Agenda and minutes
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To receive apologies for absence Minutes: Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillor M. 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: There were no declarations of interest.
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Minutes: The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 18th January were submitted.
RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 18th January 2023 be approved as a trued an accurate record.
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Overview and Scrutiny Board (a) To consider any recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board Minutes: There were no updates or recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Board on this occasion.
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Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023/24 Minutes: The Housing Strategy and Enabling Manager presented the Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023/24 report for Members’ consideration.
The Council had been awarded a Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023/24 by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUCH) totalling £165,612. It was highlighted that the DLUCH funding had been ringfenced in order to provide schemes to prevent homelessness and to enforce the Homelessness Reduction Act. The funding would also be used to reduce the numbers of families in temporary accommodation and eliminate the use of unsuitable Bed & Breakfast accommodation for families for longer that the statutory six week limit. In addition to the DLUCH funding, Members were advised that a budget of £112,000 had been allocated for the 2023/24 Homelessness Grant. Furthermore, as a result of an underspend in the previous year’s funding allocation, additional funding of £40k was available. Therefore, the total grant available was £317,612. Members were reminded that the Council had a statutory duty under the Housing Act 1996 (as amended) to assist those who were threatened with homelessness or experiencing homelessness.
The report outlined a number of local schemes that Officers proposed should receive funding for 2023/24. These included schemes working with young people, the provision of new furniture for ex-offenders, volunteering opportunities and targeted debt intervention. It was reported that these schemes assisted the most vulnerable members of the community. The total proposed expenditure for the allocation of grant funding was £306,307. Officers explained that this was less than the total allocation of funding, however clarified that the underspend of £11,305 was to be held in reserve in order to cover any anticipated additional Bed & Breakfast costs for the coming year.
In terms of risk, Members were advised that should these proposals not be agreed it could result in increased Bed & Breakfast costs, increased rough sleeping and have a significant physical and mental health for those who were threatened with or experiencing homelessness.
Following the presentation of the report Members noted that this was an important report and highlighted the increased need for affordable housing within the District in order to prevent further homelessness and rough sleeping.
The Portfolio Holder for Strategic Housing and Health and Well Being thanked the Officers for their report and noted that that their passion in carrying out work in respect of the prevention of homelessness was very much appreciated.
RESOLVED that the following initiatives receive allocation funding for 2023/24
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Pay Policy Statement 2023/24 Additional documents: Minutes: The Interim Section 151 Officer presented the Pay Policy 2023/24 report and in doing so stated that the Council had a legal requirement to produce a Pay Policy statement each year under the Localism Act (2011). Officers confirmed that the Statement must be approved by Full Council by 31st March each year for the subsequent financial year. The Statement must set out the relationship between the highest and lowest paid staff at the Council and included within the report was the breakdown of remuneration of all Officers across the Council.
Cabinet was advised that the grading structure of employees at the Council was between 1-11 and included in these grades were a number of pay points. It was explained that there were two managerial grades, two Heads of Service grades, Executive Director, Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Executive. The Council did not apply bonuses or performance related pay to its Chief Officers and that progression through the incremental scale of a relevant grade was subject to satisfactory performance assessed on an annual basis. Information was provided to Members regarding the job allocation within the structure and it was stated that posts for Managers and above were evaluated by an external assessor. In respect of new appointments, it was noted that these would normally be made at the minimum of the relevant grade. Officers stated that the current lowest salary at the Council, as at 1st April 2022, was £20,441 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) and that the Council was committed to the Local Government Employers national pay bargaining framework.
RECOMMENDED that the Pay Policy be approved.
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Additional documents: Minutes: The Interim Section 151 Officer presented the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) 2023/24 to 2025/26 (including the Treasury Management Strategy and the Capital Programme for the Cabinet’s consideration.
During presentation of the report Members were asked to note the following:
· Tranche 1 of the budget was published on 17th October 2022 and agreed at Full Council on 7th December 2022. This report stated that £1.6m of savings had been required and that these savings had been made. However, due to the cost of living crisis and other additional pressures a £1.6m gap had been identified in 2023/24 and needed to be mitigated. · An assumption had been made that the Council would agree a 1.99% increase for Council Tax for 2023/24. It was noted that the Council Tax Resolutions 2023/24 report was due to be considered at Full Council on 22nd February 2023. · There was an additional pressure of £718k as a result of the 2022/23 £1,925 pay award increase. · An assumption of general inflation increases of 10% had been made and that the 200% allocation for Utilities remained. However, this would now be allocated 100% to the base budget and 100% to earmarked reserves and drawn down as required. Any surplus would be returned to the General Fund. · The Local Government settlement had been announced on 19th December 2022 totalling £1.198m. This, it was confirmed included New Homes Bonus funding (£127k), Services Grant (£68k), Funding Guarantee (£1.027m) and Reduction in Council Tax Base amounting to a £24k pressure. It was noted that unlike in previous years, the Local Government Settlement was only for 1 year. Therefore, for planning purposes an assumption had been made that the grant levels for financial years 2024/25 and 2025/26 would remain at £1m. · Following receipt of the final Triennial Pension Fund Valuation from the actuaries additional savings of £356k had been made. · In December 2022, the Corporate Management Team (CMT) had reviewed the earmarked reserves, which had remained unchanged for some time. As a result, a reduction in the base budget of £351k per annum for the next three years had been identified. · A review of the base budget across Business Rates, Investment Income, and Investment payments had identified a net benefit of £1.255m. This was in part due to the significant increase of Section 31 grant funding allocated this year increasing from £1.126m to £3.120m. It was clarified that the net benefit figures were based on NNDR3 forms and would be allocated over the next three financial years. Officers reported that £855k of this would be kept in reserves in the event that the Government made changes to the allocation of funding in future years. · The replacement of the fleet was considered a significant pressure for the Council. Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO) was already being used in order to reduce carbon emissions, however the cost of HVO had increased and currently the fleet was using half HVO and half diesel in its vehicles. · The Leisure contract was identified as a ... view the full minutes text for item 74/22 |