South Norfolk District Council

The Bracken Ash scheme was approved with a revised Section 106 package after viability testing removed the originally proposed affordable housing. Officers agreed a clawback mechanism, required on-site play/open space, and secured a contribution toward informal open space and older children's/adult sports provision where viable.

Cabinet recommended creating a new capital budget of £124,000 for remedial works to Clare House in Diss. The stated purpose was to address identified building issues, protect the asset, and avoid further future costs. This is a clear capital spending decision affecting corporate property management.

The Bracken Ash application originally proposed seven affordable homes, but after a revised viability appraisal reviewed by CP Viability and an independent quantity surveyor, officers concluded the scheme could not support affordable housing. The committee approved the application with zero affordable homes and a future clawback mechanism.

The cabinet noted the annual treasury management review, confirming the council had acted within its approved strategy and prudential code, with no breaches of prudential indicators. It also recorded that investment income exceeded budget expectations and that the council borrowed £4.5m in May 2025 for Longstrand Pipe House, taking total borrowings to £24.5m. This is a finance/spending matter rather than a procurement exercise, but it signals current borrowing and investment conditions relevant to capital delivery decisions.

The committee reviewed and confirmed the rules for carrying forward underspent Member Ward Funding. Underspend is now allocated to the member's ward for the following year, can only be carried forward twice, and then returns to savings if not used. The discussion also confirmed that carry-forward is capped and was introduced following a committee recommendation later agreed by cabinet.

Members reviewed the 2025 housing allocation scheme changes and concluded it is operating as intended. The main policy changes included tighter local connection criteria and splitting one band into two to improve prioritisation of high-need applicants.

The meeting focused mainly on the annual spend review for the Community Action Fund and Member Ward Fund, including changes to carry-forward rules, the impact on spending levels, and how members can use the schemes alongside each other and with match funding. Members broadly supported the changes, while querying whether lower spend reflected better outcomes or delayed grants ahead of elections and local government reorganisation. The committee also discussed a future scrutiny workshop format and noted changes in officer contacts for grant support.

The committee reviewed South Norfolk’s annual leisure services performance, with strong financial and usage results alongside planned capital investment at Diss, Framlingham and Wymondham. Discussion focused on membership growth, staffing and instructor costs, solar and energy efficiency upgrades, a new management information system, and the service’s wider health benefits through GP referrals, school swimming and SEND-friendly provision. Members also raised LGR risks, future outsourcing, and the need for clearer reporting on capital spend and investment plans.