Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors I Devereux and I Gourlay.

To approve the minutes of the Resources and Performance Panel held on 5 January 2016 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the Resources and Performance Panel held on 5 January 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of an interest should indicate the nature of the interest (if not already declared on the Register of Interests) and the agenda item to which it relates.  If a disclosable pecuniary interest is declared, the Member should withdraw from the room whilst the matter is disclosed.

These declarations apply to all Members present, whether the Member is part of the meeting, attending to speak as a local Member on an item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chairman proposes to accept as urgent under Section 100(b)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so an on what items they wish to be heard before the meeting commences.  Any Member attending the meeting under Standing Order 34 will only be permitted to speak on those items which have been previously notified to the Chairman.

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

There was no Chairman’s correspondence.

To receive comments and recommendations from other Council bodies, and any responses subsequent to recommendations, which this Panel has previously made.  (N.B.  some of the relevant Council bodies may meet after dispatch of the agenda).

At the Cabinet meeting held on 1 December 2015 the following responses were made to the recommendations from the Resources and Performance Panel meeting held 24 November 2015, on the following items:-.

Cabinet Report:  Final Council Tax Support Scheme 2016/2017

RESOLVED:  That the Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below:

1)    Members note the results of the consultation exercise; and

2)    The draft Council Tax Support Scheme as approved on 9 September 2015 is adopted as the full Council Tax Support Scheme for 2016/2017.

Cabinet Response:  “The Panel’s recommendations were duly taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.”

Cabinet Report:  Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Risk Based Verification:  Policy Update

RESOLVED:  That the Panel support the recommendation to Cabinet as follows:

Members agree to adopt the updated Risk Based Verification Policy so it covers new claims and changes in circumstances.

Cabinet Response:  “The Panel’s recommendations were duly taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.”

Cabinet Report:  2015/2016 Budget Monitoring

RESOLVED:  That the Panel support the recommendation to Cabinet as set out below:

The changes, transfers to/from reserves and revised revenue estimates for 2015/2016 as detailed in section 1 of the report.

Cabinet Response:  “The Panel’s recommendations were duly taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.”

Cabinet Report:  Corporate Business Plan 2015/2016

RESOLVED:  That the Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as follows with the additional recommendation (2) set out below:

1)    That the attached Corporate Business Plan is adopted.

2)    That Cabinet be asked to consider rebranding the Corporate Business Plan to Corporate Business Plan – Policy Framework with a clear suite of documents underneath to support the plan.

Cabinet Response:  “The Panel’s recommendations were duly taken into account when Cabinet considered the item.”

The Panel noted the responses made by Cabinet at its meeting held on 12 January 2016 to the recommendations made by the Resources and Performance Panel at its meeting held on 5 January 2016 in respect of the following items:

·         Final Council Tax Support Scheme 2016/2017.

·         Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support Risk Based Verification:  Policy Update.

·         2015/2016 Budget Monitoring.

·         Corporate Business Plan 2015/2016.

            To consider the following resolution:

            “That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.”

RESOLVED:  That under Section 100(a)(4) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that if involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Panel are invited to note the contents of the progress report on the Borough Council’s Corporate Apprenticeship Scheme.

The Personnel Services Manager presented the report which was circulated with the Agenda.

The Panel was reminded that in October 2012 Cabinet agreed to the introduction of a Corporate Apprenticeship Scheme within the Council and six apprentices were recruited in early 2013.

The proposal to introduce the Apprenticeship Scheme was also considered by the Resources and Performance Panel in October 2012, and since then the Panel had received regular updates on the apprentices progress.  The report was designed to update Members on the latest position with the scheme.

Members’ attention was drawn to section 2.5.  The Personnel Services Manager advised that the response rate to the advertisement was disappointing and further work was being undertaken to evaluate whether there were any underlying reasons for the differing response rates achieved.

The Personnel Services Manager informed the Panel that the five apprentices appointing in September 2015 were progressing well and were on track.  It was highlighted that in additional to the national requirements of the scheme the apprentices received further additional support from the Council.

The Panel was invited to ask questions/comment on the report, a summary of which is set out below.

In response to questions from Councillor Morrison on the recruitment process, the Personnel Services Manager explained that apprentices accompanying officers when visiting secondary schools to promote the Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme.

Following further questions from Councillor Morrison on the rate of pay made to apprentices compared to school leavers going directly into employment, the Personnel Services Manager explained that she did not have the information to hand but would circulate the information to the Panel.

The Chairman, Councillor Humphrey commented that the Borough Council’s operated a good Apprenticeship Scheme and also seeking to encourage other employers in the Borough to participate in an Apprenticeship Scheme.  The Chairman further commented that although there was a low response rate the quality of applicants was good.  The opportunity of the Council’s Apprenticeship Scheme provided young people with an opening to a career.

The Chairman, Councillor Humphrey thanked the Personnel Manager for the update report.

RESOLVED:   Members noted the contents of the report.

RETURNED TO OPEN SESSION

The Panel are requested to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Chairman, Councillor Humphrey informed the Panel that the report had been deferred at the request of the Leader.

The Panel are requested to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Assistant Director presented, with the aid of a power-point presentation, the Financial Plan for 2015-2020 which was produced as part of the council tax setting process to take account of any changes in financial settlements, inflation on service costs and revised priorities of the Administration.  The presentation provided Members with background information and highlighted the key issues of the Financial Plan for 2015-2020.

A copy of the presentation is attached to the minutes at Appendix 1.

The Assistant Director advised Members that the Financial Plan 2015/2020 included significantly more downside risks around funding than in previous years.  The estimated business rates growth presented a significant level of risk.  If the anticipated projects did not progress as planned or are cancelled the growth would not be achieved.

The Panel was invited to ask questions/comment, a summary of which is set out below.

In response to questions from the Chairman, Councillor Humphrey, the Assistant Director explained that the Government had issued a consultation document on New Homes Bonus:  ‘Sharpening the Incentive’.  The plan assumed that the Government’s ‘preferred options’ would be adopted and that the outcome of the proposals contained in the consultation would be a reduction in New Homes Bonus in 2017/2018 from the current arrangement.  A link to the website could be found on the page 38 of the Financial Plan.  The deadline for responses to the consultation document was 10 March 2016.

With regard to the New Homes Bonus, the Chief Executive informed the Panel that the Government had taken approximately half the funding allocated for News Homes Bonus and moved the funding to enhance better care from the third year onwards.

Following further questions from the Chairman, Councillor Humphrey on the estimated business rates growth, the Assistant Director explained that the Revenues and Benefits Manager and the Group Accountant were currently working on the NNDR, the return to Government on the estimated growth year on year.  As part of this process the potential growth would be assessed and factored into the budget process.  However, it was highlighted that there was a risk if the proposed development did not come forward and would therefore have a financial impact upon the Borough Council.

Councillor Anota referred to page 109 of the Financial Plan – Special Expenses 2016/2017 and asked for clarification.  In response, the Assistant Director explained that special expenses were functions carried out by Parish Councils, but which the Borough Council undertook on their behalf and gave an example of the grass cutting service.  The Executive Director, Commercial Services informed Members that play areas was another example of special expenses and advised that there was a total of 57 within the Borough.

In response to questions from Councillor Collop on the estimated figures relating to the increase in Council Tax, the Leader explained that this was a political judgement and that the Conservative Manifesto had stated that Council Tax would not be raised over and above the rate of inflation.  The Leader added that the Government focus was  ...  view the full minutes text for item RP110

Attached as an Appendix to the Minutes.

The Panel are requested to consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Assistant Director explained that the report:

·         Revised the 2015/2016 projections for spending on the Capital Programme.

·         Set out an estimate of capital resources that would be available for 2015-2010.

·         Details of new capital bids that were recommended to be included in the Capital Programme for the period 2016-2020.

·         Outlined provisional figures for capital expenditure for the period 2015-2020.

The Assistant Director explained that the current economic conditions continued to create a challenging environment for achieving capital receipts to support the funding of the Council’s Capital Programme.  It was highlighted that the Council was faced with a situation where capital resources to fund the Capital Programme continued to be limited.

Members were advised that the report set out a programme for 2015/2020 that could be delivered if predicted land sales came about.  It was explained that the Capital Programme 2015-2020 included a number of major projects including the Major Housing Development.

The Panel’s attention was drawn to the following sections of the report:

·         Summary of the monitoring position of the budget to 30 November 2015.

·         Revised Capital Programme 2015/2016.

·         Proposed amendments to the Capital Programme 2015/2016.

·         Medium Term Capital Programme 2016-2018.

·         Capital Programme 2018/2019 and 2019/2020 and New Bids.

·         Capital Resources 2015/2020.

·         Financial Implications.

·         Risk Implications.

At the invitation of the Chairman, the Portfolio Holder, Regeneration and Industrial Assets informed Members that the Major Housing Scheme was the Council’s largest single borrowing requirement, but provided Members with assurance in that the Marsh Lane development would be developed in sub phases in order to manage the risk.

RESOLVED: the Panel support the recommendations to Cabinet as set out below:

1)            Cabinet recommends to Council the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2015-2020 Capital Programme as detailed in the report.

2)            Cabinet recommends to Council that new capital bids are to be funded from available capital resources and included in the capital programme 2016-2020 as detailed in the report.

To consider the Panel’s Work Programme for 2015/2016.

The Panel noted the 2015-2016 Work Programme.

To note that the next meeting of the Resources and Performance will take place on Tuesday 23 February 2016.

The next meeting of the Resources and Performance Panel would be held on Tuesday 23 February 2016.