Agenda and decisions

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend the Council:

1. A reduction in Bus Route Subsidy of £63,000 as part of its budget savings proposals (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and line B4.5 of Appendix 2 of the Executive report)

(Councillor Mrs Wright having declared a prejudicial interest left the room during consideration of this decision.)

2. To recommend to Council the level of net expenditure for the draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2017/18 of £120,248,000 (ref. paragraph 6.2 of the Executive report).

3. To recommend to Council budget savings of £18.637m (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2 of the Executive report). Noting that the total of decisions 1 and 3 equal a total budget savings of £18.7m.

4. To recommend to Council that the Chief Executive be authorised to take any necessary steps to ensure all staffing savings are achieved (ref. paragraph 8.1 of the Executive report)

5. To recommend to Council that the business loans fund is increased from £10m to £100m with immediate effect (ref. paragraph 8.3 of the Executive report)

6. To recommend to Council that the target level of working balances remains at £6m (ref. paragraph 10.4, of the Executive report)

7. To recommend a detailed review of earmarked reserves takes place at Provisional Outturn 2016/17 to reprioritise and unearmark funds to replenish working balances to their target level in 2017/18 (ref. paragraph 10.4, of the Executive report)

8. To consider the report of the Budget Scrutiny Review Panel as attached at Appendix 3 and consider any actions arising from that review.

9. To note that the Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee will be formally consulting the Trade Unions and Business Ratepayers on the proposals on the morning of 10 February 2017.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend the Council :

1.      To approve of the Capital Programme for 2017/18 as set out at Appendices A and B, to the Executive report, including the in year contingency of £600,000.

2.      To adopt the Single Capital Pot approach as outlined in Section 4, of the report to the Executive, with a top slice of 12.5% to allow for investment in key priority areas and overspends that are not otherwise fundable (reference paragraph 4.2 of the Executive report).

3.      That Executive approvals will continue to be required for all Prudential borrowing schemes (reference paragraph 3.1, of the Executive report)

4.      To approve the Capital Prudential Indicators as identified in Appendix C, to the Executive report.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to Council that:

1. A rent reduction of a minimum of 1% is implemented for all Housing Revenue Account properties in 2017/2018.

2. The level of Housing Revenue Account balances remain protected at £1 million, as previously agreed.

3. That de-pooled services (as detailed in Appendix C, to the Executive report) and that other service charges (as detailed in Appendices D and E, to the Executive report) are charged as outlined.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council:

1. To adopt all the Elements of the Treasury Management Strategy 2017/18 and to approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2017/18 to 2019/20 which are set out in Annex B to the Executive report.

2. To approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2017/18 to 2019/20 which are set out in Annex C to the Executive report.

3. To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2017/18, which will ensure a prudent Minimum Revenue Provision charge in the annual statement of accounts. The policy is set out within Annex D to the Executive report.