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 either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

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 agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To note the report.  

2. To support the recommendation of the Director of Resources that £2,505,000 is vired from Education Basic Needs Funding and added to the Children’s Services budget non-recurrently, this would have the effect of improving the forecast level of Working Balances from £1,828,000 to £4,333,000.

3. To continue to lobby Government (Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Department for Education in particular) along with other local authorities facing similar pressures, the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Children’s Services for more funding to cope with the mounting demand and new burdens presenting in Children’s Services.

4. To require the respective directors and Director of Resources to continue to closely monitor and manage service financial and operational performances, specifically Children’s Services, Strategic Leisure Assets and Parking Services.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To recommend to Council an increase in income of £150,000 from car parking and the Council’s wholly owned Companies as part of its budget savings proposals (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and  line 2.22 of Appendix 2)

(Councillor Smith 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 2018/19 of £124,365,000 (ref. paragraph 6.2).

3. To recommend to Council a level of budget savings of £5.35m, (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2)

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).

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

6. To recommend a detailed review of earmarked reserves takes place at Provisional Outturn 2017/18 to reprioritise and unearmark funds to replenish working balances to their target level in 2018/19 should this be necessary (ref. paragraph 10.4).

7. To note the report of the Budget Scrutiny Review Panel as attached at Appendix 3.

8. 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 9February 2018.

9. To consider any further facts and information which subsequently come to light and report the details to the meeting of the Executive on 19February 2018.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to Council:

1.      To approve of the Capital Programme for 2018/19 as set out at Appendices A and B, including the in year contingency of £1,076,000.

2.      To adopt the Single Capital Pot approach as outlined in Section 4 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).

3.      To agree that Executive approvals will continue to be required for all Prudential borrowing schemes (reference paragraph 3.1)

4.      To approve the Capital Prudential Indicators as identified in Appendix C.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council:

1. To adopt all the Elements of the Treasury Management Strategy 2018/19 and to approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2018/19 to 2020/21 which are set out in Annex B to this report.

2. To approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2018/19 to 20

20/21 which are set out in Annex C to this report.

3. To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2018/19, which will ensure a prudent Minimum Revenue Provision charge in the annual statement of accounts. The policy is set out within Annex D to this report.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council that:

1. A rent reduction of a minimum of 1% is implemented for all Housing Revenue account properties in 2018/19.

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

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

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve and adopt the Masterplan (as set out at Appendix 7a to the Executive report) as the strategic framework for project delivery and for use as part of the planning process.

2. To delegate to the Director of Place the authority to make minor amendments as necessary, after consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member, that may result from the adoption and approval process with partner organisations.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To approve the revised Hackney Carriage and Private Hire Convictions Policy, including the proposed amendments, as outlined in Appendix 8 (a).