Agenda and minutes

It was noted that there were no apologies for absence.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

It was noted that there were no declarations of interest.

The Decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 January 2018 numbered CAB 117 to CAB 131 (inclusive) are attached.

It was agreed that the decisions of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 15 January 2018, as detailed in decision numbers CAB 117 to CAB 131, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Notice of Forthcoming Key Decisions is included in the agenda to enable the Cabinet to identify future agenda items of public interest that should be subject to pre-Cabinet scrutiny.

It was agreed that there were no forthcoming Key Decisions identified for pre-Cabinet scrutiny at this stage.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendations, made at its meeting held on 16 January 2018 (Minute No 122), be rejected.

(b)  That Cabinet decision CAB 127 be reaffirmed.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee.

It was agreed:

(a)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendations (a) and (d), made at its meeting held on 16 January 2018 (Minute No 120), be rejected since they have been overtaken by the motion that went to full Council on 31 January 2018.

(b)  That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s recommendations (b) and (c) be accepted, noting that the role of partners would be defined in the Partnership Charter, as agreed by Cabinet at its meeting held on 15 January 2018 (CAB 128 (d).

(c)  That Cabinet decision CAB 128 be reaffirmed.

To consider the attached recommendations of the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee.

It was agreed that the Scrutiny (Community and Regeneration) Committee’s recommendation, made at its meeting held on 17 January 2018 (Minute No 103), be rejected due to timing and data protection restrictions.  However, the objective of the recommendation is supported and alternative methods of communicating with residents will, therefore, be explored.

To consider the report of the Director of Finance, Housing and Community (to follow).

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

(a)  That the draft General Fund Revenue Budget, the Capital and Special Projects Programmes, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and the content of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), as set out at Appendix 1 of the report, be forwarded to the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee for consideration.

(b)  That it be noted that the Council Tax Resolution and Treasury Management Strategy will be added to the MTFP, and that other minor adjustments will be made, before it is presented to Council in March.

(c)  That the various recommendations at the end of the sections within the Budget and MTFP report, as consolidated  at Annex 12 of the report, be forwarded to the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee for consideration, as follows:

(i)            Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community to approve revenue budget carry forwards within the guidelines set out.

            (ii)        Approve the grants to organisations detailed at Annex 11 of

                        the report.

            (iii)       Approve the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2018/19 and

                        the projected outturn for 2017/18.

            (iv)       Approve the policies and protocols regarding the General 

                        Fund balances and earmarked reserves, and transfers

                        between reserves as set out at Annex 6 of the report.

(v)       Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in

 consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, the power to acquire freehold or leasehold residential properties and to agree terms and conditions in connection therewith.

            (vi)       Approve the 2017/18 Projected Outturn and the 2018/19

                        HRA budget at Annex 7 of the report.

            (vii)       Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and

                        Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for

                        Corporate Resources and Performance, the setting of the 

                        level of the on-going HRA minimum balance, the transfer of  

                        balances to the Housing Initiatives Reserve (HIR), the use of

                        prudential borrowing, and adjustment of the resources of the

                        HIR accordingly.

(viii)    Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, to apply capital receipts, revenue resources, grants, Section 106 monies, etc to finance the approved Capital and Special Revenue Projects programmes.

(ix)      Continue the practice of delegating authority to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, to authorise projects up to £50,000 that are included in the Capital and Special Revenue Programmes; approve the allocation of funds from the Capital and Special Revenue Contingencies to projects; authorise virements between regeneration projects and apply Growth Point reserves to regeneration projects.

(x)        Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, authority to authorise project overspends up to a maximum of 10% or £100,000 (whichever is lower), and apply relevant financing resources to cover. 

(xi)       Approve the Capital and Special Projects Programmes.

            (xii)       Approve that capital resources required to finance new 

                        projects are secured before new projects commence.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 139.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Environmental Health

It was agreed that the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets be authorised, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Property Management and Public Health, to take forward the actions required in order to bring forward the proposal to use the Middle and Upper Danes to dispose of spoil and thus enable it to be laid out as public open space.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Governance.

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

It was agreed that the Council’s Performance Report and Actions for the Third Quarter 2017/18 be noted.