Issue - meetings

Digital Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (DMIC) - Appointment of Contractor for Stage 4 Designs

The Leader advised that the appointment of a contractor to work on stage 4 designs for the Digital Manufacturing and Innovation Centre (DMIC) needed to be funded.  The work would be financed using the Town’s Deal funding, as agreed by the Town’s Deal Board, and would not therefore require further funding from the Council.  However, the Council was the body, under governance arrangements for Town’s Deal funding, that needed to make this decision.

During consideration of this item, Members noted that display boards had recently been put in place at the site.  The information provided would help to inform the public about the works that would be taking place.

The recommendation was proposed by Councillor Sharon Harvey and seconded by Councillor Bill Hartnett.

Housing Growth Programme

Members were advised that the Executive Committee had agreed four recommendations on the subject of the Housing Growth Programme at a meeting of the Executive Committee held on 8^th July 2025.  One of these proposals, listed in the minutes of the Executive Committee meeting held on 8^th July 2025 at Minute Item No. 18 as recommendation 4, had subsequently been approved through the urgent decision process.  This decision had had to be taken urgently in order to enable the Council to have authority to access the necessary budget to purchase properties that had become available but which had needed to be sold by a developer prior to the date of the Council meeting.  The other three recommendations, listed as recommendations 5 to 7, were therefore the focus of the debate at the Council meeting.

The positive impact that the purchase of new properties under the Housing Growth Scheme could have was discussed by Members.  It was noted that by the date of the Executive Committee meeting held in July 2025, there had been over 2,000 households on the housing waiting list in the Borough.  The properties added to the Council’s housing portfolio through the Housing Growth Programme would help to increase the number of social housing and affordable units that could be offered to local residents.

Reference was made to the proposed amendments to the Rent Setting Policy and concerns were raised that affordable housing units, whereby the rent was set at 80 per cent of market value, could be difficult for some residents to afford.  However, clarification was provided that wherever possible, the Council would aim to rent properties acquired under the Housing Growth Scheme at social housing levels.  Higher rent levels would only apply in cases where this was considered to not be viable.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Bill Hartnett and seconded by Councillor Jen Snape.

Treasury Management Outturn Report 2024/25

The content of the Treasury Management Outturn Report 2024/25 was considered by Council.  Members were informed that the Council was in a reasonably strong position financially, although the authority was subject to the same macro-economic pressures that were impacting on all Councils.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 40