Here is a summary of the scheduled discussions at the upcoming High Peak Borough Council Executive meeting. The Executive is expected to discuss the first quarter finance, performance and procurement report, revisions to the council tax reduction scheme, and an empty property strategy. A portion of the meeting may be held in private due to commercially sensitive information.

First Quarter Finance, Performance and Procurement

The Executive will be presented with the First Quarter Finance, Performance and Procurement Report, which summarises the council's financial and service performance during the first quarter of the year. The report includes detailed analysis in appendices covering finance, procurement and performance.

The report is expected to show that the General Fund is forecast to be in a £158,530 underspend position. However, the Housing Revenue Account is forecast to be in deficit by £1,363,822, which is £293,722 more than anticipated in the revised budget. The report also indicates that £48,140 in efficiencies have been identified so far in the year, with a further £61,610 to be found to meet the cumulative target.

Cash investments totalled £18.6 million at the end of the first quarter, and external borrowing was £73.3 million. There is a forecast £147,800 overspend on net interest costs. Revenue collection rates at 30 June 2025 were 28.35% for council tax and 31.00% for business rates.

The Procurement headlines for the first quarter are:

• 40 procurement activities were completed
• The Procurement forward plan includes 52 procurement activities for completion/start in 2025/26 (including HPBC and or Joint (SM/HP) activity)
• Procurement performance during the period 1 April to 30 June 2025 was 96%

Regarding performance, 71% of the key performance indicators were reportedly on track to be met, with 34% performing better than in the previous year. The council closed 77 complaints and received 79 comments, 19 MP comments and 14 compliments in the year.

The report also provides updates on collaborative arrangements with Alliance Environmental Services Ltd (AES), Alliance Norse Limited (ANL) and Alliance Leisure Limited (ALL), including financial performance and service delivery. My Active Glossop (previously Glossop Leisure Centre) is mentioned in relation to loss of income due to RAAC¹ works which are not expected to materialise. The report also highlights the performance of The Springs shopping centre in Buxton, which was purchased as part of the Future High Street Fund project. The Springs is forecast to be in a positive trading position of £182,690, which will be held in an earmarked reserve.

Revised Working Age Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme

The Executive will consider a report regarding proposed changes to the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age applicants, with effect from 1 April 2026. Councillor Alan Barrow, Executive Councillor for Corporate Services and Finance, is expected to request permission to undertake a consultation with the major preceptors (Derbyshire County Council, Police and Fire and Rescue) and the public, as required by legislation.

The proposed amendments to the scheme are designed to:

• Allow all applicants who receive Universal Credit but who do not have any earnings to be allowed the maximum level of support.

• Allow for any payments made under the Post Office Horizon compensation scheme, the infected blood compensation scheme or the LGBT financial recognition scheme to be disregarded when calculating any entitlement.

• Align the temporary absence rules within the current working age scheme to those that are prescribed by central government for the pension age Council Tax Reduction scheme.

The report notes that the current Council Tax Reduction scheme costs approximately £6,946,233.76, which is borne by the council's Collection Fund².

Empty Property Strategy

The Executive will review the Alliance wide Empty Property Strategy 2025 and proposed Enforced Sales policy. The report seeks a recommendation of the threshold amount for undertaking enforced sales, and requests that the Strategy and Enforced Sales policy are recommended for approval.

The objectives of the strategy are to:

• Bring empty properties back into use using a range of advice, assistance and support.
• Use enforcement action to bring long term, problematic empty homes back into use.

The report notes that as of October 2024, there were 272,080 homes empty for more than 6 months in England. Within High Peak, 1.47% of dwellings are empty for more than 6 months.

The report details a three-stage letter template process for contacting empty homeowners, and an updated empty property risk rating matrix to inform the response to complaints. The council also offers information on funding available to bring empty properties back into use.

The Enforced Sales Policy is to be used as an alternative option to Compulsory Purchase Orders and Empty Dwelling Management Orders on vacant properties and land where a debt has been incurred by the council in remediating a defect on the property. The policy will not be used where the property is occupied, or where the owner is working with the council.

The report notes that empty homeowners with properties empty over 5 years were sent a survey in June, but the response rate was low. To encourage owners of empty commercial properties to bring properties back into use, letters promoting business web page information have been sent to those owning empty commercial properties.

Forward Plan

The Executive will review the Forward Plan, a list of decisions the Executive intends to take during the coming months. The Forward Plan indicates that the Executive is expected to discuss an Arts, Culture & Heritage Strategy and a BNG Habitat Bank³ on 4 December 2025. The Executive is also expected to discuss the Second Quarter Finance Performance and Procurement and the Medium Term Financial Plan on 4 December 2025.