Meeting documents

Cabinet
Tuesday, 21st January, 2014 2.00 pm

Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
670 Apologies for absence.
 There were no apologies for absence.
671 Declarations of interest.
 There were no declarations of interest.
672 Council Tax Base & Non Domestic Rating Base 2014/15
Business for item 672
Resolved:-

1. That in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended by the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003) and Local Government Finance Act 2012 (Calculation of billing authority's council tax base Section 15):-

(a) That the Local Council Tax Support Scheme approved by Council on 13th December 2012 and confirmed by Council on 12th December 2013, be incorporated into the Council Tax base setting as set out in appendices A and B to the submitted report.

(b) That there are no changes to Council Tax discounts and exemptions with effect from 1 April 2014 to those that were approved by Council on 13th December 2012 and these will be incorporated into the Council Tax Base:-

• Second homes (Classes A and B) as allowed by Section 11A of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 will be set at 0%
• Long-term empty homes (Class C) as allowed by Section 11A of the Local Government Finance Act 2012, a surcharge of 50% will be set allowing a full charge of 150% where they have been unoccupied for more than 2 years
• Properties requiring or undergoing structural alteration or major repairs (Class D) as allowed by Section 11A of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 be entitled to receive a discount of 25% for up to 12 months
• Vacant and substantially unfurnished properties (Class C) as allowed by Section 11A of the Local Government Finance Act 2012 to be entitled to receive a discount of 100% for up to 3 months
• That a continuous 6 week period of occupancy is required between empty periods before a further discount can be awarded.

2. That it be noted that the amount calculated by Southend-on-Sea Council as its Council Tax Base for the year 2014/15 shall be 53,755.87

3. That it be noted that the amount calculated by Southend-on-Sea Council as the Council Tax Base in respect of Leigh-on Sea Town Council for the year 2014/15 shall be 8,326.44

4. That the Head of Finance and Resources, in conjunction with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to approve the NDR1 form for submission to the DCLG, and that the Head of Finance and Resources will include an explanation in a subsequent report to Council as to why it was not practical for Cabinet to use its own delegation.

Reason for Decision

To comply with the relevant statutory requirements.

Other Options

None.

Note:- This is an Executive Function
Referred direct to Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft
*Referred to:- Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
673 Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2014/15 & Rent Setting
Business for item 673
Resolved:-

1. That the views of the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee be sought on the level of rent increase (5.48% up to 8.97%).

2. That subject to 1 above, the HRA budget, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be endorsed.

3. That the increases in other charges as set out in section 5 of the submitted report, be endorsed.

4. That the management fee proposed by South Essex Homes as set out in section 6 of the submitted report, be noted.

5. That the appropriations to the Repairs Contract Pensions earmarked reserve and the HRA Capital Investment earmarked reserve, as set out in section 8 of the submitted report, be noted.

6. That the proposal to declare the value of the Council's capital allowance for 2014/15 at £31.502m, as determined in accordance with regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) Regulations, be endorsed.

Reason for Decision

Part of the process of maintaining a balanced budget for the HRA is to consider and set a rent rise (and associated increases in other income streams). Full Council needs to approve the HRA budget prior to the start of the financial year.

Other Options

As set out in the submitted report.

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 13th February 2014 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee.
Executive Councillor:- Salter
*Referred to:- Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
674 Draft Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18
Business for item 674
Resolved:-

1. That the current approved Programme for 2014/15 to 2017/18 of £66.1m, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the changes to the approved Programme, as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, be noted.

3. That the proposed new schemes and additions to the Capital Programme for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 (and later years) totalling £60.7m, of which £52.7m is for the General Fund and £8m for the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, be noted.

4. That it be noted that the proposed new schemes and additions, as set out in appendices 6 and 7 to the submitted report, along with other adjustments as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, will result in a proposed capital programme of £132.4m for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 (and later years), as set out in appendix 8 to the submitted report.

5. That it be noted that the level of external funding supporting the total programme of £132.4m for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18 (and later years) is £35.4m.

6. That it be noted that a final exercise is being undertaken on the 2013/14 projected outturn, with the results to be included in the report to Cabinet on 13th February 2014.

Reason for Decision

The proposed Capital Programme is compiled from a number of individual projects which either contribute to the delivery of the Council's objectives and priorities or enhance the Council's infrastructure.

Other Options

The proposed Capital Programme is compiled from a number of individual projects, any of which can be agreed or rejected independently of the other projects.

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that the approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 13th February 2014 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft
*Referred to:- People Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Place Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
675 Draft Fees & Charges 2014/15
Business for item 675
Resolved:-

That the proposed fees and charges for each Department as set out in the submitted report and appendices, be endorsed.

Reason for Decision

Part of the process of maintaining a balanced budget includes a requirement to consider the contribution that fees and charges make towards that aim. This report is in fulfilment of that requirement.

Other Options

None.

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 13th February 2014 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft
*Referred to:- People Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Place Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
676 Draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2014/15
Business for item 676
Resolved:-

1. That the 2014/15 draft revenue budget and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that the draft budget has been prepared on the basis of a Council tax freeze and consequent acceptance of the Government's Council Tax freeze grant offer for 2014/15.

3. That it be noted that the 2014/15 draft revenue budget has been prepared using the provisional finance settlement and that the outcome from the final settlement will need to be factored into final budget proposals for the Cabinet and Council.

4. That the 2014/15 draft revenue budget, as approved, be referred to the Scrutiny Committees to inform Cabinet, which will then recommend the Budget and Council Tax to Council.

5. That the Schools budget position and recommendations from the Schools Forum on 15th January 2014, as set out in Appendices 14 and 14(i) to the submitted report, be noted and referred to People Scrutiny Committee before going to Cabinet and Council.

6. That the direction of travel for 2015/16 and beyond, as set out in section 15 of the submitted report, be endorsed.

Reason for Decision

Budget setting is at the core of the Council's corporate planning framework. It is a complex process that is fully integrated with strategic and service planning. Annually, prior to the start of the financial year, the Council agrees its budget using a consistent, transparent and prudent approach.

Other Options

None.

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that approval of the final budget following Cabinet on the 13th February 2014 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft
*Referred to:- People Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Place Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
677 Corporate Performance Management 2014/15
Business for item 677
Resolved:-

1. That the corporate performance measures to be monitored via the Monthly Performance Report for 2014/15, as set out in appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

2. That the corporate priority actions to support the implementation of the Council's 2014/15 Corporate Priorities, as set out in appendix 2 to the submitted report, be approved.

Reason for Decision

To ensure measures and targets are in place by which the Council can assess its performance against its agreed Corporate Priorities.

Other Options

1. Significantly increasing the numbers of performance measures and indicators. This would place significant pressure on available resources to undertake the necessary monitoring, and would result in diverting resources from other priority areas.

2. Not identifying any Corporate Priority Actions or Indicators. This would leave the Council unable to monitor its performance against its key priorities or to assess whether resources are appropriately allocated.

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft
*Referred to:- People Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Place Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee
14:00/14:40

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor N Holdcroft (Chairman)
Councillors J I Courtenay, T Cox, J M Garston, D J Jarvis, J L Lamb, A J Moring, L P Salter
In attendance:
R Tinlin, J K Williams, S Holland, S Leftley, A Lewis, J Chesterton, J Ruffle, J Williams, I Ambrose and C Gamble

Also present: Councillors Chalk, Godwin, Grimwade, A P Jones, Lewin, Stafford, Woodley

Business

ItemBusiness
672The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services concerning the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2014/15 and the submission of the Non Domestic Rates (NDR1) form to the Department of Communities and Local Government (DCLG).
673The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Corporate Director for Corporate Services and Corporate Director for People setting out the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2014/15 together with the information necessary to set a balanced budget as required by legislation.
674The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Management Team setting out a draft programme of capital projects for the period 2014/15 to 2017/18.
675The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Management Team detailing fees and charges for services included in the budget proposals for 2014/15.
676The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Management Team presenting the draft revenue budget for 2014/15.

The Leader of the Council expressed his appreciation to the Head of Finance and Resources and his Finance Team and the Corporate Directors for their hard work in putting together the budget proposals under challenging circumstances. He also thanked members of the Cabinet for their contributions to the process.
677The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive and Town Clerk detailing the Council's approach to performance management for 2014/15.

 

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