Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors B Anota, R Bird, Lord Howard and I Gourlay.

To approve the minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 22 September 2016.

The minutes from the Corporate Performance Panel held on 22 September 2016 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Hunstanton Sailing Club

Councillor Collop commented that he would like to see financial information presented to the Panel, and Members of Hunstanton Sailing Club present to answer questions when the next annual update report was received by the Panel in September 2017.

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Beal advised that Councillor Hodson was the Council’s representative on the Hunstanton Sailing Club Development Sub Committee and would therefore be in a position to monitor the financial aspects of the club.

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 any item or simply observing the meeting from the public seating area.

None.

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

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.

None.

None.

In presenting the report, the Revenues and Benefits Manager reminded the Panel that the Council must review and agree its 2017/2018 Council Tax Support (CTS) scheme for working age people by 31 January 2017.  Options for the draft CTS scheme for 2017/2018 were presented to the Panel on 18 July 2016 and the preferred CTS scheme was chosen.  This was agreed by Cabinet on 7 September 2016.  The draft CTS scheme was then opened to public consultation from 12 September 2016 to 23 October 2016.

The report detailed the results of the consultation and the recommended final CTS scheme for 2017/2018.  The key issues and options considered were outlined as detailed in the report.

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

In response to questions from Councillor Collop requesting information on the Council Tax Support Scheme from the previous year and information on other Council’s schemes, the Revenues and Benefits Manager undertook to check that the information requested was sent to the Panel.  The Revenues and Benefits Manager advised that this year’s information was not yet available from other Councils.

Following questions and comments from the Panel on encouraging responses to the consultation exercise, the Chairman, Councillor Wareham explained that the officers had put every effort into the consultation exercise.  The Portfolio Holder for Housing and Community commented that the response rate had increased this year by 400% and it was therefore hoped that it would increase again in 2017 and invited Members to put forward any suggestions to encourage a greater response rate.

In response to questions on why two responses were not valid, the Revenues and Benefits Manager advised that in future, when completing the questionnaire on line, a tick box system will be introduced so the qualifying question must be answered before moving on to the rest of the questionnaire.

The Revenues and Benefits Manager responded to questions on page 28 relating to someone being self-employed and claiming Housing Benefit.  She explained that the Council Tax Support Scheme was aligned with Universal Credits and outlined the requirements.

The Chairman, Councillor Wareham thanked the Revenues and Benefits Manager for attending and presenting the report.

RESOLVED: The Panel agreed that the draft CTS scheme for 2017/2018 which went to public consultation was recommended as the final CTS scheme for 2017/2018.

To note the Committee’s Work Programme for 2016/2017.

The Panel noted the Work Programme for 2016/2017.

Councillor Collop commented that there was only one item on this evening’s Agenda and asked if some of the items scheduled for the 19 December meeting could have been brought forward.  The Executive Director, Central and Community Services explained that with regard the performance reports scheduled to be considered at the next meeting, the information was not yet available and was presented on a quarterly basis to the Panel.

To note that the date of the next meeting of the Audit Committee will take place on Monday 19 December 2016.

The next scheduled meeting of the Panel would be held on Monday 19 December 2016.