Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs J Collingham, P Rochford, M Shorting and A Tyler.

Please indicate if there are any interests which should be declared.  A declaration of 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.

Those 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 was none.

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 none.

Members wishing to speak pursuant to Standing Order 34 should inform the Chairman of their intention to do so and 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 was none.

If any.

There was none.

To consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

Budget book attached as a supplementary document.

The Chairman offered thanks to the Assistant Director for the amount of work she and her team had put into presenting the budget in what was a difficult period.

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.

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 were cancelled the growth would not be achieved.

The Chairman invited questions and comments from the Panel, as summarised below.

Councillor Crofts referred to the Internal Drainage Board Levy and the Chief Executive explained that the Council was concerned regarding the Internal Drainage Boards levies which were paid by the Council to the various Boards.  The levies counted as spending of the Council, but a contribution was made by Government as part of the financial settlement.  Any substantial increase in the levies had an impact on the council tax payer who would pick up the residual costs.  The Chief Executive highlighted that with the significant reduction in the RSG, any increase in IDB levies in the future would have to be met from council tax or cost savings.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Daubney informed those present that he had asked Members of the Council who were representatives on Internal Drainage Boards to ensure that they were kept up to date with the Internal Drainage Board’s finances and any forward planning to ensure that information relating to potential increase in levies was communicated to the Council.

Councillor Mrs Watson referred to an article she had seen in the media relating to increased Council Tax to be paid in areas liable to flooding to pay for flood defences.  The Chief Executive explained that no announcement had been made officially to the Council and it was unlikely that proposals would be introduced for the forthcoming financial year.  The Leader of the Council, Councillor Daubney explained that some Authorities had met with the Department for Communities and Local Government where defences were inadequate.

In response to a question from Councillor Kunes, the Assistant Director explained that Bellwin was a holding fund for disasters.  Costs incurred could then be claimed back from the fund.  She informed those present that the fund had been utilised during the tidal surge a few years ago.

In response to a question from Councillor Moriarty, the Assistant Director explained that a NNDR return had to be submitted to Government which was based on an estimation of Business Rates collected.  It took into account  ...  view the full minutes text for item RD43:

To consider the report and make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

The Assistant Director presented the report which:

·         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.

·         Provided 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 were forthcoming.  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.

The Chairman thanked the Assistant Director for the report and invited questions and comments from Members, as summarised below.

Councillor Moriarty asked if Devolution would have an impact on the delivery of the Capital Programme.  The Chief Executive explained that a Devolution deal would not bring in extra money, but it would provide levers to access services and spend money more effectively.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Daubney informed those present that Cambridgeshire had recently said no to a Devolution Deal.  The Leader of the Council explained that it was a shame as he felt the East of England and East Anglia had been underinvested in and the Devolution Deal would have provided greater opportunities to access funding.  He explained that a Devolution deal not including Cambridgeshire was now being looked at with Suffolk.

RESOLVED: That the Regeneration & Development and Environment & Community 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.