To agree the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 December and 15 December 2020, as a correct record.

Resolved: That the Minutes of Cabinet held on 10 December 2020 and 15 December 2020 be agreed and signed as a correct record.

Any interests not already registered

No additional declarations of interest were made.

A Member asked how much the global Covid-19 pandemic had cost the Council.  At the invitation of the Chairman, the Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investments responded that this figure had not materially altered since it was reported to Council in November as part of the budget-setting process.

There were none.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Investments presented the report which set out details of the calculation of the District’s tax base for council tax setting purposes.  The Principal Accountant set out that these figures were used to determine tax rates for each of the council tax bands once the Council’s budget requirement was known. The report also advised Members of the timetable for setting the 2021/22 council tax.

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 report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer - Finance & Trading for the calculation of the Council’s tax base for the year 2021/22 be approved;

b)   pursuant to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer - Finance & Trading and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) the amount calculated by the Sevenoaks District Council as its council tax base for the whole area for the year 2021/22 shall be 50,876.85;

c)   pursuant to the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer - Finance & Trading and in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) the amount calculated by the Sevenoaks District Council as the council tax base for 2021/22 for the calculation of local precepts shall be:

d)   any expenses incurred by the Council in performing in part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a parish or community council or the chairman of a parish meeting shall not be treated as special expenses for the purposes of section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

The Portfolio Holder for People & Places presented the report which proposed an update to the Cabinet decision made on 15 December 2020 (Minute 157) relating to the formal request from Sevenoaks Leisure Limited t/a Sencio Community Leisure (Sencio) Board of Trustees for financial assistance to mitigate current financial difficulties related to the impact of the Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent recovery period.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Officer – People & Places set out that the Government had moved Kent into Tier 4 restrictions on 20 December 2020, and had remained in this tier following a review on 30 December 2020. On 4 January 2021, England was placed into a national lockdown, resulting in the enforced closure of leisure centres and golf courses which had therefore impacted on the Cabinet decision made in December 2020. As a result, Sencio was unable to reopen its leisure centres on 2 January 2021 as per that Cabinet decision. It was therefore proposed that the Cabinet decision be updated to reflect current restrictions.

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; 

b)     the Cabinet decision (15 December 2020) be updated to reflect England being placed into a national lockdown;

c)     the final two grant payments of £100,000 to Sencio be reduced to £75,000 per month, paid in January and February 2021, which would cover the monthly expenditure incurred by Sencio during the enforced closure and ensure the Council’s buildings are maintained and essential monitoring checks, payments to utilities and suppliers and associated staffing costs are covered. If Kent moves into a lower tier enabling the immediate reopening of leisure centres, the grant payment would be reinstated to the original monthly grant allocation of £100,000 for the remaining period;

d)     the revised decision (c above) remain conditional on Sencio reopening its leisure centres as soon as is permitted in line with Government guidance and engaging in and supporting the consultancy work to be presented to Cabinet in March 2021;

e)     any grant be funded from the General Fund Reserve. The General Fund Reserve balance to then be reinstated by transferring the same amount from the Budget Stabilisation Fund.

IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISIONS

This notice was published on 15 January 2021.  The decision contained in Minute 162 is a recommendation to Council.  The decision contained in Minute 163 takes effect on 25 January 2021.