Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Finance, Housing and Community. 

 

Responsibility: Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance

 

Due to its size, this report is reproduced as a supplementary paper to the main agenda.

 

(a)  It was agreed:

 

(i)    That the Scrutiny (Policy and Performance) Committee’s endorsement of Cabinet decision CAB 138, made at its meeting held on 14 February 2017 (Minute No 154), be acknowledged.

 

(ii)  That, subject to Council approving the 2017/18 budget, the grants  to organisations, as set out in Annex 11 of the report, be approved as follows:

 

Grants to Concessionary Rentals - £35,105

Various grants towards rentals/lease charges

 

Financial Assistance Payments to Other Outside Bodies:

 

Your Leisure - £265,000

 

Pegasus Playscheme - £1,500

Provision of a play scheme for children with disabilities

 

Kent County Council - £3,000

Contribution to Sports Partnership

 

Gazen Salts Nature Reserve - £4,500

To assist in managing and maintaining the reserve

 

Sandwich Town Cricket Club - £10,000

To assist the club in defraying its expenditure in managing, maintaining and improving the recreation grounds at The Butts and Gazen Salts

 

Dover Rugby Club - £12,000

For ground maintenance at Crabble Athletic Ground, covered by savings made in the landscape maintenance contract

 

Victoria Bowls - £1,000

Contribution to running expenses of the Club

 

Dover Citizens’ Advice Bureau - £100,500

£97,000 core funding grant, plus £3,500 service charge contribution

 

Neighbourhood Forums - £22,500

Joint contribution with Kent County Council for neighbourhood projects

 

Home Improvement Agency - £7,900

‘In Touch’ Housing Improvement Agency funding

 

Deal Town Council - £5,000

Astor Theatre

 

Action with Communities in Rural Kent - £3,500

Contribution to rural housing

 

Dover Bowls Club - £10,000

New grant for 2017/18 for ground maintenance at Dover Bowling Green.  Covered by savings within the grounds maintenance budget.

 

(iii) That the various Cabinet recommendations produced at the end of the sections within the Budget and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP), and summarised in Annex 14 to Appendix 1 of the report, be approved as follows:

 

(A)  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.

 

(B)  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 Housing Revenue Account (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.

 

(C) Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, approval of offers, tenders or bids for the purchase of properties on the open market or at auction, in order to respond to market opportunities.

 

(D) 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.

 

(E)  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 have been included in the Capital and Special Revenue Projects programmes; authorise the allocation of funds to projects from the Capital and Special Revenue Contingencies; authorise virements between regeneration projects and apply Growth Point reserves to regeneration projects.

 

(F)  Delegate to the Director of Finance, Housing and Community, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Resources and Performance, the amendment of the level and period of investment in property funds.

 

(b) It was agreed to recommend to Council:

 

(i)   That the General Fund Revenue Budget, the Capital and Special Projects Programmes, the Housing Revenue Account Budget, the Council Tax Resolution and the content of the MTFP be approved.

 

(ii)  That it be noted that it is the view of the Director of Finance, Housing and Community (Section 151 Officer) that the budget has been prepared in an appropriate and prudent manner and that, based upon the information available at the time of producing this report, the 2017/18 estimates are robust and the resources are adequate for the Council’s current spending plans in 2017/18.

 

(iii) That the various Council recommendations at the end of the sections within the attached Budget and MTFP report, and summarised in Annex 14 to Appendix 1 of the report, be approved as follows:

 

(A)   Approve the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2017/18 and the projected outturn for 2016/17.

 

(B)  Approve the policies and protocols regarding the General Fund balances and earmarked reserves, and transfers between reserves as set out in Annex 6 of the report.

 

(C) Approve the 2016/17 Projected Outturn and the 2017/18 HRA budget at Annex 7 of the report.

 

(D) Delegate to Cabinet the approval of individual projects to be financed by the HIR.

 

(E)  Approve the Capital and Special Revenue Projects Programmes.

 

(F)  Approve that capital resources required to finance new projects are secured before new projects commence.

 

(G) Approve the Treasury Management Strategy, including the Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement.  

 

(H) Approve the Council Tax Resolution as set out at Annex 10A of the report.

 

(I)    That it be noted that, if the formal Council Tax Resolution at Annex 10A of the report is approved, the total Band D Council Tax will be as set out at Annex 14 of the report.