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 consider the Short Term Lettings Scrutiny Review Final Report.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To note the Scrutiny report on Choice Based Lettings and endorse the three recommendations noting that these recommendations have been accepted by the Leader of the Council, and endorse the Leader of the Council’s comments on each recommendation.

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 2022.

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 Children’s Services, Adult Services, Growth and Prosperity and Community and Environmental Services.

3. To prompt the Scrutiny Leadership Board to continue to independently review the financial and operational performances of the services listed in 2.2.

4. To continue to lobby central government (Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, Department for Health and Social Care 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 burdens and demands presenting as a result of exceptional inflationary pressures and demographic demands upon statutory services.

5. To continue to work towards target working balances of £6m by 31 March 2024 rising to £8m by 31 March 2025.

To consider recommending to the Council the Housing Revenue Account budget including the level of rents and service charges to be charged in connection with Housing Revenue Account dwellings during 2023/24.

The report once approved will be part of the Council’s new approved budget.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council:

1. That the 2023/24 Housing Revenue Account budget as set out in Appendix 4a, to the Executive report, is approved.

2. That rents for all Housing Revenue account properties are increased by 5% in 2023/24.

3. That the minimum level of Housing Revenue Account balances remain protected at £1 million, as previously agreed.

4. That Housing Revenue Account service charges (as detailed in Appendix 4b, to the Executive report) and that other General Fund service charges (as detailed in Appendix 4c, to the Executive report) are charged as outlined.

To recommend to Council the overall level of net expenditure to be included in the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2023/24, to identify a budget savings plan that will ensure a balanced budget in-year incorporating an agreed level of Council Tax, to outline the proposals for the use of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the allocation of schools funding for 2023/24.

The report once approved will be part of the Council’s new approved budget.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1.      To recommend to Council the level of net expenditure for the draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2023/24 of £176,218,000 (ref. paragraph 9.2 and Appendix 5a, to the Executive report)

2.      To recommend to Council a level of budget savings of £23.4m (ref. paragraphs 10.1 and 10.3 and Appendix 5b, to the Executive report) incorporating a Council Tax increase of 4.99% made up of 2.99% plus a 2% Adult Social Care precept. To amend the budget savings from those shown at Appendix 5b to reflect that the amount of £21,000 shown under Governance and Partnerships Directorate, Democratic use of reserves is now recommended to be met from Ward Budgets with each of the 42 Councillors’ budget being reduced by £500 to total £21,000.

3.      To note that the precepts for Police and Fire will be reported to Full Council on 22 February 2023 as the rates are not agreed until 15 February 2023 and 21 February 2023 respectively.

4.      To recommend to Council that the Chief Executive be authorised to take any necessary steps to ensure any staffing savings are achieved (ref. paragraph 11.1).

5.      To recommend to Council the proposed use of the Dedicated Schools Grant Budget for 2023/24 (ref. paragraph 7.8 and Appendix 5c, to the Executive report).

6.      To recommend to Council the allocation of schools funding for 2023/24 (ref. paragraph 7.8 and Appendix 5c, to the Executive report).

7.      To recommend to Council a target level of working balances of £6m by 31 March 2024 rising to £8m by 31 March 2025 (ref. paragraph 13.6 and Appendix 5g, to the Executive report).

8.      To recommend to Council that due regard is given to the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves in the budget proposals for 2023/24 (ref. section 13 and Appendix 5g, to the Executive report).

To recommend to the Council the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2024/25 and its complimentary document the Property Investment Strategy for 2023/24.

The report once approved will be part of the Council’s new approved budget.

The Executive resolved as follows:

1. To recommend to the Council to approve the Capital Strategy 2023/24 to 2024/25 attached at Appendix 6a, to the Executive report.

2. To recommend to the Council to approve the Property Investment Strategy for 2023/24 attached at Appendix 6b, to the Executive report.

To consider and recommend to Council the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 Capital Programme.

The report once approved will be part of the Council’s new approved budget.

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 7a and 7b, 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 7c, to the Executive report.

To consider and recommend to Council the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24

The report once approved will be part of the Council’s new approved budget.

The Executive resolved as follows:

To recommend to the Council:

1.      To approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 including both the Borrowing and Investment Strategies which are set out in Appendix 8c and Appendix 8d 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 8b 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 8e 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 8f to the Executive report.

To present the Town Centre Action Plan, arising out of the refreshed Town Centre Strategy (2022) for approval prior to its implementation over the next five years.

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To approve the Town Centre Action Plan attached at Appendix 9a, to the Executive report, for implementation with partners over the next five years and for it to be subject to an annual update and review.

To present the Council’s Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy 2023-2027 for approval.

Once approved this strategy will form part of the Executive Policy Framework

The Executive agreed the recommendation as outlined above namely:

To agree the Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy, attached at Appendix 10a, to the Executive report, with effect until 31 December 2027.