Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed Mr Russell Eacott, newly appointed co-opted Member, to his first meeting of the Panel.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th November 2012.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th November 2012, were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary, non-disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests in relation to any Agenda item. See Notes below.

No declarations were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Executive Decisions is attached. Members are invited to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel considered and noted the current Notice of Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). Members noted that the Business Plan for One Leisure would be presented to their next meeting.

With regard to the item on National Non Domestic Rates Approval and in light of the current situation, the Panel noted that the full Council would be asked to delegate approval to the Managing Director (Resources) to calculate and certify the completion of the NNDR1 form which provided an estimate of the Council’s business rate income for the forthcoming financial year. Members were content with this approach.

To RESOLVE :-

that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted relates to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED

that the public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted relates to the financial or business affairs of a particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To consider a report by the Head of Environmental Management. (TO FOLLOW).

(Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Resources, was in attendance for this item).

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Environmental Management (a copy of which is appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) the Panel considered details of an offer for Council owned land fronting St Mary’s Street, Huntingdon. The Executive Councillor for Resources outlined the factors that would need to be taken into consideration when deciding whether to accept an offer for the property and his own view of the current offer.

In considering the offer which had been made, the Panel discussed the value placed on the land in the Asset Register and in the Council’s Accounts, the valuation of the site and the alternatives to accepting the present offer. A suggestion was made that the Council might reduce its homelessness costs by building its own accommodation on site and in this regard Members were acquainted with the initiatives that were already planned to reduce the Authority’s reliance on bed and breakfast accommodation.

Given that a significant upturn in the commercial property market was unlikely in the short term, the Panel was of the opinion that the offer should be accepted, albeit at a level above that outlined in the report now submitted and that the Council should seek to secure a lease back of part of the new premises to accommodate individuals who were homeless during the negotiations.

RESOLVED

  that the Cabinet be recommended to authorise the Managing Director (Communities, Partnerships and Projects), after consultation with the Executive Councillor, to accept an offer from the prospective purchaser on the terms proposed by the Panel.

To RESOLVE:

that the public be re-admitted to the meeting.

RESOLVED

  that the public be re-admitted to the meeting.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services.

A copy of the report – Controllable Budgets by Budget Holder has been circulated separately to the Agenda.

(All Members of the Council have been invited to attend for the discussion on this item).

(Councillor J A Gray, Executive Councillor for Resources, was in attendance for this item).

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel considered an update on the 2013/14 Budget and MTP. By way of introduction the Chairman reported that he had presented the conclusions reached by the Panel at the recent informal meeting to the Executive Leaders Strategy Group on 3^rd December. As a consequence, he had received an assurance that the presentation of financial information would be discussed with the Panel at the conclusion of the current budget cycle. In terms of the priority areas for potential savings, Members were advised that the Cabinet was developing its own range of options for savings, many of which were similar to those which had been identified by the Panel. In this regard, the Executive Leader and the Executive Councillor for Resources would be meeting shortly to establish a package of potential savings measures for further consideration.

The Head of Financial Services provided a detailed presentation on the contents of the report, which included information on service budgets, Council Tax subsidy, retention of business rates, the New Homes Bonus, the Council tax level, inflation and interest rates and the key risks associated with the current budgetary situation. Having been reminded that the Council had agreed to support in principle the pooling of business rates, the Panel discussed the consequences of not adopting this approach.  Members were advised that further work would be undertaken before a decision was taken for next year and they were reminded of the principles upon which the pooling arrangement would operate. It was dependent upon all Cambridgeshire authorities agreeing to enter into the pool. If it was decided not to proceed in the forthcoming financial year, it would still be possible to do so in future years.

In terms of the predictions that had been made for future housing completions, Members enquired whether the data took into account the potential for a slow down in house building over the course of the next few years. The Head of Financial Services explained that a paper on future projections had recently been received from the Planning section and, once this had been worked through in more detail, further information could be brought to a future meeting. Having emphasised the need to exercise caution in this respect, Members were advised that a risk provision for slower completion of new homes had been included in the current report.

With regard to Council Tax levels for future years, a Member enquired whether the Council would ever be in a position where it would not rise. In response, the Head of Financial Services explained that there would always be pressure on the Council’s finances from inflation, which meant this was unlikely. The Executive Councillor for Resources also commented that in previous years the rise in Council Tax had not been greater than any rise in benefits  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of the Council’s investments for the period 1^st April to 30^th September 2012. Members’ attention was drawn to the treasury management activity, the performance summary and the performance against budget in 2012/13. Having been advised that a current indicator for interest rate exposures did not differentiate between long and short and borrowing and investing, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be requested to recommend the Council

a)  to approve the revised table and targets in paragraph 6.2 of the report now submitted; and

b)  to note the contents of the report by the Head of Financial Services on Treasury Management – Review of Performance.

To consider with the aid of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the programme of studies.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) containing details of studies that were being undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Panels for Social and Environmental Well-Being.

To consider a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services.

The Panel received and noted a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) reviewing progress on matters that had been previously discussed. In so doing, the Chairman reported that a first draft of the conclusions arising from the review of the Council’s Document Centre had now been prepared. Members then discussed when it would be appropriate for the Council to receive a presentation on the A14 improvements.

In view of the success of their previous meeting on budgetary savings, it was agreed that a similar meeting should be held in late January to discuss the Council’s capital budget.

To scrutinise decisions taken since the last meeting as set out in the Decision Digest and to raise any other matters for scrutiny that fall within the remit of the Panel.

The Panel considered and noted the latest edition of the Council’s Decision Digest (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).