Issue - meetings

To consider the recommendations from the Cabinet meeting held on 24^th July 2024.

The Chairman advised that there were two recommendations from the meeting of the Cabinet held on 24^th July 2024, which were presented for the Council’s consideration.

Councillor K. J. May drew Members’ attention to the Recommendations, and in doing so provided a brief explanation with regards to the reasons for the recommendations; as detailed in the Background Papers.

Cost of Living Proposal - Update

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor May and seconded by Councillor S. Baxter.

In proposing the recommendations, the Leader commented that the proposals had been brought forward after funding had been ring fenced in the budget a few years ago for community use after Members raised concerns about library provision.  No libraries had subsequently been closed.  Therefore, this money was available and could be used instead to help support residents who were suffering due to cost of living challenges.  The funding could be used as seed funding and additional funds would be requested from the National Lottery to help ensure long-term financial support.

Confirmation was provided during consideration of this item that the officer who would be recruited using this funding would be undertaking valuable outreach work.  Efforts would be made as soon as possible to recruit to this position as the value of the role to the community was recognised.

RESOLVED that

1)          from the remaining £150,000 contained within earmarked reserves to support cost of living initiatives, £38,000 be allocated to a Voluntary Sector Money Adviser;

2)          the £62,000 allocation to Citizen’s Advice be amended to fund an Outreach Development Worker through to March 2026.

(Prior to consideration of the recommendations in respect of the Cost of Living, Councillors E. M. S. Gray and S. A. Webb left the room.  They were not present during the debate in respect of this matter nor voted thereon.)

Combined Financial Outturn and Quarter 4 Financial Monitoring Report (Including Update on the Fleet)

At this stage in the meeting, Councillors E. M. S. Gray and S. A. Webb  returned to the meeting room for the consideration of the Combined Financial Outturn and Quarter 4 Monitoring Report 2023/24.

Councillor S. R. Colella then read out the recommendation with regard to the update on the Council’s fleet and provided a brief explanation with regards to the reasons for the recommendation.

During the presentation of the report, Members were advised that in 2021, as part of a review of the Council’s finances, a decision was taken to extend the period in which existing vehicles in the fleet would be used by an extra year before their replacement.  The decision was also taken at that time to invest in maintenance work on the existing vehicle fleet in order to extend the timeframes in which they could be used and therefore minimise the impact on the Council’s capital budget.  It had been envisaged that the savings arising from this approach would enable the authority in the long-term to invest in more energy efficient vehicles, in line with the Council’s aim to reduce carbon  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48