Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15^th December 2010.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 December 2010 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to personal and/or prejudicial interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any Agenda item.  Please see Notes 1 and 2 overleaf.

No declarations were received.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services on progress of the 2010/11 programme.

Received the Capital Programme for 2010/11 and the consequential estimated revenue impact.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) highlighting variations to the approved Capital Programme 2010/11 and the consequential estimated revenue impact.  It was

RESOLVED

that the report be received and the variations detailed in the Annexes appended thereto noted.

To consider a report by the Head of Financial Services outlining spending variations.

Noted the spending variations in the Revenue Budget as at 31^st December 2010.

The Cabinet received and noted a report by the Head of Financial Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) detailing expected variations to in revenue expenditure in the current year.

In discussing the total amounts of payments written-off in the year for Council Tax and National Non Domestic Rates, Members were advised that there had been an increase in the number of company liquidations during 2010 as a consequence of the downturn in the economic climate which had led to an increase in the value of debts being written-off.

Members noted that the expected outturn of revenue expenditure was now £23.1m which was £0.7m less than assumed in the draft 2011/12 budget.  The reduction was mainly due to one-off items and service managers implementing saving plans ready for 2011/12.  Executive Councillors were advised that it would no longer be necessary to transfer savings, to the savings reserve, as the latest projections suggest that the necessary savings for 2011/12 will be achieved.

Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the spending variations in the Revenue Budget as at 31^st December 2010 be noted.

By way of a report by the Head of Housing Services to consider a request for the release of funding for a Safer Homes (Handyperson) Scheme in Huntingdonshire.

Approved the release of funding from the Medium Term Plan to continue with the Safer Homes Scheme as a contribution towards the Council’s priority to support vulnerable households to live independently.

With the assistance of a report by the Head of Housing Services (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet considered a request for the release of funding from the Medium Term Plan for the Safer Homes Scheme in Huntingdonshire.

In considering the background to the request, Executive Councillors were advised that the scheme was established with Luminus and Age Concern in February 2010 to ensure that older and vulnerable households could access a service to carry out small repair jobs free of charge or at low cost in order to maintain safety within their homes.  The provision of the scheme had been identified as a jointly agreed LPSA (Reward Grant) priority for Huntingdonshire and had attracted initial LPSA grant funding.  Having considered the scheme’s achievements to date in supporting vulnerable people, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the relevant funding be released from the Medium Term Plan to continue with the Safer Homes Scheme as a contribution towards the Council’s priority to support vulnerable households to live independently.