Issue - meetings
To receive the minutes of the Overview Board held on ...
Meeting: 04/12/2019 - Cabinet (Item 45)
PDF 103 KB(a) To receive and note the minutes
(b) To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor M. Thompson as Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Board attended the meeting to present the minutes. It was noted that there was a recommendation in the Minutes for the meeting held on 21st October, for consideration by Cabinet.
Councillor Thompson also drew Members attention to the tabled document, which included a number of recommendations form the Finance and Budget Working Group, in respect of Fees and Charges. Councillor Thompson briefly summarised the recommendations and the Board’s reasoning for them.
In respect of the recommendation regarding the interment in a grave of children aged under 1 year and children aged 1 year to 17 years – both non resident. The Working Group had felt it was not appropriate to make this charge and further information had been provided which showed that the cost to the Council of removing this charge was minimal.
The increase in respect of Primary Sports Projects, which was suggested at 20% and the Working Group, recommended that this would be better as an incremental increase of say 5 to 6% initially. The Working Group had requested information as to why such a large increase had been proposed and had been advised that an increase had not been made for some years, which was not felt to be an adequate answer to justify a 20% increase. The Working Group believed that any large increase or decrease should be made over a number of years rather than in one go, particularly in cases like this when the Council was keen to encourage its residents to improve their health and wellbeing.
In respect of Outdoor Fitness Sessions it was suggested that an increase of 2% should be included as this was organisations using the Council’s facilities and an appropriate charge should be made to cover the overheads and often those organisations were making a significant profit from the events they organised.
The Leader confirmed that these would be considered in detail during the relevant item on the Cabinet meeting agenda, but she did not see that there was a problem with any of them. She also took the opportunity to thank Councillor Thompson and the Board for its work.
RESOLVED that
a) the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Board meetings held on 21st October and 13th November 2019 be noted; and
b) Cabinet consider a business case in respect of the Council Tax Support Scheme be brought forward for 2021/22 to include 100% Council Tax support.