Agenda and minutes

The Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee, Councillor Barry Rawlings welcomed all attendees to the meeting.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the previous Committee meeting held on 29 September 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

Apologies were received from Councillor Alex Prager who was substituted by Councillor David Longstaff.

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Councillor Barry Rawlings introduced the Member’s item in his name and spoke about the request for a portion of Area Committee funding to be set aside to promote small biodiversity projects led by residents.

It was RESOLVED that in response to the Member’s item the Committee agreed to instruct Officers to develop a proportionate framework to be circulated to the Members of the Committee and subsequent sign off by the Chair of the Committee. 

The Chair welcomed the report which sets out a summary of the Council’s revenue and capital forecast outturn for the financial year 2022-23 as at Month 7 and information on the level of debt and the top 10 debtors as at 31 October 2022.

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted:

1. The current forecast financial outturn for 2022-23.

2. The projected use of reserves.

3. The current debt position and related actions.

The Chair introduced the item which sets out the refreshed MTFS and seeks Committee approval for a series of budget management decisions for 2022/23 required as part of normal business in line with the organisations Financial Regulations.

Following consideration of the item, the Chair moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report. Votes were recorded as follows:

For – 8

Against – 4

Abstentions – 0

It was RESOLVED that the Committee:

Regarding the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS):

1. Approved delegated authority to the Executive Director of Resources (S151 Officer) to amend the MTFS in line with the 2023/24 Local Government Finance Settlement, to enable the 2023/24 Budget Consultation process to commence as discussed in paragraph 2.12;

2. Noted the summary of the 2022 Autumn Statement and initial financial implications for Local Government in 2023/24;

3. Approved and noted the updates to the 2023/24 MTFS and estimate of 2023-27 budget gap. This will be updated to take account of information from the December 2022 finance settlement;

4. Noted the current MTFS attached as Appendix A and key components summarised in paragraphs 2.7-2.12;

5. Agreed that the savings proposals as set out in Appendix B, subject to consultation and equalities impact assessment, come back to Policy and Resources Committee in February 2023 for referral to Full Council in March 2023 for final approval of the 2023/24 budget including Council Tax;

6. Noted the plans to address future year budget gaps as detailed in 2.13-2.14; and

7. Noted the current position on the Eight Authority Business Rates Pool for 2023/24 discussed in paragraph 2.3.7, and delegates authority to the Executive Director of Resources (S151 Officer) to take all necessary actions to participate in and execute the agreement.

Regarding consultation on budget and council tax proposals:

8. Agreed to consult on the use of the Council’s flexibility to raise the level of General Council Tax by 1.80% in 2023/24 as discussed in paragraph 2.4;

9. Agreed to consult on the use of the Council’s flexibility to apply a 2.00% Social Care Precept, to help fund pressures in social care as set out in paragraph 2.4; and

10.Approved that the council’s budget consultation will be launched in the week of 19 December 2022 for a period of 6 weeks after which the budget, with a cumulative equalities impact assessment, will be considered by this Committee on 22 February 2023, before it is referred to Full Council in March 2023.

In respect of routine financial matters for 2022/23:

11.Noted the contingency budget and allocations from it in section 3.1;

12.Approved the virement set out in 3.2.3 and 3.2.4.

13.Approved the delegation of the virements set out in 3.2.5-3.2.7 to the Chief Finance Officer (S151 Officer).

14.Approved the writes-offs for Business Rates debt, Housing Benefit Overpayments debt, Sundry Debt, Housing Revenue Account tenant arrears and General Fund tenant arrears as detailed in section 3.3;

15.Approved the revised Capital Programme and financing of it as detailed in paragraph 3.4 (also Appendix E)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Chair introduced the item which provides an overview of Quarter 2 (Q2) 2022/23 performance for the contracted services delivered by the Customer and Support Group (Capita) and Regional Enterprise (Capita), which do not fall under the remit of another theme committee.

Following a request from the Committee, it was agreed that Officers circulate an update to the Committee on the Saracen’s West Stand. (Action)

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted:

1. The Quarter 2 (Q2) 2022/23 performance for the contracted services delivered by the Customer and Support Group (Capita) and Regional Enterprise (Capita), which do not fall under the remit of another theme committee

2. The collective performance for the contracted services delivered by Regional Enterprise (Capita).

The Chair introduced the report which provides a further update on the September report, in particular on the actions taken to establish a transformation programme to deliver the key priorities.

The Chair moved to vote on the recommendations as set out in the report. Votes were recorded as follows:

For – 8

Against – 0

Abstentions – 4

It was RESOLVED that the Committee note the progress of the council implementing the key priorities and the actions taken to establish a transformation programme to deliver the key priorities to date.

The Committee welcomed the item and Linéa Heinonen, Strategy Manager, Strategy, Communications & Engagement introduced and summarised the report which highlights how the council has approached its statutory responsibilities under The Equality Act and The Public Sector Equality Duty.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee approved this Equalities Report and subsequent publication on the council website.

2. That the Committee approved the drafting of a new Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) policy, split between external and internal EDI activity.

Officers presented the report which sets out the changes to progress and identifies opportunities to use the lessons learned and develop new approaches to keep benefits more aligned to the original business plan.

In response to a request from the Committee, it was agreed that Officers provide a briefing to the Committee on capital projects and procurements. (Action)

It was RESOLVED that the Committee noted the content of this report updating on the current status of the Council’s Capital Projects.

The Chair invited Paul Bragg Head of Network and Infrastructure to present and summarise the report.

It was RESOLVED:

1. That Committee instructed officers to begin the work to conduct a procurement exercise in order to test the EV market and to inform a future decision to award a contract, in accordance with due governance process, to an EV charge point service provider for the rollout and maintenance of further lamp column mounted EV charge points.

2. That Committee also approved a further procurement exercise in order to test the EV market and to inform a future decision, in accordance with due governance process, of a turnkey concessions contract for a non-lamp column charge point solution.

3. That authority to apply for the necessary grant funding for, and procurement of, the charge points be delegated to the Director for Street Scene in consultation with the Chair of Environment and Climate Change Committee.

Upon invitation of the Chair, Jonathan Hardy, Heritage Team Leader joined the meeting and presented the item.

Councillor Richard Cornelius moved a motion which was seconded and unanimously agreed by the Committee to include an additional recommendation (4) to read:

That the Committee agree to request that Officers highlight whether any planning application involves a registered listed building within the planning report.

It was therefore RESOLVED:

1. That the Committee considered responses to the consultation with owners and occupiers of nominated entries and to agree the revisions referred to in the Summary of Responses at Appendix 1.

2. That the Committee agreed the new nominations being included on the Local Heritage List at Appendix 2.

3. That the Committee agreed to undertaking reviews to the Local Heritage List every 3 years. This will include considering new nominations and deletions where the selection criteria are no longer met.

4. That the Committee agreed to request that Officers highlight whether any planning application involves a registered listed building within the planning report.

Votes were recorded as follows:

For – 12

Against – 0

Abstentions – 0

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the Forward Work Programme as updated during this meeting.

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