Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

None received.

Minority Group Leaders in attendance at the meeting are able to ask a question on a report on the agenda. Any questions should be provided in writing by 12 noon at least 2 working days before the meeting.

None received.

RESOLVED:

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the above meeting.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2024-2025 for publication.

Councillor A Dale introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval to publish the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment for 2024-2025 as required by legislation.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment 2024-2025 for publication.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note receipt of funding from the Department for Education as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report;

2)      Note all previously approved allocations within Appendix 1 to the report;

3)      Approve the further allocation of £953,000 to Stubbin Wood School, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

Councillor A Dale introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval for allocations from the Children’s Services SEND Capital allocation for a project at Stubbin Wood School, and the Lea Green Centre.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note receipt of funding from the Department for Education as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report;

2)      Note all previously approved allocations within Appendix 1 to the report;

3)      Approve the further allocation of £953,000 to Stubbin Wood School, as detailed at Appendix 2 to the report.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note the previously delegated approvals at Appendix 2 to the report;

2)      Note the return of funds to the Capital Budget at Appendix 3 to the report; and

3)      Approve allocations for the project outlined at Appendix 4 to the report.

Councillor A Dale introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval to allocate additional funding to Bramley Vale Primary School from the Children’s Services School Condition budget.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note the previously delegated approvals at Appendix 2 to the report;

2)      Note the return of funds to the Capital Budget at Appendix 3 to the report; and

3)      Approve allocations for the project outlined at Appendix 4 to the report.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Formally approve the acceptance of the Active Travel Capability Fund grant of £0.427m provided under Section 31 of the Local Government Act, 2003 to support development of the schemes detailed in the report;

2)      Approve the proposed next steps to further develop the strategic interventions as highlighted in the report;

3)      Approve the initiating of public engagement activities to further develop the Active Travel Master plans; and

4)      Delegate to the Executive Director - Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, the authority to amend or modify the Active Travel Masterplan programme as required and if it remains consistent with the Council’s objectives.

Councillor T King introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval to accept the Active Travel Capability Fund Grant and associated work.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Formally approve the acceptance of the Active Travel Capability Fund grant of £0.427m provided under Section 31 of the Local Government Act, 2003 to support development of the schemes detailed in the report;

2)      Approve the proposed next steps to further develop the strategic interventions as highlighted in the report;

3)      Approve the initiating of public engagement activities to further develop the Active Travel Master plans; and

4)      Delegate to the Executive Director - Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, the authority to amend or modify the Active Travel Masterplan programme as required and if it remains consistent with the Council’s objectives.

RESOLVED to note:

1)      Progress being made against each target and action within the Derbyshire County Council Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021-2025); and

2)      Progress being made against the Council's net zero target of 2032, or sooner, and the County’s net zero target of 2050, and the challenges being faced to reduce emissions from corporate property, streetlighting, core fleet and grey fleet.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, that provided the annual review of progress on the delivery of the Council’s Climate Change Strategy.

RESOLVED to note:

1)      Progress being made against each target and action within the Derbyshire County Council Climate Change Strategy: Achieving Net Zero (2021-2025); and

2)      Progress being made against the Council's net zero target of 2032, or sooner, and the County’s net zero target of 2050, and the challenges being faced to reduce emissions from corporate property, streetlighting, core fleet and grey fleet.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Approve the revised Library Strategy for the period 2025 to 2029 (Appendix 2) and the development of an Implementation Plan to ensure timely delivery;

2)      Note the results of the public consultation on the draft Strategy (Appendix 3), the revised Needs Analysis (Appendix 4) and revised Equality Impact Analysis (Appendix 5) informed by the results of the consultation;

3)      Approve the use of previously allocated earmarked reserves of £680,345 to support the implementation of the Strategy between 2025 and 2027;

4)      Note that a formal consultation with staff and Trade Unions representing staff affected by any changes to contracts will commence and every effort will be made to minimise any risk of redundancies;

5)      Approve the delegation to the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, to agree library opening hours and mobile library routes, and to apply the appropriate Derbyshire County Council policies and schemes in addressing and concluding any Human Resources issues which may arise from the implementation of the Strategy; and

6)      Approve notifying the Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the revised Strategy.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval to adopt a revised Library Strategy.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Approve the revised Library Strategy for the period 2025 to 2029 (Appendix 2) and the development of an Implementation Plan to ensure timely delivery;

2)      Note the results of the public consultation on the draft Strategy (Appendix 3), the revised Needs Analysis (Appendix 4) and revised Equality Impact Analysis (Appendix 5) informed by the results of the consultation;

3)      Approve the use of previously allocated earmarked reserves of £680,345 to support the implementation of the Strategy between 2025 and 2027;

4)      Note that a formal consultation with staff and Trade Unions representing staff affected by any changes to contracts will commence and every effort will be made to minimise any risk of redundancies;

5)      Approve the delegation to the Executive Director for Place in consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, to agree library opening hours and mobile library routes, and to apply the appropriate Derbyshire County Council policies and schemes in addressing and concluding any Human Resources issues which may arise from the implementation of the Strategy; and

6)      Approve notifying the Secretary of State at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport of the revised Strategy.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Approve the acceptance of the £1,366,563 Year 5 Trees for Climate capital delivery grant from Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council and subject to consultation with the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, entering into the grant funding agreement;

2)      Delegate authority for the Cabinet members for Corporate Services and Budget and Infrastructure and Environment respectively to jointly approve grant offers to private landowners and accept grant in respect of tree planting on Council land;

3)      Approve the retention in an earmarked reserve of establishment payments for tree planting schemes on Council owned sites to fund identified work in future years; and

4)      Approve the carry forward of any underspend in revenue grant funding from 2024-25 for Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest into 2025-26 financial year.

Councillor T King introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval to accept grant funding as part of the Year 5 Trees for Climate Capital Grant.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Approve the acceptance of the £1,366,563 Year 5 Trees for Climate capital delivery grant from Cheshire West and Chester Borough Council and subject to consultation with the Director of Legal and Democratic Services, entering into the grant funding agreement;

2)      Delegate authority for the Cabinet members for Corporate Services and Budget and Infrastructure and Environment respectively to jointly approve grant offers to private landowners and accept grant in respect of tree planting on Council land;

3)      Approve the retention in an earmarked reserve of establishment payments for tree planting schemes on Council owned sites to fund identified work in future years; and

4)      Approve the carry forward of any underspend in revenue grant funding from 2024-25 for Derbyshire Heartwood Community Forest into 2025-26 financial year.

RESOLVED to:

1)       Note the process being followed for investment proposals under the first tranche of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s Investment Fund.

2)       Approve in principle:

a)       the receipt of grant funding; and

b)       the addition of projects to the capital programme and the commercial pipeline.

3)       Request that the relevant District Council carry out the consultation in respect of the Avenue Southern access; and

4)       Approve for the Executive Director – Place, to accept specific funding offers, in liaison with the Director of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, and to authorise any required consultation for funded projects.

Councillor T King introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, updating members on investment proposals under the first tranche of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s Investment Fund.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note the process being followed for investment proposals under the first tranche of the East Midlands Combined County Authority’s Investment Fund.

2)      Approve in principle:

a)      the receipt of grant funding; and

b)      the addition of projects to the capital programme and the commercial pipeline.

3)      Request that the relevant District Council carry out the consultation in respect of the Avenue Southern access; and

4)      Approve for the Executive Director – Place, to accept specific funding offers, in liaison with the Director of Finance and the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Environment, and to authorise any required consultation for funded projects.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Endorse the revised Internal Audit Charter; and

2)      Approve the Internal Audit Charter as Council Policy.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, informing Members of the review and update to the Internal Audit Charter.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Endorse the revised Internal Audit Charter; and

2)      Approve the Internal Audit Charter as Council Policy.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note the financial context and approach to budget setting for 2025/26 as set out in the report;

2)      Note the possible options in respect of budget savings for the 2025/26 Financial Year;

3)      Refer these proposals to Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Resources for consideration at its meeting on the 13 January 2025 and request Improvement and Scrutiny Committee to provide feedback in order that it can be considered at the Budget Cabinet meeting on the 30 January 2025; and

4)      Note that where the proposed savings and efficiencies do not progress, alternative savings will need to be found in order to meet the Council’s legal obligations to set a balanced budget.

Councillor S Spencer introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, providing information about the proposed savings and efficiencies programme for 2025/26 to 2029/30.

RESOLVED to:

1)      Note the financial context and approach to budget setting for 2025/26 as set out in the report;

2)      Note the possible options in respect of budget savings for the 2025/26 Financial Year;

3)      Refer these proposals to Improvement and Scrutiny Committee - Resources for consideration at its meeting on the 13 January 2025 and request Improvement and Scrutiny Committee to provide feedback in order that it can be considered at the Budget Cabinet meeting on the 30 January 2025; and

4)      Note that where the proposed savings and efficiencies do not progress, alternative savings will need to be found in order to meet the Council’s legal obligations to set a balanced budget.

To move “That under Regulation 4 (2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England)  Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that in view of the nature of the items of business, that if members of the public were present, exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 would be disclosed to them.”

RESOLVED:

That under Regulation 4(2)(b) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public are excluded from the meeting for the remaining business on the grounds that in view of the nature of the items of business, that if members of the public were present, exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 would be disclosed to them.

RESOLVED:

To approve, as a correct record, the exempt minutes of the above meeting.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the recommendation in the not for publication report.

Councillor C Hart introduced a report, which had been circulated in advance of the meeting, seeking approval for the direct award of a contract that would provide Body Storage, Mortuary Services to the Derbyshire Coroner.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the recommendation in the not for publication report.