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 or Urgent Business.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 28 July 2015.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 July 2015 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 Head of Finance and Procurement.

Purpose of Report

To review the capital budgets slipped into 2015/16 and compare against spend at Quarter 1.     

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

 1.1        To note the contents of the report.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

(2)          That it be noted that going forward the monitoring and management of the capital programme would be undertaken in more detail and more detailed information would be presented to the Committee in future capital slippage monitoring reports.   

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement reviewing the capital budgets slipped into 2015/16 and compare against spend at Quarter 1. 

In response to concerns raised by the Committee, the Head of Finance and Procurement confirmed that in future reports each capital scheme would   contain more detailed information  providing a clear record of the status of each scheme

The Committee also requested that further information, such as the date the slippage was first requested, in order for them to be able to monitor more accurately the length of time and reasoning for the slippage be included in future slippage reports,.

It was agreed that inviting relevant budget holders to future meetings to answer project specific questions would also be useful.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

(2)          That it be noted that going forward the monitoring and management of the capital programme would be undertaken in more detail and more detailed information would be presented to the Committee in future capital slippage monitoring reports.  

Report of the Head of Finance and Procurement.

Purpose of Report

To provide members with an update on the implications of the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme and to provide options for a scheme to consult upon for 2016-2017.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended to:

1.1      To note the contents of the report and any financial implications for the Council.

1.2      To recommend to Executive which option(s) should be considered for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2016-2017 so that consultation may be undertaken.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report and any financial implications for Cherwell District Council be noted.

(2)          That it be recommended to Executive that Option 1 - No change to the current local Council Tax Reduction scheme, be considered for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2016-17 in order for consultation to be undertaken.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement which detailed the implications of the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme and provided options for 2016-2017.

The Committee discussed the implications of each of the individual options and unanimously agreed that Option 1, no change, was the fairest and most cost effective and should be recommended to Executive for consultation to be undertaken.

Resolved

(1)          That the contents of the report and any financial implications for Cherwell District Council be noted.

(2)          That it be recommended to Executive that Option 1 - No change to the current local Council Tax Reduction scheme, be considered for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2016-17 in order for consultation to be undertaken.

Report of Head of Finance and Procurement

Purpose of Report

To consider a proposal from Executive that from 1 April 2016, an Empty Homes Premium of 50% be applied for properties that have remained empty for over two years.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

1.1         To consider and comment on the Executive proposal to Council that an Empty Homes Premium of 50% be introduced from 1 April 2016 for properties that have been empty for over two years.

Resolved

(1)          That the Executive recommendation  to Full Council that an Empty Homes Premium of 50% be introduced from 1 April 2016 for properties that have been empty for over two years be supported.

The Committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Procurement detailing the proposal from Executive that a council tax empty homes premium of 50% be applied for properties that have remained empty for over two years.

In response to member questions the Head of Finance and Procurement confirmed that legislation did not allow for a premium of more than 150% to be applied.

At the request of Members, the Head of Finance and Procurement  agreed to provide a breakdown of the locations of empty properties  within the district.

Resolved

(1)          That the Executive recommendation  to Full Council that an Empty Homes Premium of 50% be introduced from 1 April 2016 for properties that have been empty for over two years be supported.

To review the Committee Work Plan.

Resolved

(1)          That the work programme be noted.

The Committee considered the draft Work Programme for 2015/16.

The Head of Finance and Procurement reported Budget Guidelines 2016/17 would be changed from the 6 October meeting to the 3 November meeting and that items on Revenue & Capital and Capital Slippage would be added to the 6 October meeting

Resolved

(1)          That the work programme be noted.

The following report contains 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 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.

Exempt Report of the Director of Resources.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.

The Committee considered an exempt report of Head of Finance and Procurement which presented an update on the Councils Medium Term Revenue Plan position.

Resolved

(1)          That the report be noted.