The leasehold interest in Churchgate Shopping Centre was acquired in 2022. The Council became direct landlord for the shopping centre tenants. Substantial rent and service charge arrears had accrued under the previous landlord. The terms of the acquisition gave rights for the Council to recover arrears where possible. This report outlines the arrears at acquisition, the arrears at the time of transfer of the management from Brown and Lee to Praxis in February 2025 and the position as at 1 October 2026. Actions and recovery of arrears over that period and recommendations for writing off of arrears where there are no further prospect of recovery.

The Council has a policy for Charnwood House to be brought back into use to support community-based activities.

A Record of Decision dated 3 August by the Executive Member for Enterprise approved the re marketing of Charnwood House on a long lease basis to organisations with the vision and expertise to transform it into a thriving community asset. This follows a previous Cabinet decision in December 2020 approving the principle of marketing and for the terms of any transaction to be presented back to Cabinet for approval.

The new marketing sets out the Council’s aspirations, seeking proposals from suitable interested organisations and offers based on the Council’s proposed letting arrangement which will include works required to the property, lease length and acceptable uses.

Applicants are required to complete a detailed application form. This Cabinet report seeks approval to the basis for assessing and scoring the applications and delegating final approval of the successful organisation to the Executive Members for Enterprise and Resources.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
To update Cabinet on progress with delivering the Treasury Strategy for 2026/27, as at the end of June 2026.

REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
To update Cabinet on progress with delivering the Capital Programme for 2026/27, as at the end of June 2026.

The purpose of this report is to inform Cabinet of the summary position on revenue income and expenditure forecasts for the financial year 2026/27, as at the end of the first quarter.

Report updating on progress against the Corporate Peer Challenge Action Plan, recommending that there be no further updates after this one

To identify the latest position on key planning and transport issues affecting the Council.

To seek approval to adopt the North Herts Town Centres Strategy as additional policy guidance setting out the Council's planning priorites for its town centres pending the approved review of the Local Plan.

This report seeks approval for the Local Plan - content and evidence base report for consultation. It provides a narrative on the policy approaches for new Local Plan and what evidence has been or will be collected to support the Local Plan.
It is accompanied by a draft consultation and engagement strategy and a sustainability appraisal scoping report.

Allocation of MHCLG Homelessness grant

A first quarter update on progress against the Council delivery Plan

To review the grounds maintenance contract and seek a five year contract extension until March 2032.