Agenda and minutes

To sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 23^rd July 2019 (copy enclosed). 

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 23 July 2019 were signed by the 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.)

Councillor Drury informed the meeting that in relation to agenda item 8, and exempt agenda item 12, in the interests of transparency, he wished it to be recorded that one of the businesses was a tenant of a property that he let.

Councillor Carter informed the meeting that in relation to agenda item 8, and exempt agenda item 12, in the interests of transparency, she wished it to be recorded that one of the individual listed, she knew personally.

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 provide an update on the forecast full year financial position of the Council at 30^th June 2019 (report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) is enclosed).

Please note that Appendix B associated with this report is not for publication by virtue of Paragraph 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that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 11).

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Executive Director – Commercialisation (S151) which provided information on the forecast full year financial position of the Council as at 30 June 2019.

The Chairman of the Performance Monitoring Panel advised that he had questions with regard to information within confidential Appendix B to the report, and it was agreed that these would be addressed following exclusion of the Press and Public.

DECISION:

a)    That the report and Appendix A be noted;

b)    That the estimated position with regard to the contributions to and use of Reserves be noted; and

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

c)    That funding of £131,000 from the Growth and Commercialisation reserve, and the associated adjustment to capital and revenue budgets in respect of asset works, be approved.

(Other option considered:

·         To do nothing.

Reasons for decision:

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

To seek approval for the write off of uncollectable debt (report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance is enclosed).

Please note that the appendices associated with this report are not for publication by virtue of Paragraphs 1 (Information relating to any individual), 2 (Information which is likely to reveal the identity of an individual) and 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 12).

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance and the Executive Director Commercialisation (S151) which sought approval for the write off of uncollectable Business Rates debt.

Members noted that the report contained details of individual debts within the confidential appendices (Appendix A – Business Rates Debts).  A copy of the Operational Debt Write Off Policy was also provided at Appendix B.  These appendices were not for publication by virtue of Paragraphs 1 (Information relating to any individual), 2 (Information which is likely to reveal the identity of any individual) and 3 (Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)).

It was agreed that the content of the appendices be discussed in more detail  in private session.

DECISION:

a)    That the following debt be written off:

·         Business Rates - £127,481.26

b)    That the amounts written off under delegated powers be noted.             

(Other options considered:

·      To do nothing.

Reasons for decision:

·         All recovery methods available had been considered and where appropriate pursued before making the decision to write off;

·         Officer time can be maximised on greatest returns, at the same time as ensuring robust procedures for debt management are in place across all revenue streams.)

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.

DECISION:

That, under section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph(s) 1,2 and 3 of part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Appendix B to the report at Agenda item 7 is enclosed.

The Chairman of the Performance Monitoring Panel raised questions, and requested more detail on the information provided within exempt Appendix B to the Quarter 1 Finance Report 2019/20.  It was agreed that he liaise with the Place Manager, who would be able to provide him with the information required.

Appendices to the report at Agenda item 8 are enclosed.

Officers provided more detail relating to the circumstances around some of the larger debts detailed within exempt Appendix A to the Debt Write Off report.

Members were advised that a review of the collection and recovery procedures for Business Rates was planned.  During discussion of the amounts for write-off, it was agreed that the following areas should be included within the review:

·         Use of local knowledge and intelligence;

·         The potential for earlier intervention in certain cases;

·         Information on how other authorities successfully undertook enforcement should be sought, and used to inform SHDC’s practice in the future.