Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence from Members to determine the quorum of the meeting in accordance with Rule 7 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

An apology for absence was received from Councillors L A Bentley, F S Broadley, Mrs L M Broadley, D A Gamble and Dr I K Ridley.

Councillor G A Boulter attended the meeting remotely, but in accordance with the provisions in the Local Government Act 1972, was not considered present for the purposes of voting.

To appoint substitute Members in accordance with Rule 26 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Substitution Procedure Rules.

None.

Members are reminded that any declaration of interest should be made having regard to the Members’ Code of Conduct. In particular, Members must make clear the nature of the interest and whether it is 'pecuniary' or ‘non-pecuniary'.

None.

To read, confirm and sign the minutes of the previous meeting in accordance with Rule 19 of Part 4 of the Constitution.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 15 November 2022 be taken as read, confirmed and signed.

To read, confirm and note the Action List arising from the previous meeting.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Action List arising from the previous meeting held on 15 November 2022 be noted.

To receive any Petitions and, or, Deputations in accordance with Rule(s) 11 and 12 of Part 4 of the Constitution and the Petitions Procedure Rules respectively.

None.

Report of the Head of Law & Democracy / Monitoring Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 8 – 18 of the main agenda reports pack) which provided Members with the figures for the local determination of complaints and ethical indicators for Q2 2022-23.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and appendix be noted.

Report of the Interim Head of Finance / Section 151 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 19 - 34 of the agenda reports pack) which provided details regarding the performance and activities of the authority’s treasury management function for the financial year 2021/22.

The Committee was asked to note that the total figures produced in the table at Appendix 1 (at page 25) where incorrect and should read ‘184’ for ‘Cumulative No. of Investments In Year’ and ‘£103,061’ for ‘Total Value Invested in Year’ respectively.

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The content of the report and appendices be noted.

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 3 - 17 of the first agenda update reports pack) which provided an update on the forecast financial position for the Council for the financial year 2022/23, as at the end of Q2 2022/23.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor K J Loydall and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       The contents of the report and appendix be noted; and

(ii)      The decisions of the Section 151 Officer to repurpose earmarked reserves back to General Unallocated General Fund and Housing Revenue Account reserves (as set out in section 6 of the report) be ratified.

The following postscript explanations of the ‘other’ variances included in Budget Monitoring (Q2 2022/23) for inclusion in these minutes was agreed with the Chair.

The Built Environment

•    Homelessness – additional pressures on the service in relation to emergency accommodation and underachievement of salary savings previously reported - £20k

•    Environmental Strategy – Inclusion of Shared Services Officer post - £18k

•    Private Sector Housing - Repayment of improvement grants forecast to underachieve against budgeted level.   Improvement grants are required to be repaid if the resident moves within a set timeframe,  therefore the level of repayments received is unpredictable - £11k

Customer Services and Transformation

•    Corporate Projects - This is an accounting adjustment; the variance will be reversed in the following period – £39k 

Report of the Principal Planning Policy Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendix (as set out at pages 35 - 54 of the agenda reports pack) which illustrated the proposed revised timetable for the Council’s new Local Plan process and asked it to approved Local Development Scheme for 2022.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor J W Boyce and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)    The content of the report be noted; and

(ii)  The Local Development Scheme 2022 (as set out in Appendix 1) be approved.

Votes For                   9

Votes Against          0

Abstentions             2

Report of the Strategic Director / Section 151 Officer

The Committee gave consideration to the report and appendices (as set out at pages 55 -102 of the agenda reports pack) together with the updated appendix (as set out at pages 3 - 27 of the second agenda update reports pack) which asked the Committee to recommended to Council the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account revenue budget proposals and the Draft Capital Programmes for consultation.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor K J Loydall and

RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       A recommendation to increase Council Tax by the core referendum limit of 2.99%, from the options as set out in Table 4 in the report, be approved;

(ii)      A recommendation to increase Rents by the maximum social rent level of 7%, from the options as set out in Table 5 in the report, be approved;

(iii)    Having approved the recommendations as set out above, the draft revenue budgets for 2023/24 and Draft Capital Programmes 2023/24 – 2025/26 for statutory consultation be recommend to Council; and

(iv)    The indicative assurance statement provided by the Section 151 Officer be noted.

Votes For                   9

Votes Against          2

Abstentions             0

For Information Only

By affirmation of the meeting, it was

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

The Committee Work Plan (2022-23) as at 29 November 2022 be noted.

Under section 100B(4)(B) of the Local Government Act 1972, by reason of special circumstance, in that an additional item of business needed to be considered before the next meeting of the Committee.

The Chair was of the opinion that an urgent item of business regarding a budget update on the ongoing Brocks Hill re-location project was be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency as a decision was required so not to unduly delay the construction work schedule.

The Committee gave consideration to the urgent item report (as set out at pages 3 -6 of the third agenda update reports pack) provided an update on the overall budget position and sought approval of a supplementary budget.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor J W Boyce and

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED THAT:

(i)       A supplementary budget of £210,000 to cover the cost of the works outlined in paragraph 1.3 of the report be approved;

(ii)      It be noted that if the contingency budget remains unspent, or spent in part, at the end of the project, then the monies left in the contingency budget will be used to fund the costs of the works outlined in paragraph 1.3 of the report, thus reducing or eliminating the need to spend the supplementary budget; and

(iii)    The update on the overall budget position be noted.