Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor M Foster and Councillor C Renwick.

Members are requested to declare the existence and nature of any disclosable pecuniary interest and/or other interest, not already on their register of interests, in any item on the agenda and withdraw from the meeting at the appropriate time.

There were no Declarations of Interest.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 22 December 2022.

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the meeting held on 22 December 2022 were approved as a true record.

Report of Councillor C Cupit, Deputy Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Environmental Services.

Cabinet considered proposals to develop new Environmental Health Support Services for local businesses. Members were reminded that the Council currently uses its powers under the Local Government Act 2003 to provide expert advice and business consultancy for pest control services and to set charges to meet the cost of providing them.

The report to Cabinet proposed that similar advice and consultancy and services should now be provided for local as restaurants and takeaways to help them carry out the necessary preparation to apply for their Food Hygiene Ratings. The services would also be offered to Food Preparation Businesses. These currently have to look to national organisations for advice and consultancy services as companies in the District cannot currently provide these services for them.

Members discussed the proposals, how the services would be delivered and the suggested charges for them. Cabinet felt that the new services would benefit local business and the economy of District as a whole and that the proposals should be supported.

RESOLVED –

(1)      That Cabinet approved the scheme of charges detailed in the report.

(2)      That the same charges be reviewed periodically in line with service fees and charges review processes.

(3)      That the Joint Assistant Director, Environmental Health Services arrange for commercial pest control treatments to be made available as soon as possible after any vacancies in the pest control team has been filled, and develop further pest control services as is commercially viable.

REASONS FOR DECISION – These proposals (and new commercial services which will complement them) will enable the service to support local business and provide local choice from a trusted provider. Income generated can be reinvested in developing the service to ensure resilience in delivery of critical and statutory services.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – Remaining with a minimal business support offer limits the ability of the service to develop the performance of the food sector, and means businesses’ only recourse is to private providers outside of the district.

Report of Councillor J Kenyon, Portfolio Holder for Economy, Transformation and Climate Change.

Key Decision

That Council is recommended at its meeting on 30 January 2023:

(1)   That the view of the Director of Finance & Resources, that the estimates included in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2026/27 are robust and that the level of financial reserves are adequate at this time, be accepted.

(2)   That officers report back to Cabinet and the Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee on a quarterly basis regarding the overall position in respect of the Council’s budgets.

General Fund

(3)   A Council Tax increase of £5.93 will be levied in respect of a notional Band D property (2.99%).

(4)   The Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of this report be approved as the Current Budget 2022/23, as the Original Budget 2023/24, and as the financial projections in respect of 2024/25 to 2026/27.

(5)   That the shortfall in the General Fund budget for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 be met from the resilience reserve.

(6)   That the General Fund Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 be approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2022/23, and as the Approved Programme for 2023/24 to 2026/27.

(7)   That any under spend in respect of 2022/23 be transferred to the Resilience Reserve to provide increased financial resilience for future years of the plan.

Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

(8)   That Council sets its rent levels for 2023/24 in consideration of the Social Housing Rent Standard increasing rents by 5% from 1st April 2023.

(9)   That all other charges be implemented in line with the table shown at 1.43 below with effect from 1 April 2023.

(10)   The Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendix 3 of this report be approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2022/23, as the Original Budget in respect of 2023/24, and the financial projection in respect of 2024/25 to 2026/27.

(11)   That the HRA Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 be approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2022/23, and as the Approved Programme for 2023/24 to 2026/27.

(12)     That the Management Fee for undertaking housing services at £10.612m and the Management Fee for undertaking capital works at £1.1m to Rykneld Homes in respect of 2023/24 be approved.

(13)     That Members endorse the section in the financial framework within the Management Agreement which enables the Council to pay temporary cash advances to Rykneld Homes in order to help meet the cash flow requirements of the company should unforeseen circumstances arise in any particular month.

(14)     That Members note the requirement to provide Rykneld Homes with a ‘letter of comfort’ to the company’s auditors and grant delegated authority to the Council’s Director – Finance & Resources in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Assets to agree the contents of that letter.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To recommend budgets to Council in respect of the General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account and  ...  view the full decision text for item CAB/57/22-23

As part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), the report to Cabinet set out the Current Budget for the 2022/23 financial year.   It also set out the proposed Original Budget for the 2023/24 financial year, covering the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme. Cabinet was asked to endorse and recommend them to Council for approval at its meeting on 30 January 2023.

Members discussed the report. Cabinet recognised the financial pressures facing the Council, such as increased staffing and energy costs. The Plan made clear that the projected General Fund budget shortfall would be met in the first instance from the Council’s Resilience Reserve. This would then be replenished through ongoing savings achieved through the year. Members felt that this would be an appropriate and prudent approach.

RESOLVED –

That Council is recommended at its meeting on 30 January 2023:

As part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), the report to Cabinet set out the Current Budget for the 2022/23 financial year. It also set out

the proposed Original Budget for the 2023/24 financial year, covering the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme. Cabinet was asked to endorse and recommend them to Council for approval at its meeting on 30 January 2023.

Members discussed the report. Cabinet recognised the financial pressures facing the Council, such as increased staffing and energy costs. The Plan made clear that the projected General Fund budget shortfall would be met in the first instance from the Council’s Resilience Reserve. This would then be replenished through ongoing savings achieved through the year. Members felt that this would be an appropriate and prudent approach.

RESOLVED –

That Council was recommended at its meeting on 30 January 2023:

(1)      That the view of the Director of Finance & Resources, that the estimates included in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2022/23 to 2026/27 are robust and that the level of financial reserves are adequate at this time, be accepted.

(2)      That officers report back to Cabinet and the Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee on a quarterly basis regarding the overall position in respect of the Council’s budgets.

General Fund

(3)      A Council Tax increase of £5.93 will be levied in respect of a notional Band D property (2.99%).

(4)      The Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of this report be approved as the Current Budget 2022/23, as the Original Budget 2023/24, and as the financial projections in respect of 2024/25 to 2026/27.

(5)      That the shortfall in the General Fund budget for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix 1 be met from the resilience reserve.

(6)      That the General Fund Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 be approved as the Current Budget in respect of 2022/23, and as the Approved Programme for 2023/24 to 2026/27.

(7)      That any under spend in respect of 2022/23 be transferred to the Resilience Reserve to provide increased financial resilience for future years of  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB/57/22-23

To consider any other matter which the Leader is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with the provisions of Statutory Instrument 2012 No 2089, Regulation 11.

None.