To notify Members of recent Executive Decision(s) taken in the circumstances set out in the Council’s Constitution in:-

(a)   Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules (Special Urgency); and/or

(b)   Rule 18(i) of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules (Call-in and Urgency); and/or

(c)     Rule 6(b) of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules.

Council considered a report of the Leader of the Council (A.1) that, in accordance with the requirements of Rule 16.2 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules and/or Rule 18(i) of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules and/or Rule 6(b) of the Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rules, notified Members of recent Executive Decision(s) taken in the circumstances set out in Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules and/or Rule 18(i) of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

(1)     Engagement of resources from Local Government East to provide capacity within the Housing Repairs team in relation to the maintenance of Council Housing Stock

It was reported that, on 24 February 2026, and in view of the urgency of the issue concerned, and in accordance with Rule 18(i) of the Overview & Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Leader of the Council had sought and subsequently obtained the Chairman of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s consent, that his urgent decision, on behalf of the Cabinet, relating to authorising the use of up to £310,000 from the Housing Revenue Account Reserves, to fund the engagement of resources from Local Government East, to address an urgent need to provide capacity within the Housing Repairs team, to meet the Council’s statutory obligation in relation to the maintenance of Council Housing Stock, could be taken under the special urgency procedure and therefore be exempted from the call-in procedure.

The Leader’s urgent decision, on behalf of the Cabinet and using the special urgency powers, as provided within Schedule 3 (Responsibility for Executive Functions) and the Access to Information Procedure Rule 15 (Special Urgency), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning, and the Section 151 Officer and the Monitoring Officer had been as follows:

“To authorise the use of up to £310,000 from the Housing Revenue Account Reserves to fund the engagement of resources form Local Government East, to address an urgent need to provide capacity within the Housing Repairs team to meet the Council’s statutory obligation in relation to the maintenance of Council Housing Stock.”

It had been felt that any delay likely to be caused by the normal key decision process and/or the call-in process would have seriously prejudiced the Council’s and the public’s interest for the following reasons:-

“Due to the urgent need for the Council to enable there to be a management structure within the housing repairs service by entering into an agreement with LGE, for a period of up to six months, via the use of reserves within the HRA, by the 5^th March 2026, the decision to use HRA reserves is proposed using special urgency powers, as set out in Part 3, Schedule 3 of the Constitution.

In addition, in order to meet the deadline to sign up the specialist resource, by 5^th March 2026, permission will need to be granted by the Chairman of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee to exempt this decision from both the Forward Plan and the 5-day call in period, through the special urgency provisions.  This will be made through using Rule 15 of the Access to Information Procedure Rules, as set out in Part 5.8 of the Constitution.”

It was moved by Councillor M Stephenson and:-

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.