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.

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 were no items of urgent business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2014.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 9 September 2014 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of Director of Resources

Purpose of report

To inform the Budget Planning Committee of the service and financial planning process for 2015-16, the 2015-16 budget strategy and the budget guidelines for service managers to enable the production of the 2015-16 budget. This report is being presented to Executive on 6 October.

The report includes an update on: the most recent Medium Term Revenue Plan (MTRP); the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2015-16; and the Council’s approach to Business Rates pooling for 2015-16.

Recommendations

Budget Planning Committee is recommended to note the contents of the report and to note the recommendations made to Executive on 6 October

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Resources which detailed the budget process and strategy for the 2015-16 financial year. The report also gave an update on the Medium Term Revenue Plan, the Council Tax reduction scheme and the approach to Business Rates pooling.

The report was presented to the Committee for information, following consideration and approval by the Executive at its meeting on 6 October 2014.

In response to questions from the Committee, the Interim Head of Finance and Procurement explained the Business Rates pooling system, and added that the Council had until 31 October to notify the Government of its intentions for the 2015-16 financial year.  

Resolved

That the report be noted.

Report of Director of Resources

Purpose of report

To propose a means of operating a capital contingency within the council’s current capital programme. 

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to note and consider the contents of this report.

Resolved

1.    That the report be noted

2.    That no recommendations be made regarding a central contingency budget

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Resources which outlined how a Capital Contingency budget could be operated if the decision was made to create one.

The Interim Head of Finance and Procurement explained that in the event a contingency budget wasn’t set up, it would still be possible to access funds in the event of an emergency. It was possible for Capital bids to be submitted at any point during the financial year, and in the event of extreme urgency a retrospective bid could be submitted.

Following discussions the Committee agreed that no recommendations needed to be made regarding creation of a central contingency budget.     

Resolved

1.    That the report be noted

2.    That no recommendations be made regarding a central contingency budget

Verbal update from the Director of Resources

Resolved

That the update be received.

The Interim Head of Finance and Procurement updated the Committee on progress with the Business Support Unit.

The Personnel Committee had approved the creation of the unit in July 2014. Job descriptions were currently being prepared for the three posts, and it was hoped that they would be filled as soon as possible.

In response to questions the Interim Head of Finance and Procurement explained that once established the posts would pick up work such as Council Tax banding queries with the Valuation Office and Business Rates charging.

Resolved

That the update be received.

To review and note the Committee Work Programme.

Resolved

That the work programme be noted.

The Committee considered the draft Work Programme for 2014/15

Resolved

(1)       That the work programme be noted.

Report of Director of Resources

**Please note that Appendix v to the report is exempt**

Purpose of the Report

The report summarises the proposed fees and charges to be built into the 2015-16 revenue budget for council products and services.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

 1.1        Consider the contents of this report.

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The Committee considered the report of the Interim Head of Finance and Procurement, which detailed fees and charges being considered for the 2015-16 revenue budget.

In response to questions from the Committee, it was agreed that further information would be requested from the Head of Environmental Services relating to the costs of Commercial collections, in particular the difference in costs between refuse collections and Schedule II collections.

The Committee also asked if it would be possible for Planning Application fees to be included for information in future.   

Resolved

(1)       That the report be noted.

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

1 – information relating to any individual

2 – information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual

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, Paragraphs 1, 2 and 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 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, Paragraphs 1, 2 and 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

The Committee considered the exempt appendix to the Fees and Charges Review 2015-16.

Resolved

(1)       That the exempt appendix be noted