Agenda, decisions and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interest and the nature of that interest which they may have in any of the items under consideration at this meeting.

6. Draft Budget and Business Plan 2018/19. – Fees and Charges

Councillor David Hughes, Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, In relation to a partnership in LC Hughes Re-cycling and would leave the room as and if necessary.

The Chairman to advise whether they have agreed to any item of urgent business being admitted to the agenda.

There were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 November 2017.

The minutes of the meeting of the Budget Planning Committee held on 28 November 2017 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

**Appendix 4 to this report will follow as it is being reviewed and finalised**

Report of Executive Director – Finance and Governance and the Interim Director.

Purpose of Report

To set out draft proposals for the Corporate Strategy, Revenue and Capital Budgets 2018/19 and Medium Term Revenue Plan for the Committee to consider and recommend to the Executive.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1      To consider and recommend the draft Corporate Strategy 2018/19 to the Executive as set out in Appendix 2;

1.2      To note the draft Risk Register aligned to the draft Corporate Strategy at Appendix 3;

1.3       To consider and note the Fees and Charges set out at Appendix 4;

1.4      To consider and recommend the 2018/19 draft revenue budget set out in paragraph 3.24 to Executive and then Full Council in February;  

1.5      To consider and recommend to Executive the level of Council Tax increase for 2017/18 before this is formally approved by Full Council in February; 

1.6      To consider and recommend the Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP) set out in Appendix 5 to Executive and then Full Council in February;

1.7      To consider and recommend the 2018/19 capital programme set out in Appendix 7 to Executive and then Full Council in February;         

Resolved

(1)       That having reviewed the draft Corporate Strategy 2018/19 it be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(2)       That the draft Risk Register aligned to the draft Corporate Strategy be noted.

(3)       That, having given due consideration, the Fees and Charges for 2018/19 be noted.       

(4)       That the 2018/19 draft revenue budget be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(5)       That the level of the Council Tax increase of 0% for 2018/19be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(6)       That the Medium Term Revenue Plan be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(7)       That the contents of the report relating to 2018/19 expenditure be noted.

(8)       That subject to the following comments, Executive and then Council, be recommended to approve the capital bids and the proposed capital programme as part of the budget for 2018/19:

a)         Cherwell Community Fund -

i)    that an equivalent revenue reserve be considered.

ii) that the governance and reporting arrangements be considered.

b)         Build – that a Housing Co-operative be considered to help the build programme.

c)         Container bin Replacement – that a rolling 5 year programme be considered.

d)         Public Conveniences –

i)   that the Committee be supportive of the aims and objectives of this programme and  of Changing Spaces.

ii)    that the programme be brought forward as soon a practicably possible across the district.

e)         Horsefair – that the political implications of tree felling should be taken into consideration and a consensus should be sought through consultation.

f)          Thorpe Way Industrial Units – that the investment in the light of the last 5 years investment and expenditure against the rental income and projected income be considered.            

The Committee reviewed the report of Executive Director for Finance and Governance and Interim Director which set out draft proposals for the Corporate Strategy, Revenue and Capital Budgets 2018/19 and Medium Term Revenue Plan.

In response to members concerns that group companies were not covered in the Risk Register the Executive Director for finance and Governance explained that this would go to the Account Audit and Risk Committee.

The following items contain exempt information as defined in the following paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of Local Government Act 1972.

 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

 Members are reminded that whilst the following item has been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider it in private or in public. In making the decision, members should balance the interests of individuals or the Council itself in having access to the information. In considering their discretion members should also be mindful of the advice of Council Officers.

Should Members decide not to make a decision in public, they are recommended to pass the following recommendation:

“That under Section 100A of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the ground that, if the public and press were present, it would be likely that exempt information falling under the provisions of Schedule 12A, Part 1, Paragraph 3 would be disclosed to them, and that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.”

Resolved

That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 4 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Exempt appendices 5, 6 and 7.

The Committee reviewed the exempt appendices.  Lead officers attended the meeting and gave details of their capital bids and answered questions from the Committee (as set out in the exempt minutes).   

In response to members’ questions regarding the draft medium term revenue plan, the Executive Director for Finance and Governance explained that the figures were liable to change as many of the quantities were unknown at this stage and were subject to change.

The Chairman thanked the Lead Officers and Members who attended the meeting for their contribution.

The Committee to resolve to re-admit the Press and Public.

Resolved

That the public and press be readmitted to the meeting.

Having re-admitted the press and public the Committee voted on the recommendations.

Resolved

(1)       That having reviewed the draft Corporate Strategy 2018/19 it be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(2)       That the draft Risk Register aligned to the draft Corporate Strategy be noted.

(3)       That, having given due consideration, the Fees and Charges for 2018/19 be noted.       

(4)       That the 2018/19 draft revenue budget be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(5)       That the level of the Council Tax increase of 0% for 2018/19be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(6)       That the Medium Term Revenue Plan be recommended to Executive and then Council.

(7)       That the contents of the report relating to 2018/19 expenditure be noted.

(8)       That subject to the following comments, Executive and then Council, be recommended to approve the capital bids and the proposed capital programme as part of the budget for 2018/19:

a)         Cherwell Community Fund -

i)    that an equivalent revenue reserve be considered.

ii) that the governance and reporting arrangements be considered.

b)         Build – that a Housing Co-operative be considered to help the build programme.

c)         Container bin Replacement – that a rolling 5 year programme be considered.

d)         Public Conveniences –

i)   that the Committee be supportive of the aims and objectives of this programme and  of Changing Places.

ii)    that the programme be brought forward as soon a practicably possible across the district.

e)         Horsefair – that the political implications of tree felling should be taken into consideration and a consensus should be sought through consultation.

f)          Thorpe Way Industrial Units – that the investment in the light of the last 5 years investment and expenditure against the rental income and projected income be considered.            

To review the Committee Work Plan.

Resolved

(1)       That the Work Programme be noted.

The Committee considered its work programme.

Resolved

(1)       That the Work Programme be noted.