Agenda and minutes

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Items
No. Item

164.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 107 KB

To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 14 January 2021, as a correct record.

 

 

Minutes:

Resolved: That the Minutes of Cabinet held on 14 January 2021 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

165.

Declarations of interest

Any interests not already registered

Minutes:

No additional declarations of interest were made.

 

166.

Questions from Members

Minutes:

There were none.

167.

Matters referred from Council, Audit Committee, Scrutiny Committee, CIL Spending Board or Cabinet Advisory Committees

Minutes:

There were none.

168.

Council Tax Setting 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Finance & Investment Portfolio Holder presented the report which revised the budget for the forthcoming financial year and recognised the level of Council Tax in light of the Provisional Local Government Finance Settlement, Council Tax base calculation and other updated data.  Based on the changes detailed in the report, Council would continue to have a balanced 10-year budget.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Finance & Trading set out that the report also proposed a net expenditure budget of £16.783m in 2021/22 (£15.581m in 2020/21).  Subject to any further changes this would result in a Council Tax increase of 2.25% in 2021/22, with the District’s Council Tax being £224.91 for a Band D property for the year (£219.96 in 2020/21), an increase of £4.95. This would also result in an additional ongoing commitment to the Net Zero Transition Fund.

The report also contained details on the Collection Fund position and an updated opinion on the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of the reserves.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

 

Resolved: That it be recommended to Council that

 

a)   the updated Summary of Council Expenditure and Council Tax for 2021/22 set out in Appendix D to the report, be approved;

 

b)   the updated 10-year budget 2021/22 to 2030/31 as set out in Appendix B(i) to the report, be approved; and

 

c)   the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2020/21, be rolled forward to 2021/22, with effect from 1 April 2021, as set out in Appendix G to the report.

169.

Net Zero 2030 Update pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cleaner & Greener Portfolio Holder presented the report which sought approval to the updated, revised and additional actions to the November 2019 approved actions for working towards achieving Net Zero emissions by 2030 on Council assets and services.  

The Principal Planning Officer answered questions and explained that the Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee had also considered the same report and recommended it for approval.

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

Resolved: That the Net Zero 2030 actions as set out in Table 1 of the report for 2021-22, be agreed.

170.

Scrap Metal Dealer Licence Fees 2021-2022 pdf icon PDF 87 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cleaner & Greener Portfolio Holder presented the report which sought approval of the Scrap Metal Dealer Licence Fees 2021-2022, the setting of which ensured that the Council complied with its Statutory duty under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act 2013 and ensured that the licensing of Scrap Metal Dealers was self financing, in accordance with the Council’s Service and Budget Plan. 

 

The Head of Licensing Partnerships answered questions about enforcement and explained that the Cleaner & Greener Advisory Committee had also considered and agreed to recommend the same report.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

 

Resolved: Resolved: That the fees as set out below be approved and implemented as of 1 April 2021

Type of Application

2020/2021
Current Fee

2021/2022
Proposed Fee

Site Licence – Grant (3 years)

£485

£497

Site Licence – Renewal (3 years)

£410

£420

Collectors Licence Grant/Renewal (3 years)

£295

£303

Minor administrative change to licence

£32

£33

Variation – change of site manager

£175

£180

Variation from collector to site licence

£210

£215

Variation from site to collector licence

£135

£139

 

 

 

171.

Discretionary Rate Relief pdf icon PDF 77 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Finance & Investment Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out the proposals for awarding discretionary rate relief for 2021/2022 to ratepayers who hade already submitted an application, or who were expected to have submitted an application by 1 March 2021. 

 

The Business Rates Manager explained that the Council required potential recipients of discretionary rate relief to submit a formal application every two years.  Relief from business rates provided organisations with valuable support and contributed to the Council’s commitment to supporting and developing the local economy. The Finance & Investment Advisory Committee had also considered the same report and recommended it for approval.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

 

Resolved: That the proposals for granting relief from business rates for 2021/2022 set out in Appendix B to the report, be approved.

 

172.

Treasury Management Strategy 2021/22 pdf icon PDF 82 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Finance & Investment Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out the Council’s policies for managing its investments and for giving priority to the security and liquidity of those investments, and sought approval of the Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22. 

 

The Principal Accountant explained the report in further detail and advised that the Finance & Investment Advisory Committee had also considered the same report and recommended approval.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

 

Resolved: That it be recommended to Council that the Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22, be approved.

 

173.

Financial Results 2021/21 - to the end of November 2020 pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Finance & Investment Portfolio Holder presented the report which set out the year-end position at the end of November which was forecast to be an unfavourable variance of £22,000.

 

The Head of Finance explained that increase in expenditure or income losses which related to COVID-19 totalled £3.1m, representing 19.9% of the net service expenditure totalling £15.581m.  He advised that the Finance & Investment Advisory Committee had also considered the same report and as well as noting it had recommended to Cabinet that insurance against property income loss be considered further. 

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

 

Resolved:  That

 

a)     The report be noted; and

 

b)     Officers be requested to consider taking out insurance against property income loss. 

 

174.

Property Investment Strategy Update pdf icon PDF 85 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Finance & Investments Portfolio Holder presented the report which provided an update on the progress of the Property Investment Strategy to date and looked at the future direction of the strategy.

 

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer for Finance & Trading set out that the Finance & Investment Advisory Committee had also considered the same report and had recommended some changes to criteria.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

 

Resolved: That

 

a)   the report be noted; and

 

b)   the following changes to the Property Investment Strategy be recommended to Council:

 

i)             all asset categories be included in the strategy subject to appropriate due diligence and ensuring no asset class exceeds 20% in total value of the approved funding; and

ii)           the location of the potential investments be expanded to all of England.

175.

Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Housing & Health Portfolio Holder presented the report which sought approval of the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy.  The Private Sector Housing Team Leader set out the nature of the changes and explained that the Housing & Health Advisory Committee had also considered the same report and recommended it for approval subject to some minor amendments.

 

Public Sector Equality Duty

Members noted that consideration had been given to impacts under the Public Sector Equality Duty.

 

Resolved: That it be recommended to Council that the Private Sector Housing Enforcement Policy as set out in Appendix A to the report, be adopted.

 

IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS

 

This notice was published on 12 February 2021. The decisions contained in Minutes 169, 171 and 173 take effect immediately.  The decisions contained in Minutes 168, 172, 174 and 175 are recommendations to Council. 

 

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