Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Items
No. Item

80.

Minutes

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 5 December 2019.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the Executive meeting held on 5 December 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed.

81.

Apologies for absence

To receive any apologies for absence.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bramhall and Humphreys.

82.

Declarations of interest

To receive any declarations of interest.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were none.

83.

Observations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the draft Budget proposals for 2020/21

To receive the observations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Finance, Councillor Schofield, introduced the report setting out the outcome of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the draft budget proposals for 2020/21. He thanked the Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including the Budget Panel, for their engagement and robust challenge during the budget setting process. The budget proposals had benefitted from excellent Member engagement, aided as in previous years by thorough advance questions. The report and recommendations of the Panel were subsequently considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in December and January.

 

The Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Harrison, explained that the Committee considered that the budget proposals for 2020/21 were realistic, based on sound financial practices and reasonable assumptions. The impact of savings and growth proposals on service delivery were minimal and included service improvements. However, the Committee had observed that the overall increase in the Revenue budget would be unsustainable in the long term unless additional sustainable revenue income sources were found.

 

The Overview and Scrutiny Committee had subsequently noted the proposed funding for capital investments. The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) was forecast as £0.52m and the interest on borrowing £0.92m. This was a conservative estimate and actual costs would depend on the rate of capital spending.

 

The Leader of the Council thanked the Members of the Budget Panel and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their considerations, which offered assurance to residents that the budget proposals had been subject to challenge. The Leader emphasised that the desire for commercial returns meant that investment had to come first, and that the capacity to deliver the Council’s ambitions was under constant review.

 

In response to observations from Visiting Members, it was clarified that

 

·       The Housing Strategy set out a change in direction for the Council and there would be substantial investment in affordable housing; and

·       The response of the Executive to the Climate Change motion received by Council in September 2019, would be reported to the March meeting of the Executive.

 

RESOLVED: that the considerations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Budget Proposals 2020/21 and Capital Programme 2020 – 2025, be noted. 

 

Reason for decision: To take account of the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on their consideration of the Budget Proposals 2020/21 and Capital Programme 2020 – 2025.

 

Alternative options: Request that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee undertake additional scrutiny of all or part of the Budget Proposals 2020/21 and Capital Programme 2020 – 2025.

84.

Budget 2020/21 and Capital Programme 2020 to 2025

To recommend the Budget and Capital Programme to Council.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Finance, Councillor Schofield, introduced the final revenue and capital proposals for 2020/21, which included a Council Tax increase of £5 for an average Band D Property, for recommendation to Council. The proposals had been carried out by Executive Members, supported by the Management Team and the Budget Advisory Group. The proposals had been subject to comprehensive review by Members of the Budget Scrutiny Panel and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Executive Member for Finance highlighted:

·       That the Council had not received any revenue support grant for several years, which continued to present a short-term shortfall in income until regeneration and income regeneration projects became operational. Ring-fenced reserves had been established in recent years, as a mitigation, in recognition that commercial activities would be established.

·       The budget proposals allowed for the continuation and growth of the high-quality services delivered by the Council, along with providing the capacity to deliver the ambitions set out in the new Corporate Plan.

·       The Government’s Provisional Settlement announcement in December 2019 had mitigated the previously anticipated impact of reduced business rates receipts in the short term, but the Council would still need to draw on £1.256m from reserves to present a balanced budget for 2020/21. The specific sum would be adjusted according to the outturn position for the forthcoming financial year. There had been a budget underspend in recent years which had made funds available in reserves for use next year, if required.

·       The Council held a healthy level of reserves that would be available to mitigate future budget risks. This year, funds had been re-allocated between Earmarked Reserves and the General Fund Balance to ensure better alignment with forecast risks and opportunities. The healthy reserves position had enabled the Council to take advantage of the opportunity to make savings in the employer pension contribution by making advance payment for the next three years at a significant discount.

·       Capital Investment Plans included a significant investment in property assets, and the establishment of investment funds to support the delivery of the Corporate Plan, Commercial Strategy and the Housing Delivery Strategy.

In response to observations made by Visiting Members, it was noted that:

·       There had been consultation on the new five-year plan promoting the delivery of more affordable housing and that the Executive was satisfied with the approach that it had taken to funding that initiative.

·       The Executive was clear that it wanted to deliver homes for local people, and forthcoming developments would be a significant step toward that.

·       The targets for housing completions were for the period of the Local Plan, and were robustly monitored by Government. 

 

 

RECOMMENDED that:

 

(i)              A Revenue budget requirement of £24.460 million for 2020/21 as set out in the report to Executive and supported by the Updated Medium-Term Financial Plan at Annex 1, which includes:

·       Revenue Budget Growth Proposals of £0.074 million (at Annex 1.1) in addition to the £2.12 million (net) that was previously reported in the November 2019 Budget report; and

·       An advance payment of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

85.

Council Tax Setting 2020/21

To propose technical recommendations to Council, in order to comply with The Local Government Finance Act 1992.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Finance, Councillor Schofield, introduced the report and informed the Executive that the proposed Council Tax for 2020/21 would be the subject of a recommendation to the February Council meeting. That meeting would receive confirmation of the final precept levels from the County Council and the Police together with any necessary adjustments required.

 

RECOMMENDED that:

 

1.       It be noted that on 16 January 2020 the Council calculated:

 

(a)      the Council Tax base 2020/21 for the whole Council as 61,128.8

 

[Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)] and,

 

(b)      for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish precept relates:

 

          Horley Town Council                                     10,191.7

          Salfords & Sidlow Parish Council                 1,416.5

 

The ‘tax base’ is the number of Band D equivalent dwellings in a local authority area.

Detailed calculations of the Council Tax are set out in Annex 1, 2 & 3 of the report to Executive.

 

2.       Calculate that the Council Tax requirements for the Council’s own purposes for 2020/21 (excluding Parish precepts) is £14,210,001

 

3.       That the following amounts be calculated for the year 2020/21 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

 

a. £85,196,176 – being the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils

 

b. £70,543,000 – being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(3) of the Act.

 

c. £14,653,176 – being the amount which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (item R in the formula in Section 32(4) of the Act).

 

d. £239.71 – being the amount at 3(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish

 

e. £443,176 - being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Appendix).

 

f. £232.46 - being the amount at 3(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 3(e) above by item T (1(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates.

 

g.       Horley Town Council                           £272.17

Salfords & Sidlow Parish Council       £259.64

 

Being the amounts given by adding to the amount at 3(f) above the amounts of the special items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at 1(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(3) of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

86.

Quarterly Performance Report (Q2 2019/20)

To consider the Performance Report for Quarter 2.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Member for Corporate Governance and Direction, Councillor Lewanski, presented the report on the Council’s performance for Quarter 2 (July to September 2019). Of the 14 Key Performance Indicators reported during the quarter, 10 were on target or within the agreed tolerance, 2 were outside of tolerance, one was contextual and one was unable to report.

The Leader commended both the Finance and Performance Management teams in producing improved reports for Members to consider. A further improvement to the risk register would be to name both the lead officer and the Executive Member of each risk.

 

RESOLVED: that the Council’s performance for the second quarter of 2019/20, be noted.

Reason for decision: To consider the Council’s performance for the second quarter of the financial year 2019/20.

Alternative options:  None.

87.

Calendar of Meetings 2020/21

To recommend the draft Calendar of Meetings for 2020/21, to Council.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Brunt, the Leader of the Council, presented a report with a proposed Calendar of meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year. The draft calendar drew upon experience, and consultation with Members and Officers to ensure that business would be accomplished efficiently. Accordingly, a new August meeting of the Executive had been introduced.

In response to a question, the Leader of the Council advised that the August meeting of the Executive would be subject to the statutory duty to give notice of any key decisions to be taken, in the same way that all Executive meetings were.

 

RECOMMENDED: That the Calendar of Meetings for the 2020/21 Municipal Year be approved.

Reason for decision: To establish a timetable to ensure the efficient and effective conduct of Council business for the forthcoming municipal year.

Alternative options: To amend the draft timetable set out.

 

88.

Statements

To receive any statements from the Leader of the Council, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were none.

89.

Any other urgent business

To consider any item(s) which, in the opinion of the Chairman, should be considered as a matter of urgency – Local Government Act 1972, Section 100B(4)(b).

 

(Note:  Urgent business must be submitted in writing but may be supplemented by an oral report).

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was none.

90.

Exempt business

RECOMMENDED that members of the Press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that:

(i)            it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act; and

(ii)          the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There was none.