Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor P Parkin, Councillor A Powell and Councillor C Renwick.

With the agreement of the Chair, Councillor M Foster contributed to the meeting virtually through the electronic Conference Call system. He did not participate in the decisions taken by Cabinet.

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.

No declarations of interest were received.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 7 July 2022.

To approve as a correct record and the Leader to sign the attached Minutes of the special meeting of Cabinet held on 21 July 2022.

RESOLVED - That the minutes of the meetings held on 7 July 2022 and 21 July 2022 were approved as a true record.

Report of Councillor A Dale, Leader of the Council

RESOLVED

(1)      That Cabinet noted the Outturns for the Council Plan 2019-2023 Targets.

(2)      That Target ENV17 be changed to an externally focused Target, for the reasons set out in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION - To inform Members of progress against the Council Plan Targets so that they were aware of specific achievements and any areas of concern. 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – No other options were considered.  The report provided an overview of performance against agreed targets.

Please note that this is not a Key Decision so can be implemented by Officers with immediate effect.

The report to Cabinet set out the performance achieved against the Council Plan targets. Members noted the significant advances which had been made and the improved performance of the Council and its services. They recalled that the Council Plan performance targets had been developed before the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and that many of the specific targets did not reflect the changed circumstances in which the Council now operated. Cabinet had made clear that the performance framework should accurately measure real performance in the new circumstances and what improvements had been achieved. 

In this context, Members were informed of the proposed changes to target ENV 17 – Measure of the percentage of cases of waste crime (Duty of Care and Fly Tipping) so that it would now focus on the actions taken within communities to help combat and prevent the problem. In particular, the revised target would aim to deliver one high profile print and social media campaign per quarter on an Environmental Enforcement topic, with the aim of influencing behavioural change. 

Cabinet discussed the report. Members welcomed the proposed changes to the specific target, which they felt would better reflect the Council’s commitment to tackling and preventing fly tipping and other environmental enforcement issues. Members discussed suggestions made by the Audit and Corporate Governance Scrutiny Committee on the target. Cabinet welcomed these and concluded that issues which they raised could be addressed as part of the amended target.

RESOLVED

(1) That Cabinet noted the Outturns for the Council Plan 2019-2023 Targets.

(2) That Target ENV17 be changed to an externally focused Target, for the reasons set out in the report.

REASONS FOR DECISION

To inform Members of progress against the Council Plan Targets so that they were aware of specific achievements and any areas of concern.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

No other options were considered. The report provided an overview of performance against agreed targets.

Report of Councillor P Parkin, Portfolio Holder for Finance.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet noted the April-June 2022 (Quarter One) budget monitoring position, as set out in the Report and its Appendices. 

REASONS FOR DECISION – The report summarised the financial position of the Council, following the first quarter’s budget monitoring exercise for the General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and Treasury Management activity. 

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED – No other options were considered.  The report provided monitoring information on the financial position against the Council’s previously agreed budget.

Please note that this is not a Key Decision so can be implemented by Officers with immediate effect.

The report to Cabinet updated Members on the Council’s General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account and the Capital Programme for the first quarter of the 2022-23 financial year.  The report also provided an update on the Council’s Treasury Management activity and in particular, on the loans, repayments and investments which had been made. 

Cabinet heard how the General Fund was currently forecast to be underspent, largely as a result of lower employee costs due to staffing vacancies, as well as better than expected progress against the Council’s Efficiency Plan. Cabinet also heard that the Housing Revenue Account had remained relatively stable, with only a slight overspend.

Members discussed the report. They heard about the likely budgetary pressures that would face the Council during the year. These included the rising cost of fuel, the cost of energy and the increased employee costs, as a result of the local government staff pay awards. Cabinet considered the implications of these pressures on the Council’s financial position and on the District’s communities. Members asked to be asked to be kept fully informed on them.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet noted the April-June 2022 (Quarter One) budget monitoring position, as set out in the Report and its Appendices.

REASONS FOR DECISION

The report summarised the financial position of the Council, following the first quarter’s budget monitoring exercise for the General Fund, the Housing Revenue Account, Capital Programme and Treasury Management activity.

OTHER OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND REJECTED

No other options were considered. The report provided monitoring information on the financial position against the Council’s previously agreed budget.

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.