Decisions

To agree the Fees and Charges which apply to on and off street parking, residential and business permits for the forthcoming financial year 2018/2019.

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1.      To agree the schedule of on and off street parking tariffs for each parking area as set out within the attached schedule at Appendix A, subject to consultation, with effect from the 1 April 2018 to the 31 March 2019.

2.      To agree the schedule of the business and residential permit rates as set out within the attached schedule at Appendix A, subject to consultation, with effect from the 1 April 2018 to the 31 March 2019.

3.      To agree that the fees charged can be reduced from these rates, for specific events or fixed periods of time, on the published officer decision of the Director for Place, following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member.

To consider to fees and charges for the Library Service for 2018-19.

The Deputy Leader of the Council agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve the amended library fees and charges as set out in Appendix A to be implemented from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2018.

2. To note the introduction of a premium library membership is suspended pending the comprehensive review of the library service offer.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To agree publication of the Marton Moss Neighbourhood Planning Approach Consultation Statement on the Council’s website (refer Appendix 3b, to the Executive report).

2. To approve the proposed way forward in respect of giving the community the maximum opportunity to commence a Neighbourhood Plan including the distribution of a letter to local residents. 

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To  confirm the Executive’s recommendation to Council of 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 to the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/2019 papers circulated for the Executive meeting on 5 February 2018).

(Councillors Cain and Smith having both declared a prejudicial interest left the room during consideration of this decision.)

2. To confirm the Executive’s recommendation to Council of a level of budget savings of £5.35m (excluding the saving outlined in 1 above), (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2 to the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/2019 papers circulated for the Executive meeting on 5 February 2018).

3. Having considered all information received since the meeting of the Executive on 5 February 2018 including the Final Settlement Funding Assessment announced on 6 February and the report of the Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting on the 9 February 2018 to confirm all of the Executive’s other recommendations to Council regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/19.Previous decision on 5 February 2018

4. To recommend to Council approval of a level of Blackpool Council’s Council Tax for the year 2018/19 of £1,511.14 at valuation band D equivalent which includes the additional 3% Adult Social Care Precept.

5. To recommend to Council the level of net expenditure for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/19 of £124,365,000.

6. To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2018/19 at valuation band D equivalent was agreed on 16February 2018 and was reported verbally at this meeting as £177.45 (a 7.25 % rise).

7. To note that the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority met on the morning of 19 February 2018 to set its precept for the financial year 2018/19. This was reported verbally at this meeting as £67.46 (a 2.99% rise).

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To  confirm the Executive’s recommendation to Council of 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 to the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/2019 papers circulated for the Executive meeting on 5 February 2018).

(Councillors Cain and Smith having both declared a prejudicial interest left the room during consideration of this decision.)

2. To confirm the Executive’s recommendation to Council of a level of budget savings of £5.35m (excluding the saving outlined in 1 above), (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2 to the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/2019 papers circulated for the Executive meeting on 5 February 2018).

3. Having considered all information received since the meeting of the Executive on 5 February 2018 including the Final Settlement Funding Assessment announced on 6 February and the report of the Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting on the 9 February 2018 to confirm all of the Executive’s other recommendations to Council regarding the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/19.Previous decision on 5 February 2018

4. To recommend to Council approval of a level of Blackpool Council’s Council Tax for the year 2018/19 of £1,511.14 at valuation band D equivalent which includes the additional 3% Adult Social Care Precept.

5. To recommend to Council the level of net expenditure for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2018/19 of £124,365,000.

6. To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2018/19 at valuation band D equivalent was agreed on 16February 2018 and was reported verbally at this meeting as £177.45 (a 7.25 % rise).

7. To note that the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority met on the morning of 19 February 2018 to set its precept for the financial year 2018/19. This was reported verbally at this meeting as £67.46 (a 2.99% rise).

To consider a request from Langdale Free School to lease land at Geldof Drive from the Council to provide playing fields for the school.

To agree to instruct Estates to progress the licence to the school at a rental to be confirmed.

To consider fees and charges proposals for 2018/19 for the Estates and Valuations service.

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To approve the fees and charges for Estates and Valuations as outlined at Appendix A with effect from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

2. To agree that the fees charged can be reduced from these rates on the published Officer decision of the Director for Resources, following consultation with the relevant Cabinet Member.

The Head of Licensing Service deals with a number of requests for licences under the Licensing Act, the Gambling Act and other pieces of legislations. Details of the licences, applied for and granted are outlined in the report.

The Head of Licensing Service agreed to grant the licences as set out in the attached Appendices.

To consider fees and charges proposals for 2018/19. The attached schedule as outlined at Appendix A for Blue Badges and Money Management.

The Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the fees and charges for Blue Badges and Money Management as outlined at Appendix A with effect from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019, noting that no increase is proposed for Blue Badges or Money Management.

To describe the enforced sale procedure and to advise of the intention to use such procedure to acquire 31 Elizabeth Street to recover debts and to bring the property back into beneficial residential use.

1.      That a notice under section 103 Law of Property Act 1925 be issued in respect of monies owed to the Council and registered as local land charges.

2.      On the expiry of the three month period following service of the above notice, if no payment has been made, the Head of Legal be authorised to proceed with the enforced sale of 31 Elizabeth Street pursuant to the Law of Property Act 1925.

The proposed Community and Environmental Services fees and charges for Public Protection for 2018/19.

The Deputy Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

1. To agree to the Community and Environmental Services proposed fees and charges for Public Protection for 2018/19, which are detailed in Appendix ‘A’.

2. To agree that the fees charged can be varied by the Director of Community and Environmental Services, following consultation with the Deputy Leader of the Council, as a result of market changes.

The Council's delegated budgets scheme allocates budgets of £15,000 to each Ward covered for the financial year 2017/2018. The funding for this scheme can be spent on supplementing funding public services, for the benefit of the local community.

Councillors Blackburn and G Coleman of Brunswick Ward have requested £700 as funding together with Bloomfield Ward, Claremont Ward, Clifton Ward and Talbot Ward to Blackpool Food Bank for the purchase and installation of a refrigerated container to store frozen food donated to the Food Bank.

The Deputy Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To authorise the request, as submitted.

The proposed Community and Environmental Services fees and charges for Waste Services 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To agree to the Community and Environmental Services proposed fees and charges for Waste Services for 2018/19, detailed in Appendix A with effect from the 1 April 2018 to the 31 March 2019.

The proposed fees and charges for the Integrated Transport section, relating to the Rideability service for 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To agree the proposed fees and charges for Integrated Transport section, relating to the Rideability service, which are detailed in Appendix ‘A’, with effect from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

The proposed Community and Environmental Services fees and charges for Highways and Traffic Management for 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1. To agree to the proposed fees and charges for Highways and Traffic Management for 2018/19, which are detailed in Appendix ‘A’ with effect from the 1 April 2018 to the 31March 2019.

2.      To agree that the fees charged can be varied by the Director of Community and Environmental Services, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environmental Services and Highways, as a result of market changes.

The proposed Community and Environmental Services fees and charges for Leisure and Parks Services for 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1.      To agree the Community and Environmental Services proposed fees and charges for Leisure and Parks Services 2018/19, detailed in Appendix A.

2.      To agree that the Leisure Management team continue to explore alternative, flexible pricing models through 2018/19 including options to price based on demand and ability to pay.

3.      To agree that the Parks Service will review the pricing model for sports pitches to ensure a consistent town wide approach that supports local sports clubs.

To consider the proposed fees and charges for the Licensing Service for 2018/2019.

The Deputy Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the attached fees and charges for the Licensing Service for 2018/2019 with effect from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019 as outlined in Appendix A.

The Council's delegated budgets scheme allocates budgets of £15,000 to each Ward covered for the financial year 2017/2018. The funding for this scheme can be spent on supplementing funding public services, for the benefit of the local community.

Councillors Cain and Hobson of Bloomfield Ward have requested £700 as funding together with Brunswick Ward, Claremont Ward, Clifton Ward and Talbot Ward to Blackpool Food Bank for the purchase and installation of a refrigerated container to store frozen food donated to the Food Bank.

Councillors I Taylor and L Williams of Claremont Ward have requested £700 as funding together with Bloomfield Ward, Brunswick Ward, Clifton Ward and Talbot Ward to Blackpool Food Bank for the purchase and installation of a refrigerated container to store frozen food donated to the Food Bank.

Councillors Hutton and L Taylor of Clifton Ward have requested £700 as funding together with Bloomfield Ward, Brunswick Ward, Claremont Ward and Talbot Ward to Blackpool Food Bank for the purchase and installation of a refrigerated container to store frozen food donated to the Food Bank.

Councillors I Coleman and Smith of Talbot Ward have requested £700 as funding together with Bloomfield Ward, Brunswick Ward, Claremont Ward and Clifton Ward to Blackpool Food Bank for the purchase and installation of a refrigerated container to store frozen food donated to the Food Bank.

Councillors Ryan and Wright of Greenlands Ward have requested:

(i)£1,055 as funding to the Parks Department for the hire of a tracked chipper unit to assist with grounds maintenance at Devonshire Road Rock Gardens

(ii)£158.73 as funding to the Parks Department for the installation of an additional power socket to the pump house room at Devonshire Road Rock Gardens.

Councillors Cox and Humphreys of Squires Gate Ward have requested £593.20 as retrospective funding to Highfield Community Group as this group have found that they have insufficient funds for cover the Christmas Tree Lights Switch On Event last November in Squires Gate Ward.  Squires Gate Ward councillors have agreed to fund the residual amount under these exceptional circumstances.

The Leader of the Council agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To authorise the requests, as submitted.

Mr Steve Thompson, Director of Resources, presented the draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2018-2019 which had a proposed net budget requirement of £124,365,000 including target budget savings of £5,500,000.

Economic climate, long-term planning and Financial Settlement

He confirmed that the Council would achieve a balanced budget. Local authorities had faced government funding cuts since 2011 and in response the Council had developed a consistent six year Medium Term Financial Sustainability Strategy (2016-2022).

The Settlement Funding Assessment informed medium-term government funding (primarily revenue support grant and business rate returns). From the Assessment, the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement 2018-2019 for Blackpool was announced mid-December 2017 and the final Local Government Finance Settlement 2018-2019 was confirmed on 6 February 2018.

Other significant funding streams

The New Homes Bonus had been a six-year programme whereby government incentivised authorities to build new residential properties above set numbers. The programme now ran from 2018-2019 for four years. The cumulative funding on offer was £464,500 although the in-year amount available was only £15,000.

The Housing Benefit Subsidy Grant, from government for processing benefit payments, had reduced by 11% to £810,000 in 2018-2019. Universal Credit (one scheme replacing several benefits) would be rolled out from December 2018. This could impact on jobs and residents. There had been good support initiatives.

The Public Health grant would be reduced by 5.5% in real terms to £18,428,000 for 2018-2019. The Better Care Fund for health and social care integration to support people’s independent living was proposed to increase to £27,300,000 for 2018-2019.

The Dedicated Schools Grant was proposed to increase to £108,800,000.

Core spending ‘power’

Core spending ‘power’ amounts (funding available) had increased by £1,200,000 (0.94%) before inflation and service demand pressures. Council Tax (general element and Adult Social Care precept) was proposed to increase by 5.99%.

Budget-setting and 2017-2018 outturns / pressures

The Committee was advised that the budget-setting process included looking at forecast budget outturns for 2017-2018, in particular any significant spend variances and that the Children’s Services Directorate was under demand pressures with a projected overspend of £2,908,000 for 2017-2018 due to high numbers of Looked After Children (539 for month nine, end December 2017). A large number of cases were complex and costly.

It was noted that Strategic Leisure Assets budget line was forecast to overspend by £1,174,000 across the full portfolio of assets. An in-year ‘surplus’ in 2021-2022 was expected with the full portfolio expected to break even by 2030 which was a good performance for leisure assets. Parking Services was expected to overspend by £716,000 for 2017-2018 but it was reported that pressures were being managed.

Mr Thompson advised that the Adult Services Directorate was reporting a forecast underspend of £598,000 for 2017-2018. However, this included technical adjustments.

In total, projected variances for 2017-2018 equated to an overspend of £1,833,000 which included any movement from contingencies / reserves.

Budget-setting and key assumptions

Members were advised that budget proposals had assumed a national staff pay rise of 1%. An offer of 2% had been made with the draft budget adjusted. The additional increase amounted to a further pressure of £600,000 which would be ‘funded’ (or offset) by a number of sources as outlined below.

Paying all contracted staff the increased National Living Wage of £7.83 per hour (national rate 2018) rather than £7.90 as originally proposed would save £300,000. A further £200,000 would be saved on lower numbers of voluntary redundancies and related areas. Staff taking up to five or more days additional unpaid leave would save £1,000,000. Current take-up was at 4.4 days but some staff were still to respond.

Interest rates were expected to rise faster in 2018. The Bank of England’s base rate was currently 0.5%. Treasury Management budgets worked around a base rate of 1%. It was therefore noted that as long as the base rate remained below 1% then budgets would be robust. 

Budget setting  - savings requirement

The £5,500,000 savings gap needed to be filled to secure a balanced budget for 2018-2019. The forecast target had been £4,800,000 but increased by £700,000 due to pension pressures.

The biggest loss had been £4,800,000 of government revenue support grant which was offset by £7, 500,000 of increased savings / income from business rates and other sources. Additional Service developments and demand pressures came to £2,000,000. Non-pay inflation was £4,200,000. Pay awards, increments, National Insurance and pension pressures came to £2,000,000. The total £5,500,000 savings target was the lowest since 2011-2012 but there were fewer savings options.

Budget setting - savings approach

A thematic approach had been developed focusing on: ‘technical’ savings; boosting income including new opportunities and good collection rates; better procurement; managing service demand; and other theme-based approaches including organisational efficiencies; and effective working with other organisations. When the themes had been exhausted, then service redundancies would be considered.

There were also theme-based savings initiatives. The Business Loans Fund budget had increased to £100,000,000 with £71,000,000 committed with half of that taken up generating several hundred jobs. Airport investment offered enterprise opportunities. Improving procurement and commissioning sought to save £1,700,000. The cost of revenue and benefits and leisure contacts had reduced with technology. Meetings were held with officers from the Council’s own companies and £500,000 savings had been achieved through use of tax rebates. Office space was rented out to NHS partners and shared space meant improved work outcomes.

Budget-setting - implications

Staff implications involved 51 proposed voluntary redundancies of which several people were deemed to be ‘at risk’. The redundancy reserve had declined but would be topped-up with the Minimum Revenue Provision adjustment that had been approved in 2016-2017.

Collection of business rates was currently good indicating confidence in the local economy. All the budget proposals undertook a rigid equality impact assessment.

Budget setting - capital programme

Local investment would be continuing with a capital programme of £43,800,000 proposed for 2018-2019. Significant projects in development included the Airport Enterprise Zone, Central Business District phase 3, Central Leisure Quarter and the new museum. Investment for the projects would need to be factored in over time.

Budget setting - working reserves and balances

It was reported that a target of £6,000,000 was sought for working balances.

Budget setting - precept cap

The Government had allowed a Council Tax rise of up to 6% (no more than 3% for general Council Tax, no more than 3% for Adult Social Care). The Adult Social Care precept was allowed for two out of three years so the Council would not be able to apply this rate in 2019-2020. An extra 1% increase in Council Tax had equated to £500,000 for Children’s Social Care previously. The Government required the extra Adult Social Care precept funding to be spent on Adult Social Care. 

Future medium term picture

The Settlement Funding Assessment from Government would end in 2019-2020 with potential uncertainties, e.g. if localised business rates returns were reduced. Indicative forecast savings gap requirements for future years were £8,400,000 for 2019-2020 and £6,500,000 for 2020-2021.

Comments and suggestions from Business representatives

Mr Alan Walsh, Policy Manager, Blackpool Chamber of Commerce recognised the difficulties that local authorities nationally faced in view of several years of government funding cuts. Notwithstanding this, he emphasised that Blackpool needed to be ‘open for business’. There needed to be ongoing investment for good infrastructure and real connectivity, e.g. road, rail and broadband.

Mr Neil Jack, Chief Executive welcomed the points and added that significant investment was being made in areas such as the Airport Enterprise Zone, Tramway and further opportunities available through the Business Loan Fund.

Comments and suggestions from Union representatives

Mr David Dickinson, Unison referred to the forecast overspends for 2017-2018. He noted that the overspend for the Children’s Services Directorate was nearly £3,000,000 and that there had been high overspends in previous years. He noted that there were 539 Looked After Children at the end of December 2017. He queried the reasons for high numbers including high overspends on out-of-area placements, what strategies were in place to manage these and whether they were working.

Mr Jack explained that the Children’s Services Directorate was facing huge demand pressures with high numbers of Looked After Children and the costs of placements. There were high numbers which had been impacted upon recently by a small number of large families. These pressures were equally impacting on the health sector and police.

Mr Jack indicated that it was important to reduce the numbers but in a safe, measured and manageable way. Different options needed to be considered for children ideally allowing them to stay with their own families rather than immediately being placed in care. However, this all needed to be based on risk and the best options using daily management working with other partners such as the voluntary sector. The ‘front door’ for referrals needed to adopt a more holistic approach to help and support (e.g. working with schools) not the traditional options of direct intervention or no support. Better demand management was beginning to work. Other improvements in joint working including the new Blackpool Young People’s Service which pooled together several support services and resources, including youth offending, again for a more rounded approach.  Other initiatives included the Better Start and Head Start programmes to support the emotional resilience of young people and their families.

Mr Jack referred to the Children’s Improvement Board as leading on this work and also initiatives such as the ‘Risk Sensible’ model (taking proportionate measured risks) currently being rolled out across Blackpool agencies.

Mr Jack added that the numbers of Looked After Children had peaked at 550 in early 2017. At that time, there had been as many as 30 new cases each month which was now down to less than 15.

Mr Dickinson referred to the car parking overspend of £716,000. In response, Mr Jack reported that a surplus had actually been achieved. Mr Alan Cavill, Director of Place explained that ambitious targets had been set. These had not fully been met due to full cost-recovery not being achieved, new parking lines and meters having poor payback, on-street parking not being popular and there had been a cost of £110,000 for free town centre parking in December 2017 following requests from businesses.

Mr Dickinson noted an overspend of £298,000 for the Place budget. Mr Cavill explained that 50% of this related to an interest charge and the remainder was due to various factors. These included the police moving into new offices and paying rent but this had been delayed with negotiations ongoing for twelve months.

Mr James Rupa, Unison requested a breakdown of the forecast £2,000,000 service demand pressures which formed part of the £5,500,000 budget savings gap. Mr Thompson explained that the main cost was a projection for growing demand on Adult Social Care with the ageing population. Mr Jack added that cost analysis had been built into the Medium Term Financial Strategy and that significant investment had been made even though there appeared to be an underspend in Adult Social Care.

Mr Rupa referred to the proposed 51 voluntary redundancy requirement of which included several staff currently ‘at risk’. He queried if there was flexibility so that only voluntary redundancy took place. Mr Jack explained that people could apply for redundancy for different personal reasons. Some might be turned down subject to the needs of the service. Union representatives offered to work with management to ensure that the best outcomes were reached.

Mr Rupa referred to the voluntary unpaid additional leave and an issue that had arisen in previous years. He stated that some staff had reported to him that they had been pressurised into taking leave. Mr Thompson re-iterated that this was a voluntary option and some staff also chose to take more than the five days. Mr Jack added that not taking the option could have an impact services. He wanted to maintain service delivery.

Mr Rupa referred to the proposed savings on school crossings and expressed concern that schools were already under budgetary pressures so would not be able to pick up the costs. Mr Jack confirmed that all proposed changes to crossings would be risk assessed and discussed with schools. He added that some had more than one crossing so the full list of crossings would be carefully considered.

Mr Dickinson expressed serious concerns on the proposal to remove the Essential Car User Allowance which would affect nearly 330 staff at a budget cost of £265,000. He cited national terms and conditions (the ‘Green’ book) which required staff to be properly reimbursed for use of their own vehicles for council duties. The proposed switch to casual car user status with an additional entitlement of 10p per mile over the standard mileage rate, he considered was not sufficient. He felt that there had not been meaningful consultation with many staff potentially losing a significant entitlement amounting to £960 per year. He accepted that some staff may have previously benefitted from receiving the Allowance but had not incurred full costs but these were exceptions. The expectation had been that staff and unions could put forward alternative criteria options which they did. He added that management had given no strong indication of their intentions and the savings proposal was a surprise. Furthermore, there appeared to have been no assessment done of the impact on staff taking into account that their real pay had fallen by over 20% since 2011.

Mr Jack replied that staff would be reimbursed for use of their own vehicles through the proposed mileage scheme. This was not a fixed allowance though as that scheme had not been used properly. He added that budget savings were required and ideally proportionate amounts across all areas. He re-iterated that this was a proposal although the options put forward by unions appeared to increase costs.

After detailed discussion on the issue which members noted, it was agreed that further discussion would take place outside the meeting.

The Chairman invited comments and questions from the Committee. No further questions were put forward. He thanked officers for their contribution to the meeting.

The Committee agreed to forward the comments made in the consultation meeting by the Non-Domestic Rate Payers and Trade Union representatives, together with the draft minutes from the meeting to the Executive for its consideration.

Councillor Hunter declared a prejudicial interest in section 1.91 of the budget ‘Use of reserves, e.g. Highfield’ as a Governor of Highfield Leadership Academy and indicated that he would leave the room if there was any discussion on this matter.

Councillor Singleton declared a prejudicial interest in section 1.11 of the budget ‘Blackpool Coastal Housing dividend to General Fund’ as a Non-Executive Director of Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited and indicated that she would leave the room if there was any discussion on this matter.

Councillors G. Coleman and Galley declared personal interests in section 1.51 of the budget ‘Cultural Exemption generating VAT recovery’ as Non-Executive Directors of Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited.

To consider the proposed Adult Social Care Fees and Charges 2018/19.

The Cabinet Member agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To agree the proposed changes to the charging arrangements as detailed in the accompanying fees and charges schedules at Appendix A with effect from 1 April 2018 to 31 March 2019.

The Head of Licensing Service deals with a number of requests for licences under the Licensing Act, the Gambling Act and other pieces of legislations. Details of the licences, applied for and granted are outlined in the report.

The Head of Licensing Service agreed to grant the licences as set out in the attached Appendices.

The Council's delegated budgets scheme allocates budgets of £15,000 to each Ward covered for the financial year 2017/2018. The funding for this scheme can be spent on supplementing funding public services, for the benefit of the local community.

Councillors Mrs Callow and P Callow of Norbreck Ward have requested £1,550 as funding to Norbreck Primary Academy for the School Choir to travel to London in March to perform at the Royal Albert Hall for the Barnardo’s National Choral Competition.

Councillors Benson and Mitchell of Layton Ward have requested £278.16 as funding to the Highways Department for the purchase and installation of direction signs for Layton Community House.

The Leader of the Council agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

To authorise the requests, as submitted.