Meeting Details

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting on 9 April 2025 be confirmed as a correct record.

Grahame Stehle of Neighbourhood Watch attended and addressed Cabinet pursuant to the provisions of Meetings General Procedure Rule 5(1) to express his concern about the potential loss of crime reports, because of the Essex Watch Team of Essex Police being made redundant.  He called on Cabinet to request that the Police and Fire Crime Commissioner and the Chief Constable reconsider or find other ways to produce the crime reports.  The following suggestions were made:-

• Crimes that members could not prevent should stop being recorded.
• One report should be produced for the whole of Essex, which would allow districts to extract the data they needed.
• Districts should be responsible for presenting crime prevention sessions to local community groups.
• Districts should use Artificial Intelligence to produce advice on crime prevention.
Neighbourhood Watch used crime reports to enable year on year reporting of crime and the identification of hotspots. In 2023 Colchester achieved a 30% reduction in crime  and a further 20% in 2024.  Neighbourhood Watch could not operate effectively without crime reports.

Councillor Law, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection, responded and thanked the speaker for raising this issue and for the work that Neighbourhood Watch did.  She had discussed this with Chief Superintendent Khan who had committed to ensuring that Neighbourhood Watch received the information it needed to enable it to carry on with its work, although this may be in a slightly different format. They would keep her informed as matters developed. In the meantime Neighbourhood Watch would continue to receive crime reports.  

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Deputy Leader of the Council explained that he had met with the Deputy Chief Constable last week and she appreciated the importance of community engagement and community reporting, which fitted with the Police's welcome strengthening and focus on Neighbourhood Policing. 

The Chief Executive of Colchester Borough Homes submitted a report a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and introduced the report.  He highlighted in particular the following issues:-

• The Spring Statement 2025.  The main elements which impacted on housing were a £2 billion top up grant for social housing, planning reform and welfare benefit cuts. The additional grant was welcomed and would support the Council’s growth ambitions.  However reduced welfare spending would impact on a number of residents. 
• The Government Spending Review was set for 11 June 2025.  A key element of this was the renewal of the Affordable Homes programme and the sector was also looking for greater certainty and a focus on social rent.  The outcome would be reported to Cabinet in September.
• Homelessness and Temporary Accommodation.  Nationally there had been a rise of 47% in the number of households in nightly paid accommodation in the last year.  In Colchester there were 459 families in temporary accommodation, a rise of 42% in a year.  This included 481 children.  One of the ways the Council was seeking to manage this was through the use of former private sector student accommodation which provided a better standard of accommodation at reduced cost.
• Supported Housing was facing issues of rising cost pressures and funding cuts. Lobbying on the issue was underway but Colchester was not immune to the impact of this.
• The Planning and Infrastructure Bill.  The Government was seeking to create conditions to support housing growth through the planning system and the impact of this on meeting their ambitious housing target was awaited.
• Social Housing Provider Finance.   Costs in the sector were rising and the challenges of rising costs and competing demands for resources were sector wide and not limited to Colchester or other local authorities. The review of Colchester’s Housing Revenue Account to ensure it was sustainable was timely.
• Renters Rights Bill.  This was progressing through Parliament and the Council’s Housing Board was considering the implications for Colchester.

Councillor Cory, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Assets, thanked the Chief Executive of Colchester Borough Homes for the update.  The work on the Housing Review had been very informative and had ensured members were engaged on the issue.  The Council was trying to find the balance between providing the best decent home whilst trying to use the Housing Revenue Account to provide the best investment in building or acquiring new homes. 

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, stressed the importance of understanding the national context.  Colchester’s approach at a strategic level was admired nationally. However the real focus needed to be on the hardship faced by residents, many of whom were just getting by with help from family, friends and the Council. He asked that Cabinet’s thanks be passed on to the team for the work they did in supporting residents in this position.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted. 

REASONS

To provide Cabinet with an update on topical housing related issues.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

No alternative options were presented.

The Chief Executive of Colchester Borough Homes submitted a report a copy of which had been circulated to each Member.

Councillor Rippingale attended and with the consent of the Chair addressed the Cabinet to express her strong support for the provision of additional units of temporary accommodation, which would help provide dignity and hope to those facing housing insecurity. There were currently 459 families in temporary accommodation in Colchester.  These needed to be seen as more than just statistics.  Colchester Borough Homes did excellent work to help keep families in their homes.  The securing of additional accommodation would build on the successful start of the project and would provide a safe and stable environment for those who needed it most.  Cabinet should call on the government to provide clarity on the future of the Housing Revenue Account settlement. A 10-year rent settlement, index linked to CPI +1 would allow the planning and delivery of a new generation of council housing. It was also necessary to challenge systemic barriers that prevented the vulnerable from accessing housing and national policies were needed to address this. Supported housing also needed to be protected.  The government needed to recognise this was a core part of the housing mix and ensure it was properly funded. The emphasis should be on preventing homelessness rather than managing it.

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, stressed that the Council would lobby government on these issues.  

A number of Cabinet members supported and endorsed the comments made by Councillor Rippingale and also noted the work done by the previous Portfolio Holder for Housing, Councillor Smith, in addressing these issues.

In discussion on the proposals contained in the report, Cabinet members expressed their support for the proposals to secure additional temporary housing and the following points and issues were raised:

• The cost to the council of the provision of temporary accommodation, particularly expensive nightly accommodation.
• The need for a proper housing settlement from government, which would provide stability and certainty to councils.
• The government needed to listen to the voice of local government before that of private developers.
• The costs involved in alternative solutions, such as modular housing. 
• The need to concentrate on the provision of social housing, as affordable housing was not affordable to all.
• The need to review Right to Buy.
• The use of such accommodation rather than nightly accommodation allowed residents to retain access to their local communities, schools and public transport.
• The value of visiting the schemes to understand it first hand and to hear from those who had benefited from it.
 
The Chief Executive of Colchester Borough Homes emphasised that the experience from the existing use of such accommodation meant that the Council could approach these proposals with confidence. The use of such accommodation was transforming lives. The project was a team effort involving a number of partners  and had cross party support. 

In conclusion, Councillor King emphasised that this was a generational problem and the Council would continue to look for imaginative solutions to meet the needs of vulnerable residents.

RESOLVED that the City Council enter into a license for an additional 113 units of private sector student accommodation for use as temporary accommodation.  

REASONS

To provide better quality less expensive temporary accommodation for homeless households.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

No alternative options were presented to Cabinet. 

The Chief Operating Officer submitted a report a copy of which had been circulated to each Member together with the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Panel at its meeting on 3 June 2025.

Cabinet considered the recommendations made by the Scrutiny Panel.  Councillor Pearson, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Transformation, suggested that in respect of the first recommendation about advice and assistance to tenants of private sector housing, the Council already undertook considerable work in this field and it may be advisable to refer this to the Portfolio Holder for Housing  to see whether any further work needed to be done and to report back to the Scrutiny Panel in due course.  He considered that the second recommendation in respect of a forward forecast of temporary accommodation demand was very sensible and should be accepted.  

Councillor Law, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection, supported the proposal in respect of the first recommendation.  The Council should take account of the impact on the charitable sector of spikes in demand on its services caused by Council communication strategies.

Cabinet indicated its support for these proposals for the recommendations from the Panel.

Councillor Pearson, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Transformation, introduced the report and highlighted that at the year end point for April 2024 – March 2025 nine targets were achieved and ten had not met the target in full. A brief summary of the position on each target that had not been met in full was provided as follows:-

Council Tax Collection: This had missed its target narrowly and was balanced by the over performance on the collection of business rates.

Fly Tipping Incidents: Fly tipping had increased by nearly 50% over the city in the last 12 months. Much of the increase was not due to large scale incidents but mostly a number of small-scale incidents.

Number of Households in Temporary Accommodation: This had been discussed at length earlier in the meeting.  It was of particular concern that Colchester’s figures were higher than any other authority in the east of England.

Repairs Completed within Target Timescale and Customer Satisfaction with Latest Repair: Colchester Borough Homes had undertaken significant work on this and performance on this and the percentage of homes that did not meet the Decent Homes standard was improving.

Sickness (Corporate) and Sickness (Waste and Recycling): It was appreciated that there had been a significant issue in the Waste and Recycling Service for some time. It was anticipated that the forthcoming changes to waste and recycling collection would help improve the position. 

Additional Homes:  The number of new homes built was significantly below target. However, Colchester had been at the forefront of housing development and performance had been impacted by the national slowdown in housebuilding.

Social Value in Procurement: The failure to achieve the target was down to one contract and was not indicative of a wider problem.

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, emphasised that the Council had an increasingly rich picture of its performance and how it compared to other authorities.  In addition, it needed to be borne in mind that was a retrospective picture, but it had informed the setting of performance targets for the current municipal year.

 
RESOLVED that:-

(a) Performance against Key Performance Indicators was noted and that where Key Performance Indicators had not been met, that appropriate corrective action had been taken. 

(b) Performance against the Strategic Plan Delivery Plan was noted and that where goals or associated actions had not been completed or showed a RAG status of Red or Amber, that appropriate corrective action had been taken. 

(c) Cabinet noted that it had set updated Corporate Key Performance Indicators for 2025-26 at its meeting in March 2025, which built on the experience and knowledge from the KPIs set in the 2024-25 municipal year and which reflected the refreshed Strategic Plan priorities 2023-26 and the Council’s financial circumstances.

(d) Recommendation (a) from the Scrutiny Panel be referred to the Portfolio Holder for Housing to consider whether any further action in this area needed to be undertaken and to report back to the Scrutiny Panel.

(e) Recommendation (b) from the Scrutiny Panel be accepted.

REASONS

To review year end performance for 2024 – 2025 and ensure robust performance management of key Council services.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

No alternative options were presented to Cabinet. 

Draft minute 499 from the Governance and Audit Committee meeting of 13 May 2025 was submitted to Cabinet, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member. 

Councillor Warnes, Chair of the Board of Colchester Commercial Holdings Ltd, attended and with the consent of the Chair addressed Cabinet to highlight the recovery of the Amphora companies since the market moved around the activities of its housing and energy companies.  The information before Cabinet demonstrated the underlying strength of Colchester Events.  It had a growing reputation within the sector.  Helpline was also growing and was a “best in class” service. The potential for growth of the fibre company was also highlighted.  Thanks were expressed to Simon Coward and his predecessor Richard Carr for their hard work in turning the companies around.

Councillor Law, Portfolio Holder for Communities and Public Protection, and Councillor Pearson, Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth and Transformation, thanked Councillor Warnes for the work he had led to transform the companies.  The importance of Colchester Events in bringing the community together and attracting people to Colchester was emphasised.  

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, emphasised his appreciation of the work he had done.  The companies were now in a much better position as a result of his steady hand. The companies were subject to considerable layers of oversight, but this provided a space in which the companies could thrive and allow talented commercial people to operate.

The Monitoring Officer advised Cabinet that whilst there was not a specific recommendation from Governance and Audit Committee in respect of the Growth Strategy, Cabinet should consider whether it should approve it. 

RESOLVED that:-

(a) The Amphora Growth Strategy be approved.

(b) Cabinet review, at the earliest opportunity and with the assistance of the Monitoring Officer, the tax liability of Colchester Commercial (Holdings) Limited for the financial year 2023/2024.

REASONS

As the Shareholder Committee, it was for Cabinet to consider whether to approve the Amphora Growth Strategy. 

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

It was open to Cabinet not to approve the Amphora Growth Strategy or to accept the recommendation from the Governance and Audit Committee.

The Head of Governance submitted a report a copy of which had been circulated to each Member.

Councillor King, Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, stressed the value of the appointments to outside bodies and Council groups, both to the organisations involved and the Council.  The recommendations made by Councillor Naylor, the local authority representative on East Suffolk and North Essex NHS Foundation Trust were noted and the Leader would respond to her separately in respect of those.

The appointment of Councillor Cory as the substitute member on the North Essex Parking Partnership Joint Committee would be kept under review. 

RESOLVED that:-

(a) The representatives to the various external organisations and Council groups listed in Appendix A to the report by the Head of Governance be appointed for the 2025-26 municipal year, with such appointments to cease if representatives cease to be members of the Council during the municipal year.  
 
(b) The Leader of the Council be authorised to make a determination, where a nomination is deemed to be in dispute, if a vacancy occurs or if an appointment needs to be made to a new organisation during the course of the municipal year.

(c) Councillor King be appointed as the Council’s Armed Forces Champion.

(d) Councillor Law be appointed as the Council’s Equality Diversity and Inclusion Champion.

(e) The reports about the work undertaken by appointees to external organisations in 2024-25, as set out in Appendix B to the report by the Head of Governance, be noted.

REASONS

It was important for the Council to continue to make formal appointments to certain organisations and council groups such as those with statutory functions, our key strategic and community partners and groups with joint working arrangements.  These groups were identified in Appendix A to the report by the Head of Governance.   

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

No alternative options were proposed.  It was proposed to authorise the Leader of the Council to make a determination where a nomination is deemed to be in dispute or if an appointment needed to be made if a vacancy occurs or an appointment needed to be made to a new organisation in the course of the municipal year.

The Democratic Services Manager submitted a progress sheet a copy of which had been circulated to each Member.

RESOLVED that the contents of the Progress Sheet be noted.

REASONS

The progress sheet was a mechanism by which the Cabinet could ensure that public statements and questions were responded to appropriately and promptly. 
 
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS

No alternative options were presented to the Cabinet.