Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 21 November 2017 (copy enclosed). 

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 November 2017 were signed by the Deputy Leader as a correct record.

(Where a Councillor has a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest the Councillor must declare the interest to the meeting and leave the room without participating in any discussion or making a statement on the item, except where a Councillor is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of dispensation.)

There were no declarations of interest.

No questions were raised under the Council’s Constitution (Standing Orders).

There were no matters subject to call-in.

There were no matters arising from the Policy Development and Performance Monitoring Panels.

To consider the Draft General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2018-19 revenue and capital estimates and the Draft Financial Medium Term Plan (for Recommendation to Council) (report of the Portfolio Holder Finance and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151 Officer) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) on the Draft General Fund and Housing Revenue Account 2018-19 revenue and capital estimates and the Draft Financial Medium Term Plan, to be recommended to full Council. 

The following documents were appended to the report, which had been circulated with the agenda:

·         Appendix A         Draft Budget 2018-19 and Medium Term Financial Plan                                 2018-19 to 2021-22

·         Appendix B         Draft General Fund Summary

·         Appendix C         Spalding Special Expenses 2018-19

·         Appendix D         General Fund Reserves

·         Appendix E -       Capital Programme 2017/18 to 2021/22

·         Appendix F         Capital Strategy Draft 2018/19

·         Appendix G         Treasury Management Policy Statement 2018/19: and                                    Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum                                                 Revenue ProvisionPolicy Statement and Annual                                                 Investment Strategy 2018/19

·         Appendix H         Fees and Charges 2017-18 estimates

The joint meeting of the Performance Monitoring Panel and Policy Development Panel had considered the budget and had stated that future budget development must be targeted at increased levels of income generation rather that cuts to budgets.  Cabinet members agreed that it was important for the Authority to accelerate income generation, and it was confirmed that work on this was underway. 

DECISION:

That delegated authority be given to the Executive Director Commercialisation (s151), in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance, to make any necessary amendments to the budget prior to council due to late notifications.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

a)    That the revenue estimates for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Spalding Special Expenses for 2018-19 (as set out in Appendices A, B and C) be approved;

b)    That the use of reserves as set out in Appendix D be approved;

c)    That Housing Revenue Account weekly dwelling rents reduce by 1% over the 2017-18 rent with effect from Monday 2nd April 2018. This is in line with current government guidelines and legislation;

d)    That the fees and charges shown in Appendix H be approved for adoption from 1 April 2018;

e)    That the Council Tax for a Band A property in 2018-19 be set at £113.22, a £3.33 per annum increase on 2017-18 levels (Band D £169.83, a £4.99 per annum increase on 2017-18 levels);

f)     That the Spalding special expense for a Band A property be set at £15.99, £15.38 in 2017-18 (Band D £23.99, £23.07 in 2017-18);

g)    That the Medium Term Financial Plan (Appendices A and B) be approved;

h)   That the capital strategy and capital programme (Appendices E and F) be approved; and

i)     That the Treasury Management Strategy, including the Minimum Revenue Provision policy and annual investment strategy (Appendix G) be approved.

(Other options considered:

·         No alternative options were presented however, amendments could be made by Cabinet before release to Council.

Reasons for decision:

·         To comply with the budget and policy framework).

To provide information on Quarter 3 (to 31 December 2017) and forecast full

year financial position of the Council (report of the Portfolio Holder Finance

and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151 Officer) enclosed.)

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) which provided information on Quarter 3 (to 31 December 2017) and forecast full year financial position of the Council.

Members were advised that there were several adjustments and variations from the position reported at Quarter 1, and these were detailed within section 2.1.3 of the report.

Members thanked officers within the Finance Team for their hard work on the budgets.  

DECISION:

That the report be noted;

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

a)    That the use of reserves as set out in paragraph 2.4.2 of the report be approved; and

b)    That the necessary revision to the capital programme as part of the 2018-19 budget report be approved.

(Other options considered:

·         To note the report and not approve the recommendations detailed.

Reasons for decision:

·         To provide information to members on the overall financial position of the Council).

To consider the Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy for adoption (report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151 Officer) enclosed).

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and Health and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) which asked members to consider the Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy for adoption.

The Cabinet was advised that P3, a charity set up to support rough sleepers, provided a 24 hour telephone number which was available to report homelessness issues.  Members requested that officers speak with the Press to publicise these details.

Section 1.8 of the report set out the new approach to delivery of the strategy.  A Homelessness Prevention Programme Manager had been appointed to oversee the delivery of the Strategy.  It was agreed that the Portfolio Holder Housing and Health provide an update in six months time on how this was working. 

DECISION:

a)    That South Holland District Council adopt the Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2017-21; and

b)    That in order to ensure that that the Strategy and the associated delivery plan remain relevant, a full review of the data under-pinning the Strategy is commenced within six months of adoption of the Strategy.

(Other options considered:

·         Not to adopt the Lincolnshire Homelessness Strategy 2017-21.

Reasons for decision:

·         To meet the Council’s statutory duties under the Homelessness Reduction Act 2002.)

To update the Welland Homes Business Plan, and to put in place the necessary arrangements for Welland Homes to commence delivery of a housing development at Parkside Crescent, Spalding (report of the Portfolio Holder Finance and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151 Officer) enclosed).

(Please note that the appendices associated with this report are not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) in Part 1 of Schedule 12a of the Local Government Act 1972, and are therefore attached to this agenda as item 13.)

Consideration was given to the joint report of the Executive Director  Commercialisation and the Portfolio Holder for Finance, which updated the Welland Homes Business Plan, and requested that the necessary arrangements for Welland Homes to commence delivery of a housing development at Parkside Crescent, Spalding, be put in place.

Members discussed only the principles of the report and not the specific financial details; so there was no need for the meeting to go into private session.

DECISION:

a)    That subject to business plan and subsequent changes to budget being approved, the sale of the land at Parkside Crescent be approved.

b)    That subject to the business plan and subsequent changes to the budget being approved, delegated authority be granted to the Executive Director - Commercialisation (the S151 Officer), to approve the terms of any loan agreements required and the value of any periodic cash flow payments to be made to the company.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

c)    That the amendment to the Welland Homes Business Plan be approved, and that the Capital Programme, included as Appendix E to the draft Budget, Medium Term Plan and Capital Strategy Report to Council on 28 February 2018, and considered at Item 7 of the Cabinet agenda, be amended to reflect the amended programme set out in paragraph 1.18 of the report before Cabinet at item 10 of the agenda.

d)    That the delegated authority, granted by Council on 25 March 2015, to the Executive Director – Commercialisation (the S151 Officer), to approve the final mix of use of reserves and borrowing in line with the business plan and Council Treasury Management Strategy, be reaffirmed.

(Other options considered:

·         Do nothing;.

Reasons for decision:

·         To enable Welland Homes to proceed to contract stage for the proposed development at Parkside Crescent, Spalding.)

Note:         (i)      No other business is permitted unless by reason of special circumstances, which shall be specified in the Minutes, the Leader is of the opinion that the item(s) should be considered as a matter of urgency. 

(ii)     Any urgent item of business that is a key decision must be dealt with in accordance with the Constitution’s Access to Information Procedure Rules.

There were no urgent items.