Democracy in Crawley

How decisions are made and who represents you

Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Room C - Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: democratic.services@crawley.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Disclosures of Interest

In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, councillors are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

 

Minutes:

No disclosures of interests were made.

2.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 132 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet held on 1 February 2023.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1 February 2023 were approved as a correct record and signed by Councillor C Mullins.

3.

Public Question Time

To answer any questions asked by the public which are relevant to the functions of the Cabinet.

 

Public Question Time will be concluded by the Chair when all questions have been answered or on the expiry of a period of 15 minutes, whichever is the earlier.

Minutes:

There were no questions from the public.

4.

Further Notice of Intention to Conduct Business in Private and Notifications of any Representations

The Monitoring Officer will report on any responses to representations received in relation to why item(s) 9: Waste and Recycling Contract Extension should not be held in Part B Business – (Closed to the Public).

 

Minutes:

It was reported that no representations had been received in respect of agenda item  9: Waste and Recycling Contract Extension.

 

5.

Matters referred to the Cabinet and Report from the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission pdf icon PDF 81 KB

To consider any matters referred to the Cabinet (whether by a scrutiny committee or by the Council) and those for reconsideration in accordance with the provisions contained in the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Budget Procedure Rules and the Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution.

 

Minutes:

It was confirmed that no matters had been referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.

 

6.

Tenancy Policy Crawley Homes pdf icon PDF 195 KB

Housing Portfolio

 

To consider report CH/199 of the Head of Crawley Homes, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 6 March 2023.

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

That the Cabinet:

 

a)            approves the Tenancy Policy (Appendix A to report CH/199) for adoption and subsequent publication.

 

b)            delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing, to review and make amendments to the Tenancy Policy as further changes to legislation and statutory guidance are introduced.

 

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

 

c)            delegates to the Head of Crawley Homes the variation process required for introductory flexible tenancies under Section 103 of the Housing Act 1985

 

(Generic Delegation 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)

 

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

In line with the Localism Act 2011 and Regulatory Standards, it is a requirement for social landlords to have a policy in place which sets out their approach to offering tenancies and making best use of stock, as well as how they will manage and sustain tenancies.

 

The proposed Tenancy Policy sets out the Council’s revised approach.

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet considered report CH/199of the Head of Crawley Homes, who introduced the report to the Cabinet.  The report sought approval for the amended Tenancy Policy.

 

Councillor T Belben presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report OSC/309 to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 6 March 2023.

 

With the agreement of the Chair, Councillors Crow and Burgess also spoke on the item.

 

Councillor S Mullins spoke as part of the discussion on the report and asked the Head of Crawley Homes a number of questions over the proposed new Tenancy Policy, including seeking information over how the transition would work for flexible joint tenancies, mutual exchanges, downsizing and introductory tenancies. Following the response from officers, the Cabinet felt that the alacrity given had provided the confidence it needed to fully support the amended Policy.

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Cabinet:

 

a)             approves the Tenancy Policy (Appendix A to report CH/199) for adoption and subsequent publication.

 

b)             delegates authority to the Head of Crawley Homes, in consultation with the Cabinet member for Housing, to review and make amendments to the Tenancy Policy as further changes to legislation and statutory guidance are introduced.

 

(Generic Delegation 7 will be used to enact this recommendation).

 

c)              delegates to the Head of Crawley Homes the variation process required for introductory flexible tenancies under Section 103 of the Housing Act 1985

 

(Generic Delegation 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)

 

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

In line with the Localism Act 2011 and Regulatory Standards, it is a requirement for social landlords to have a policy in place which sets out their approach to offering tenancies and making best use of stock, as well as how they will manage and sustain tenancies.

 

The proposed tenancy policy sets out the Council’s revised approach.

 

 

7.

Exempt Information – Exclusion of the Public (Subject to Agenda Item 5)

The Committee is asked to consider passing the following resolution:-

That under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act by virtue of the paragraphs specified against the item.

Minutes:

RESOLVED

 

That in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act by virtue of the paragraph specified against the item.

 

 

8.

Waste and Recycling Contract Extension

Environmental Services and Sustainability Portfolio

 

Exempt Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

 

To consider report HPS/34 of the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 6 March 2023.

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Exempt Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Cabinet:

 

a)            approves the extenison of the current Waste and Recycling Contract with Biffa Municipal for 26 months from 1st February 2024 until 31st March 2026, noting the resource implications set out in section 6 of report HPS/034. 

 

b)            agrees to procure a new refuse vehicle fleet with a view to the new fleet coming into operation from 1st February 2024, and delegates the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services to conduct the fleet procurement in accordance with the Council’s Procurement Code.

 

c)            delegates the negotiation, approval and completion of all relevant legal documentation, of a new refuse vehicle fleet, to the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services, Head of Governance, People and Performance, and Head of Corporate Finance, in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet member.

 

(Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)

 

d)            Request Full Council to approves a supplementary capital estimate of £3m for the procurement of a new refuse fleet funded by:

·           £1.6m from the Refuse Vehicle Replacement Reserve

·           £0.18m from the Waste and Recycling Reserve

·           £1.22m from the Capital Programme Reserve

 

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

The recommendations will enable continuity of the waste and recycling service in the coming years and will ensure the waste vehicle fleet is operating efficiently and fit for purpose. The recommendations will also enable the Council to assess options for making amendments to the local waste collection arrangements in response to the National Waste Strategy which the Government has indicated will be released in the ‘near future’.

 

Minutes:

Exempt Paragraph 3

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

 

The Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Sustainability presented reports HPS/034 and HPS/034a of the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services. The reports requested approval to extend the contract to the waste and recycling service and the replacement of the refuse vehicle fleet. The Cabinet was informed that the additional information contained within report HPS/034a provided further context regarding the evaluation of options and rationale for the

recommendation regarding the proposed type of new refuse collection vehicles.

 

Councillor T Belben presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report OSC/309 to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 6 March 2023.

 

With the agreement of the Chair, Councillor Burgess, Burrett and Crow also spoke on the item and the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services responded to their questions on the report.

 

Councillors Nawaz and S Mullins then spoke as part of the discussion on the item and in support of the report. 

 

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Cabinet:

 

a)             approves the extension of the current Waste and Recycling Contract with Biffa Municipal for 26 months from 1st February 2024 until 31st March 2026, noting the resource implications set out in section 6 of report HPS/034. 

 

b)             agrees to procure a new refuse vehicle fleet with a view to the new fleet coming into operation from 1st February 2024, and delegates the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services to conduct the fleet procurement in accordance with the Council’s Procurement Code.

 

c)              delegates the negotiation, approval and completion of all relevant legal documentation, of a new refuse vehicle fleet, to the Head of Major Projects and Commercial Services, Head of Governance, People and Performance, and Head of Corporate Finance, in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet member.

 

(Generic Delegations 2 & 3 will be used to enact this recommendation)

 

d)             requests Full Council to approves a supplementary capital estimate of £3m for the procurement of a new refuse fleet funded by:

·         £1.6m from the Refuse Vehicle Replacement Reserve

·         £0.18m from the Waste and Recycling Reserve

·         £1.22m from the Capital Programme Reserve

 

 

Reasons for the Recommendations

 

The recommendations will enable continuity of the waste and recycling service in the coming years and will ensure the waste vehicle fleet is operating efficiently and fit for purpose. The recommendations will also enable the Council to assess options for making amendments to the local waste collection arrangements in response to the National Waste Strategy which the Government has indicated will be released in the ‘near future’.