Agenda and minutes
PDF 56 KBVenue: Committee Room 1 - Civic Suite. View directions
Contact: Colin Gamble - Head of Democratic Services email: committeesection@southend.gov.uk
Media
| No. | Item |
|---|---|
|
Apologies for Absence Additional documents: Minutes: There were no apologies for absence at this meeting.
Prior to consideration of the matters set out on the agenda, the Chair outlined his expectations of the standard of conduct and behaviour to be shown at the meeting. |
|
|
Declarations of Interest Additional documents: Minutes: The following declarations of interest were made:
(a) Councillor K Mitchell – Minute 685 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2023/24 – 2027/28) – Member of staff at NetPark is known to her;
(b) Councillor C Mulroney – Minute 685 (Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes 2023/24 – 2027/28) – Member of Leigh Town Council and a fellow Leigh Town Councillor is involved with NetPark. |
|
|
Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 12 January 2023 Additional documents: Minutes: Resolved:-
That the Minutes of the Meeting held on Thursday, 12 January 2023, be confirmed as a correct record. |
|
|
Prioritising Resources to Deliver Better Outcomes - 2023/24 to 2027/28 Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report of the Executive Director (Finance and Resources) presenting the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and capital investment priorities for 2023/24. This item was considered by the Policy and Resources Scrutiny Committee.
On consideration of the report the Cabinet noted that the figure set out at paragraph 22.6 was circa £300,000.
Recommended:
1. That the Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2023/24 – 2027/28 (Appendix 1 to the submitted report) and the resulting Medium Term Financial Forecast and estimated Earmarked Reserves Balances up to 2027/28 (Annexes 1 and 2 to Appendix 1), and any final minor changes/updates of this strategy as required be delegated to the Executive Director (Finance & Resources), be approved.
2. That the draft 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 £0.706M (Appendix 3 to the report), be approved.
4. That the appropriation of the sums from earmarked reserves totalling £2.468M (Appendix 3 to the report), be approved.
5. That the use of £1M from the General Fund balances to support the core 2023/24 revenue budget which will be replenished over the life of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (Annex 1 to Appendix 1 to the report), be approved.
6. That a General Fund Budget Requirement for 2023/24 of £143.875M and Council Tax Requirement of £97.499M (Appendix 4 to the report), be approved.
7. That it be noted that the 2023/24 revenue budget has been prepared based on using £2M from accumulated Collection Fund surpluses to support the core budget and to allow for a smoothing of the budget gap.
8. That a Council Tax increase of 4.99% for the Southend-on-Sea element of the Council Tax for 2023/24, being 2.99% for general use and 2.00% for Adult Social Care, be approved.
9. That the position of the Council’s preceptors, be noted:
· Essex Police – proposed Council Tax position increase of 6.84% · Essex Fire & Rescue Services – proposed Council Tax increase of 6.57% · Leigh-on-Sea Town Council – confirmed Band D precept decrease of 0.71%
10. That no Special Expenses be charged other than Leigh-on-Sea Town Council precept for 2023/24.
11. That the proposed General Fund revenue budget investment of £23.473M (Appendix 5 to the report), be approved. 12. That the proposed General Fund revenue budget savings and income generation initiatives for 2023/24 of £9.215M (Appendix 6a to the report), be approved.
13. That the proposed General Fund revenue cost avoidance and overspend reduction initiatives for 2023/24 of £1.603M (Appendix 6b to the report), be approved.
14. That the approach proposed for the development and implementation of a new transformation blueprint for the Council and to confirm the use of £1.5m from existing earmarked reserves over the next three years to support this programme of activity, be approved.
15. That the implementation of the new Adult Social Care Charging Policy from 1 April 2023 (Appendix ... view the full minutes text for item 685. |
|
|
Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget and Rent Setting Report 2023/24 Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) Additional documents: Minutes:
Recommended: 1. That an average rent increase of 7% on all tenancies, be approved. 2. That an average rent increase of 7% on shared ownership properties, be approved. 3. That an increase of 10.1% for garage rents to £13.98 per week for tenants and £16.77 for non-tenants (being £13.98 plus VAT), a rise consistent with the standard approach taken across the council’s fees and charges, be approved. All variants on a standard garage will receive a proportionate increase. 4. That South Essex Homes core management fee be agreed at £7,192,000 for 2023/24. 5. That South Essex Homes proposals for average increases of 44.29% in service charges to reflect the estimated costs incurred for 2023/24, be approved. 6. That South Essex Homes proposals for an average 104% increase in heating charges for sheltered housing tenants and for hostel tenants to reflect the estimated costs incurred for 2023/24, be approved. 7. That the following appropriations be approved: · £60,000 to the Repairs Contract Pensions Reserve. · £4,047,000 to the Capital Investment Reserve. · £7,384,000 from the Capital Investment Reserve. 8. That, subject to the approval of resolutions 1 to 7 above, the HRA budget for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved. 9. That the value of the Council’s capital allowance from 2023/24 be declared as £49,297,000 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 2023/24 Report of Executive Director (Finance and Resources) Additional documents:
Minutes: The Cabinet considered a report of the 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 2023/24 (Appendix 1 to the submitted report), be approved.
2. That the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 (Appendix 2 to the report), be approved.
3. That the Annual Treasury Management Investment Strategy 2023/24 (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 Collins |
