Agenda Item 2__
CABINET
Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday 08 September 2014 at the
Council Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 2.00pm.
Members Present:
Mrs A Fitch-Tillett
Mr B Cabbell Manners
Mr T FitzPatrick
Mr J Lee
Mr W Northam
Mr R Oliver
Mr G Williams
Mr R Wright
Also attending:
Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds
Mrs H Cox
Mr P High
Mrs A Moore
Mr P W Moore
Officers in
Attendance:
30.
Ms B Palmer
Mr R Reynolds
Mr N Smith
Mrs V Uprichard
Mr D Young
The Chief Executive, the Corporate Director (SB) the Head of Finance,
the Chief Accountant, the Policy & Performance Management Officer,
the Communications Manager and the Democratic Services Team
Leader
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
None
31.
MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting held on 7th July were approved as a correct record and
signed by the Chairman
32.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None received
33.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
None received
34.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None
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08 September 2014
35.
MEMBER QUESTIONS
None received
36.
CONSIDERATION OF ANY MATTER REFERRED TO THE CABINET BY THE
OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE OR COUNCIL FOR
RECONSIDERATION
None
37.
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS FROM THE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
COMMITTEE
None
38.
COUNCIL TAX SUPPORT WORKING PARTY
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Chairman of the Council Tax
Support Working Party introduced this item. He said that the current council tax
support scheme had been reviewed by the Council Tax Working Party at their
meeting on 15th July 2014. It had been agreed that they would meet again in six
months to consider future options.
It was proposed by Mr W Northam, seconded by Mr R Wright and
RESOLVED
The Council continue with the current council tax support scheme for a further 12
months.
RESOLVED
To receive the minutes of the Big Society Fund Grants Panel meeting held on 15
March 2014.
39.
MEMBER DEVELOPMENT GROUP
RESOLVED
To receive the notes of the Member Development Group meeting held on 24 June
2014.
40.
APPOINTMENT TO PLUMSTEAD PARISH COUNCIL
The Leader introduced this item. He explained that Plumstead Parish Council had
recently become inquorate following resignation of a parish councillor. The temporary
appointment of a District Councillor to Plumstead Parish Council would enable them
to become quorate and co-opt a new member.
It was proposed by Mr R Oliver, seconded by Mrs A Fitch-Tillett and
RESOLVED
To appoint Mr J Perry-Warnes to Plumstead Parish Council
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08 September 2014
Reason for the decision:
To enable Plumstead Parish Council to achieve quoracy and enable them to
co-opt a new member
.
41.
BUDGET MONITORING PERIOD 4
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Finance introduced this item. He said that it was
an encouraging report following the financial impact of the storm surge in December
2013. He explained that the 2014/15 Budget included planned spend of £958,750 to
be funded by insurance claims, allocated funding from the General Reserve and the
balance of the severe weather recovery scheme grant. The grant had now been
received and Mr Northam thanked the Leader, Mr T FitzPatrick for all his hard work in
lobbying Government for funds. He also thanked officers for their continued support
and hard work.
Mr Northam concluded by informing members that the revenue budget was showing
an estimated full year underspend for the current financial year of £85,423.
It was proposed by Mr W Northam, seconded by Mr G Williams and
RESOLVED to
1) note the contents of the report and the current budget monitoring position.
2) to agree the updates to the Capital Programme.
Reason for the decision:
To update members on the current budget monitoring position for the Council
42.
FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2015/16 TO 2017/18
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Finance, introduced this item. He explained that
the Financial Strategy set out the challenges and internal budget pressures for the
next 3 years. He explained the current financial forecast presented a funding gap for
the next three years of just over £1.2m by 2017/18.
Mr Northam went on to state that the financial forecast had been updated for a
number of service variances including car parking income, land charges and
business rates. Regarding the latter, the 2013/14 outturn position to retained
business rates showed a favourable variance and the forecasts assumed that this
position would be maintained for the period of the financial projections.
Mr Northam concluded by stating that the Council was in a good financial position
going forward despite the impact of the storm surge in December 2013.
It was proposed by Mr W Northam, seconded by Mr G Williams and
RESOLVED to
a) Note the current financial forecast for the period 2015/16 to 2017/18;
b) Note the current capital funding forecasts;
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08 September 2014
Recommend to Council:
a) Continuation of the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme for 2015/16;
b) That the Local Council Tax Support Scheme grant for parishes be offered to
those parish and town councils that accepted the grant in 2014/15 and the total
amount available is reduced in line with the Council’s relative funding
reductions as outlined at section 2.8.5;
c) The revised reserves statement as included at Appendix E to the financial
strategy;
Reason for the decision:
To update members with the current financial position of the authority and the current
financial strategy for addressing the funding shortfall and also to ensure timely
decisions can be made to inform the detailed work on the budget for 2015/16 which
will be commencing in the coming months.
43.
MANAGING PERFORMANCE QUARTER 1 2014/15
The Leader introduced this item. He said that the majority of the activities in the
Annual Action Plan 2014/15 were on track or progressing to plan. There were a few
performance issues in achieving targets but there would be prompt action to address
these. He concluded by welcoming the progress being made.
It was proposed by Mr T FitzPatrick, seconded by Mr R Oliver and
RESOLVED to
1. Note the report, welcome the progress being made and endorse the actions
laid out in Appendix F being taken by management where there are areas of
concern.
2. Approve the target for performance indicator C 007 Target response time to
fly tipping and all other pollution complaints (within 2 working days) be set at
80%.
Reason for the decision:
To ensure the objectives of the Council are achieved
Before the meeting closed. Mr W Northam expressed his thanks to all staff involved
in the recent Greenbuild event at Felbrigg Hall. Mr T FitzPatrick and Mrs A FitchTillett agreed and thanked everyone for their support – including the exhibitors,
sponsors and the public who had attended.
The Meeting closed at 2.14 pm
_______________
Chairman
Cabinet
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08 September 2014