Agenda and minutes

To be selected from Panel Chairs that are present at the meeting.

RESOLVED: Councillor Dickinson was appointed Chair for the meeting.

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and informed those present that the meeting was being streamed on You Tube.

You can view the You Tube recording here.

To be selected from Panel Vice Chairs which are present at the meeting.

RESOLVED:  Councillor Moriarty was appointed Vice Chair for the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Councillors Manning, Nockolds, Patel and Mrs Wilkinson.

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.

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 were no declarations of interest.

To consider any business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair proposed 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 Chair of their intention to do so and what items they wish to be heard before a decision on that item is taken.  

There were no Members present under Standing Order 34.

If any.

There was no Chair’s correspondence.

All Members have been invited to the meeting for this item of business.

Members will receive a presentation on the Budget and Capital Programme and are requested to make any appropriate recommendations to Cabinet.

Members are requested to read the Agenda for the Cabinet meeting on 2^nd February 2021 once published, which will include the Cabinet Reports and Budget Papers.

Click here to view the recording of this item on You Tube.

Members received a presentation on the Budget and Capital Programme from the Assistant Director (Section 151 Officer).  A copy of the presentation is attached.

It was noted that the Budget and Capital Programme would be presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 2^nd February 2021.

The Chair thanked the Assistant Director for her presentation, and invited questions and comments from those present at the meeting.

Officers responded to questions about Alive West Norfolk, and explained the financial support available to them.

Officers and the Leader of the Council responded to questions relating to the Internal Drainage Boards explaining how drainage boards were funded, outlined the contributions made to them and how the contributions were displayed on council tax bills.  Members were reminded that there were Borough Council representatives on Internal Drainage Board.

In response to a question it was confirmed that there were currently no plans for redundancies in the financial plan.

In response to a question on whether there was a rule of thumb percentage increase in costs which would need to be met as a result of increases in the council tax base the Chief Executive explained that the budget included increases in costs within specific service areas.  In addition other income would be generated, for example brown bins and other fees and charges, however there was no rule of thumb on this.  Additional contributions towards infrastructure from developers including Section 106 and CIL was also highlighted.

It was also clarified that the Police were limited to a ten pound increase, County Council were limited to 2% with an additional increase of 3% for health and social care over a two year period.  There was no limit on Parish Precept increases.

A question was also asked about the Future High Street Fund and it was explained that if this had been successful it would have been included in the financial plan along with any match funding included.

The Leader of the Council also highlighted the role of Policy Review and Development Panels in looking at efficiencies and the councils finances.

The Section 151 Officer and Chief Executive agreed to clarify the processes and lead in time required for a Referendum.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet note the comments from the Panel.