Agenda, decisions and minutes

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Duncan McGregor.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There were no urgent items of business to consider.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 9^th September 2024

Moved by Councillor Clive Moesby and seconded by Councillor John Ritchie

RESOLVED that the Minutes of an Executive meeting held on 9^th September 2024 be approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED that 1) Executive endorse the recommendations of the review outlined in section 2.5 of the report and Section 2 of Appendix 1.

2) for recommendations approved by Executive, monitoring takes place over a twelve-month period via the PERFORM system with an update report to the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee at the end of the monitoring period.

Executive considered a detailed report, presented by Councillor Rob Hiney-Saunders, Chair of Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee, in relation to the Committee’s review of the Council’s Energy Policy for Local Housing.

The Committee had agreed to undertake a Review of the Council’s Energy Policy for Local Housing as part of its 2023-24 Work Programme.

The issue was initially raised due to the District’s requirement of improved energy resilience within the local housing stock, as well as concerns over residents being under pressure due to the rising costs of energy, adding to the current cost of living crisis.

The aim of the review was to ensure that the Council had a clear policy on energy efficiency standards across Council stock and long-term energy resilience across all housing stock within the District.

The objectives, key issues identified for investigation, evidence sought, and key findings arising from the review were set out in the report and the Committee had put together five recommendations which would assist the Council in improving the Council’s energy policy for local housing.

The Chair of Climate Change and Communities Scrutiny Committee noted that the Strategic Director of Services and the Director of Property and Construction for Dragonfly had been actively engaged throughout the Review and good feedback had been received from the Portfolio Holder for Environment during production of the final report.  The Review would assist in determining the Council’s response to the national change to EPC requirements.

For the purposes of rationalisation, the Leader requested that the word ‘must’ be removed from the following paragraph;

            That the Council establish a Minimum Energy Efficiency Standard (MEES) for all new build property within 3 months. Upon completion of the Housing Stock Condition Survey (estimated April 2025) the Council must establish a strategy for improving energy efficiency within Council Housing Stock.

The Portfolio Holder for Housing noted that Council properties at Whaley Common had air source heat pumps installed to help reduce energy bills for tenants and all Council new build properties were energy efficient.

Moved by Councillor Anne Clarke and seconded by Councillor John Ritchie

RESOLVED that 1) the recommendations of the review outlined in section 2.5 of this report and Section 2 of Appendix 1 be endorsed,

2)    for recommendations approved by Executive, monitoring takes place over a twelve-month period via the PERFORM system with an update report to the Customer Services Scrutiny Committee at the end of the monitoring period.

Reasons for Recommendation

The Committee had put together five recommendations which would assist the Council in improving the Council’s energy policy for local housing.

Alternative Options and Reasons for Rejection

Executive could choose not to endorse the recommendations of the review where they felt the course of action recommended was beyond the delivery capacity of the Authority.

RESOLVED that the Council grant an option to Strata Homes Yorkshire Limited, Persimmon Homes Limited and Stancliffe Homes Limited to buy the land for £200,000 on terms agreed by Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer.

Executive considered a detailed report which sought Members approval to grant an option to purchase land on the west side of Elmton Lane, Bolsover.

The Council owned a parcel of land on Elmton Lane, Bolsover (shown edged red on the map as appended to the report), which was currently used for the grazing of horses.

The land formed part of the development site commonly known as Bolsover North, and was approximately 30 hectares, comprising of several parcels of land in different ownership.  The developers, Strata Homes Yorkshire Limited, Persimmon Homes Limited and Stancliffe Homes Limited, were in the processes of securing title to the land by way of options.

The Council had been approached by the developers with a view to granting an option to sell the land upon the grant of reserved matters planning permissions.  Negotiations had taken place between the Council’s Senior Valuer and the developer and a price of £200,000 had been agreed.  The Council’s Asset Management Group had been consulted and had no objection to the sale.

Moved by Councillor John Ritchie and seconded by Councillor Sandra Peake

RESOLVED that the Council grant an option to Strata Homes Yorkshire Limited, Persimmon Homes Limited and Stancliffe Homes Limited to buy the land for £200,000 on terms agreed by Director of Governance and Legal Services and Monitoring Officer.

Reasons for Recommendation

To secure Executive’s agreement to grant an option to purchase the land.  This matter had been considered by Asset Management Group who were comfortable with the proposal to transfer the land .

Alternative Options

Not to grant a purchase.  The Council would not receive a capital receipt for the land.