Agenda and minutes
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apologies for absence Minutes: There were no apologies for absence on this occasion. |
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Declarations of Interest To invite Councillors to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Disclosable Interests they may have in items on the agenda, and to confirm the nature of those interests. Minutes: There were no declarations of interest. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11th January 2017 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11th January 2017 be approved as a correct record. |
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Overview and Scrutiny Board (a) To receive and note the minutes (b) To consider any recommendations contained within the minutes Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 16th January 2017 were submitted.
Reference was made to the recommendation in Minute 86/16 of the Overview and Scrutiny Board regarding the Cabinet Work Programme. It was noted that the request from the Board had been discussed with the Corporate Management Team by the Chief Executive Officer with a view to ensuring that items were included in well in advance on the Cabinet Work Programme.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 16th January 2017 be noted. |
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The Council Plan 2017- 2020 Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet considered a revised version of the Council Plan which had been refreshed following comments from Members at the Council Meeting on 23rd November 2016.
It was reported that the main changes were on pages 6 and 7 of the Plan in that 6 key priorities for the next four years had been included, supported by the Council’s six Strategic Purposes. Key actions had also been included to ensure a Sustainable Council. In addition the style of the Plan had been re-designed.
The Leader and Members welcomed the refreshed Council Plan and thanked officers for their work in bringing this about.
RECOMMENDED that the Council Plan attached at Appendix 1 to the report be approved.
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Low Cost Housing Scheme Minutes: Cabinet considered a report on a possible amendment to the Low Cost Housing Scheme which could potentially result in the release of some capital receipt which could then be used to help fund other housing initiatives in support of the Council’s Strategic Purpose “help me to find somewhere to live in my locality”.
Members were reminded of the background to the Scheme which had been established approximately 25/30 years ago with a view at that time to assisting local first time buyers.
Under the scheme the Council retains a 30% share in the property but this does not generate any income as there is no rent payable. Whilst a number of the homeowners have purchased the remaining 30% the Council still holds a share in 110 properties. At one stage a waiting list of prospective purchasers was maintained by the Council and nominees from the list could purchase when an existing resident wished to sell their 70% share and move. In recent years however it had become very rare for the scheme to be used to assist a household in need which met the criteria. A waiting list was no longer maintained due to the low turnover in properties and properties were sold on the open market.
The report proposed that in future on disposal of the properties by the current home owners the Council’s 30% should also be sold. It was noted that in 2016/17 this would have generated a capital receipt of approximately £100k. It was reported however that the sale of 100% of the property could only take place with the owner’s agreement.
Members considered that whilst the funding level could not be guaranteed, potentially there was a source of additional capital funding which could be utilised to support appropriate housing projects, possibly in conjunction with a partner organisation.
The report also referred to the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Finance and Budget Working Group who were also aware of the potential asset available.
Following discussion it was
RESOLVED: (a) that when properties within the Councils Low Cost Housing Scheme are offered for sale, as far as possible the Council’s 30% share should also be sold; and (b) that any capital receipt generated be ring-fenced to provide funding to assist the Council in meeting its Strategic Purpose “help me to find somewhere to live in my locality.”
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Allocation of Homelessness Funding 2017/18 Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report on proposals to award Homelessness Grant to specific schemes to fund a range of homelessness support services and schemes which focus on the prevention of homelessness and repeat homelessness within the District in 2017/18. The total grant was £142k for 2017/18.
It was reported that constructive discussions had taken place with partners and the table at 3.7 in the report set out the proposed allocations for 2017/18. Following recent cuts to Worcestershire County Council funding, there was a focus on retaining the existing supported housing scheme with St Basil’s which provides specialist accommodation for young people.
Following discussion it was
RESOLVED: (a) that the initiatives set out in section 3.7 of the report, as recommended by the Strategic Housing Manager be approved to receive funding from the Homelessness Grant for 2017/18; and (b) that delegated authority be granted to the head of Community Services following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing to use any unallocated Homelessness grant during the year or make further adjustments as necessary to ensure full utilisation of the Homelessness Grant for 2017/18 in support of existing or new schemes.
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Planning Development Services Business Case Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report on the business case for a shared Development Management Service between Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council. The business case had been recommended for approval by the Shared Service Board and at a previous Cabinet meeting on 2nd November 2016. At the meeting of the Council on 23rd November 2016 however, consideration of the Cabinet recommendation and the business case had been deferred to enable cross party discussion to be held on financial risk and cost apportionment.
Additional information had now been supplied relating to costs including salary, redundancy and pension costs. It was noted that the maximum possible redundancy cost would be £21k which would be split proportionately.
RECOMMENDED that the business case for the Development Management shared service be approved.
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Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/18 - 2020/21 Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered the report on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2017/18 – 2020/21.
The Executive Director Finance and Resources outlined the issues which had impacted upon to the development of the MTFP. These would continue to result in pressures on the Council over the next four years and included:
· Potential further reductions in the New Homes Bonus Grant; · Impact of the Negative Revenue Support Grant; · Impact of the Localisation of Business Rates Scheme; and · Transfer from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit
Changes introduced by the Government to the New Homes Bonus funding scheme included reduced years for which NHB was payable and the assumption of a “baseline” for housing growth of 0.4%. During 2017/18 however funding had been confirmed as £1.912m which was £210k more than anticipated in the MTFP. Further changes were anticipated and there was a risk to the funding stream in future years.
There was more certainty around the Revenue Support Grant in view of the Council accepting the offer of a four year settlement. The transitional support for 2017/18 was £114k but there was an assumption of a £750k repayment to the Government in 2019/20.
It was noted that Council would consider the level of Council Tax for 2017/18 at its meeting on 28th February 2017. If the recommendations in this report were approved the demand on the collection fund to meet this Council’s own needs would be £7,580,550 which represented a £5 increase on Band D Council Tax compared to the current financial year.
In relation to the General Fund it was anticipated that the draw down over the four years of the MTFP would be £739k. This projected draw down was £1.3m less than originally included in the Efficiency Plan.
It was reported that the Efficiency Plan, which had been agreed by Council in October, had included a number of areas where the Council’s costs could be reduced in a variety of ways. The budget included the delivery of savings and income as identified in the Efficiency Plan. It was noted however that whist annual savings had been included to meet those referred to in the Efficiency Plan, there may be changes to funding and services delivered from 2018/19 which require alternative savings and income profiles to be delivered.
The report set out three pressures and income shortfalls which could not be managed by improved marketing or price increases . These were:
· Shortfall in income from Land Charges due to a reduction in demand on the service (£50k); · Cost of Licences for Smartphones and iPads to ensure that officers have appropriate resources to undertake their roles (£11k); · Unavoidable cost increases from Microsoft for Licences £108k by 2020/21)
In addition to the unavoidable pressures a revenue bid of £15k had been proposed to provide funding for St Basil’s Foyer Scheme to enable them to provide 24 hour support for vulnerable young people.
Members acknowledged the significant amount of work undertaken by officers which had resulted in a reduction in the funds required to be ... view the full minutes text for item 85/16 |
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Local Government Act 1972 "RESOLVED: that under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act, as amended, the relevant paragraph of that part, in each case, being as set out below, and that it is in the public interest to do so:-
Minutes: That under Section 100 I of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, the public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the item of business the subject of the following minute on the grounds that it involves the disclosure of “Exempt Information” as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act, the relevant part being as set out below and that it is in the public interest to do so.
Minute No Paragraph 87 /16 3
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ICT Infrastructure Report Minutes: Cabinet considered a report on the outcome of the initial procurement exercise in respect of ICT infrastructure resource. It was noted that the outcome would be subject to a recommendation to Council.
Following discussion and consideration of the responses received to the tender exercise it was
RECOMMENDED that the Head of Transformation and Organisational Development be requested to proceed with the procurement of a contract with the preferred supplier (being the lowest of the tenders received) to deliver the ICT infrastructure functions.
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