Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Webbe.

None.

-        

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting on 17 October 2019 be agreed as a correct

record and the Chair be authorised to sign them.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to the report

RESOLVED:

2.1         That the forecast revenue outturn for the General Fund of an overall underspend of (-£0.634m) compared to a forecast underspend of (-£0.237m) in the previous month be noted. 

2.2         That management action is required over the course of the financial year to bring forecast overspends back to within agreed cash limited budgets where possible be noted.

2.3         That the breakdown of the forecast General Fund outturn by individual variance at Appendix 1 and by service area at Appendix 2 be noted.

2.4         That the schedule of additional budget risks that are not included in the current forecasts be noted.  That there is an ongoing financial assessment of these risks, which will be reported in future months, be noted.

2.5         That the allocation of up to £2.707m from the corporate contingency budget, as a permanent budget adjustment, to resolve the structural budget issues in the Environment and Regeneration budget be agreed.

2.6         That the latest position on the earmarked corporate transformation reserve be noted and a new allocation of £0.620 from the reserve to continue to progress the discovery phase of the Enterprise Resource Planning project be agreed.

2.7         That the HRA forecast is a net break-even position be noted.

2.8         That the latest capital position and key capital variances with forecast capital expenditure of £144.853m in 2019/20 against the existing 2019/20 capital budget of £148.412m be noted.

2.9         That it be noted that the capital budget increases since month 5 relating to earmarked grant funding are now profiled in the capital programme and that the following capital budget changes required to fully incorporate the current year expenditure profiles in the approved programme be agreed.

2.9.1   A £1.000m increase to the current year capital programme to
          incorporate the 49-59 Old St scheme in the capital programme
          (funded from capacity within the existing capital financing budget);

2.9.2     A capital virement from previously reported slippage in the Housing directorate (-£0.909m) to the Bunhill II scheme in the Environment and Regeneration directorate (+£0.833m) and the 49-59 Old Street scheme in the Resources directorate (+£0.076m) in order to reflect current year expenditure profiles (no impact on the overall resources available for the Housing capital programme);

2.9.3     An allocation of £4.088m from the Carbon Offset Fund (Section 106) to the Bunhill II scheme in the Environment and Regeneration directorate, subject to agreement by the Affordable Energy Board and the Borough Investment Panel;

2.9.4     A capital virement (net nil within the People directorate) from the forecast underspend on the school expansion schemes contingency budget (-£1.067m) to the Central Library scheme (+£1.067m);

2.9.5     A capital virement from the remaining forecast underspend in the People directorate (-£0.633) to the 49-59 Old Street scheme in the Resources directorate (+£0.633m).

2.10      That the overall increase in the capital programme, funded as set out above and from additional external income, is subject to agreement by Council on 5 December 2019 in a separate report be noted.

2.11      That the drawdown of £1.793m from the ‘capital reserve’ (an earmarked  ...  view the full minutes text for item 668.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to report

RESOLVED:

2.1 That the contents of the LGSCO report dated 4 October 2019, a copy of which is attached as appendix one be noted.

2.2 That the remedies recommended by the LGSCO have been accepted by the council be noted.

2.3 That the actions that will be taken by the council to implement the recommendations by the LGSCO be noted.

2.4 That a copy of this report and the Executive minutes will be sent to the LGSCO be agreed.

Reason for decision – to ensure that the statutory requirements of the Local Government Ombudsman Act 1974 and Local Government Housing Act 1989 are met.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to the report

RESOLVED:

2.1 That the attached Discretionary Rate Relief Policy covering the period 2020-23 (Appendix 1) be adopted.

2.2 That an annual limit to the value of Discretionary Rate Relief awards provided through this scheme at £1.36 million per annum throughout the period 2020/21 to 2022/23, representing £410,000 of foregone income per annum to the Council be agreed

2.3 The opening of applications for Discretionary Rate Relief in December 2019 be agreed.

Reason for decision – Awarding discretionary rate relief to not-for-profit bodies or other organisations providing a community or social benefit is cost effective way of supporting local organisations delivering the commitments set out in our Corporate Plan.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to the report

Cllr Watts thanked the Scrutiny Committee for all their hard work on this very
timely and helpful review.

RESOLVED:

2.1 That the findings of the Exclusion from School Scrutiny Review be
welcomed.

2.2 That the responses to the review as set out in Section 4 of this report be agreed.

2.3 That officers report back on progress to the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee in one year’s time be agreed.

Reason for decision – to respond to the recommendations of the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

AGREED RECOMMENDATIONS

Reason for decision – as specified in the report.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.

Link to the report

RESOLVED:

2.1 Thatthe procurement strategy for Supported Accommodation and Housing First Support Provision for Adults with Multiple Needs, as outlined in this report be agreed.

2.2 That authority to award the contracts be delegated to the Corporate Director - People, in consultation with the Executive Member for Health and Social Care be agreed.

Reason for decision – to re-design and re-configure our current Supported Housing provision for Adults with Multiple Needs.

Other options considered - none.

Conflicts of interest/dispensations granted – none.