Agenda and minutes
PDF 49 KBVenue: Virtual Meeting - MS Teams
Contact: Colin Gamble
Media
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Apologies for Absence Additional documents: Minutes: Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Jones. |
|
|
Declarations of Interest Additional documents: Minutes: The following Councillors declared interests as indicated:
(a) Cllr Cowan – Minute 796 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: GMB Trade Union member;
(b) Cllr Harp – Minute 794 (HRA Budget and Rent Setting 2021/22) – Non-pecuniary interest: friends and family are residents/tenants of South Essex Homes; Minute 796 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: wife is employed by SAVS and he is volunteer with SAVS;
(c) Cllr Gilbert – Minute 796 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: Council appointed representative on SAVS and is a GMB Trade Union member;
(d) Cllr K Evans - Minute 796 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: member of Leigh Town Council;
(e) Cllr Mulroney - Minute 796 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: member of Leigh Town Council;
(f) Cllr Terry - Minute 796 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2021/22-2025/26) – Non-pecuniary interest: Lives in the vicinity of one of the areas affected by the changes to the fees and charges.
|
|
|
Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Rent Setting Report 2021/22 Joint Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) and Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director (Housing and Growth) attached Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) and Deputy Chief Executive and Executive Director (Housing & Growth) setting out the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget and Rent Setting for 2021/22, together with the information necessary to set a balanced budget as required by legislation. This item was considered by the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee.
Recommended:-
1. That an average rent increase of 1.50% on all tenancies, be approved.
2. That an average rent increase of 1.50% on shared ownership properties, be approved.
3. That an increase of 1.50% for garage rents to £12.20 per week for tenants and £14.64 for non-tenants (being £12.20 plus VAT), a rise consistent with the proposal for the main rent increase (all variants on a standard garage will receive a proportionate increase), be approved.
4. That the proposed rent charges in 1-3 above be effective from 5th April 2021.
5. That the South Essex Homes core management fee at £6,336,000 for 2021/22, be approved.
6. That the South Essex Homes proposals for average increases of 2.52% in service charges and 10.39% in heating charges to reflect the actual costs incurred, be approved.
7. That the following appropriations be approved:
· £60,000 to the Repairs Contract Pensions Reserve; · £4,002,000 to the Capital Investment Reserve and · £8,334,000 from the Capital Investment Reserve
8. That, subject to resolution 1 through to 7 above, the HRA budget for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.
9. That the value of the Council’s indicative capital allowance for 2021/22 – 2025/26 be declared as £75,327,000, as determined in accordance with regulation 16 of the Local Authorities (Capital Finance and Accounting) (England) Regulations.
Reasons for Recommendations
Part of the process of maintaining a balanced budget for the HRA is to undertake an annual rent review and assessment of other service and facilities charges. Full Council will need to approve the HRA budget and any changes to rent and other services prior to the start of the financial year.
Other Options
There are other options available to Councillors in relation to the proposed rent and other services and facilities increases.
Note: This is a Council Budget Function, not eligible for call-in by virtue of Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rule 1.1(b) Cabinet Member: Cllr Gilbert
|
|
|
Treasury Management Policy 2021/22 Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) attached Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the Treasury Management documents. This item was considered by the Audit Committee.
Recommended:-
1. That the Treasury Management Policy Statement 2021/22 set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.
2. That the Treasury Management Strategy 2021/22 set out at Appendix 2 to the report, be approved.
3. That the Annual Treasury Management Investment Strategy 2021/22 set out at Appendix 3 to the report, be approved.
Reasons for: recommendations:
To comply with CIPFA Treasury Management Code of Practice.
Other options:
There are many options available for the operation of the Treasury Management function, with varying degrees of risk associated with them. The Treasury Management Policy set out in the report aims to effectively control risk to within a prudent level, whilst providing optimum performance consistent with that level of risk.
Note: This is a Council Budget Function, not eligible for call in by virtue of Budget and Policy Framework Procedure Rule 1.1(b). Cabinet Member: Cllr Woodley
|
|
|
Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2021/22 to 2025/26 Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) attached Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2021/22. This item was considered by all three Scrutiny Committees.
During consideration of the report, the Executive Councillor for Transport, Capital and Inward Investment explained that revised parking proposals had been prepared after consultation with businesses and residents as set out as follows:
1. 6pm to 10pm charging on the central Seafront is to be withdrawn but enforcement is still to continue for illegal parking eg on double lines; 2. The £24 up to 14 hours charge to be amended to £18 and this is now for 7 hours to 10 hours given the 6pm to 10pm relaxation; 3. Zone 1A On Street. This currently goes up to 4 hours and then moves to 14 hours. It is proposed to change this in line with car parks so therefore introducing in Zone 1A on street parking a standardized 5 hour and 6 hour charge and then the 7 hour to 10 hour charge; 4. That from the central sea-front Business feedback to equalize the charging zones for Western Esplanade and Thorpe Bay Esplanade (Warwick Rd to Maplin Way - seafront) by including Thorpe Bay Esplanade into Zone 1A; 5. That the 50% hotel and guesthouse discount scheme remains, which will benefit tourists who stay overnight in our hotels and guesthouses. This will mean for those staying guests, of hotels and guesthouses who sign up to the scheme, a parking charge in a Zone 1A hotel area of £9 per day and in a Zone 1B hotel area of £6 per day.
It was noted that the Council’s S151 Officer had reviewed all these proposed changes and had advised that the revised recommended budget for 2021/22, remained robust and deliverable. In addition, the proposed additional £1m income generation for parking charges overall was still achievable.
The S151 Officer had indicated that there was some increased risk with the level of income to be generated with these proposed changes and also due to the uncertainty caused by COVID-19 and the changes in parking demand on our overall income generation assumptions. The S151 Officer therefore advised that in line with the arrangements for the Southend Pass that quarterly reviews should also now be undertaken for the overall car parking income budget throughout 2021/22.
Recommended:
1. That the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2021/22 – 2025/26 set out at Appendix 1 to the submitted report and the resulting Medium Term Financial Forecast and estimated Earmarked Reserves Balances up to 2025/26 (Annexes 1 and 2 to Appendix 1 to the submitted report), be approved and that any final minor changes/updates of this strategy as required, be delegated to the Executive Director (Finance & Resources).
2. That the Section 151 Officer’s statement on the robustness of the proposed budget, the adequacy of the Council’s reserves and the Council’s Reserves Strategy (Appendix 2 to the report), be noted.
3. That the appropriation of the sums to earmarked reserves totalling ... view the full minutes text for item 796. |
