Decisions

In emerging and expanding business parks, such as Fradley Business Park, businesses often expand and grow their units/floorspace in creative ways – for example adding mezzanine floors – which are then not easily captured on the Valuation Office Agency’s list, so business rate charges may not be appropriately levied.

Whilst the revenues team does its best to track and trace any new businesses in the area, it does not have a mechanism for identifying new spaces within existing rated units and does not have the capacity to actively pursue businesses to determine whether such new rateable value exists within the district.

The council is keen to work with a company called Capacity Grid to carry out a pilot to determine whether an active approach to identifying new rateable value within the district could generate positive results.

Long-term any new rateable value added to the list would benefit the district council, which retains a percentage of business rates it collects. It will also benefit other precepting authorities including the county, police, fire and parish councils. Any additional revenue can then be used to fund local services.

Capacity Grid charge a percentage fee for their work. The pilot will be limited to a maximum spend of £75,000 with Capacity Grid. This spend will be met by the additional business rates revenue generated.

Approval is sought to progress the pilot within this financial year (2023-24).

The Cabinet Member for Finance & Commissioning approved a Business Rates Pilot on the basis that this will maximise business rates revenue to the district council, up to a maximum spend of £75,000.

This paper proposes a significant financial investment by the council in its role as place-shaper for our district, to move forward with the Lichfield City Centre Masterplan 2020 to regenerate the site known as ‘Birmingham Road’, adjacent to the district council house in the centre of Lichfield and enhance what is already a strong and vibrant city.

It seeks Cabinet Member support to run a procurement process for the Birmingham Road multi-storey car park demolition and associated landscaping works (with an option to include retail units associated with Birmingham Road Site cinema development in the demolition works).

The Cabinet Member for Leisure, Parks & Major Projects approved the open tender procurement process to appoint a demolition and landscaping contractor to carry out the demolition and associated works. The works will include the demolition of the Birmingham Road multi-storey car park and landscaping works, with the option to include the demolition of retail units associated with the Birmingham Road Site cinema development.

The final contract award is entirely subject to the Joint Venture agreements and planning approvals being in place for the adjacent cinema development and demolition of the retail units. This will be clearly defined in the invitation to tender documents.

Once a preferred contractor has been identified, a Cabinet Member key decision report will be required to approve and award the contract.

A Cabinet Decision on 27 June 2023 and a Council decision on 11 July 2023 approved that Cabinet Delegates Authority to the Leader and Chief Executive in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and the Section 151 Officer to complete all contracts and demolition related to enabling works on the Birmingham Road Site subject to the financial implications being within Approved Budget.

The Cabinet:

1.1         The Cabinet noted the progress made in responding to initial comments and queries received from the examiner, as part of the current progress of the plan submitted for examination in June 2022.

1.2         Recommended to Full Council to approve and instruct officers to take all necessary steps, including giving the required notice under the Town and Country Planning (Local Planning) (England) Regulations 2012 (as amended), to withdraw the Local Plan 2040 from examination, in accordance with section 22 of the Planning and Compulsory Purchase Act 2004.

1.3         Recommended to Full Council to approve the draft statement of withdrawal as set out at Appendix A of the Cabinet report for release.

The Cabinet:

1.1         Approved transforming the way the council administers the local council tax reduction scheme and transforms it into a discount-based scheme from 1 November 2023, including the procurement of an intuitive form and campaign technology that can be met from within existing service budgets

1.2         Delegated any final decisions in relation to the roll out of the transformed scheme to the Cabinet Member for Finance & Commissioning in partnership with the Assistant Director of Customer, Resident & Business and Assistant Director of Finance & Commissioning (Section 151).

The Cabinet:

1.1         Approved the high-level proposals set out in section 4 of the Cabinet report to transform the planning service.

1.2         Delegated implementation of the proposals, including the potential to utilise the council’s wholly owned trading company to deliver and enhance elements of the planning service, to the Leader of the Council, Assistant Director of Customer, Resident & Business and Assistant Director of Finance & Commissioning (Section 151), in particular where doing so will deliver a more strategic, robust and welcoming approach to major developments and is within existing budgets.

Councillor Farrell declared a personal interest as a Director of LWM Traded Services Ltd.

Simon Fletcher, Chief Executive, declared a personal interest as a Director of LWM Traded Services Ltd.

Kerry Dove, Chief Operating Officer, declared a personal interest as a Director of LWM Traded Services Ltd.

To note the report and the issues raised on this.

The Cabinet:

1.1         Noted the report and issues raised within and that Leadership Team with Cabinet Members will continue to closely monitor and manage the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

1.2       Recommended to Council to approve an increase in the Streethay Community Centre budget of £250,000. This will increase the project budget from £600,000 to £850,000 and will be funded by £250,000 of Section 106 funding.