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.

To report the level of spending and exposure against the Council’s Revenue budgets and reserves and balances for the first 9 months to 31 December 2021.

The Executive agreed the recommendations as outlined above namely:

1.         To note the report.  

2.         To require the respective directors and Director of Resources to continue to closely monitor and manage service financial and operational performances, specifically Growth and Prosperity, Children’s Services, Strategic Leisure Assets, Communications and Regeneration and Adult Services.

3.         To prompt the Scrutiny Leadership Board to continue to independently review the financial and operational performances of the services listed in decision 2.

4.         To continue to lobby central government (HM Treasury, Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Health and Social Care, Department for Transport, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Department for Education in particular) along with local authority peers and networks and the Local Government Association for the funding necessary to cope with the demands and new burdens presenting as a result of both Covid and within Children’s Services.

To consider and recommend to the Council the Capital Strategy for 2022/23 to 2024/25, incorporating the Property Investment Strategy for 2022/23.

Once approved by Council this document will form part of the Budget Framework.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council to approve the Capital Strategy 2022/23 to 2024/25 incorporating the Property Investment Strategy 2022/23.

To consider and recommend to Council the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 Capital Programme.

Once approved by Council this document will form part of the Budget Framework.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to Council:

1. To approve the Capital Programme for 2022/23 as set out in this report and in Appendices 4a and 4b, to the Executive report.

2. To agree that Executive approval will continue to be required for all Prudential borrowing schemes (reference paragraph 6.10).

3. To approve the Single Capital Pot approach as outlined with a top slice of 12.5% to allow for investment in key priority areas and overspends that are not otherwise fundable (reference paragraph 6.11).

4. To agree the Capital Prudential Indicators as identified in Appendix 4c, to the Executive report.

To consider and recommend to Council The Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23.

Once approved by Council this document will form part of the Budget Framework.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council:

1. To approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23 including both the Borrowing and Investment Strategies which are set out in Appendix 5c and Appendix 5d to the Executive report.

2. To adopt the Treasury Management Policy Statement, the three key principles and four clauses taken from CIPFA’s Treasury Management in Public Services Code of Practice and Cross Sectoral Guidance Notes (2021 Edition) set out in Appendix 5b to the Executive report.

3. To approve the revised Prudential Indicators and limits for 2022/23 and the new Prudential Indicators and limits for 2022/23 – 2024/25 which are set out in Appendix 5e to the Executive report.

4. To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2022/23, which will ensure a prudent Minimum Revenue Provision charge in the annual statement of accounts. The policy is set out in Appendix 5f to the Executive report.

To consider the proposal for Blackpool Council’s draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23.

Once approved by Council this document will form part of the Budget Framework.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.      To recommend to Council the level of net expenditure for the draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2022/23 of £160,276,000 (ref. paragraph 6.2)

2.      To recommend to Council a level of budget savings of £8.6m (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.4 and Appendix 2)

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

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

5.      To consider any further facts, information and stakeholder feedback which may emerge and report the details to the meeting of the Executive on 24 February 2022.

This report sets out the further progress on the delivery of the Enterprise Zone and related activity at Blackpool Airport and outlines activity planned for the next fourteen months to the end of financial year 2022/23

The Executive resolved as follows:

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.         To agree that Appendices 7b and 7c are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph by virtue of Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as they include detailed budget estimates and contingencies that enable the Enterprise Zone to be financially viable. The publication of the costings would undermine the Council’s position in continuing and future negotiations.

2.         To note the progress made on the delivery of the Enterprise Zone Masterplan.

3.         To note the higher levels of risk associated with the overall whole life expenditure and income forecasts, given the present volatile nature of the economy and uncertainty over the long term format of business rates.  

4.         To note:

•          the total estimated cumulative expenditure from April 2016 to the end of financial year 2021/22 of £14.36m

•          the whole life expenditure forecast to the end of the Enterprise  ...  view the full decision text for item 7.