Agenda item

Members are asked to note that under the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the Council is required to take a named vote when a decision is made on the budget calculation at a budget decision meeting of the Council.

 

Recommendations from the Cabinet meeting held on 14^th February 2024 were presented for the Council’s consideration.

 

Governance Systems Review

 

Councillor C. Hotham introduced and proposed the recommendations which had originated from the Governance Systems Task and the Constitution Review Working Groups, and he thanked both for their work on the proposals.  Councillor P. McDonald seconded the recommendations and referred to them fulfilling the wishes of the Council.

 

RESOLVED that

 

1)       The proposed amendments to the Committee Terms of Reference, at Part 5 of the Constitution, in respect of special provisions as to the Chairmen of the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Board, be approved; and

 

2)       The proposed amendments to the Council Procedure Rules, at Part 8 of the Council’s Constitution, in relation to the appointments of the Chairman of the Council and the Chairmen of the Audit, Standards and Governance Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Board, be approved.

 

Carbon Reduction Strategy – Annual Review

 

Councillor S. Colella presented the report and proposed the recommendations.  In doing so he thanked the officers who had brought forward the report.  He reported it was important that the Council continued to pursue net zero and welcomed the support of members, officers and fellow Cabinet members in this regard.

 

Councillor Colella reported that a focus on positive performance would be supported through the use of a dashboard to help monitor progress in the forthcoming year.

 

Councillor S. Baxter seconded the recommendations.

 

During consideration of the item the following were the main points raised:

 

·       In response to a suggestion that the Council research using a tool to measure the carbon footprint of the District and carry out roadshows to promote carbon reduction, Councillor Colella reported that the Council was looking at the potential to use an appropriate tool to give a consistent measure of progress.  It was also intended to use the services of Act on Energy as the Council’s preferred contractor for engagement with the public.

·       A member asked when District heating would be delivered.  Councillor Colella responded that officers had been urged to accelerate this.  The Council was seeking business partners to support this initiative.

·       Whether there was scope to include a target for tree planting as trees contributed to reduction in carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.  Councillor Colella reported that the biodiversity action plan would be coming forward to the Council and trees were an important part of it.  The Council would seek to work with partners such as the County Council to maximise opportunities beyond using Council land.

·       A member suggested that the Council should seek to influence the actions taken by others across the District as the Council was responsible for only part of the carbon emissions.  Councillor Colella agreed that the Council had a part to play in leading the community in the actions it could take.  The action plan included a piece of work to review the Council’s procurement arrangements to ensure that the companies it engaged with met the Council’s requirements in terms of reaching net zero.

·       A member queried how the action plan requirement to ensure that new developments included biodiversity net gain would be agreed and enforced.  It was noted that current live developments were addressed by the planning department.  The Environment Act 2021 set out clear guidance and responsibilities for local planning authorities to develop biodiversity action plans.  The National Planning Policy Framework required Councils to ensure that a developer should ‘bring betterment’ to a development but if this could not be achieved on site it must be delivered elsewhere. 

·       A member suggested that reference in the action plan to a Working Group monitoring progress against targets would discourage those members not directly involved from contributing and that it would be more appropriate for the Overview and Scrutiny Board to carry out this work.  Councillor Colella commented that he would welcome involvement of all Councillors.  It was noted that the Overview and Scrutiny Board could set its own agenda and the Chairman of the Board, Councillor P. McDonald, commented that he would welcome the issue being considered there.  The usual practice of inviting all interested members to attend and take part would be continued. 

·       A member commented that carbon reduction and biodiversity were interlinked and both should be cross cutting issues for the Council.

 

RESOLVEDthat

 

1)    The findings of this annual review of the Carbon Reduction Strategy be endorsed

2)    The proposal to align Carbon Reduction Strategy measures to the Climate Action Scorecard into an accessible performance dashboard be accepted.

 

Non-Domestic Rates Discretionary Rate Relief Policy

 

Councillor S. R Peters declared an Other Disclosable interest in this item as he was involved in the management of Wythall Village Hall which benefitted from discretionary relief.

 

Councillor C. Hotham, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Enabling, introduced the report and proposed the recommendation.

 

The Discretionary Rate Relief Policy was periodically reviewed. Recent changes to legislation had removed a 6-month limit on backdating claims for relief applications and gave flexibility to Councils. The Council’s policy had been amended in the light of this change. It was proposed that backdating would only be considered for the current year where the application was made or decided within 6 months of the year end and in other specific circumstances. 

 

Councillor K. May seconded the recommendation.

 

RESOLVEDthat the amended Non-Domestic Rates Discretionary Relief policy be approved and adopted from 1^st April 2024.

 

Pay Policy 2024/25

 

Councillor C. Hotham, Cabinet Member for Finance and Enabling, presented the report and proposed the recommendation. 

 

The Council was required to consider and approve the policy on an annual basis.  Councillor Hotham set out the main elements of the policy.  The pay of the lowest paid employee was £22,366 per annum and the Chief Executive’s pay was 6.3 times the pay of the lowest paid employee.  The Council was responsible for setting the policy relating to recruitment, pay, employment conditions and severance. The Appointments Committee was responsible for recommending to Council the Head of Paid Service, the Section 151 Officer and Monitoring Officer appointments.

 

Councillor K. May seconded the recommendation.

 

RESOLVED that the Pay Policy 2024/25 be approved.

 

Medium Term Financial Plan (including Treasury Management Strategy, Capital Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision and Investment Strategy) (Tranche 2)

 

Councillor C Hotham, the Cabinet Member for Finance and Enabling, introduced the report and proposed the recommendations.  In doing so he thanked the Finance Team for their work in preparing the budget and the Budget and Finance Working Group for its input.

 

Budget setting was a two-tranche process and when the Council agreed the first tranche in January 2024, a deficit of £172k had been predicted for 2024/25.  However, since then the Government settlement had been confirmed, the Council had been permitted to increase Council Tax by an additional 1%, planning fees could also be increased and the Council’s share of business rates was due to increase.  Adjustments to projections for the impact of the pay award also increased the amount available in the budget.  However, £649k of budget pressures had been identified, including:

·       £33k for food standards staff

·       £66k for changes to parking enforcement

·       £85k for resourcing changes to planning and other enforcement work

·       Revenue implications from the Play Audit of £500k by 2026/27

·       £71k for the housing strategy monitoring implementation of the renter reform requirements

·       £40k additional democratic services resource to support the Council’s new governance arrangements

·       £372K North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration restructure

·       £30k Business rates adjustment

·       £33k for Members’ allowances

·       £10k reinstatement of grant to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau

·       £54k as a cautious approach to the pay award

·       £50k one off amount for the planned review of car parking

·       £150k capital regeneration seed fund

·       £1k implications arising from the £25k per year identified for landlord obligations at the Artrix, which would increase to £5k during the period of the Medium Term Financial Plan.

 

Further grant funding from the Government announced in January 2024 had enabled the proposal to be made for a balanced budget without the use of reserves.  The proposals also included provision for a ward fund for members to be piloted, investment in bus shelters, and free blue badge parking. 

 

Councillor K. May seconded the recommendations.  In doing so she referred to three strands in the budget: investment in the Council’s infrastructure, the ward budgets and supporting growth.  An earmarked reserve would seed fund approved district wide capital regeneration priorities.  Changes to the parking charges were aimed to attract and retain increased footfall in the town centre.  The ward budget proposal would allow individual ward members to invest in the areas they were closest to.  There were pressures, such as increased investment in the Private Sector Housing team and Worcestershire Regulatory Services, which were in response to increased Government expectations.  In her view risks to the Medium Term Financial Plan remained including the outstanding accounts and maintaining control over employee costs. 

 

During consideration of the report the main views expressed were:

·       It was difficult to justify an increase to Council tax during hard times, but there had been welcome cross party working to arrive at the proposals.

·       The employment of additional staff to deliver services would benefit residents.

·       The reinstatement of blue badge holders having free parking was welcomed by a number of members.

·       Free parking after 6pm and for up to 30 minutes was welcomed although other increases in parking charges were regretted.  It was noted that the Council had last reviewed its car parking charges in 2011 and in conducting the current review it had engaged with stakeholders including businesses and this had resulted in the proposed changes to the structure of charges.

·       Investment in recreation grounds was welcome through funding the outcomes from the play audit.  It was suggested that the Council should pursue installing water fountains in its parks to counteract the tendency to purchase soft fizzy drinks.

·       Local members should support improvements to recreation grounds in their wards to encourage greater use of them.

·       The Ward fund addressed a perception that investment did not spread beyond the urban areas; it would enable local members to pump prime community initiatives.  Whilst the view was expressed that it might have been structured in a different way, it had the potential to support improvements in localities.

·       The proposed additional resource for private sector housing enforcement was welcome to support addressing rogue landlords.

·       The resources for bus shelters and accompanying plan was welcomed.

·       The commitment for additional funding to support the Artrix building was also welcomed.  Councillor R.J. Hunter expressed the view that further resources should be put in place to support the volunteers who were enabling the Artix to continue.  In response to a request from the Chairman, Councillor Hunter reported that he believed the Liberal Democrat Group had a mandate from the Artrix Holding Trust to seek additional resources from the Council.

·       In response to a question, Councillor S. Baxter confirmed that the deadline to use the Levelling Up Fund contributions for the Market Hall and Windsor Street projects was September 2025 and the Council was on track to meet this for both.  The Leader, Councillor K. May, added that the Council’s 10% contribution to the Market Hall was due to be committed in the final weeks of the project. Currently it did not appear that further Levelling Up Funding would be available, although UK Shared Prosperity Funds should be available for bids in due course.

·       In response to a question Councillor C Hotham clarified that the capital receipt of £1.8m referred to the sale of properties at Burcot Lane. 

 

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, the Medium Term Financial Plan (including Treasury Management Strategy, Capital Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision and Investment Strategy) (Tranche 2) was subject to a named vote.

 

Members voting FOR the recommendations in the Medium Term Financial Plan (including Treasury Management Strategy, Capital Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision and Investment Strategy) (Tranche 2):

 

Councillors Cllrs S. Ammar, A. Bailes, S. J. Baxter, S. R. Colella, A. M. Dale, D.J.A. Forsythe, E.M.S. Gray, D. Hopkins, C. A. Hotham, H.J. Jones, B. Kumar, M. Marshall, K.J. May, P.M. McDonald, B.M. McEldowney, S.T. Nock, S.R. Peters, H.D.N. Rone-Clarke, J.D. Stanley, K. Taylor, S.A. Webb and P.J. Whittaker (22)

 

Members voting AGAINST the recommendations in the Medium Term Financial Plan (including Treasury Management Strategy, Capital Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision and Investment Strategy) (Tranche 2)

 

No Councillors (0)

 

Members voting to ABSTAIN in the vote the recommendations in the Medium Term Financial Plan (including Treasury Management Strategy, Capital Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision and Investment Strategy) (Tranche 2)

 

Councillors S.M. Evans, R.J. Hunter, D.J. Nicholl, J.W. Robinson and S.J. Robinson (5).

 

The vote on the Medium Term Financial Plan (including Treasury Management Strategy, Capital Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision and Investment Strategy) (Tranche 2) was declared carried.

 

RESOLVED theapproval of

 

1)              The Tranche 2 growth proposals.

2)              The additional funding to the Council as per the final Local Government Settlement on 5th February 2024, including the estimated levels for 2024/5 and 2025/6.

3)              The Tranche 2 savings proposals, including an increase of Council Tax of 2.99%.

4)              The updated five year Capital Programme 2024/5 to 2028/29 along with its ongoing revenue costs.

5)              The levels of Earmarked Reserve being carried forward into future years.

6)              That a new Earmarked Reserve for Ward Budgets be set up and £234k allocated to it.

7)              That a new Regeneration Reserve to seed fund projects linked to district wide capital regeneration priorities be set up for £150,000.

8)              The level of General Fund balances following additions from the 2024/5 Medium Term Financial Plan.

9)              Members take account of any feedback from the Tranche 2 consultation process undertaken.

 

Termination of shared service arrangement: North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration

 

Councillor S.J. Baxter, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Economic Development and Regeneration, proposed the recommendation relating to the termination of the shared service arrangement for North Worcestershire Economic Development and Regeneration.

 

In 2023 the Host authority for the shared service, Wyre Forest District Council, had indicated it wished to withdraw from the shared arrangement.  The Council was proposing to set up a new shared Service between Bromsgrove and Redditch Councils to support economic development which was a priority for the District and sought confirmation of the additional budget for this.  A shared service enabled both Councils to employ those with the best skill set to support continued focus on developing the local economy.

 

Councillor K.J. May seconded the recommendation.

 

RESOLVED that an additional budget of £72,836 be approved for the new structure.

 

Parking Enforcement Service Level Agreement

 

Councillor S.J. Baxter introduced the report and proposed the recommendations.  Wychavon District Council had delivered the Council’s  parking services and over the years this had evolved in a piecemeal way.  A full review had last been undertaken in 2013 and it was now timely to carry out a full review of the District’s requirements.

 

Councillor Baxter thanked the Overview and Scrutiny Board for its review of the Service Level Agreement.  Although the charges from Wychavon District Council had recently been increased, the Council paid for services received, so for example costs had reduced when it had been difficult to recruit to vacancies in the service. 

 

The proposed strategic review of parking services would include on and off street parking enforcement, and would support preparation of a business case for the future of the service.  This was likely to present options such as extending the SLA, commissioning a provider through tendering for a service or delivering the service in-house.  It was likely that the review would take 18 months to complete.

 

Councillor K.J. May seconded the recommendations and in doing so thanked the officers involved for their work so far.

 

During discussion of the recommendations the following were the main issues discussed:

 

·       the review should examine public transport as some areas of the District did not have an alternative to using the car.

·       how the issue of parking outside schools would be handled under the Service Level Agreement; Councillor Baxter responded that local members’ knowledge about issues in their ward would be sought as part of the review.

·       It was agreed that the review should go to Overview and Scrutiny Board for consideration prior to a decision being made.

 

RESOLVEDthat

 

1)    An increased budget of £60K for Car Parking be included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan from April 2024.

 

2)    A one-off budget of £50K be included in the Medium-Term Financial Plan to fund the proposed work.