Issue - meetings
Recommendations from the Executive Cabinet
Meeting: 22/11/2017 - Council (Item 64)
64 Recommendations from the Cabinet 
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To consider the recommendations from the meetings of the Cabinet held on 4th October 2017 and 1st November 2017:
4th October 2017
· Black Country Core Strategy Issues and Options Report – Council Response
· Council Tax Support Scheme 2018/2019
· Commercialisation and Financial Strategy
· Review of Financial Regulations and Contract Procedures
1st November 2017
· Medium Term Financial Plan 2018/19 to 2021-2022 – Budget Assumptions
(The background papers to the recommendations are contained at the back of the Council Agenda)
Minutes:
Black Country Core Strategy Issues and Options Report
The recommendation in respect of the Black Country Core Strategy Issues and Options Report was proposed by Councillor C. B. Taylor and seconded by Councillor G. N. Denaro.
Councillor Taylor, as Portfolio Holder for Planning and Strategic Housing introduced the report and in so doing reminded Members that this was the third response which had been sent out in respect of neighbouring districts. It was confirmed that the Council would be keeping a close eye on the impact of all of these on the District’s boarders whilst still taking into account the need for co-operation between Councils.
During the following debate a number of areas were discussed in more detail:
· Land/houses which had previously been given up to Birmingham City Council and ongoing discussions with that local authority.
· The Local Transport Plan 4 which had recently been agreed by Worcestershire County Council (WCC) and the pressures it placed on the District.
· The need for these items to be dealt with in a timelier manner as this had first been raised three months ago.
Councillor Taylor thanked Members for their input and confirmed that their comments would be taken on board.
RESOLVED:
(a) that the contents of the report be noted; and
(b) that the draft officer response to the Black Country Core Strategy Issues and Options report, as attached at appendix A to the Cabinet report, be approved and submitted to the Black Country Authorities as this Council’s consultation response.
Council Tax Support Scheme 2018/19
The recommendation in respect of the Council Tax Support Scheme 2018/19 was proposed by Councillor B. T. Cooper and seconded by Councillor G. N. Denaro.
Councillor Cooper, as Portfolio Holder for Finance and Enabling, introduced this report and reminded Members that on 1st April 2013 Council Tax Benefit was replaced with the Council Tax Support Scheme. Each local authority was required to adopt the scheme and specify reductions payable in their area. In April 2015, the Council decided to cap the support at 80% of Council Tax liability for all working age claimants. This has been in place for every year since. Cabinet once again was recommending that no changes should be made to the Council Tax Support Scheme in 2018/19.
Following presentation of the report Members discussed a number of areas in more detail:
· The content of the report appeared to be diluted each year.
· The need to consult with those that the scheme impacted the most and what was being done to support them. The Portfolio Holder advised that pensioners were entitled to up to 100% support.
· The impact on those residents who now had to pay 20% of their Council Tax and any impact on the hardship fund provided by the Council.
· Whether, from the information provided, Members were in a position to make a decision on this.
· The lack of reference within the report to any data in respect of the impact of the implementation of the scheme two years previously. ... view the full minutes text for item 64