Agenda and decisions

(i)         To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary and other interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

(ii)        In accordance with the Officer Employment Procedure Rules, the Strategic Director - Corporate Resources, Kevin Foster, declares a disclosable personal interest (non-pecuniary) in any items concerning the companies of which he is a Council-appointed director.  The companies are listed in the attached schedule.  The interests are such that Mr Foster may advise on those items.

To approve the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 13 February 2025 as published.

To consider any business that the Chairman rules may be dealt with under Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.

To deal with any written questions submitted under Section 3 of the Executive Procedure Rules.  Copies of the questions and draft replies will be published shortly before the meeting.

Reporting Person – Beverley Kuchar

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the content of the Food Safety, Health and Safety, and Housing Standards Service Plans be approved; and

          (ii)   it be agreed that further annual reviews and updates of these Service Plans be approved by the Strategic Director – Place.

Reason:   To ensure that the Council meets its statutory obligations and that planned and reactive work within the food safety, health and safety and housing standards areas of Environmental Health is overviewed, monitored and linked to the Council’s vision, objectives and key performance indicators going forward.

Reporting Person – Louise Strongitharm

The Executive RECOMMENDED to Council

That  (i)    the Rent Setting Policy be approved; and

          (ii)   the Strategic Director – Communities, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing, be authorised to make minor amendments to the Policy as required.

Reason:   To ensure the Council has an up-to-date and transparent Rent Setting Policy in place that meets the requirements of the Regulator of Social Housing’s Rent Standard.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive RESOLVED

That the Improvement and Recovery Plan progress report to Commissioners be approved.

Reason:   Following statutory government intervention and the issuing of a Section 114 Notice, the Council was required to put in place an Improvement and Recovery Plan and to report to the Commissioners on its delivery. This is a requirement of the Directions of the Intervention.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive RESOLVED

That  (i)    the Asset Disposal Timeline strategy for the period 2024/2027 be endorsed;

          (ii)   it be noted that the timeline will be subject to continuous and ongoing review during its lifetime as market conditions/ circumstances/ imperatives change;

          (iii)  it be noted that the Timeline will be utilised as the guide programme to continue with the disposal of appropriate assets subject to (iv) below; and

          (iv)  it be noted that each appropriate disposal going forward will be subject to individual Executive approval reports.

Reason:   To continue with the current managed disposal strategy as identified within the Improvement and Recovery Programme published in August 2023 to rationalise the property assets to reduce the current borrowing debt.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive RESOLVED

That it be noted that the asset management programme commenced in 2024 should continue to be pursued alongside the approved disposal strategy.

Reason:   To enable the effective use of Property Assets, to support and enable the delivery of the Priority Outcomes identified in the Woking for all Strategy and to meet the objectives of the Improvement and Recovery Plan.

Reporting Person – Beverley Kuchar

The Executive RESOLVED

That  (i)    £200,000 from the Neighbourhood CIL fund for Canalside Ward be paid to contribute towards the costs of delivering the Gateway Project facilities at Christ Church, Woking; and

          (ii)   the Financial Control Panel be advised to approve payment for the contribution of £200,000 to be drawn from the total NCIL income earmarked and available for Canalside Ward. This currently stands at £335,000.

Reason:   The proposals comply with the NCIL requirements and regulations and enable the use of developer contributions collected by the Council to contribute toward the improvement and provision of community infrastructure within Woking.

Reporting Person – Stephen Fitzgerald

The Executive RESOLVED

That the debts listed in Appendix 1 to the report be written off.

Reason:   When debts have become demonstrably irrecoverable, writing them off represents good financial management. It allows staff to concentrate on recoverable debts and ensures that the level of recoverable debtors within the Council’s accounts is accurate and represents a true and fair reflection of the Council’s financial position.

Reporting Person – Adesuwa Omoregie

The Executive RESOLVED

That the update on the use of Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) during the 2024 calendar year be noted.

Reason:   The Investigatory Powers Commissioner’s Office recommends that the Council’s RIPA procedures are presented to Members annually.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive RESOLVED

That  (i)    the report be received; and

          (ii)   the project monitoring at Appendix 1 to the report be noted.

Reason:   To apply performance management to Council projects.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive RESOLVED

That the commercially sensitive information, in support of the Part I report, be noted.

Reason:   To continue with the current managed disposal strategy as identified within the Improvement and Recovery Programme published in August 2023 to rationalise the property assets to reduce the current borrowing debt.

Reporting Person – Kevin Foster

The Executive RESOLVED

That the commercially sensitive information in support of the Part 1 report be noted.

Reason:   To enable the effective use of Property Assets, to support and enable the delivery of the Priority Outcomes identified in the Woking for all Strategy and to meet the objectives of the Improvement and Recovery Plan.