Meeting documents

The Council
Thursday, 28th February, 2013 6.30 pm

The Cabinet Minutes

Date:
Tuesday, 22nd January, 2013
Time:
14:00
Place:
Civic Suite, Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
675 Apologies for absence.
 There were no apologies for absence.
676 Declarations of interest.
 The following declaration of interest was made:-

Councillor Kaye - Budget items - Mental Health Manager, SEPT, Chairman for Hearings - Non-pecuniary.
677 Council Tax Base and Non Domestic Rates 2013/14
Business for item 677
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, be incorporated into the Council Tax base setting as outlined in Appendices A and B of the submitted report;

(b) That changes to Council Tax discounts and exemptions with effect from 1st April 2013, approved by Council on 13th December 2012, be incorporated into the Council Tax Base:-

• Second homes (Classes A and B) - will be set at 0% discount
• Long-term empty homes (Class C) - a surcharge of 50% will be set allowing a full change of 150% where they have been unoccupied for more than 2 years
• That properties undergoing structural alteration previously entitled to exemption of 100% for 12 months defined under Exemption Class A will be entitled to a 25% discount for up to 12 months
• That properties empty and unfurnished previously entitled to 6 months exemption under Exemption Class C will be entitled to 3 months exemption at 100%

(c) That the amount calculated by the Council as its Council Tax Base for the year 2013/14 shall be 53,358.9

(d) That the amount calculated by the Council as the Council Tax Base in respect of Leigh-on-Sea Town Council for the year 2013/14 shall be 8,340.8

2. That subject to 3 below, the NDR1 form attached at Appendix C of the submitted report, be approved for submission to the DCLG.

3. That the Head of Finance and Resources, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, be authorised to make any necessary changes to the NDR1 Return before the final submission of the form.

Reasons for Decision

To comply with the relevant statutory requirements.

Other Options

None

Note:- This is an Executive Function.
Referred direct to Economic and Environmental Scrutiny Committee.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
*Referred to:- Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee
678 Draft Housing Revenue Account Budget 2013/14 and Rent Settomg
Business for item 678
Resolved:-

1. That the HRA budget as set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that the draft HRA budget assumes a rent increase in line with the Government's rent restructuring guidance, giving rise to an average increase of 5.03% as set out in section 4 of the submitted report, effective from 1st April 2013.

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 endorsed.

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 endorsed.

6. That the proposal to declare the value of the Council's capital allowance for 2013/14 at £31.633M, as determined in accordance with regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting)(England) Regulations, be endorsed.

Reasons 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 12th February 2013 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to Community Services and Culture Scrutiny Committee.
Executive Councillor:- Salter.
*Referred to:- Community Services & Culture Scrutiny Committee
679 Draft Capital Programme 2013/14 to 2016/17
Business for item 679
Resolved:-

1. That the current approved Programme for 2013/14 to 2016/17 of £67.6m, as set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report, be noted.

2. That the proposed changes to the approved Programme, as set out in Appendix 2 of the submitted report, be endorsed.

3. That the proposed new schemes and additions to the Capital Programme for 2013/14 to 2016/17 totalling £23.8m of which £15.8m is for the General Fund and £8m is for the Housing Revenue Account, as set out in Appendices 6 and 7 of the submitted report, be noted.

4. That it be noted that the proposed additions as set out in Appendix 2 of the submitted report, and other adjustments as set out in Appendix 8 of the report, will result in a proposed capital programme of £92.8m for 2013/14 to 2016/17.

5. That it be noted that a final exercise is being undertaken on the 2012/13 projected outturn and that the results will be included in the report to Cabinet on 12th February 2013.

6. That the report be referred to the Scrutiny Committees and then Cabinet (Budget) on 12th February 2013.

Reasons for Decision

The proposed Capital Programme comprises 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 which either contribute to the delivery of the Council's objectives and priorities or enhance the Council's infrastructure.

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that the approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2013 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
*Referred to:- Children & Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Community Services & Culture Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee
680 Draft Fees and Charges 2013/14
Business for item 680
Resolved:-

That subject to the inclusion of the revised fees and charges for Adult and Community Services, as circulated at the meeting, the proposed fees and charges for each Directorate as set out in the submitted report be endorsed.

Reasons 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. The submitted 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 12th February 2013 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
*Referred to:- Children & Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Community Services & Culture Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee
681 Draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2013/14
Business for item 681
Resolved:-

1. That the 2013/14 draft revenue budget and any required commencement of consultation, statutory or otherwise, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that the budget has been prepared on the basis of the Council increasing the Southend-on-Sea element of Council Tax by 1.75% (38p per week) and the consequent rejection of the Government's Council Tax freeze grant for 2013/14.

3. That it be noted that the 2013/14 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 the final budget proposals for Cabinet (Budget) and Council (Budget).

4. That it be noted, that arrangements for a discount scheme on Council Tax for Special Constables will be included in the final budget proposals.

5. That the 2013/14 draft revenue budget be referred, as approved, for the views of Scrutiny Committees to inform Cabinet (Budget), which will then recommend the Budget and Council Tax to Council (Budget).

6. That the Schools budget position be noted and that the recommendations from the Schools Forum on 9th January 2013 (set out in Appendices 14 and 14i of the submitted report) would be presented to Children and Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee and then to Cabinet (Budget) and Council (Budget).

7. That the direction of travel 2014/15 and beyond (Section 15 of the submitted report) and the future years savings proposals (Appendix 16 of the submitted report), be endorsed and referred to the Scrutiny Committees to inform Cabinet (Budget), which will then recommend the Budget and Council Tax to Council (Budget).

Reasons 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 12th February 2013 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
*Referred to:- Children & Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Community Services & Culture Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee
682 Update on Public Health Ring Fenced Grant Allocation and Public Health Budget Prioritisation 2013/14
Business for item 682
Resolved:-

1. That the prioritised transitional public health services for 2013/14, be endorsed.

2. That it be noted that during 2013/14 the public health service will be brought into alignment with the Council's strategic objectives, in particular the Health and Wellbeing Strategy for Southend, and commissioned on that basis in time for 2014/15

3. That subject to resolution 1 above, the budget allocated to the prioritised public health service areas, identified in Appendix 1 of the submitted report, be endorsed.

4. That the conditions governing the use of the grant and formal reporting requirements, be noted.

5. That the report be referred to the Scrutiny Committees for consideration as part of the Council's Budget Process for 2013/14.

Reasons for Decision

The report set out the proposed budget allocation of public health goods and services for endorsement.

Other Options

As set out in the submitted report.

Note:- This is an Executive Function, save that the approval of the final budget following Cabinet on 12th February 2013 is a Council Function.
Referred direct to Community Services and Culture Scrutiny Committee and Economic and Environmental Scrutiny Committee
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
*Referred to:- Community Services & Culture Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee
683 Review of Senior Management Arrangements
Business for item 683
Recommended:-

1. That the revisions to the senior management structure set out in the submitted report, reducing the overall senior management number to 16 (excluding public health), be approved.

2. That the senior management structure would consist of the Chief Executive, three Corporate Directors and twelve Heads of Service.

3. That the Public Health function, when it is transferred to the Council, reports to the Chief Executive and comprises the Director or Public Health, one Head of Service and associated staff.

4. That the detailed allocation of functions and implementation of other arrangements be delegated to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, subject to no substantive adverse response to consultations.

5. That appropriate amendments be made to the Constitution to reflect the new senior management structure once implemented and also to redesignate the three scrutiny committees as People Scrutiny Committee (including health), Place Scrutiny Committee and Corporate Scrutiny Committee.

Reasons for Decision

To allow safe and considered revisions to the senior management arrangements within the Council, reflecting the impact of budget and resource pressures over recent times, the anticipated continuing pressures over coming years, and to maintain adequate senior management and leadership capacity to cope with necessary decisions for the future.

Other Options

The Chief Executive has reviewed options to allow a safe reduction in senior management capacity. There are other configurations which may be possible but the Chief Executive has determined those recommended to be the most appropriate at present, particularly to achieve greater synergy between adult and children operations and to avoid potential organisational disruption and avoidable cost. Given that the current structure is comparatively lean and economic, an option is for no significant change. However, given the budget and staffing reductions resulting from the national financial circumstances, it is unrealistic to go forward without any review of senior management structures.

Note:- This is a Council Function.
Referred direct to all Scrutiny Committees.
Executive Councillor:- Holdcroft.
*Referred to:- Children & Lifelong Learning Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Community Services & Culture Scrutiny Committee
*Referred to:- Economic & Environmental Scrutiny Committee
684 Officer Departures
 The Leader of the Council informed Members that Sue Cook (Interim Corporate Director Children and Learning) would shortly be leaving the Authority and highlighted that she had been instrumental in the achievement of huge improvements in children's services for the benefit of children in the Borough. He also referred to the impending departure of John Troup (Senior Media Relations Officer) who had also made a valuable contribution to the work of the Authority.

On behalf of Members, the Leader expressed his appreciation and gratitude to the officers for their sterling work and wished them well in their new employment.
14:00/14:45

Attendance Details

Present:
Cllr Holdcroft (Chairman), Cllr Courtenay, Cllr Cox, Cllr J Garston, Cllr Jarvis, Cllr Lamb, Cllr Moring, Cllr Salter
In attendance:
R Tinlin, J K Williams, S Holland, J Chesterton, J Ruffle, A Lewis, S Cook, S Leftley, I Ambrose, J Troup and C Gamble

Also in attendance: Councillors Godwin, Kaye, McMahon and Woodley.

Business

ItemBusiness
677The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director Support Services concerning the calculation of the Council Tax Base for 2013/14 and the submission of the Non Domestic Rates (NDR) Return to the Department for Communities and Local Government (DLGC).
678The Cabinet considered a joint report of the Corporate Director Support Services and Corporate Director Adult and Community Services setting out the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2013/14, together with the information necessary to set a balanced budget as required by legislation.
679The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director Support Services requesting that consideration be given to a draft programme of capital projects for 2013/14 to 2016/17.
680The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Director Support Services setting out the detailed fees and charges for services included in the budget proposals for 2013/14.
681The Cabinet considered a report of the Corporate Management Team presenting a draft revenue budget for 2013/14 and a range of potential savings proposals for future years.
682The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Public Health providing an update on the Council's public health ring fenced grant allocation and set out details of the proposed budget for public health services for 2013/14.
683The Cabinet considered a report of the Chief Executive and Town Clerk proposing revisions to the senior management structure to reflect the reduction in staff numbers, continuing budget pressures, the transfer of public health to local government and best practice elsewhere.

 

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