Agenda 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.

There were no declarations of interest.

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

There was no urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 July 2013.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 July, 2013 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive a presentation from the Director of Resources.

The Director of Resources gave a presentation on the Medium Term Financial Strategy, which covered the reductions in Revenue Support Grant already imposed, the likelihood of a further 20% reduction in 2015/16 and the top-slicing of £400m in New Homes Bonus (NHB) monies to the Local Enterprise Partnerships. The presentation also referred to Localised Business Rates (LBR), the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and to joint working arrangements.

The Committee thanked the Director of Resources for the presentation. The Committee raised some concern in respect of future joint working arrangements. Whilst Members supported current permanent and interim arrangements and the Council’s appetite for seeking further opportunities, it would be important to ensure this did not lead to the influence of individual Members being diluted. The Committee also raised concern that where other authorities failed to grow and generate income from NHB and LBR, the Government might reduce the Council’s resources still further in order to provide additional support.   

Report of Director of Resources.

Summary

At its meeting on 7 October, the Executive considered a report on Budget Strategy 2014-15. The Report covered:

·       service and financial planning process for 2014-15, the 2014-15 budget strategy and budget guidelines for issue to service managers to enable the production of the 2014-15 budget;

·       recent medium term financial forecasts;

·       the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2014-15; and

·       the Council’s approach to Business Rates pooling for 2014-15.

This report is now being presented to Budget Planning Committee for information.

The Director of Resources and Head of Finance and Procurement will provide an update to the Budget Planning Committee following consideration by the Executive on 7 October.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Resources detailing the Budget Strategy 2014 to 2015 and beyond which had been submitted to the Executive the previous evening.

The Committee noted the ‘Budget Deliverables’ and suggested that previously approved Capital Projects that had not progressed to the originally reported timeframe should be re-examined, with lead officers attending to provide justification for schemes being retained in the programme.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

Report of Director of Resources.

Summary

To provide a summary update on the Council’s capital programme.

Recommendation

The Committee is asked to review the schedule of capital schemes.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Resources providing a summary update on the Council’s capital programme.

The Committee considered the merits of future reports including information on whether schemes had commenced, were on-schedule and on-target (budgetary), and whether they were still viable. This would help identify common themes and also whether previously introduced efficiency measures were in fact having a detrimental effect. It was suggested that an additional meeting of the Committee be scheduled to allow for detailed consideration of the Capital programme and the scoring of new bids with appropriate Lead Members and Officers invited to attend in order to advise on specific schemes.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

(2)          That a further meeting of the Committee take place on a date to be arranged during November with a view to reviewing the Capital Programme and scoring new Capital bids.

Report of Interim Head of Finance and Procurement.

Summary

The report is to set the context for discussion as to options for addressing future years funding gaps by considering options for how the council uses its funding. 

Recommendation

To note the report.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Head of Finance and Procurement regarding setting the context for discussions on the options for how the Council might use its resources as investments which, in-turn would provide income to the authority. Members noted that a report would be submitted to the Executive detailing the Councils property and other assets with a view to identifying whether these were producing the maximum return.

Resolved

(1)           That the report be noted.

Report of Interim Head of Finance and Procurement.

Summary

The report updates the committee on the Business Rates incentives available to support businesses in the District.

Recommendation

To consider and note the report.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Head of Finance and Procurement which detailed the Business rates incentives available to support businesses in the District.

The Director of Resources undertook to bring a report to a future meeting regarding Rate Relief, which would include details of applications and the types of award given. The Committee expressed particular interest in what the Council could do for smaller rural and High Street based businesses, and whether incentives could be used not only to bring in new businesses, but also influence where these located.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

Report of Interim Head of Finance and Procurement.

Summary

To advise members of the current impact of certain welfare reforms.

Recommendation

To note the current position.

The Committee considered a report of the Interim Head of Finance and Procurement which provided an update national welfare reforms.

The Interim Head of Finance and Procurement advised that, since the production of the report, further information had become available regarding the number of households potentially affected by the new size criteria for Housing Benefit claimants (the spare room subsidy). This suggested that 698, rather than 905 households were affected. The Interim Head of Finance and Procurement agreed to circulate further information regarding the application of the new size criteria rules.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.  

To note the Committee’s Work Programme.

The Committee reviewed the Work Programme 2013/14.

Resolved

(1)          That the work programme be noted.

(2)          That the work programme be adjusted to reflect the additional meeting to take place during November, 2013.

The following report contains exempt information as defined in the following paragraph(s) 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(s) have been marked as exempt, it is for the meeting to decide whether or not to consider each of them 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.

No representations have been received from the public requesting that this item be considered in public.

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

“That, in accordance with Section 100A(4) of Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded form the meeting for the following item(s) of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) 2 of Schedule 12A of that Act.”

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 item of business, on the grounds that they could involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of that Act.

Report of Director of Resources.

Summary

The report details the category 1 budget reductions which have currently been identified and asks the Committee to note the proposed building blocks for inclusion in the Council’s revenue budget 2014-15.

Recommendation

That the proposed building blocks for inclusion in the Councils revenue budget 2014-15 be noted.

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Resources which detailed the category 1 budget reductions currently identified.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.