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 24 May 2016

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 24 May 2016 were agreed a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive communications from the Chairman.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer

*Please note that Annex 3 to the report will follow, as it is currently being reviewed and finalised by officers*

Purpose of report

This report summarises the Council’s Revenue and Capital performance for the financial year 2015-16.  The figures are still subject to external audit.

Recommendations

The Budget Planning Committee is recommended to:

1.1       Agree the carry forward of budget underspends from 2015-16 to 2016-17 as detailed in Annex 1.           

1.2       Agree the review of reserves as detailed in Annex 2.  

1.3       Note the capital out-turn position for 2015-16 detailed in Annex 3 (to follow).        

1.4       Agree the balances on capital schemes which have slipped in 2015-16 to be carried forward into the 2016-17 capital programme as set out in Annex 3 (to follow).

1.5                   Delegate responsibility to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management to consider and implement further changes relating to all aspects of the closedown of the accounts for 2015-16 including: realigning reserves; the transfer of costs from revenue to capital; amendments of the revenue and capital budgets; and implementation of a minimum revenue provision accordingly. 

Resolved

(1) That a recommendation be made to the Accounts Audit and Risk Committee to consider the non-delivery of Solihull Partnership projects

(2)  That the budget underspends be carried forward from 2015/16 to 2016/17

(3)  That the review of reserves be agreed

(4)   That the capital out-turn position for 2015-2016 be noted

(5)  That the balances on the capital schemes which slipped in 2015-16 be carried forward into the 2016-17 capital programme

(6) That the delegation of responsibility to the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Lead Member for Financial Management to consider and implement further changes relating to all aspects of the closedown of account for 2015-16 was no longer applicable.

The Chief Finance Officer presented a report which summarised the Council’s Revenue and Capital performance for the financial year 2015-2016.

In considering the report members commented on the large reduction in income for Castle Quay and requested that the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be invited to a future meeting of the committee to discuss the role of the Town Centre Co-ordinators.

The Committee raised concern about the slippage in projects designated to the Solihull Partnership and requested that the Head of Regeneration and Housing be invited to the meeting of 30 August 2016 to discuss this matter and that it be recommended to the Accounts Audit and Risk Committee to consider the non-delivery of the Solihull Partnership projects.

Resolved

(1) That a recommendation be made to the Accounts Audit and Risk Committee to consider the non-delivery of Solihull Partnership projects

(2)  That the budget underspends be carried forward from 2015/16 to 2016/17

(3)  That the review of reserves be agreed

(4)   That the capital out-turn position for 2015-2016 be noted

(5)  That the balances on the capital schemes which slipped in 2015-16 be carried forward into the 2016-17 capital programme

Report of Chief Finance Officer

Purpose of report

To provide members of Budget Planning Committee with details of the business rates income outturn position for the 2015-2016 financial year.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the report.

Resolved

(1)  That the report be noted.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report which provided the Budget Planning Committee with details of the business rates income outturn position for the 2015-2016 financial year.

Resolved

(1)  That the report be noted.

Report of the Chief Finance Officer

Purpose of report

To provide members with an update on the implications of the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTRS) and the changes to discounts, including the impact on collection rates, and to provide members with options to consider for a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017-2018 so that consultation may be undertaken   

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 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 CTRS for 2017-2018 so that consultation may be undertaken.

Resolved

(1)  That the report and financial implication for the 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 2017-18 in order for consultation to be undertaken.

The Chief Finance Officer submitted a report which provided members with an update on the implications of the current Council Tax Reduction Scheme and the changes to discounts, including the impact on collection rates and to provide members with options to consider for a Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017/2018 so that consultation may be undertaken.

The Committee were satisfied with the current scheme and agreed that Executive be recommended to agree there be no change to the scheme.

Resolved

(1)  That the report and financial implication for the Council be noted.

(2)  That Executive be recommended to agree Option 1 - No change to the current local Council Tax Reduction scheme, as the preferred Council Tax Reduction Scheme for 2017-18 in order for consultation to be undertaken.

To review the Committee Work Plan.

Resolved

(1)  That the Head of Regeneration and Housing be invited to the meeting of 30 August 2016 to discuss the Solihull Partnership

(2)  That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be invited to a future meeting to discuss the Business Support Unit.

(3)  That subject to resolution (1) and (2) the contents of the Work Programme be noted.

The Committee reviewed its workplan 2016-2017.

Resolved

(1)  That the Head of Regeneration and Housing be invited to the meeting of 30 August 2016 to discuss the Solihull Partnership

(2)  That the Head of Strategic Planning and the Economy be invited to a future meeting to discuss the Business Support Unit.

(3)  That subject to resolutions (1) and (2) the contents of 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 Chief Finance Officer

Resolved

(1)  That the report be noted

The Chief Finance Officer submitted an exempt report which provided members of the Budget Planning Committee with an update on the Council’s Medium Term Revenue Plan for 2017/18 to 2021/22.

Resolved

(1)  That the report be noted