Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the minutes from the meeting of Cabinet on 1^st October 2024

(b)  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 1^st October 2024 were agreed and signed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

To consider whether to exclude the press and public for the item of private business for the reasons shown in the report.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet agrees to exclude the press and public under Sections 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 relating to the private report in Minute 39 below headed ‘Temporary Accommodation - Lease Renewal of Caradoc Hall, Coventry’ on the grounds that the report involves the likely disclosure of information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as it contains information relating to the financial affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy, that had been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at their meeting on 31^st October 2024 and would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 3^rd December 2024, on the Council’s Climate Change Strategy for 2024 – 2030. Appendices to the report provide the Climate Change Strategy 2024 to 2030 and the Climate Change Action Plan.

The Coventry Climate Change Strategy 2024-2030 set out how the Council planned to tackle the causes and consequences of climate change, which was central to delivery of the One Coventry Plan, and the challenges and opportunities to creating a more sustainable city through five key pathways (or themes):

·  Adaptation and resilience – how we adapt to weather changes caused by climate change and create more resilience in our infrastructure, services and systems. 

·  Route to net zero – how we decarbonise our city including buildings, transport and industry and create a green economy

·  A circular economy – how we use resources more efficiently

·  Fairer green future – how we tackle inequalities and deliver a just transition

·  Nature – how we address the ecological emergency, reverse the decline in nature and create a greener city

Due to unprecedented challenges with the climate and natural environment, climate change was no longer something happening in the future, impacts are being seen now - in Coventry there were over 10,500 properties at risk of flooding and rising. Rising energy costs and energy inefficient homes meant that over 22% of households were in fuel poverty, and the rising cost of living meant 20% of the city was in food poverty. There was a global nature emergency, with the UK one of the world’s most nature depleted countries. In Coventry over 20% of households lived more than 300 metres from green space.

Moving towards a green economy, and the need to ensure that local people and businesses were equipped with the right skills to access jobs and opportunities, tackling climate change could help to address these issues. It presented a huge opportunity to create positive change that could improve the quality of life, health and well-being of residents and a create a more prosperous and vibrant future city. 

The Strategy went well beyond the Council, it was citywide. It had been developed with expert input from the city’s independent Climate Change Board and pathway groups which was made up of over 25 public, private and third sector organisations from across Coventry. The Strategy also considered feedback to public consultation undertaken last year and was guided by Coventry’s Net Zero Carbon Routemap which was produced to help better understand the city’s biggest sources of emissions and where it needed to prioritise action.

There was already a tremendous amount of activity happening across the city to tackle climate change which included:

• The creation of a UK-first Strategic Energy Partnership with E.ON to help decarbonise the city developing a 15 year programme which supported net zero ambitions.

• The development  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.

Report of the Director of City Services and Commercial

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of City Services and Commercial, that would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 3^rd December 2024, that sought approval of the adoption of the University of Warwick Campus Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), following statutory public consultation. The SPD provided a framework for guiding the level and broad location of growth on the main University of Warwick campus as well as design principles to be considered when assessing future planning applications on the campus. Appendices to the report provided the Statement of Consultation, the Schedule of Proposed Amendments, the Amended University of Warwick Campus Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD), and the Equalities Impact Assessment.

The SPD provided supplementary guidance to Policy JE1 (Overall Economy and Employment Strategy) and CO1 (New or Improved Social, Community and Leisure Premises) - of the adopted Coventry Local Plan.

The SPD could only be adopted as an SPD following statutory public consultation and then subsequent formal adoption by Cabinet and Council. Following initial approval by Cabinet Member for Housing and Communities in April 2024 (their minute 16/23 referred), a public consultation was held from Friday 24th May to 5th July 2024. It was intended that the SPD was now adopted so that it could be used to help assist with decision making on planning applications.

RESOLVED that Cabinet recommends that Council:

1)  Notes the Statement of Consultation Report attached as Appendix 1 to the report and the Schedule of Proposed Amendments attached as Appendix 2 to the report.

2)  Adopts the amended University of Warwick Campus Framework Masterplan Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) attached as Appendix 3 to the report.

Report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing

Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing, that had been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at their meeting on 31st October 2024 and would also be considered at Council at their meeting on 3rd December 2024, that sought approval to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall, for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households.

A corresponding private report detailing confidential financial matters was also submitted for consideration (Minute 39 below referred).

The Housing Act 1996 (as amended) placed a statutory duty on Local Authorities to provide Temporary Accommodation (TA) to homeless households who were eligible and had a priority need.

Nationally the number of households living in temporary accommodation had increased significantly over the last 3 years and as of 31st March 2024 the Government’s quarterly publications showed this was the highest recorded figure ever. Coventry had also seen an increase in demand with 1329 households living in temporary accommodation as at the 23 September 2024.

The Housing and Homelessness Service had taken steps to reduce the cost of temporary accommodation against a background of increasing demand, increasing private sector rents and the cost-of-living crisis.

The report set out the options to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall for 10 years. As part of the proposed lease agreement the managing agent would commit to a refurbishment of the 103 flats in line with a condition survey agreed with the Council as a well as continued improvements to the building such as replacement of the lifts. The length of the lease term reflected the current demand and included a break clause for the Council to terminate the lease arrangement after five years.

Cabinet considered a briefing note detailing Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee’s consideration of the report at their meeting on 31^st October 2024 (their Minutes 42/24 and 45/24 referred), which had been circulated, setting out the areas of discussion at their meeting and their recommendation for Cabinet’s consideration. The Committee recommended that Cabinet agree the recommendation in the report.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

1)  Approves the recommendation from Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee following their consideration of the report at their meeting on 31^st October 2024.

2)  Subject to the consideration of the additional confidential information contained in the corresponding private report (Minute 39 below refers), recommends that Council:

a)  Approves the proposal to enter into a new lease for 103 properties within Caradoc Hall for a period of no more than 10 years for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households.

b)  Approves the annual costs, as detailed in the corresponding private report, for the Caradoc Hall lease over 10 years and for this to form part of the finance revenue budget for the next ten years.

c)  Delegates authority to the Director of Adults and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the Director of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, to undertake the necessary due diligence and agree the detailed terms of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 36.

There are no outstanding issues

There were no outstanding issues.

There were no other items of public business.

Report of the Director of Adults and Housing

(Listing Officer: J Crawshaw – Email: Jim.Crawshaw@coventry.gov.uk)

Further to Minute 36 above, Cabinet considered a private report of the Director of Adult Services and Housing, that had been considered by Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee at their meeting on 31st October 2024 and would also be considered by Council at their meeting on 3rd December 2024, which set out the commercially confidential matters relating to proposals to enter into a new lease for Caradoc Hall, for use as temporary accommodation.

RESOLVED that further to Minute 37 above relating to the public aspects of this report Cabinet:

1)  Approves the recommendation from Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee following their consideration of the report at their meeting on 31^st October 2024.

2)  Recommends that Council:

a)  Approves the proposal to enter into a new lease for 103 properties within Caradoc Hall for a period of no more than 10 years for use as temporary accommodation for homeless households.

b)  Approve the annual costs of the Caradoc Hall lease in the sum now indicated each year for 10 years and for this to form part of the finance revenue budget for the next ten years.

c)  Delegates authority to the Director of Adults and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the Director of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, to undertake the necessary due diligence and agree the detailed terms of the new 10-year lease agreement of Caradoc Hall with the landlord.

d)  Delegates authority to the Director of Adults and Housing, following consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate Services, the Director of Law and Governance, and the Cabinet Member for Communities and Housing, to vary the lease from time to time.

There were no other items of private business.