Decisions

The Cabinet:

1.1.         Approve the new cost of £35,000 per Biodiversity Unit (BU)

1.2.         The annual review of the cost per Biodiversity Unit (BU) is delegated to the Cabinet Member for Housing, Ecology and Climate Change in consultation with the Chief Operating Officer and Assistant Director of Finance and Commissioning (Section 151).

Approve additional resource proposal.

The Cabinet:

1.1.         Approved the appointment of three new two-year fixed-term housing roles: Assistant Housing Allocations and Systems Officer, Housing Options Officer and a Tenancy Sustainment Officer with funding being provided by the Homelessness Prevention Grant Reserve.

1.2.         Noted the council’s involvement in the Beam trial.

The Cabinet:

1.1.         Approved in accordance with the relevant legislation and regulations, the Council Taxbase (Band D residential properties) for Lichfield District for the financial year 2023/24 of 40,534.4.

1.2.         Noted the estimated Council Tax Collection fund Surplus of (£516,000) and the estimated Business Rates Collection Fund Surplus of (£606,000) for 2022/23.

1.3.         Delegated authority to the Cabinet Member for Finance & Commissioning and the Chief Financial Officer (Section 151) to:

·       Complete and certify the NNDR1 for 2023/24 on behalf of the Council.

·       Update the Council Taxbase for 2023/24 and Collection Fund projections for 2022/23 in the event of changes to guidance or the need for significant changes to underlying assumptions.

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.

To award a contract for the provision of interim scaffolding and IT support.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Commissioning:

1.1.         Awarded a contract to Razorblue Ltd to provide 12 months (with an option to extend to 15 months) support to the council to both scaffold and provide additional resilience into the existing IT team, as well as deliver a range of baseline transformation projects. The contact award will be subject to a positive reference check.

1.2.         Allowed repurposing of the existing ICT (vacant roles) salary budget to fund the support scaffolding contract across the 12 – 15 month period.

1.3.         Utilised the £175k ICT transformation reserve to fund the baseline transformation project work and other works within the scope of the contract to achieve the ICT vision for Being A Better Council.

A restricted procurement process was undertaken. In line with Contract Procedure Rules, 3 suppliers were invited to bid, and we received two valid submissions.  One organisation invited declined to tender based on not being able to meet our requirements.

An evaluation process was undertaken which consisted of presentations being evaluated by a panel of 4 officers and the cabinet member for Housing, Ecology and Climate Change.

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Ecology and Climate Change approved that the contract is awarded to Building Design Partnership Limited to carry out the works and services as detailed in their tender submission. The bid received from Building Design Partnership Limited is of high quality and can meet the deadlines needed.