Agenda and decisions

In accordance with the local Code of Conduct, a councillor is required to disclose at the meeting any disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI) that they may have in respect of any matter for consideration on this agenda.  Any councillor with a DPI must not participate in any discussion or vote regarding that matter and they must also withdraw from the meeting immediately before consideration of the matter.

If that DPI has not been registered, the councillor must notify the Monitoring Officer of the details of the DPI within 28 days of the date of the meeting.

Councillors are further invited to disclose any non-pecuniary interest which may be relevant to any matter on this agenda, in the interests of transparency, and to confirm that it will not affect their objectivity in relation to that matter.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 22 February 2024.

The minutes of the meeting held on 22 February were confirmed as correct. The Chairman signed the minutes.

Decision:

The Executive formally agreed the proposed responses and the reasons for those responses as set out in the table at item 5.

Reason(s):

1.   In order to help improve air quality and reduce emissions.

2.   To improve the Council’s communications in regard to air quality, particularly the air pollution concentrations in the Borough and the benefits of clean air.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

The Executive noted the outcome of the call in by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee of the decision taken by the Strategic Director: Place on 29 February 2024 in respect of the Option Agreement with Blackwell Park Limited providing for the purchase of Council-owned land, which was to endorse that decision.

Reason(s):

The Executive was now aware of the decision and the outcome of the call-in.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

The Executive approved the draft Asset Disposal Strategy set out at Appendix 1 and noted the Equality Impact Assessment at Appendix 2 of the report.

Reason(s):

To set out a strategy to generate capital receipts through the sale of assets to meet the £50M (net) target as part of the Financial Recovery Plan to reduce Council debt to achieve a sustainable financial position.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

1.       Do nothing and continue to adopt a business-as-usual approach to disposing of the Council’s surplus owned assets without an approved Asset Disposal Strategy. This option is not recommended as it is highly unlikely to deliver the targeted capital receipts of £50M net by March 2027.

2.       Proceed with the Asset Disposal programme ignoring political, local community and any other sensitive issues along with all operational requirements of the Council’s service teams whilst basing any decision to dispose of an asset purely on economic grounds. This option is not recommended due to the inability of the Service teams to function without suitable premises and the likely objections that this would raise.

3.       Proceed with the Asset Disposal programme ignoring operational service requirements for use of selected assets. This option is not recommended as for each impacted Service to continue operating, it would likely result in the Council needing to fund the purchase of alternative premises.

4.       Proceed with the Asset Disposal programme without first investigating any legal issues such as restrictive covenants and planning issues which may need to be resolved prior to placing an asset on the market. This option is not recommended due to the risk of sales falling through and possible reputational damage to the Council, as such encumbrances could potentially frustrate the sale of an asset completing.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

The Executive agreed:

1.       The revised project allocations of Guildford’s UKSPF grant funding for 2024/25, as outlined in the report.

2.       To delegate to the Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, authority to enter into such contracts and legal agreements connected with the UKSPF and REPF as may be necessary in compliance with Procurement Procedure Rules and within the allocated grant funding budget.

3.       To delegate to the Strategic Director, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, authority to reallocate budget across projects as required in order to meet the grant spend deadline.

Reason(s):

The £790,320 total capital and revenue funding Guildford Borough Council has been allocated from the UKSPF for 2024-25 is a significant sum of money that could have a positive impact on the borough’s local communities and businesses.  

The projects put forward align with the borough’s local priorities and we intend to leverage collaboration with the Council’s partners to maximise value for money.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

OPTION 1: The Executive could decide not to approve the proposed revised interventions for Guildford’s UKSPF grant for 2024-25. However, this would result in a high likelihood that the Council would not be able to use the grant within the funding availability period and would therefore have to repay a proportion of it to the DLUHC. This would also mean that the Council would be unable to advance the proposed projects and make use of the grant allocated within the prescribed timescales to empower our local businesses and communities.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

The report was late and is listed in the Supplementary Agenda.

Decision:

The Executive:

1.   Noted the Chief Executive / Head of Paid Services’ decision to revise his staff structure with the creation of the role of Head of Business Improvement; and

2.   Approved the budget for the new role of £95,484 (which includes on-costs) funded from the savings made on the insurance contract renewal which was recently completed. This would be vired to cover the cost of the new post.

Reason(s):

To ensure resources are available to create and drive an improvement plan and to address governance challenges in the Council.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

1.       There was an option to fund the role from an alternative budget where ongoing provision was available and this budget would need to be identified.

2.       There was an option of not agreeing to fund this post however the Joint Senior Staffing Committee had delegated the responsibility for the appointment of a Head of Business Improvement to the Head of Paid Service.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.