Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 28th November 2013. (TO FOLLOW).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 28th November 2013 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.

No declarations were received.

A copy of the current Notice of Executive Key Decisions, which was published on 14th November 2013 is attached. Members are invited to comment as appropriate on any items contained therein.

The Panel considered and noted the current Notice of Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). With reference to the forthcoming item entitled ‘Renewal of Great Fen Project Collaboration Agreement’, Councillor E R Butler reiterated his concerns regarding the proposal and it was agreed that his comments would be conveyed to the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Environmental Well-Being) as part of its deliberations on the matter.

The Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) informed Members that, in advance of any recommendations being made with regard to shared services, it was intended to invite Local Government Shared Services (LGSS) to a future Overview and Scrutiny Panel meeting to provide further information on their services and activities.

To consider a report by the Head of Customer Services.

By way of a report by the Head of Customer Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel was acquainted with a Government initiative to encourage local authorities to provide rate relief on certain newly built and unoccupied non-domestic properties for up to 18 months after completion, from 1^st October 2013 until 30 September 2016. Members were informed that the Government would reimburse billing authorities for the cost of providing the exemption and that there could be a benefit to the Authority if it generated business growth in the District.

In considering the information which had been presented, reference was made to the additional administrative burden the initiative would create for the business rates team. It could not be predicted how many new business premises this was likely to bring forward. Having regard to recent changes in the rules relating to National Non-Domestic rates, it was suggested that a briefing by the Head of Customer Services on this subject would be useful. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to authorise the Head of Customer Services to award 100% Discretionary Rate Relief to newly built non-domestic properties completed from 1st October 2013 to 30th September 2016 that meet the full qualifying criteria for a maximum period of up to 18 months.

To consider a report by the Assistant Director (Finance & Resources).

(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 from 7.15pm).

With the assistance of a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Panel considered proposed variations to the new Budget and Medium Term Plan. Given that the Local Government draft settlement had not yet been published, the Facing the Future reviews were only partially complete and other key financial data was not yet available, a draft Budget for 2014/15 and a Medium Term Plan had not yet been produced.

By way of introduction, Members were informed that the Government had announced through the Autumn Statement that a portion of the New Homes Bonus would not now be given to Local Enterprise Partnerships. Although this reduced the level of savings that would be needed, the Council would still need to make adjustments of £3.6M by 2018/18. The Autumn Statement contained a number of other changes that would have an impact on the Council but details were not available at this stage.

The Executive Councillor stated that despite the announcement on the New Homes Bonus, the Authority still faced a significant task to identify savings and the Facing the Future process would continue for this purpose. He emphasised that the Cabinet wanted to safeguard the Council’s long term financial stability and to ensure that it was to cope with any changes in circumstances. He expressed his appreciation of the Panel’s ongoing assistance with this task, particularly through the Facing the Future process.

Having noted that the date of the announcement of the Local Government draft settlement was still unknown, Members’ attention was drawn to the impact of the Autumn Statement on the Authority’s revenue savings requirement to 2017/18. It was also explained that a number of the more straightforward issues which had been identified from the Facing the Future process had been incorporated into the proposed variations (Annex D). The remainder would be included as they were clarified and identified.

The Panel proceeded to examine the proposed variations for inclusion within the new Budget and Medium Term Plan. Members discussed building control income, District elections savings, reduced income from recycling credits and the charge for the second green bin. They were then informed that a report would be submitted to the Cabinet on the reasons for additional capital costs incurred by the St Ivo Leisure Centre re-developments.

The Panel reviewed the progress of targeted savings (Annex C), in particular those to be achieved through outsourcing / shared services. Having been advised of the work which was ongoing to produce detailed business cases for some services, Members questioned the extent to which the figures within the report were robust. With reference to their Facing the Future discussions on the Information Management Division, they were reminded that, in the absence of a list of the service’s on-going projects, it had not been possible to make a recommendation on its future. This message would be conveyed to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 62.

To consider a report by the Assistant Director (Finance & Resources).

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

Consideration was given to a report by the Assistant Director, Finance and Resources (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 2013. Members’ attention was drawn to the treasury management activity, the performance summary and the performance against budget during the period.

Having been informed that the Authority was well within the operational boundary and authorised limit for external debt, Members discussed the Treasury Management Indicators, which demonstrated that all borrowing and principal sums invested beyond 364 days were also within the approved limits. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

(a)  that the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  that the Cabinet be requested to recommend the Council to note the contents of the report by the Assistant Director, Finance and Resources on Treasury Management – Review of Performance: 6 Monthly Review.

To consider with the aid of a report by the Head of Legal and Democratic Services, the programme of studies being undertaken by the other Overview and Scrutiny Panels.

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 detailing progress on the Panel’s activities.

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 of matters that had been previously discussed. Members were informed that the bi-annual customer services performance report would be presented to their next meeting and that the Corporate Plan Working Group would be meeting on 18th December 2013 to review progress with the development of the new Corporate Plan. It was also the intention to invite representatives from the Local Enterprise Partnership to attend the Council meeting in April 2014 to give a presentation on its business plan.

Having reminded the Executive Councillor for Resources of its previous request for a report on the Estates function at an appropriate time, Members were advised that this service would be discussed as part of the Facing the Future process by the Environmental Well-Being Panel at its meeting on 10th December 2013. The Chairman undertook to report back to the next meeting on the outcome of these discussions.

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 (TO FOLLOW).

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