Agenda, decisions and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 18th January 2018.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 18th January 2018 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members declarations as to disclosable pecuniary and other interests in relation to any Agenda item.

No declarations were received.

To receive and recommend to Council the Final Revenue Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2022/23.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr J A Gray)

That the overall Final Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2022/23 (as attached as Appendix 1 of the report now submitted and which included the Revenue Budget at Section 2 and the Capital Programme at Section 3) be recommended for approval at Council.

That the new “Plan-on-a-Page” (as attached as Appendix 3 of the report now submitted) be approved.

By way of a report by the Head of Resources (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet considered the Final Budget 2018/19 and revised Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the period 2019/20 to 2022/23. Executive Councillors welcomed the changes made to the budget following the recommendations at the January meeting of the Cabinet. Attention was drawn to the outcome of consultation with the business and voluntary community, which had been sent to 970 contacts but no responses had been received. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

That Council be recommended to approve the

a)  overall Final Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2022/23 (as attached as Appendix 1 of the report now submitted, including the Revenue Budget at Section 2 and Capital Programme at Section 3); and

b)  new “Plan-on-a-Page” (as attached as Appendix 3 of the report now submitted).

To consider and recommend to Council the approval of the 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr J A Gray)

That the Council approve;

a)  the Treasury Management Policy (as attached in Appendix 2 of the report now submitted);

b)  the Treasury Management Strategy (as attached in Appendix 3 of the report now submitted);

c)  the Prudential, Treasury Management and CIS Indicators (as attached in Appendix 4 of the report now submitted); and

d)  the Annual Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2018/19 (as attached in Appendix 5 of the report now submitted).

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Resources, along with its related Appendices (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book) outlining the 2018/19 Treasury Management Strategy. Cabinet Members were advised that the Council was required by law to approve, on an annual basis, a Treasury Management Strategy; this requirement was within the relevant Codes of Practice issued by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy and other guidance issued by Central Government.

The Executive Councillor for Strategic Resources praised the report and the Cabinet noted their thanks for the dedication and hard work given by those staff members involved. Specific attention was drawn to Table 3, to showcase ther Council’s indications of borrowing over the Medium Term Financial Strategy. Members were reassured that processes were in place to ensure that borrowing was handled correctly and that the Council be robust. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

That Council be recommended to approve the

a)  Treasury Management Policy (as attached in Appendix 2 of the report now submitted);

b)  Treasury Management Strategy (as attached in Appendix 3 of the report now submitted);

c)  Prudential, Treasury Management and CIS Indicators (as attached in Appendix 4 of the report now submitted); and

d)  Annual Minimum Revenue Provision Policy 2018/19 (as attached in Appendix 5 of the report now submitted).

To consider a report by the Head of Community seeking endorsement of the Corporate Enforcement Policy.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr Mrs A Dickinson)

That the Corporate Enforcement Policy Statement (as attached at Appendix A of the report now submitted) and the Corporate Enforcement Policy (as attached at Appendix B of the report now submitted be endorsed and recommended for approval at Council.

That the delegation of the Head of Community and Head of Development to make minor editorial changes to the Corporate Enforcement Policy Statement (as attached at Appendix A of the report now submitted) and the Corporate Enforcement Policy (as attached at Appendix B of the report now submitted) which by definition make no change to the scope or meaning of the Policy be authorised.

That the approach taken by the Operational Guidance (as attached at Appendix C of the report now submitted) be endorsed.

That the delegation of the Head of Community and Head of Development, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors and Chairs and Vice Chair of the relevant regulatory Committees, the maintenance of the Operational Guidance in light of changes resulting from revocations, amendments, or enactments of relevant statutory provisions; changes in statutory guidance, or best practice be approved.

Executive Councillors were invited to consider a report by the Head of Community, along with its related Appendices (copies of which are appended in the Minute Book) presenting the revised Corporate Enforcement Policy. Members were appraised that the report presented a revised and updated Corporate Enforcement Policy designed to operate across the Council’s regulatory services broadly within the remit of the Community and Development Services. The Cabinet praised the hard work and dedication given by those involved in the report. In response to a Member’s question, the Head of Community advised that the timescales and processes illustrated in Appendix 1 would be published into the public domain in the interests of being open and transparent. It was also clarified that the policy allowed for better management of expectations and reduced need for customer contact and thus linked in well with the Council’s Transformation Programme. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the Corporate Enforcement Policy Statement (as attached at Appendix A of the report now submitted) and the Corporate Enforcement Policy (as attached at Appendix B of the report now submitted) be endorsed and submitted to the Council;

b)  that the Head of Community and Head of Development be authorised to make minor editorial changes to the Corporate Enforcement Policy Statement (as attached at Appendix A of the report now submitted) and the Corporate Enforcement Policy (as attached at Appendix B of the report now submitted) which by definition make no change to the scope or meaning of the Policy;

c)  that the approach taken by the Operational Guidance (as attached at Appendix C of the report now submitted) be endorsed; and

d)  that the Head of Community and Head of Development, in consultation with the relevant Executive Councillors and Chairmen and Vice Chairmen of the relevant regulatory Committees, be authorised to maintain of the Operational Guidance in light of changes resulting from revocations, amendments, or enactments of relevant statutory provisions; changes in statutory guidance, or best practice.

To review the Corporate Risk Register and consider if any further risks should be included.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr J A Gray)

That the Corporate Risk Register be noted and that no further risks be included.

That the stated mitigations of risks 147, 237 and 273 be noted as sufficient.

By way of a report by the Internal Audit and Risk Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Cabinet were presented with the Risk Register as at 15th January 2018. Members were advised that following the approval of the Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk Policy at the meeting of the Employment Committee on 7th February 2018, the risk levels applied to Risk 147 were predicted to improve. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that the Corporate Risk Register be noted and that no further risks be included; and

b)  that the stated mitigations of risks 147, 237 and 273 be noted and no further mitigation be required.

To present performance management information on the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2017/18 and progress updates for current projects.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr S Cawley and J A Gray)

That progress made against Key Activities and Corporate Indicators in the Corporate Plan and current projects, as summarised in Appendix A (of the report now submitted) and detailed in Appendices B and C (of the report now submitted) be noted.

That the financial performance at the end of December, as detailed in the Appendices D, E, F and G (of the report now submitted) and the register of the reviews of Commercial Investment Strategy propositions at Appendix H (of the report now submitted) be noted.

The Cabinet considered a report by the Corporate Team Manager and Finance Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) and commented on progress against the Key Actions and Corporate Indicators listed in the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2016/18 for the period 1 October – 31 December 2017. The report incorporated progress reporting for current projects being undertaken and Financial Performance Monitoring Suite information at the end of December 2017. The update on the Commercial Investment Strategy included details of investments to date and the level of return that they expected to generate.

Executive Councillors noted that although there were still some actions and projects identified as ‘Red’ the majority were improving due to increased effectiveness and efficiency. Members were reassured that projects were progressing in the right direction and a more proactive approach to communication had been implemented with new skills introduced.

Having considered the progress contained within the report, it was

RESOLVED

a)  that progress made against Key Activities and Corporate Indicators in the Corporate Plan and current projects, as summarised in Appendices A, B and C of the report now submitted be noted; and

b)  that the financial performance at the end of December 2017, as detailed in the Appendices D – G of the report now submitted and the register of the reviews of Commercial Investment Strategy propositions as detailed at Appendix H of the report now submitted be noted.

To resolve:

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

RESOLVED

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting because the business to be transacted contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

To receive a report from the Head of Community.

(Executive Councillor: Cllr D Brown)

That the creation of HDCV Security Services Ltd as a direct LATC subsidiary of HDC Ventures Limited and the award of contract to Quadrant Security Group Ltd as the commercial partner to deliver the Business Plan for the commercial development of the monitoring services.

Consideration was given to a report by the Head of Community and its related Appendices (copies of which are appended in the Annex to the Minute Book) concerning a proposed business case for the Commercialisation of the Council’s CCTV Service.

The Head of Community advised Members and the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Customers), Councillor D Tysoe, of the expected financial returns and an overview of the proposed commercial partner in the venture. The Cabinet were reassured that this would be a managed and monitored development of the viability that it provided. It was agreed that the venture would be a good fit for the Council’s trading company to move forward and that savings could be achieved alongside the development of the service.

Having considered the proposal, the business plan and fully debated the matter, the Cabinet

RESOLVED

that the creation of HDCV Security Services Ltd as a direct Local Authority Trading Company subsidiary of HDC Ventures Limited and the award of contract to Quadrant Security Group Ltd as the commercial partner to deliver the Business Plan for the commercial development of the monitoring services be approved.