Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2014.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 9th January 2014 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.

Councillor M F Shellens declared a non-pecuniary interest in relation to Minute No. 80 as an elected Member of Cambridgeshire County Council.

A copy of the current Notice of Key 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 Key Executive Decisions (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). Members were informed that the item entitled ‘Service Delivery Options’ related to the ongoing discussion with Local Government Shared Services regarding future service delivery options. This had now been postponed to the March meeting of the Cabinet. The Panel was also reminded that the outcome of the Facing the Future exercise would be considered by the Environmental Well-Being Panel the following week and all Members had been invited to attend.

In response to a question regarding the Supplementary Planning Document for Wind Turbines, the Panel was advised that this would be available in March and that it had been substantially updated.

At this point on the Agenda, the Chairman reported that following the decision taken at the Council meeting in December 2013 not to continue with the appointment of Co-Opted Members, this would be Mr Russell Eacott’s last meeting. He thanked Mr Eacott for his help and work for the Panel during his appointment.

Mr Eacott then addressed the Panel. In doing so, he expressed disappointment that the co-opted Members had been unable to contribute to the Facing the Future programme and that he had not had chance to discuss the matter with the Managing Director. He had enjoyed his time on the Panel and was happy to continue his involvement with the Council in other ways if required. Mr Eacott then thanked the Chairman for his assistance and commented on the high standard of his chairmanship.

To consider the Huntingdonshire District Council Corporate Plan 2014-16.

(Councillors J D Ablewhite, Executive Leader and N J Guyatt, Deputy Executive Leader, were in attendance for the discussion on this item).

The Panel considered the contents of the Huntingdonshire District Council Corporate Plan for 2014 – 16 (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book). By way of introduction, the Executive Leader explained that the document set out a proposed vision, together with strategic themes, aims and outcomes for the Authority. Members were advised that it was an evolving document and work was ongoing to develop mechanisms to deliver the themes and aims within the Plan. A clear message underpinning the Corporate Plan and its delivery was the need to provide value for money.

In opening up the discussion on this item, the Chairman remarked on the evident links between the proposed Corporate Plan and the funding mechanisms for local government, which were designed to encourage economic growth. In terms of the overall document, Members questioned whether the broad spectrum of aims was realistic in the current financial climate.

The Chairman invited Members to comment on each of the strategic themes in turn. In response to a question by a Member on the ‘Strong Local Economy’ theme, the Panel was advised of a number of the initiatives which were in operation to support local enterprise and of the expectation that the Local Enterprise Zone would create ancillary jobs. Members discussed whether sufficient effort was being made to enhance both the local economies that already existed and the mechanisms and partnerships that supported the skills levels that aided economic prosperity.

With regard to the theme ‘Enable Sustainable Growth’, Members emphasized the need to recognise the importance of rural areas to the local economy. They then suggested that it should be clarified that one of the aims was to have the right planning policies in place.

It was suggested that the theme ‘a Customer focused and service led Council’ might be considered to be more of an aim than a theme. It was also put forward that the Council should clarify whether it wanted to be facilitator or an organisation which delivered services. In relation to the Council’s overall vision, it was argued that this should incorporate the opportunity that Huntingdonshire offered in all areas of the Plan’s scope.

Having been advised of the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Social Well-Being) on the proposed Corporate Plan, the Panel discussed future reporting to Members. The production of data to enable the Overview and Scrutiny Panels to monitor the performance of the Authority was supported. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Panel’s comments on the Huntingdonshire District Council Corporate Plan 2014-16 be conveyed to the Cabinet to inform its deliberations on this item.

(Mr R Eacott left the Meeting after the discussion on this item).

To consider a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) prior to its consideration by Cabinet.

(A copy of the separate appendix of budget tables has been circulated separately to Panel Members and is also available at www.huntingdonshire.gov.uk

(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 Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Panel considered the Council’s proposed Budget, Medium Term Plan and Council Tax level for 2014/15. A note on the decision by the Department of Communities and Local Government on the Council Tax Freeze Grant and its implications for the Council had also been circulated prior to the meeting.

Councillor J A Gray reported that significant progress had been made during the past year. The forecast outturn had been better than expected and savings continued to be successfully identified and delivered which would result in forecast savings of £1.6M being achieved in the current year. This meant that the level of the Council’s reserves remained higher than anticipated. He then outlined the Cabinet’s aspiration to deliver a balanced budget for 2017/18 which required the Council to push forward with a programme for the delivery of savings in the region of £2.4M during this period. Loss of income from the New Homes Bonus continued to be a major risk for the Council. He then explained why he thought there should be no increase in Council Tax for the forthcoming year.

The Chairman reported on the discussions he had held with a number of Panel Members and his intention to establish a small working group to examine the gross costs of capital. It was agreed that Councillors S Greenall, P G Mitchell, T V Rogers and A H Williams should be appointed to the Working Group for this purpose.

Following a detailed explanation of each section of the report by the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources), Members were advised that the combination of a robust budget process and the Council’s current level of reserves should give Members no concerns over the Council’s financial position for 2014/15. It however, remained critical that effective progress was made in identifying how the required savings for future years would be achieved and that careful monitoring continued to take place.

In response to questions, Members received clarification of the increased costs that had been identified since the draft budget was published. Councillor M F Shellens requested information on the geographical area of the car parking volume reduction. Members also discussed the provision that had been made for NNDR appeals and were informed that there was an ongoing drive from the District Council’s Network to address this issue.

The Panel discussed the Council Tax Freeze Grant. Members were informed that the impact of this Grant would be equivalent to an increase in Council Tax of 1%. It was suggested that representations should be made to Government that offering the Grant on a percentage basis rewarded high taxing Councils. In terms of those items that were outstanding and would require assumptions to be made in order to finalise the Budget, the Panel discussed the impact of the pay review on employee turnover.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.

To consider the draft 2014/15 Treasury Management Strategy prior to its consideration by the Cabinet.

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

With the assistance of a report by the Assistant Director (Finance and Resources) the Panel considered the contents of the draft Treasury Management Policy Statement and Strategy for 2014/15 (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book). Having been acquainted with each section of the draft Strategy, Members were informed that it now included a new investment opportunity for Pooled Property Funds. Although further research was required before any investment would be considered, it was necessary to include the option within the Strategy in the event that the Council decided to use this investment opportunity in the forthcoming year.

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to endorse the draft Treasury Management Policy Statement and 2014/15 Treasury Management Strategy for submission to the Council.

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 on matters that had been previously discussed. It was suggested that the report on the outcome of the audit on Electronic Document Management should be included in the work plan.

With regard to the studies which had been placed on hold pending the outcome of the Cabinet’s recommendations on the Facing the Future programme, it was agreed that communications, shared services and estates should be removed from the Panel’s work programme.

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 Decision Digest (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book).