under Regulation 6(4)(a) of the Accounts and Audit Regulations (‘AAR’) 2015/234.

(2)   The Committee is the legal body with responsibility for approval of the AGS.

(3)   Reviewing the AGS Action Plan during 2023-24 will provide the Committee with assurances that the Council is examining and where necessary improving its governance arrangements.

RESOLVED: That the Annual Audit Report 2021-22 was noted.

RESOLVED: That the Committee noted the progress by Officers and the Shared Anti-Fraud Service to deliver the 2023-24 Anti-Fraud Plan for the Council.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1)   Noted the SIAS Progress report for the period to 25 August 2023.

(2)   Noted the plan amendments to the 2023-24 Annual Audit Plan.

RESOLVED: That the Committee:

(1)   Noted the activity undertaken by the Shared Anti-Fraud Service to deliver the 2022-23 Anti-Fraud Plan for the Council.

(2)   Noted the other anti-fraud activities undertaken to protect the Council.

The Chair Stated that due to Councillor turnout this item would be discussed at the next meeting.

There was no public participation at this meeting.

(1)   The Chair advised that, in accordance with Council Policy, the meeting would be audio recorded;

(2)   The Chair drew attention to the item on the agenda front pages regarding Declarations of Interest and reminded Members that, in line with the Code of Conduct, any Declarations of Interest needed to be declared immediately prior to the item in question.

(3)   The Chair advised for the purposes of clarification for that 4.8.23(a) of the Constitution did not apply to this meeting.

There was no other business notified.

RESOLVED:That the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 21 June 2023 be approved as a true record of the proceedings and be signed by the Chair.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Terry Hone, Terry Tyler, Tom Plater, Chris Lucas and Independent Person John Cannon.

RESOLVED: That the Final Audit Results Report 2021-22 was noted.