In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, Councillors of the Council are reminded that it is a requirement to declare interests where appropriate.

No disclosures of interests were made.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet held on 10 January 2018.

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 10 January 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.

To answer any questions asked by the public which are relevant to the functions of the Cabinet.

Public Question Time will be concluded by the Chair when all questions have been answered or on the expiry of a period of 15 minutes, whichever is the earlier.

The Cabinet received a question from Mr Charles Crane from Bewbush, in relation to the redevelopment of the Town Hall site. He commented that taking the age of the building into account, there was a chance that there could be asbestos within the building. With that in mind and if demolition takes place, had the Council thought what precautions it would take to remove any asbestos that might be found?

In response Councillor Lamb commented that there were significant regulations over the removal and treatment of asbestos and with that in mind, the Council would fully comply with all regulations. Councillor Skudder also commented there was a requirement for an asbestos register, which lists where any asbestos had been identified. With the amount of work that had occurred in the Town Hall over the years, if any asbestos had been discovered it would have been logged. Councillor Skudder said he would look into the matter further.

Mr Crane asked a supplementary question on the redevelopment of the Town Hall site and the amount of HRA funding being spent on the development. The Leader asked that the Head of Finance and Revenue and Benefits to respond, as she was present. In response, it was confirmed that there was no contribution from the HRA account to the Town Hall scheme.

To consider any matters referred to the Cabinet (whether by a scrutiny committee or by the Council) and those for reconsideration in accordance with the provisions contained in the Scrutiny Procedure Rules, the Budget Procedure Rules and the Policy Framework Procedure Rules set out in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution.

It was confirmed that no matters had been referred to the Cabinet for further consideration.

The Leader’s Portfolio

To consider report FIN/434 of the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 5 February 2018.

The Leader presented report FIN/434of the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits, which set out the Budget and level of Council Tax for the year 2018/19. It was noted that the report detailed each of the Revenue, Capital and Housing Revenue Accounts that combine together to formulate ‘The Budget’. In proposing the level of Council Tax for the Financial Year 2018-2019, each of those accounts identified had been considered. The combined proposal ensured that the Council had a balanced budget.

The Leader also confirmed that Local Government settlement had been confirmed with the final settlement being £23k more than expected.

The Cabinet noted the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report and its comments to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 5 February 2018.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet recommends to Full Council the approval of the following items regarding the 2018/19 Budget:-

1)            to approve the proposed 2018/19 General Fund Budget including savings and growth as set out in section 6 and Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of the report FIN/434,

2)            to approve the proposed 2018/19 Housing Revenue Account Budget as set out in section 10 and Appendix 3 of the report FIN/434,

3)            to approve the 2017/18 to 2019/20 Capital Programme and funding as set out in paragraph 11.4 of the report FIN/434,

4)            to agree that the Council’s share of Council Tax for 2018/19 be increased by 2.55% from £194.04 to £198.99 for a band D property as set out in paragraphs 5.5.1 and 13.3,

5)            to approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2018/19 as outlined in paragraph 16.3 and Appendix 6 of the report FIN/434.

Reason for Decision

To provide adequate funding for the proposed level of services and to fulfil the statutory requirement to set a Budget and Council Tax and report on the robustness of estimates.

Note By Head of Legal & Democratic Services. Resolution 5) was amended to read 2018/19 not 2017/18, in line with the report after the error was found following publication.

The Leader’s Portfolio

To consider report FIN/433 of the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 5 February 2018.

The Leader presented report FIN/433 of the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits to the Cabinet. The strategy covered two main areas, Capital related matters and treasury management issues.

The first element was the treasury management operation, which was to ensure that this cash flow is adequately planned, with cash being available when it was needed to operate a balanced budget. Whilst surplus monies were invested in low risk counterparties or instruments commensurate with the Council’s low risk appetite, providing adequate liquidity initially before considering investment return.

The second main function is in relation to funding the Council’s capital plans.  Those capital plans provide a guide to the borrowing need of the Council, essentially the longer term cash flow planning to ensure that the Council can meet its capital spending obligations.  The management of longer term cash may involve arranging long or short term loans, or using longer term cash flow surpluses. On occasion any debt previously drawn may be restructured to meet Council risk or cost objectives.

The report tooks into account the revenue and capital implications arising in the 2018/19 Budget and Council Tax report (FIN/434). 

It was noted that the report excludes any other implications of the New Town Hall.  A revised Treasury Management Strategy would be produced once the outcome of the Historic England review; and subsequently contracts have been signed and tender submissions received.

The Cabinet noted the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report and its comments to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 5 February 2018.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet recommend to Council the approval of:-

1)         the Treasury Prudential Indicators and the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement contained within Section 5 of report FIN/433

2)         the Treasury Management Strategy contained within Section 6 of report FIN/433;

3)         the Investment Strategy contained within Section 7, and the detailed criteria included in Appendix 3 of report FIN/433

Reasons for the Recommendations

The Council’s financial regulations, in accordance with the CIPFA Code of Practice for Treasury Management, requires a Treasury Management Strategy to be approved for the forthcoming financial year. This report complies with these requirements.

Planning and Economic Development Portfolio

To consider report PES/264 of the Head of Planning and Economic Development which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 5 February 2018.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development presented report PES/264 of the Head of Economic and Environmental Services which set out the procedures for allocating the infrastructure aspect of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), totalling approximately £6mil. It was noted that three main projects had been identified for the funding, as identified via the Local Plan, were Three Bridges Railway station, the A23 Manor Royal Junction and the Bewbush medical centre.

The Cabinet noted the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report and its comments to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 5 February 2018.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet

1.         approves the proposed CIL strategic infrastructure spend priorities presented in the Infrastructure Business Plan as a priority for delivery and the funding programme set out in section 5 of reportPES/264 below for the period 2018/19 to 2021/22.

2.         notes that the Infrastructure Business Plan, including the funding programme, will be reviewed on an annual basis to take into account any changes in strategic infrastructure priorities and fluctuations in CIL receipts compared to the forecast. The first review is proposed to take place in January-March 2019.

3.         approves the Governance of the Strategic Infrastructure Strand as detailed in Appendix C of reportPES/264.

The Leader’s Portfolio

To consider report FIN/431 of the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits.

The Leader presented report FIN/431 of the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits to the Cabinet which provided a summary of the Council’s actual revenue and capital spending up to the 3^rd Quarter, ending December 2017. It identified the main variations from the approved spending levels and any potential impact on future budgets.

The Leader commented a virement in relation to planned maintenance works to the roofs at Northgate Parade, commenting that he had investigated the virement as the Ward Councillor. He had been assured that had been virement would not affect roofing project going forward.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1)            notes the projected outturn for the year 2017/2018 as summarised in report FIN/431.

2)            approves a virement of £65,000 for programmed repairs from the provision for Northgate Parade roofing for lighting works at the Hawth Theatre car park, as outlined in section 6.

Reasons for the Recommendations

To report to Councillors on the projected outturn for the year compared to the approved budget.