Agenda Item 2__
CABINET
Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Monday 10 June 2013 at the Council
Offices, Holt Road, Cromer at 10.00am.
Members Present:
Mr B Cabbell Manners
Mrs A Fitch-Tillett
Mr T FitzPatrick
Mr J Lee
Mr W Northam
Also attending:
Mrs A Arnold
Mrs L Brettle
Mrs A Claussen-Reynolds
Mrs P Grove-Jones
Ms B Palmer
Mr R Reynolds
Mr E Seward
Mr N Smith
Mr G Williams
Officers in
Attendance:
12.
The Chief Executive, the Corporate Directors, the Head of Finance,
the Head of Organisational Development, The Head of Assets and
Leisure, the Revenues and Benefits Services Manager and the Policy
and Performance Management Officer.
APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Mr T Ivory and Mr R Oliver
13.
MINUTES
Mr G Jones had requested an amendment to the minutes of 13 May, to show that he
had been present at the meeting. The minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2013
including the amendment were then confirmed as a correct record and signed by the
Chairman.
14.
PUBLIC QUESTIONS
None received
15.
ITEMS OF URGENT BUSINESS
The Chairman informed Members that, as required under the notification provisions
of the Scheme of Delegation, the Council in conjunction with Crisp Maltings were
seeking leave to appeal against the recent High Court judgment against the
Development Committee’s decision to grant planning permission for a lorry park and
silos at Great Ryburgh (application reference PF/09/0966).
Mr B Cabbell Manners, Portfolio Holder for Planning explained that NNDC had taken
this decision after receiving advice from Counsel that there were strong legal grounds
for an appeal to be made.
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The Local Member for Great Ryburgh, Mrs A Green said that she strongly opposed
the decision to appeal.
The Chairman said that this item was for information only and there would be no
debate.
16.
DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
None
17.
2012/2013 OUTTURN REPORT
Mr W Northam, Portfolio Holder for Finance introduced this item. He explained that
the report presented the outturn position for the revenue account and capital
programme for the 2012/13 financial year. As at 31 March 2013, the outturn position
on the revenue account showed an underspend of £185,662, which was being
recommended to be transferred to the Invest to Save earmarked reserve. The
general fund balance remained within the current recommended level.
Mrs P Grove-Jones sought clarification on the different sums of money allocated to
the Handy Man cost centre. The Head of Finance explained that the first sum was
the costs charged to the year and the second sum was for gross direct costs. She
added that the Handy Man was an internal team of three people based in Property
Services.
It was proposed by Mr W Northam, seconded by Mr B Cabbell Manners and
RECOMMENDED to Council
a) The final accounts position for the general fund revenue account for 2012/13;
b) The transfers to and from reserves as detailed within the report (and appendix C)
along with the corresponding updates to the 2013/14 budget;
c) The transfer of the surplus of £185,662 to the Restructuring and Invest to Save
Reserve;
d) The financing of the 2012/13 capital programme as detailed within the report and
at Appendix D;
e) The balance on the general reserve of £1,745,452 at 31 March 2013;
f) The updated capital programme for 2013/14 to 2014/15 and the associated
financing of the schemes as outlined within the report and detailed at Appendix E.
Reasons for the decision:
To approve the outturn position on the revenue and capital accounts for 2012/13 that
will be used to produce the statutory accounts for 2012/13. To provide funding for
ongoing projects and commitments within earmarked reserves as detailed in the main
body of the report and to earmark funding for one-off costs in relation to business
transformation in respect of ICT and Customer strategies.
18.
TREASURY MANAGEMENT ANNUAL REPORT 2012-13
Mr W Northam introduced this item. He said that the report set out the Treasury
Management activities undertaken during 2012/13 compared with the Treasury
Management Strategy for the year. He explained that interest rates had declined
significantly in recent years and this had had an impact on the interest the Council
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received from its investments. The investment income for the year was £206,481
which compared to a revised budget of £269,000. He concluded by saying that the
Council’s treasury management activities were undertaken in accordance with the
CIPFA Code of Practice on Treasury Management.
It was proposed by Mr W Northam seconded by Mr B Cabbell Manners and
RECOMMENDED to Council
That the Treasury Management Annual Report and Prudential Indicators for 2012/13
be approved.
Reasons for the Decision:
Approval by Council demonstrates compliance with the Codes.
19.
DEBT RECOVERY 2012-13
Mr W Northam introduced this item. He said that this was an annual report detailing
the Council’s collection performance and debt management arrangements for
2012/13. Regarding the collection of Council tax, he praised the staff for achieving
97.9% under very difficult circumstances following problems with new software.
It was proposed by Mr W Northam, seconded by Mr B Cabbell Manners and
RECOMMENDED to Council
To approve the annual report giving details of the Council’s write-offs in accordance
with the Council’s Debt Write-Off Policy and performance in relation to revenues
collection.
Reasons for the recommendation:
To demonstrate that the Council is complying with its Debt Write-off Policy and
performance in relation to debt collection.
20.
ANNUAL REPORT AND AMENDMENT TO ANNUAL ACTION PLAN 2013-14
The Leader and Portfolio Holder for Organisational Development, Mr T FitzPatrick,
introduced this item. He explained that the report presented the key elements of the
draft Annual Report 2012/13. The final version would be published in July 2013. The
Annual Report represented the culmination of the annual planning and reporting
process which ensured that the Council managed its performance in a robust way.
Mr FitzPatrick highlighted a new addition to the Annual Action Plan 2013/14 under
the Localism theme. The new activity would be ‘we will work with Town and Parish
Councils, local organisations and community and voluntary groups to improve health
and wellbeing consistent with the aims of the Health and Wellbeing Board’.
It was proposed by Mr T Fitzpatrick, seconded by Mrs A Fitch-Tillett and
RESOLVED
1) To note the contents of this report.
2) To give authority to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to approve
the final public version of the report.
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3) To give authority to the Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive to approve
the communications plan for the Annual Report 2012/13.
4) To approve the addition of an activity to the Annual Action Plan 2013/14 as shown
in paragraph 5.2
21.
LEISURE CONTRACT PROCUREMENT
Mr J Lee, Portfolio Holder for Leisure, introduced this item. He explained that the
Council’s current leisure contract was due to expire on 31 March 2014. There was an
option within the current contract to extend the arrangements for up to 5 years and
the report outlined the potential options around the procurement of a new contract
whilst also considering the future of the Splash leisure facility in Sheringham. Mr Lee
said that entering into a contract extension with the current providers DC Leisure
would give the Council the necessary time to explore all of the potential operating
models whilst also engaging with the market, through the production of a Prior
Information Notice (PIN) to help shape any new contract. It would also allow for any
detailed investigations to be undertaken into all of the potential options regarding the
Splash leisure facilities.
It was proposed by Mr J Lee, seconded by Mrs A Fitch-Tillett and
RESOLVED
1.
2.
3.
Approve a contract extension with DC Leisure to enable a full analysis of all
the options available for future contractual arrangements and the potential
redevelopment of the Splash site.
Delegate to the Corporate Director and Portfolio holder for Leisure the power
to progress the arrangements for/and to conclude the appropriate length of
contract extension with DC Leisure to achieve the best outcome for the
Council.
Approve budget provision of £9,000 from the General Reserve to commission
support from Improvement East to facilitate the production of a Prior
Information Notice (PIN) to help consult with the market to explore contract
options.
Reason for the Decision:
To allow for sufficient time to fully explore all of the potential operating models and
procurement options in relation to any new leisure contract whilst potentially
achieving revenue savings on the current contract cost. A contract extension would
also provide the time to assess the options regarding any re-provision of the Splash
facility.
Before the meeting closed, Mr W Northam thanked individual staff in financial
services for their work in relation to the reports discussed, and offered his sincere
thanks, endorsed by Mrs A Fitch-Tillett, to all staff for their commitment and
willingness to support NNDC. The Leader agreed and endorsed these sentiments on
behalf of Cabinet.
The Meeting closed at 10.24 am
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_______________
Chairman
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