Agenda and minutes

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

a)   disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)   other significant interests (OSI);

c)   voluntary announcements of other interests.

Councillor Godfrey made a voluntary declaration of interest in respect of Minute No 96 (Exploring Potential for New Nuclear Technologies at Dungeness) in that he was the Vice-Chair of the Dungeness Site Stakeholder Group. 

Councillor Wimble also made a voluntary declaration of interest in respect of the same item as he was a council representative for the Nuclear Legacy Advisory Forum (Nuleaf).  

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2023.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2023 were submitted, approved and signed by the Leader.

This report presents an update on the preparation of the second annual update of the strategic business plan for Otterpool Park Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). The report also provides an update on engagement with Homes England in relation to a potential Collaboration Agreement and seeks agreement for Otterpool Park LLP to enter into 3 contracts which are required to continue to progress delivery of the project.

The report presented an update on the assessment being undertaken on the second annual update of the strategic business plan for Otterpool Park Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). The report also provided an update on engagement with Homes England in relation to a potential Collaboration Agreement and sought agreement for Otterpool Park LLP to enter into 3 contracts which are required to continue to progress delivery of the project.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/22/109 be received and noted.

2.         That the update in respect of the proposed collaboration with Homes England be noted.

3.         That the due diligence and financial assessment being carried out in relation to the updated Business Plan submitted by the Board of Otterpool Park Limited Liability Partnership be noted.

4.         That the updated Business Plan will be subject of a report to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee prior to being presented to Cabinet for decision.

5.         That it be agreed that Otterpool Park Limited Liability Partnership enter into contracts as set out in section 4. of this report.

(Voting figures: 8 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet will receive the updated business plan for consideration at a future meeting. Cabinet agreement is required in relation to requests to the Council for Otterpool Park LLP to enter into contracts with a value of £250,000 and higher.

This report sets out the current position and next phase of work to explore suitability of and commercial interest in specific proposals for new nuclear technologies at Dungeness. The report has been developed in partnership with Kent County Council (KCC Cabinet have approved a version of this joint paper). 

The report set out the current position and next phase of work to explore suitability of and commercial interest in specific proposals for new nuclear technologies at Dungeness. The report has been developed in partnership with Kent County Council. 

Proposed by Councillor Godfrey,

Seconded by Councillor Wimble; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/22/111 be received and noted.

2.         That the updated position in respect of Dungeness and the potential deployment of new nuclear technologies be noted.

3.         That the governance approach detailed in section 2 of the report be agreed and that the Council establish a joint Steering Committee with Kent County Council. 

4.         Agree the next steps and actions outlined in section 2 of the report.

5.         Note that the outcome of the next stages of work will be reported to Cabinet in due course.

(Voting figure: 6 for, 1 against, 1 abstention).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Department for Energy Security & Net Zero (DESNZ, formerly BEIS) is moving from a centralised list of potential nuclear sites to a more responsive site approval process.  This changes the route for approving new nuclear activities at Dungeness and has implications for the Councils’ role in progressing future site options. Cabinet agreement is sought to establish a governance approach with Kent County Council that will support progress in relation to determining the new nuclear opportunities at Dungeness.

This report updates on work being carried out to transfer the Council’s Housing Options and Housing Waiting List IT System between Locata, our existing Supplier, and our new supplier Huume. 

The report gave an update on work being carried out to transfer the Council’s Housing Options and Housing Waiting List IT System between Locata, our existing Supplier, and our new supplier Huume. 

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Field; and

RESOLVED:

1.       That alternative methods of storing the housing data currently held in the Civica system be explored and reported back to a future meeting of Cabinet.

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 1 abstention).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet is asked to agree the recommendations because: -

a)       The Kent Homechoice Partnership has re-tendered the contract for the Kent wide housing options and housing waiting list system.

b)       The new system will be operational from July of this year and will be provided by Huume Housing Services.

c)       All new housing options and waiting list documentation will be stored in the new Huume system.

This report gives an overview of F&HDC Housing Services’ approach to how we propose to deliver on targets to reduce carbon emissions across the council owned and managed homes by 2030 (and 2050), in line with the commitments set out within the published Housing Asset Management Strategy. This approach is consistent with the wider council F&HDC Net Zero Toolkit and Carbon Reduction Action Plan.

The report gave an overview of F&HDC Housing Services’ approach to how we propose to deliver on targets to reduce carbon emissions across the council owned and managed homes by 2030 (and 2050), in line with the commitments set out within the published Housing Asset Management Strategy. This approach is consistent with the wider council F&HDC Net Zero Toolkit and Carbon Reduction Action Plan.

Proposed by Councillor Godfrey,

Seconded by Councillor Peall; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/22/107 be received and noted.

2.         That publication of the council’s Housing Carbon Reduction Approach 2023-2030 (attached at Appendix 1) be agreed.

3.         That officers’ efforts to pursue all opportunities to reduce carbon emissions across the council housing portfolio, including retrofitting homes to bring energy efficiency ratings up to EPC ‘C’ by 2030 be endorsed.

(Voting figures: 7 for, 0 against, 1 abstention).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

1.    Following publication of the Housing Asset Management Strategy, a Delivery Plan was agreed which included an action to develop a planned approach to carbon reduction across the council housing portfolio.

2.    Two key commitments were made in the Housing Asset Management Strategy to support the council’s wider climate change pledge:

Objective 3 – Improve the energy efficiency of the housing stock and the ways of working that reduce carbon emissions and levels of fuel poverty by:

a.    achieving a minimum EPC rating of ‘C’ by 2030

b.    aiming to achieve ‘net zero carbon in use (NZC)’ for all of its housing stock by 2050.