Officer Decisions

Date of Decision:

26 March 2024

Title:

Increase in Government National Minimum fostering allowance rate 2024-25

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Nicola Curley – Strategic Director, Children & Young Peoples Service

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Increase in Government National Minimum fostering allowance rate 2024-25

Recommendations:

That approval be given to make the following changes to the allowances that foster carers and others receive:

·     to increase allowances in line with the NMA for fostering (including family & friends), Special Guardianship Orders and Child Arrangement Orders.

·     Increase adoption allowance, respite, and day care rates to the revised basic pay element.

·     Fostering Skills payments to be increased by the 6.88%.

·     That any changes are implemented from or back dated to 1st April 2024

Decision:

1.   That the fostering maintenance allowances are increased on average by 6.88% in line with the NMA rates per age band for 2024/25.

2. That Foster Carer Skills payments are increased in line with the NMA uplift of 6.88% in-line with the Cabinet’s approval in October 2022.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Government sets a National Minimum Allowance (NMA) for weekly child maintenance fostering rates based on age bands, which are increased annually in line with inflation. The 2024/25 national increase has been set at 6.88% (the increase in 2023/24 was 12.43%).

This report considers the financial impact and options of increasing Fostering, Special Guardianship Orders (SGO), Child Arrangement Orders (CAO), Adoption Allowance (AA), respite, day care, and Fostering Skills payments in line with the government’s recommended minimum uplift of 6.88%.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Option 2 – not recommended

·     do not apply an uplift to fostering allowances – with the increased risk of legal challenge.

·     do not apply the 6.88% NMA uplift to the fostering skills payment – however this would go against the improved foster carer financial offer approved by Cabinet (In October 2022).

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

DLT Report - Increase in Government National Minimum fostering allowance rate 2024-25 (26 March 2024)

Report Author: Joshua Amahwe – Head of Finance - CYPS

Date of Decision:

02/04/2024

Title:

Council Building Decarbonisation – Change to Solar PV arrangements at Civic Theatre, Clifton Park Museum and Riverside House

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Rob Mahon, Assistant Director Finance and Customer Services

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

At its meeting on the 18^th September, the Council approved a scheme to decarbonise five council buildings including Civic Theatre, the Clifton Park Museum and Riverside House. All three of these schemes included solar pv works. The following recommendation was approved.

1.    Approves the programme of works to design and fit the LED and Solar PV works to the five Council buildings listed in Section 2.5 of this report to be delivered through a procurement process.

The PV works to Riverside House will still take place but 2 of the buildings are now found to be unsuitable for Solar PV, as such the decision is to  allocate budget for PV’s at these two buildings for greater PV work at Riverside House.

Decision:

Enhance the Solar PV provision to capacity at Riverside House using funds originally intended for Clifton Park Museum and Civic Theatre. All other planned works including interventions such as LED Lighting, insulation and enabling works to allow for connection to a heat network will continue as proposed as part of the above Cabinet decision.

Reasons for the Decision:

Original plans were based on initial surveys of all sites, however, secondary, more detailed technical surveys indicated that due to the shape of the roof at both Clifton Park Museum and the Civic Theatre, shading would make return on investment unfavourable. These buildings are also listed and are subject to planning constraints.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

No alternative options were considered feasible due to the technical difficulties presented above and restrictions as a result of the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme on how the awarded grant funding could be spent.

The Council funding approved for the delivery of this work, is specifically for decarbonisation of buildings as such the approved funding is still be utilised for its designated purpose.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

Solar PV Officer Decision Report considered by Assistant Director Financial Services.

Date of Decision:

28^th March 2024

Title:

Purchase of seven new homes at Infirmary Road, Parkgate under the Small Sites Homebuilder Initiative.

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

James Clark, Assistant Director of Housing

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Enaction of recommendation 3 of from the latest Housing Delivery Programme Report – 2024/25, approved by Cabinet 22 January 2024:

“That Cabinet approves the purchase of homes from any of the schemes identified in Exempt Appendix 5”.

and further to approval of the subsequent Full Business Case – Infirmary Road, Parkgate (SME Initiative) approved 28 March 2024 in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing.

Decision:

Approval to enter into contract with Allert Building and Construction Ltd to purchase seven new homes at Infirmary Road, Parkgate.  Identified in Appendix 5 to the January 2024 Cabinet report.

The Council will purchase:

·       Four no. two-bedroom houses

·       Three no. three-bedroom houses

The homes are scheduled to be handed over August / September 2024 and will be brought into the Council’s existing housing stock and made available to applicants from the Housing Register.

Reasons for the Decision:

The decision has been taken in-line with the Cabinet approval, to ensure that the Council can continue to deliver new council homes to meet residents’ needs.

The financial detail of the acquisitions is set out within the capital business case. It is not included within the decision record on the basis that it is commercially sensitive. This is in-line with the over-arching Cabinet report exemption.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Previous Housing Delivery Programme reports have considered the alternative option not to pursue new acquisition opportunities and this was not recommended because the Council needs to ensure a continuous pipeline to deliver the Council homes needed.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/A

Reports or parts of reports considered

Report of the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health – Housing Development Programme Report – 2024/25.

Full Business Case (FBC) – Infirmary Road, Parkgate (SME Initiative)

Date of Decision:

04/04/2024

Title:

Riverside House Accommodation and Collaboration with Partner Agencies

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Simon Moss, Property, Regeneration and Transport Services.

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

That the Assistant Director Planning, Regeneration & Transport approves the underlease with NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board in respect of the space at Riverside House, in consultation with the Council’s Section 151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and the Local Economy.

Decision taken under the powers granted to the property officer under section 29.12 of the Council’s Financial Procurement Procedure Rules.

Decision:

To seek approval for the grant of a 5-year underlease to the NHS South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board at Riverside House. The proposed details of the underlease are outlined in the exempt Appendix 3.

Reasons for the Decision:

It is good Estate Management practice to regularly review accommodation needs and the way the Council occupies and operates its corporate buildings. The Council’s has carried out this exercise and established that there is spare capacity within Riverside House.

Through the Rotherham Strategic Estates Group and renewed collaboration with public sector partners it has become apparent that other organisations are also looking at ways to rationalise their asset bases and cut revenue costs.

These conversations have led to looking at opportunities to share spaces and work together from a common base.

NHS partners have reviewed their accommodation needs and following review of several options have chosen RSH as their preferred for a Rotherham office base.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Option 1 (Preferred Option) – Health Partners move to Riverside House

Health partners move from their current locations to Riverside House, subject to full due diligence being conducted in respect of IT connectivity and other service needs.

Option 2 – Market the Vacant Spaces

Following the reorganisation of Riverside House there will be at least one wing available for other users to occupy. Discussions have taken place with local commercial property agents, who have advised that the office market is not what it used to be, and they would struggle to sublet accommodation of this nature in Rotherham without dedicated car parking spaces.

Option 3 – Mothball the Vacant Spaces

It has been suggested that, as a short-term cost saving measure, parts of Riverside House could be closed and mothballed. Unfortunately, aside from the inconvenience of temporarily moving teams, the heating and ventilation systems are interconnected and therefore will not yield any real efficiency savings.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

Not Applicable

Reports or parts of reports considered

Report to Staffing Committee 10^th July 2023

Date of Decision:

04/04/2024

Title:

Rotherham Markets & Library main works award

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Paul Woodcock

Strategic Director of Regeneration & Environment

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Delegation to award the main works contract for the Markets and Library redevelopment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Local Economy and Section 151 Officer.

- Cabinet Report 18th Dec 2023 refers.

Cabinet approved the plans for the Rotherham Markets and Library development at its meeting on the 18th December 2023.

At the same meeting the Cabinet delegated authority to the Strategic Director of Regeneration of Environment, in consultation with the S151 Officer and the Cabinet Member for Jobs and Local Economy, to award contract(s) for the works (Rotherham Markets and Library development) up to the values detailed in Appendix 2 of the relevant Cabinet report.

- Cabinet Report 18th March 2024 refers.

Final costs and associated budgets identified in Appendix 4 that provide final parameters for award of said contract.

Cabinet Member consulted and in support – 03 April 2024

Section 151 Officer consulted and in support – 02 April 2024

Brief Description of Decision:

The Council enters into contract with Henry Boot Construction Ltd for the delivery of the Markets and Libraries project. 

Reasons for the Decision:

To maintain momentum behind the delivery programme of one of the Council’s key regeneration projects and ensure best possible value is secured.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The alternative option is not to sign the main works contract prepared. This option is not recommended, because it will not secure the commitment of Henry Boots Construction Ltd to deliver the scheme to an agreed specification for an agreed price in line with the approach adopted by the Cabinet

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None identified.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Cabinet Report 18 December 2023

Cabinet Report 18 March 2024

Date of Decision:

27^th March 2024

Title:

Riverside Gardens, Corporation Street & Upper Millgate approval for Stopping Up application to be implemented.

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Simon Moss

Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration & Transport

Regeneration & Environment

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Power to apply to the Secretary of State for an order stopping up or diverting any highway under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990:-

•         Section 247 Highways affected by development.

Brief Description of Decision:

To support the implementation of the stopping up of two irregular shaped areas of highway bounded by Corporation Street, Domine Lane and the River Don subject to DfT processes.

Reasons for the Decision:

The scheme approved at planning creates a pedestrian walkway from Market St/Domine Lane to the new pedestrian bridge to Forge Island through a tiered landscaped space. Stopping up of the areas mentioned above is required to enhance pedestrian movement in the area.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The alternative option is not to agree to the stopping up of these areas of highway resulting in the Riverside Gardens design approved by planning not being deliverable. Requiring a redesign and amended planning application to be submitted. By removing the areas to be stopped up the scheme would be negatively affected, as there would be less space to enable the accessible to all ramped path access through the site to be installed.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

n/a

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

n/a

Reports or parts of reports considered

21 June 2021 Cabinet – Town Centre Masterplan Implementation

16 May 2022 Cabinet – Town Deal and Levelling Up Fund: Update and Implementation

Stopping Up Order documents

Y&H-5544-DRAFT ORDER

Y&H-5544-DRAFT PLAN 1

Y&H-5544-DRAFT PLAN 2

Date of Decision:

2^nd April 2024

Title:

Report receipt of objection to proposed traffic calming scheme (speed cushions) – Kilnhurst Road, Rawmarsh

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

 Simon Moss

Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration and Transport 

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

To promote, consider objections to and implement Traffic Regulation Orders under the Traffic Regulation Act 1984.

Brief Description of Decision:

The purpose of this report is to consider an unwithdrawn objection to a proposal to introduce 2no single speed cushions on Kilnhurst Road (outside Rawmarsh Sandhill Primary School), Rawmarsh. The key recommendation of the report is to not accede to the objection and continue with the proposed scheme to implement the proposed speed cushions.

Reasons for the Decision:

There is a risk that failure to implement the road humps may result in drivers not reducing their speed, to an appropriate level as they travel along this section of Kilnhurst Road, with the potential for a collision to increase. The proposed road hump scheme addresses this.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

One option considered was that Kilnhurst Road would be left in its present state i.e. without speed reduction measures, footway buildouts, or any waiting restrictions being introduced. However, due to the requirement to improve the road safety environment in this area, as part of the proposed residential development, then this option was not considered a viable option.

Another option was omitting the speed cushions from the proposed scheme. However, as the scheme includes the provision of a priority working system for drivers by using the footway buildouts to provide give ways, then this may result in drivers speeding up, as they approach the give way, in order to ‘beat’ the vehicle heading toward them. The provision of a speed cushion should therefore reduce this possibility.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

None

Date of Decision:

2^nd April, 2024

Title:

Contract variation for Transport for the North (TfN) modelling work in relation to the Mainline Station Outline Business Case (OBC).

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Simon Moss, Assistant Director, Regeneration and Environment

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

24th April 2023 Cabinet meeting; Minute 157 Transport Capital Programme

Cabinet (April 2023):

Approved the issue of contracts between the Council and two public service bodies (Network Rail and Transport for the North) to enable timely completion of the Outline Business Case as referenced in section 2.13.

Delegated responsibility to the Strategic Director of Regeneration and Environment, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, to identify projects described in paragraphs 2.12 Major Projects (CRSTS) and 2.13 (Rotherham Mainline Station) and for the award of contracts relating to design and construction.

Contract award was approved by Delegated Officer Decision report on 2 May 2023.

This report deals with a variation to that contract which has been approved by Leader as Cabinet Member.

Brief Description of Decision:

That the Assistant Director for Regeneration and Environment:

·       Approves the additional funding required for TfN to carry out further testing needed for the Mainline Station Outline Business Case

Reasons for the Decision:

As the modelling work for the Outline Business Case has progressed, it has become evident that further testing is needed to refine and enhance the quality of the outputs. This additional scope and required amendments to the model will incur a further cost of £95,000. Additionally, the Station masterplanning process has identified further testing required at a cost of £53,750. This testing will ensure the wider economic opportunities are incorporated into the OBC. Additional funds to support both aspects of the work, totalling £148,759, have been identified from RMBC CRSTS revenue allocation.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

RMBC considered not accepting the additional fee and only including the testing provided so far for the OBC submission. This, however, would create increased risk to the next stages of the scheme so the option was rejected.

Due to the TfN model already being built and available, this reduces costs for the work undertaken. This is also a pilot project for TfN, with Department for Transport (DfT) contributing circa half of the original required work cost, enabling TfN to offer the necessary expertise and good value for money for the Council. RMBC could appoint new consultants to undertake some of the modelling work required. However, this would require development of a model and would significantly increase costs. On this basis the option was rejected.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

• Rotherham Integrated (Mainline & Tram Train) Station Outline Business Case funding approval and contractor appointments report
• Cabinet Meeting 24 April 2023 Minute 157
• SYMCA Funding agreement
• Network Rail Development Services Agreement
• Transport for the North contract for services

Date of Decision:

  28 March 2024

Title:

VCS Infrastructure and Advice Services SLAs 2024 - 2027

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Jo Brown, Assistant Chief Executive.

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Council Constitution, Appendix 9, Section 4C2: Assistant Chief Executive – Delegated Executive Functions: The Assistant Chief Executive is authorised to discharge executive functions in relation to:- (6) Performance, Intelligence and Improvement, including Policy and Partnerships.

Minute 98 of the Cabinet meeting held on 20^th November 2023 delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion to enter into two service level agreements (SLAs) with partner organisations; one to provide voluntary sector infrastructure support and the other to provide advice services for the years 2024/25 to 2026/27.

Decision:

·       To enter into a Service Level Agreements for three years from 1 April 2024 to the 31 March 2027, with Voluntary Action Rotherham to provide voluntary sector infrastructure support with an annual grant of £126,000 (or £378,000 over the three-year period).

·       To enter into a Service Level Agreements for three years from 1 April 2024 to the 31 March 2027, with Citizens Advice Rotherham and District to provide advice services with an annual grant of £240,000 (or £720,000 over the three-year period).

Reasons for the Decision:

At the meeting on 20^th November 2023, Cabinet resolved that approval be given to progress arrangements for VCS

Infrastructure Services in Rotherham, including:

A.    the proposed model to be delivered through a standard SLA for three years commencing from 1 April 2024 and continuing to 31 March 2027, which is based on the findings of a co-design exercise;

B.    the recommendation that the funding amount of £378,000 is awarded as a grant to Voluntary Action Rotherham in annual payments of £126,000 to deliver the three-year SLA.

It was also resolved by Cabinet that approval be given to progress arrangements for Advice Services in Rotherham, including:

A.    The proposed model to be delivered through a standard SLA for three years commencing from 1 April 2024 and continuing to 31 March 2027, which is based on the findings of a co-design exercise;

B.    The recommendation that the funding amount of £720,000 is awarded as a grant to Citizens Advice Rotherham and District in annual payments of £240,000 to deliver the three-year SLA.

C.    

Details have now been finalised to enable two service level agreements to be entered into between the Council and the respective organisations to deliver the functions and services agreed by Cabinet. A decision in accordance with the delegation provided is now required.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Alternative options were set out in the report to Cabinet on 20^th November 2023. The preferred option was to enter into a service level agreement with partner organisations. This option has been achieved.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest.

Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion consulted.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None.

Reports or parts of reports considered

Advice Services and Voluntary and Community Sector Infrastructure Service Level Agreements 2024-2027 report, Cabinet 20^th November 2023.

Date of Decision:

28^th March 2024

Title:

Revocation of the Wortley Road and Fitzwilliam Road hourly mean nitrogen dioxide Air Quality Management Areas

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Sam Barstow, Assistant Director, Community Safety & Street Scene

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

The Regeneration and Environment sub-scheme of delegation delegates to the Assistant Director responsibility for acting within the provision laid out in the Environmental Protection Act 1990.

Brief Description of Decision:

To revoke the Air Quality Management Areas relating to hourly mean nitrogen dioxide because the levels of nitrogen dioxide expressed as an hourly mean have been consistently below the National Air Quality Objective thresholds for declaring an Air Quality Management Area

Reasons for the Decision:

The levels of nitrogen dioxide expressed as an hourly mean have been consistently below the National Air Quality Objective thresholds for declaring an Air Quality Management Area.

Section 83(2)(b) of the Environment Act 1990 states that an Air Quality Management Area should be revoked where an air quality review shows compliance and that this is expected to be maintained

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

The Council could have considered keeping the declared Air Quality Management Areas in place. However, there would be little justification for this given that the air quality monitoring data demonstrates that the areas are compliant with legal requirements and are likely to continue to be so. Section 83(2)(b) of the Environment Act 1990 states that an Air Quality Management Area should be revoked where an air quality review shows compliance and that this is expected to be maintained

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

None

Date of Decision:

19^th March 2024

Title:

UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) years 2 and 3 – Visitor and Leisure Economy amendment

Decision Maker:

Jo Brown, Assistant Chief Executive

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Minute (43) of the Cabinet decision on UKSPF of 7^th August 2023 delegates authority to the Assistant Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to determine revised and final allocations for the UKSPF. This is to include provision for other eligible actions within the use of the fund should it not be possible to achieve full spend of the grant through the allocations set out in the Cabinet report.

In line with appendix 9, section 4C2 of the Council’s Constitution, the Assistant Chief Executive is authorised to discharge executive functions in relation to: (6) Performance, Intelligence and Improvement, including Policy and Partnerships.

Decision:

It is resolved that:

Part of the £390,000 allocation for Wentworth Woodhouse, within the £1,068,709 allocation for the Visitor and Leisure Economy project, can be used as match funding to enable the trust to secure £528,475 from Historic England.

This will fund additional repair and restoration work to further enhance Wentworth Woodhouse as a visitor attraction, and will deliver additional outputs.

Reasons for the Decision:

The funding allocated to this project and the activity proposed are both in line with the 7th August Cabinet report.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Alternatives have not been provided. The project is in line with the proposals endorsed by Cabinet. 

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

There are no conflicts of interest.

The Leader of the Council has been consulted.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None.

Reports or parts of reports considered

UK Shared Prosperity Fund - years two and three, report to Cabinet, August 7^th 2023

Date of Decision:

26.03.2024

Title:

Publication of the Flood and Water Management Act 2010, (FWMA) Section 19 report relating to Summer storms June & July 2023

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

 Richard Jackson – Head of Highways and Flood Risk

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Appendix 9 - Sub Scheme of Delegation: Strategic Director of Regeneration of Environment

Amended Sub Scheme of Delegation

Appendix 1

Delegations linked to Enforcement Functions or Specific Acts of Parliament – Flood and Water Management Act 2010.

Via written Authorisation to approve on behalf of Assistant Director of Community Safety and Street Scene to the Head of Highways and Flood Risk

Brief Description of Decision:

To publish the report and issue first to identified Risk Management Authorities and then to the residents of properties flooded during the identified flood event.

Reasons for the Decision:

This is a statutory report under FWMA 2010 that must be made publicly available.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

No alternative options are applicable.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Executive Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

No conflicts of interest declared.

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

FWMA 2010 Section 19 Report – Summer Storms 2023

Date of Decision:

18 March 2024

Title:

Revision to District Heating Pricing for 2024-25

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

James Clark, Assistant Director of Housing

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Council agreed on 28 February 2024, minute number 104(8), that the decision to reduce the price of District Heating Charges further during 2024-25 be delegated to the Assistant Director of Housing in conjunction with the Assistant Director of Financial Services following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing. The delegation would only be used to respond to a change in Government policy or a significant change in the Ofgem price cap that has the effect of necessitating a lower unit price.

Decision:

Revise the unit price charged for District heating from 1 April 2024 to 12.86 pence per kwh.

Note that further reductions may be necessary if the Ofgem price cap for subsequent quarters matches energy market forecasts.

Reasons for the Decision:

There will be a 12% reduction in the Ofgem price cap from 1 April 2024 and energy market forecasts predict further reductions in the cost of energy until December 2024. The Council has committed to ensuring that the average bill for residents on District heating match’s the average bill of a resident with gas and benefiting from the Ofgem price cap.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

Two alternative pricing options have been considered:

1.    A revised price of 11.66 pence per kwh was considered to negate the need for further price reduction. This was based on an average of the Ofgem price cap for Q1 2024-25 and market forecasts for Q2 & 3 2024-25.  This option was rejected as it took the average District heating bill to less than an average gas bill under the Ofgem price cap for Q1 2024-25 and relied on unofficial forecasts.

2.    A revised price of 10.94 pence per kwh. This was based on the lowest market forecast for the period Q1 to Q3 2024-25. This option was rejected as it took the average District heating bill to less than an average gas bill under the Ofgem price cap for Q1 2024-25 and relied on unofficial forecasts.

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

N/a

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

N/a

Reports or parts of reports considered

The report of the Strategic Director of Adult care, Housing and Public Health, Ian Spicer – HRA Business Plan, Rent Setting and Service Charges 2024-25

Date of Decision:

19^th March 2024

Title:

The Single Homeless Accommodation Programme Funding (SHAP)

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Ian Spicer, Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health

Details of Specific Cabinet Delegation

or Delegation contained in the relevant Sub-Scheme of Delegation.

Under Section 4C3 of the Responsibilities for Functions document (App 9 of the Constitution) the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health is authorised to discharge executive functions through the commissioning and provision of social services for adults and public health services for the whole population and delivery of housing for the Borough, including: -

3. Public Health (a) Commissioning and Quality (b) Health Improvement (c) Health Intelligence (d) Health Protection

Decision:

To award a contract, for £288,416, to Roundabout Ltd for funding up to March 2025.

Reasons for the Decision:

Roundabout Ltd, supported by the Council, submitted a bid to DLUHC and were successful, for 14 units of supported accommodation, for 4-year funding totalling £718,054. Initially the Council will award a contract to Roundabout Ltd on a direct award basis following the successful funding bid, in order to pilot the approach.

The purpose of this Officer Decision is to agree to issue a contract to Roundabout Ltd, up to March 2025 as per the terms of DLUHC’s Memorandum of Understanding, for 14 units of accommodation for young people aged 18 to 25 with complex needs.  A competitive procurement will then be undertaken to award a further contract for the period April 2025 to March 2027.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

None

Conflicts of interest declared by any Cabinet Member consulted by the decision maker which relates to the decision:

None

Dispensations Granted:

(If any)

None

Reports or parts of reports considered

Officer Decision Report for The Single Homeless Accommodation Programme Funding (SHAP).

Approved by Ian Spicer, Strategic Director of Adults, Housing and Public Health.