Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Suite, King's Court, Chapel Street, King's Lynn

Contact: Sam Winter, Democratic Services Manager 01553 616327 

Items
No. Item

CAB111

MINUTES

To approve the Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 December 2016 (previously circulated).

 

Decision:

RESOLVED:The Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 December 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

Minutes:

RESOLVED:The Minutes of the Meeting held on 6 December 2016 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman

CAB112

URGENT BUSINESS

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

 

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB113

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

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 discussed.

 

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.

Minutes:

None

CAB114

CHAIRMAN'S CORRESPONDENCE

To receive any Chairman’s correspondence.

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB115

MEMBERS PRESENT UNDER STANDING ORDER 34

To note the names of any Councillors who wish to address the meeting under Standing Order 34.

Decision:

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor D Pope attended the meeting for all reports on the agenda.

Minutes:

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor D Pope attended the meeting for all reports on the agenda.

CAB116

CALLED IN MATTERS

To report on any Cabinet Decisions called in.

Decision:

None

Minutes:

None

CAB117

FORWARD DECISIONS pdf icon PDF 53 KB

A copy of the Forward Decisions List is attached

 

Decision:

The Forward Decision List was noted.

Minutes:

The Forward Decision List was noted.

CAB118

MATTERS REFERRED TO CABINET FROM OTHER BODIES pdf icon PDF 27 KB

To receive any comments and recommendations from other Council bodies which meet after the dispatch of this agenda. 

 

Comments from King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee on 15 December 2016 relating to Special Expenses – attached.

Decision:

Comments from King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee on 15 December 2016 relating to Special Expenses were noted.

Minutes:

Comments from King’s Lynn Area Consultative Committee on 15 December 2016 relating to Special Expenses were noted.

CAB119

FINANCIAL PLAN 2016/2021 pdf icon PDF 326 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Recommendation 1

That Council approve the revision to the Budget for 2016/2017 as set out in the report.

 

Recommendation 2

That Council reaffirm the Policy on Earmarked Reserves and General Fund Working Balance and the maximum balances set for the reserves as noted in the report.  

 

Recommendation 3

That Council :

 

1)     Approves the budget of £17,754,730 for 2017/2018 and notes the projections for 2018/2019, 2019/2020 and 2020/2021.

 

2)     Approves the level of Special Expenses for the Town/Parish Councils as detailed in the report.

 

3)     Approves the Fees and Charges 2017/2018 detailed in Appendix 4.

 

4)     Approves a Band D council tax of £116.87 for 2017/2018

 

Recommendation 4

That Council approve a minimum requirement of the General Fund balance for 2017/2018 of £887,737

 

 

Reason for Decision

 

The Council is obliged to set a Budget Requirement and level of council tax before the beginning of a financial year commencing on 1 April.

Minutes:

The Assistant  Director – Finance presented the Council’s Financial Plan for 2016-21. As part of the council tax setting process the Council updates its longer term Financial Plan to take account of any changes in financial settlements, inflation on service costs and revised priorities of the administration.

 

In February 2016 the Council set out a Financial Plan for 2015/2020.  The Plan reflected the significant financial challenges faced by the Council including the phasing out of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) over the course of this parliamentary term, changes to the distribution of New Homes Bonus, the impact of the Business Rates revaluation from 2017 and a 100% Business Rates Retention Scheme from 2020.

 

The Plan showed that the Council could present a balanced budget for the period 2016-2021 although there was still uncertainty in funding which was estimated to be received from New Homes Bonus and business rates growth in the period to 2020.  The significant risk was from 2020/2021.  The impact of the implementation of the new 100% Business Rates Retention scheme and the Fair Funding Review from 2020/2021 were unknown, but there was considerable downside risk.  Whilst a substantial amount of work had already been undertaken to reduce costs and generate additional income future reiterations of the cost reduction programme would require income generating options previously not supported to be re-considered.

 

In last year’s Spending Review the Government provided some financial certainty by offering councils the option to take up a four year settlement offer 2016-2020 subject to publishing an ‘efficiency plan’.    The Council took up the Government offer. The Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government announced as part of his statement on the provisional local government finance settlement delivered on 15 December 2016 that ‘97% of councils have taken up the offer and met our expectations of reform by publishing a long term efficiency plan’. 

 

The provisional local government finance settlement announced by Government on 15 December 2016 confirmed the second year of the 4 year offer.  It should be noted that the 4 year offer only included RSG and Rural Services Delivery Grant (RSDG). The ending of RSG had been clearly signaled and it was assumed that the Council would receive no RSG from 2020/2021. As with RSG it was also assumed that the Council would receive no RSDG from 2020/2021.

 

The report explained that the Government focus was on Councils’ ‘core spending power’ inclusive of locally generated resources.  The core spending power analysis tables published by the Government for each Council assumed that Councils in the lowest quartile of Council Tax levels (which included the Borough Council) would introduce the full £5 per annum per Band D dwelling Council Tax increase now permitted under the Council Tax Referendum Principles.  The additional Council Tax generated was included in the Government’s calculation of a 0.4% increase in core spending power over the Spending Review period.

 

The baseline business rates funding allocation also announced on 15 December 2016 included the impact of the Business Rates Revaluation  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB119

CAB120

CAPITAL PROGRAMME AND RESOURCES 2016/2021 pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED:      1)   That the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2016-2021 capital programme as detailed in the report be approved.

 

2)     That new capital bids are to be funded from available capital resources and included in the capital programme 2017-2021 as detailed in the report.

 

Reason for Decision

To report amendments, rephasing and resources to the 2016-2021 Capital Programme

Minutes:

The Assistant Director  Resources presented a report which:

 

·          revised the 2016/2017 projections for spending on the capital programme

·          set out an estimate of capital resources that would be available for 2016-2021

·          detailed new capital bids that were recommended to be included in the capital programme for the period 2017-2021

·          outlined provisional figures for capital expenditure for the period 2016-2021

 

In discussing the Capital Programme it was noted that it was a full and robust Programme the phases for which would only progress once they had been fully evaluated and considered.  If the previous phase did not work the next would not continue.

 

It was noted that there had been deliberate policy choices to pursue the proposals and to align the economic policies with the social policies, and working hard to mitigate the risks on sites such as the NORA developments which were now valued homes.  The schemes put forward were usually with land owned by the Council, with low rate loans when they were required fulfilling social objectives for the whole of the town.

 

Under Standing Order 34 Councillor Pope commented that those things achieved to date were remarkable and were a credit to those officers and Members involved.  He commented that he wanted things to progress but to also be evaluated carefully before progression.  Councillor Pope undertook to raise some small questions directly with officers which Cabinet Members requested to be copied in with.

 

Compliments were paid to officers ability to document the scope of the progress in such a clear manner, with the controls in place to review and measure.

 

RECOMMENDED:      1)   That the amendments to capital schemes and resources for the 2016-2021 capital programme as detailed in the report be approved.

 

2)     That new capital bids are to be funded from available capital resources and included in the capital programme 2017-2021 as detailed in the report.

 

Reason for Decision

To report amendments, rephasing and resources to the 2016-2021 Capital Programme

CAB121

CAPITAL AND LOCAL PROPERTY INVESTMENT FUND STRATEGY 2017-2021 pdf icon PDF 73 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED:      1)         That the Capital and Local Property Investment Fund  Strategy 2017-2021 as attached to the report be approved.

       

2)      That a Local Property Investment Fund be set up and managed as detailed in the Capital and Local Property Investment Fund Strategy 2017-2021 as attached to the report.

 

Reason for Decision

 

The previous capital strategy was approved in 2009 and is overdue for review

Minutes:

The Assistant Director – Finance presented a report which set out the Capital and Local Property Investment Fund Strategy, which supported by a number of other documents, provided a framework for the delivery of the capital programme and ensured that capital investment was directed to the Council’s Corporate Priorities and helped achieve the Financial Sustainability Plan. It therefore provided the rationale for any capital spending and property investment plans.

 

In response to a question on the delegation set out in the report for the use of the Policy it was explained that the decision would be taken after consultation with the Leader and 2 cabinet members, thus ensuring a Member not involved with any proposal would also be involved.  It was noted that the investment would be in the Borough.

 

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Pope asked how members would know what decisions were being taken.  It was confirmed that once taken the decision would be published, either on the intranet or web depending on it being exempt.  Members of the Panels could carry out post decision scrutiny and review on how the decisions and the policy had worked holding those decision makers to account.

 

RECOMMENDED:  1)       That the Capital and Local Property Investment Fund  Strategy 2017-2021 as attached to the report be approved.

      

2)     That a Local Property Investment Fund be set up and managed as detailed in the Capital and Local Property Investment Fund Strategy 2017-2021 as attached to the report.

 

Reason for Decision

 

The previous capital strategy was approved in 2009 and is overdue for review

CAB122

CONTAMINATED LAND INSPECTION STRATEGY pdf icon PDF 79 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RECOMMENDED:      That a new and updated Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy be adopted.

 

Reason for Decision

Ensure that the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy follows best current guidance

 

Minutes:

Councillor Devereux presented a revised Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy which had been updated following the issuing of revised defra guidance and the decision to remove contaminated land grant

 

In response to a question it was explained that the legislation surrounding Contaminated Land was not EU derived, but the Environmental Protection Act 1990, so it was unlikely to be repealed.

 

Under Standing Order 34 Councillor Pope asked what the situation would be if Management Team declined a request for funding under the new arrangements.  The Environmental Health Manager (Environment) responded that to date when a case had been made for any funding it had been looked upon favourably.  He also confirmed that where a site was also part in another authority’s they would be expected to part fund any works.

 

Attention was drawn to the work carried out on a number of orphan sites which had been or were being dealt with in a commercial framework

 

RECOMMENDED:      That a new and updated Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy be adopted.

 

Reason for Decision

Ensure that the Contaminated Land Inspection Strategy follows best current guidance

 

CAB123

LOCAL SEA DEFENCE FUNDING UPDATE pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Decision:

RESOLVED:   1)         That the success in raising contributions to fund local sea defence works be noted and the Community Interest Company be congratulated for the progress made

2)         Request that officers work with the Environment Agency, the Community Interest Company and other partners to identify a funding package that will meet the costs of the ‘mini recharge’ referred to in paragraph 3.2

3)        That the King’s Lynn Police Cadets be thanked for their help delivering the Flood Warning and Local Sea Defences leaflets in Hunstanton, Heacham, Snettisham and King’s Lynn areas

 

Reason for Decision

To update Members on the work of the Local Sea Defences Funding Group

Minutes:

A report was presented which explained that the Wash East Coastal Management Strategy (WECMS) was a joint coastal management strategy between the Environment Agency (EA) and Borough Council. The strategy covered the coastline between Wolferton Creek to Hunstanton. The strategy area was divided into three units which had their own unique characteristics. The whole area had 1,100 residential properties, over 4,000 static caravans, key infrastructure (Anglian Water Sewage Treatment Plant), tourism amenities and agricultural land at risk of coastal flooding and erosion over the next 100 years. 

 

The Wash East Coastal Management Strategy (WECMS) was adopted by the Borough Council in January 2015.

 

The annual recycling of beach material in Unit C South (Hunstanton to Wolferton Creek) was an integral part of shoreline management and was led by the Environment Agency. This work was until recently funded wholly by central government via Flood and Coastal Erosion Risk Management Grant in Aid (FCRM GiA). Policy changes in 2010 meant that the recycling could no longer be fully funded by FCRM GiA and local communities were now expected to contribute to the maintenance and upkeep of local sea defences. 

 

The report explained that the East Wash Coastal Management Community Interest Company (EWCMCIC) was set up on 26th February 2015 to raise funds from local business within the area, but notably caravan parks, land owners and some beach bungalows. 

 

Total funds collected for 2015/16 were £206,130.97, and Anglian Water had agreed an additional contribution of £80,000 for 2017/18.

 

Attention was drawn to the excellent news that £300,000 of additional funding had been secured which would play a big role in ensuring the recharge process for the next 6 years.  Thanks and congratulations were given to all those involved in the process.

 

RESOLVED:   1)         That the success in raising contributions to fund local sea defence works be noted and the Community Interest Company be congratulated for the progress made.

2)         Request that officers work with the Environment Agency, the Community Interest Company and other partners to identify a funding package that will meet the costs of the ‘mini recharge’ referred to in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

3)         That the King’s Lynn Police Cadets be thanked for their help delivering the Flood Warning and Local Sea Defences leaflets in Hunstanton, Heacham, Snettisham and King’s Lynn areas

 

Reason for Decision

To update Members on the work of the Local Sea Defences Funding Group

CAB124

SCHEME OF DELEGATION UPDATE pdf icon PDF 55 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

 

RECOMMENDED:      1)         That Council approve the amended Scheme of Delegation

2)         That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader be given delegated Authority to make minor amendments to the Scheme to resolve any anomalies which may occur.

 

Reason for Decision

To ensure that the Delegation Scheme mirrors the decision making structure

Minutes:

Councillor Long presented a report which recommended an updated scheme of delegation for approval.  The Scheme had been amended to take account of the changes in Portfolio responsibilities.

Under Standing Order 34, Councillor Pope asked why the levels of virement had changed for Members and officers to which he was informed it was to ensure it complied with the new Financial Regulations.

 

RECOMMENDED:      1)         That Council approve the amended Scheme of Delegation

 

2)         That the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader be given delegated Authority to make minor amendments to the Scheme to resolve any anomalies which may occur.

 

Reason for Decision

To ensure that the Delegation Scheme mirrors the decision making structure