Agenda item

EXERCISE OF DELEGATED POWERS

Report of the Chief Executive enclosed.

 

Purpose: To provide details of actions taken under delegated powers.

Minutes:

An information item on the actions taken under delegated powers was submitted.  The actions were as set out below:-

 

Organisational Change

  • Sale of Aberllanerch Bungalow, Bryn Road, Alltami, Mold by Informal Tender

Sale of vacant agricultural holding having the benefit of planning consent for the replacement of the existing dwelling with a larger unit.

 

  • Sale of Land Adjoining 20 Bernsdale Close, Sandycroft

The land comprises a flagged area of land held in the Housing Revenue Account.  The sale will release the Council from a substantial repairing liability.

 

  • Sale of the Side Garden of 8 Maes Alaw, Flint

The side garden of the property was originally excluded from the Right to Buy purchase from the owner.

 

  • Sale of Land Adjacent to Grantec Ltd., Spencer Industrial Estate, Buckley

Grantec had encroached upon the above land and a sale to them has now been agreed.

 

  • Sale of Land Adjacent to Bryn Abbey, Strand Lane, Holywell

This small area of land (25 sq. ms. approx.) currently forms part of the Ysgol Trefynnon demise and is being sold to allow the adjacent owners maintenance access to the rear of their building.

 

  • School Meal Price Increase

Increases the price of meals within schools to bring them more into line with other school meal providers across Wales.

 

  • Leisure, Library and Museum  Services – Sign Off of Conditions to Enable Transfer of Services to, and Completion of Leases with, Aura Leisure and Libraries Ltd., the New Community Benefit Society

This covers the work completed to enable the signing off of the conditions (agreed at Cabinet on 13th December 2016) to enable the transfer of services to, and signing of leases with, Aura Leisure and Libraries Ltd., the new Community Benefit Society from 1st September 2017.

 

Community and Enterprise

  • Business Rates – Application for Hardship Relief

Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 gives the Council the discretion to reduce or remit the payment of business rates where it is satisfied that the ratepayer would sustain hardship if it did not do so and it is reasonable for it to do so having regard to the interests of its council tax payers.

 

An application received from Bagillt Community Association has been refused on the grounds that the community centre has sufficient income and capital to meet their 20% business rates liability.

 

  • Business Rates – Application for Hardship Relief

Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 gives the Council the discretion to reduce or remit the payment of business rates where it is satisfied that the ratepayer would sustain hardship if it did not do so and it is reasonable for it to do so having regard to the interests of its council tax payers.

 

An application received from Buckley Boxing Club has been refused on the grounds that the club has sufficient income and capital to meet their 20% business rates liability.

 

  • Business Rates – Application for Hardship Relief

Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 gives the Council the discretion to reduce or remit the payment of business rates where it is satisfied that the ratepayer would sustain hardship if it did not do so and it is reasonable for it to do so having regard to the interests of its council tax payers.

 

An application received from Jump 2 It Deeside Ltd. has been refused on the grounds that it is not deemed to be in the wider public interest to support the awarding of Hardship Rate Relief.

 

  • Business Rates – Application for Hardship Relief

Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 gives the Council the discretion to reduce or remit the payment of business rates where it is satisfied that the ratepayer would sustain hardship if it did not do so and it is reasonable for it to do so having regard to the interests of its council tax payers.

 

An application received from Mynydd Isa Scouting Group has been refused on the grounds that the club has sufficient income and capital to meet their 20% business rates liability.

 

  • Business Rates – Application for Hardship Relief

Section 49 of the Local Government Finance Act 1988 gives the Council the discretion to reduce or remit the payment of business rates where it is satisfied that the ratepayer would sustain hardship if it did not do so and it is reasonable for it to do so having regard to the interests of its council tax payers.

 

An application received from a registered charity ‘SHARE’ (Supporting Homeless Assisting Refugees Everywhere) has been refused on the grounds that it is not deemed to be in the wider public interest to support the awarding of Hardship Rate Relief.

 

 

  • Flintshire Registration Service

Following the publication of the “Flintshire County Council Fees and Charges Review” report by Deloitte’s in December 2016, a review of non-statutory registration fees has been undertaken to take advantage of the opportunities highlighted in the report.  The Chief Officer (Community and Enterprise) has delegated powers to set the non-statutory fees.

 

  • Leased Accommodation – Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme

Entering into private sector lease agreements to provide up to five family properties to enable the Local Authority to participate in the Syrian Vulnerable Persons Relocation Scheme.

 

Legal

  • Legal Fees and Recharges 2017

The Council legal team recovers the cost of undertaking certain legal work such as land sales and the preparation of S.106 agreements from third parties (the purchaser, developer etc).  Following a benchmarking exercise against other public authorities in Wales the level of fees has been increased slightly.  The Council has also revised the hourly charge out rates for its legal team to reflect current rates in the market place.  This is predicted to raise the level of income from £60,000 (for 2015/16) to £75,000 (during 2017/18).

 

  • Legal Staffing Structure July 2017

Cabinet agreed the Legal Services staffing structure in June 2016 which included a number of new posts.  Those posts have been advertised but have not been filled.  By redistributing work within the team it will be possible to change the qualification level for the vacant posts to make them more attractive to applicants.  The proposed changes are cost neutral whilst improving capacity and resilience in identified areas of weakness and to meet expected growth in demand.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the actions taken under delegated powers be noted.

Supporting documents: