Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Rosemary Cole
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apologies for absence Minutes: An apology for absence was received from Councillor M. A. Sherrey. |
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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: Councillors K. J. May and C. B. Taylor each declared an Other Disclosable Interest in Agenda item 5 relating to Fairfield Village Stores as they both used the premises regularly and were acquainted with the owners.
Councillor May and Councillor Taylor left the meeting whilst the item was considered. |
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 14th June 2017 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the cabinet held on14th June 2017 be approved as a correct record. |
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Worcestershire Regulatory Service 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 Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board held on 22nd June 2017 were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board held on 22nd June 2017 be noted.
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Additional documents: Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report on an application to list Fairfield Post Office and General Stores, Stourbridge Road, Fairfield as an Asset of Community Value.
Officers outlined the details of the application received from Belbroughton and Fairfield Parish Council in respect of Fairfield Post Office and General Stores, Fairfield. It was reported that the local Ward Members were in support of the application to list the premises and that any views from the owners of the premises were awaited. Any such views received before the deadline would be taken into account by the Head of Planning and Regeneration when making a decision on the application.
Reference was made to the information set out at section B4 of the application form which provided details of why the premises were considered to be of community value. These included the role played in the enhancement of social wellbeing of residents and the provision of a local point of community contact which it was stated assisted with the maintenance of social cohesion.
Members considered the application on its merits and in the light of the test contained within Section 88(1) of the Localism Act 2011 which was set out in section 3.9 of the report.
Following consideration it was
RESOLVED that the application for the listing of Fairfield Post Office and General Stores, Stourbridge Road, Fairfield as an Asset of Community Value be supported.
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Financial Outturn 2016/17 and Reserves Additional documents:
Minutes: The Leader welcomed Councillor S. R. Colella to the meeting of the Cabinet to put forward comments on behalf of the Independent Alliance Group on this item.
The Cabinet considered a report on the Council’s financial position for Revenue and Capital for the Financial Year 2016/17.
The Executive Director Finance and Corporate Resources reported that the Council’s External Auditors had commenced work and to date had not raised any concerns.
Members’ attention was drawn to the Revenue Budget summary table which indicated savings/additional income of £238k to be transferred to balances. This figure was following the proposed addition of a number of new or additional reserves totalling £899k.
It was noted that a number of services had generated additional income including cesspool emptying, garden waste, bulky collections and planning applications. Whilst there was a shortfall on car parking income this was likely to be partly due to a reduction in the number of spaces available due to redevelopment work.
In relation to the Capital Budget it was noted that the significant projected saving within “keep my place safe and looking good” was due mainly to the fleet replacement programme and a delay in receiving vehicles from suppliers. Within “help me to live my life independently” the saving was due to the Disabled Facilities Grants. The funding received from Worcestershire County Council had ben ring fenced for this.
It was reported that the proposed new reserves included significant increased funding for Economic Regeneration to fund Economic Development schemes across the District, additional funding to support the feasibility and implementation of housing schemes across the District and a new reserve to fund support for a review of Transport, Highways and Infrastructure implications.
Officers reported that it was intended that the format of the finance monitoring report in future would change and would focus more on “exceptions.” The report had been considered by the Finance and Budget Working Group.
Councillor Colella thanked Members for the opportunity to contribute to the consideration of the report and raised a number of points for clarification/discussion including:
· The total sum for savings/income generation of £1.137m which had increased significantly from the end of Quarter 3 - it was accepted that further improvements were needed in financial forecasting;
· The intended use of the proposed additional Economic Regeneration reserve of £500k - it was reported the intention was to use this in particular to create on - going income streams for the Authority to support future services. In addition the Council’s Economic Priorities and the Council Plan actions would be supported;
· Potential to utilise additional income generated through the Lifeline Scheme to support improved CCTV facilities;
· Whether the New Homes Bonus Scheme available funding was the final figure - it was confirmed this had not changed;
· Whether the budgets which had been “underspent” would be reduced to a lower base in future – the Chief Executive responded that urgent work was to be undertaken with Heads of Service and Senior Managers to understand fully the significant change in figures ... view the full minutes text for item 19/17 |
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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 they involve 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 items of business the subject of the following minutes on the grounds that they involve 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 21 /17 4 22 /17 4
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Shared Services Board Minutes: The minutes and recommendations of the meeting of the Shared Services Board held on 6th July 2017 were considered in conjunction with the item the subject of Minute 22/17 – Planning Policy and Conservation Shared Service Business Case.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the Shared Services Board held on 6th July 2017 be noted.
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Planning Policy and Conservation Shared Service Business Case Minutes: The Cabinet considered the Business Case for a shared Planning Policy Service between Bromsgrove District Council and Redditch Borough Council including in house Conservation advice. The proposal had been recommended for approval by the Shared Services Board at its meeting on 6th July 2017.
The Portfolio Holder outlined the basis of the Business Case and some of the anticipated benefits including an increase in the resilience of the service and increased access to Conservation advice and support.
Members considered the proposals and
Following discussion it was
RECOMMENDED: (1) that approval be requested from Council to endorse the Shared Service Business Case for Planning Policy including Conservation advice (as set out in Appendix 1 to the report); (2) that the new Planning Policy Service be charged to both Councils on the percentage share as defined by the 2016/17 budget allocations: (a) Bromsgrove 60% (b) Redditch 40% (with 2(a) and 2(b) to be reviewed in 12 months’ time after the introduction of the shared service) (c) the financial split for the Conservation element is proposed as 75% Bromsgrove and 25% Redditch to reflect the greater number of Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas within the administrative area of Bromsgrove (3) that the service be hosted by Bromsgrove District Council due to the larger geographical area, complexity of planning issues and the higher number of Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas. |