Agenda, decisions and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 4 February 2021 are attached for confirmation and signature as a current record.

The minutes of 4 February 2021 were confirmed and signed as a correct record.

To receive any apologies for absence from Members*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they will be absent.

No apologies received.

To declare disposable pecuniary, and any other interests*.

*Note: Members are asked to email Committee Services in advance of the meeting as soon as they become aware they may have an interest to declare.

No declarations made.

The Chairman asked Joint Chief Executive to update Cabinet on any recent emergency decisions taken to respond to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Joint Chief Executive announced recent emergency decisions made: 1. In consultation with the Leader, Deputy Leader and Leader of the Opposition Cabinet, that an amendment to the local discretionary business grant scheme had been made which would increase funding for businesses facing challenge as part of the continued lockdown, which would change the proportionality of funds distributed and those held for Covid-19 Recovery purposes, as previously agreed, based on the immediacy of need by our local businesses.

None.

Minutes of the meetings held on 5 January and on 2 February 2021 to be noted.

Minutes of the meeting held on 2 February were noted.

Following the meeting held in March the decision was made to postpone activity associated with a public consultation until after the May elections.

Minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2021 to be noted. 

Members were informed that Service Plans will include climate change impacts and the Working Group will engage with transport and building control to influence the move to net zero.

Minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2021 were noted.

The Council has agreed to establish a corporate vehicle for property holding purposes.  The company will take the form of company wholly owned by the Council limited by shares.  The purpose of this report is to set out the draft business case and to ask Cabinet to recommend to Council that the Business Plan is approved.

RECOMMENDATION to Council

Cabinet recommends to Council that the Business Case is approved.

The Council had agreed to establish a corporate vehicle for property holding purposes.  The company will take the form of a company wholly owned by the Council limited by shares.  The purpose of this report is to set out the draft business case and to ask Cabinet to recommend to Council that the Business Plan is approved.

Members discussed:

·                    Any rent increases proposed will abide to the rent increase legislation.

·                    The Business Case will be presented to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee in April followed by Cabinet in May with recommendation to full Council.

·                    Future business plans will be approved by full Council.

·                    The Council and the programme will focus on affordable housing.

RECOMMENDATION to Council

Cabinet recommends to Council that the Business Case is approved.

To advise Cabinet of the position on revenue and capital expenditure at the end of December 2020. Overview & Scrutiny Committee considered this report at its meeting on Tuesday 16th February 2021. 

The forecast overspend on controllable budgets is £612k for 2020/21before accounting adjustments; any deficit required will be transferred from Reserves at the end of the year after all year-end adjustments have taken place. Accounting adjustments can significantly affect the year end position as it is only then that we can fully account for key areas of spend such as Housing Benefits and Business Rates payments to cover policy decisions made by Central Government during the year.

Cabinet was advised of the position on revenue and capital expenditure at the end of December 2020. Overview & Scrutiny Committee had considered this report at its meeting on Tuesday 16^th February 2021.

The forecast overspend on controllable budgets is £612k for 2020/21 before accounting adjustments; any deficit required will be transferred from Reserves at the end of the year after all year-end adjustments have taken place. Accounting adjustments can significantly affect the year end position as it is only then that we can fully account for key areas of spend such as Housing Benefits and Business Rates payments to cover policy decisions made by Central Government during the year.

This overspend should reduce due to support from the Government of lost income and cost savings from IT restructuring.

Members considered:

·                    Initiatives and opportunities for financial support not missed due to subscriptions to LGP (Local Government Platform) and Grant Finders who provide information of support available to Councils.

·                    Invoices to Basingstoke & Deane for the Joint Waste Contract delayed due to additional pressures and timing differences.

·                    The available resourcing for the annual audit of accounts to accommodate all extra schemes is on target for the deadlines of 31^st July and end of September 2021.

DECISION

1          The revised projections and reasons for the main revenue variations highlighted in Paragraph 4 and analysed in Appendix 1 be noted.

2          The current spending position for Capital shown in Paragraph 5 and Appendix 2 which includes project details be noted.

To consider and amend the Cabinet Work Programme.

The Cabinet Work Programme was considered and amended.

1          Car Boot Sales to be postponed.

2          The Corporate Vehicle Business Plan to be included in June.