Agenda and minutes

Councillors Nathan, Gallagher, Ismail and Wayne

None

If you have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest* in an item of business:

§  if it is not yet on the council’s register, you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent;

§  you may choose to declare a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest that is already in the register in the interests of openness and transparency. 

In both the above cases, you must leave the room without participating in discussion of the item.

If you have a personal interest in an item of business and you intend to speak or vote on the item you must declare both the existence and details of it at the start of the meeting or when it becomes apparent but you may participate in the discussion and vote on the item.

*(a) Employment, etc - Any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation
  carried on for profit or gain.

(b)   Sponsorship - Any payment or other financial benefit in respect of your expenses in carrying out duties as a member, or of your election; including from a trade union.

(c)   Contracts - Any current contract for goods, services or works, between you or your partner (or a body in which one of you has a beneficial interest) and the council.

(d)  Land - Any beneficial interest in land which is within the council’s area.

(e)  Licences- Any licence to occupy land in the council’s area for a month or  
 longer.

(f) Corporate tenancies - Any tenancy between the council and a body in which you or your partner have a beneficial interest.

 (g) Securities - Any beneficial interest in securities of a body which has a place of business or land in the council’s area, if the total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body or of any one class of its issued share capital. 

This applies to all members present at the meeting.

None

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 20 January 2022 be confirmed and the Chair be authorised to sign them

Councillor Russell referred to minute 30 (b) and that she had still not received a response in relation to details of the increase in use of temporary accommodation arising primarily in response to domestic violence and disrepair

It was stated that this information would be provided as soon as possible and circulated to Members of the Committee

For members of the public to ask questions relating to any subject on the meeting agenda under Procedure Rule 70.5. Alternatively, the Chair may opt to accept questions from the public during the discussion on each agenda item.

The Chair outlined the procedure for Public questions

David Hodgkinson, Director of Corporate Resources, Stephen Biggs, Director of Community Wealth Building were in attendance for this item

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·       Members welcomed the report, however concern was expressed that the increase in energy costs and inflation would increase pressures both on the Council and residents. It was noted that energy costs would have to be considered and be passed on to tenants in the HRA

·       In response to a question it was stated that the Council were operating flexible working where appropriate, however staff are required to still attend in person when necessary. The increase in flexible working will also enable the Council to save on energy and accommodation costs, and introduce hybrid working and meetings,  and details would be made available in the Summer

·       Reference was made to the report highlighting the need for local procurement and more ethical delivery methods such as cargo bikes. Localism should be promoted and there should be links where local shops available for rent could be made available for pop up shops

·       A Member stated that the report was well formulated, however there was a need to increase parking fees to avoid efficiency savings being needed in the future. It was noted that parking income had recovered well and all fees and charges were reviewed annually

·       Noted that Member training on the budget and finances would take place following the election

·       In response to a question as to whether some small business should get business rate relief it was stated that business rates were set by the Government, however the Council could award discretionary rate relief but this had been fully utilised in the current financial year

·       It was stated that the Council made few compulsory redundancies

·       Reference was made to the LIFT programme and it was stated that initiatives had been undertaken to encourage start-up businesses, and to encourage and assist in co-op start-ups that can assist in employing people who would normally find it difficult to get work

·       Noted that a Business Engagement Officer had been employed to help establish a ‘toolkit’ to assist businesses affected by initiatives such as People Friendly Streets

RESOLVED:

That the report be approved and referred to the Executive for consideration

The Chair thanked David Hodgkinson, and Stephen Biggs for attending

Martin Houston, Finance Directorate was present and outlined the report

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

·         Noted the Council is currently estimating budget pressures of +£24.290m. This is an increase of +£0.194m since the previous reported position, due to adverse movements in Adult Social Services. After the allocation of COVID 19 funding and an assumed allocation from contingency budgets, this reduces to a net overspend of +£0.641m

·         The HRA is currently forecasting an in year deficit of +£9.278m an increase of +£0.464m since the last reported position. At the end of month 9, the non-housing programme had incurred £10.030m of capital expenditure, and the housing programme had incurred £50.349m. Total capital expenditure of £60.379m had been incurred against a 2020/21 full year forecast of £122.664m, and against a revised capital budget of £163.395m. There is a risk of further slippage over the remainder of the financial year

·         A Member referred to the fact that she had still not received a response on the £0.5m waiting watch budget increase in Community Wealth Building raised at the last meeting and it was stated that this would be circulated as soon as possible

RESOLVED:

(a)  That the response on the matter raised above be circulated to Councillor Chapman in relation to the £0.5m increase in the waking night duty for the Community Wealth Building Budget

(b)  That the Director of Finance be requested to ascertain the reasons for the increase in young people in custody, and on remand, and this be circulated to Members

The Chair thanked Martin Houston for attending

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and the meeting of the Committee on 28 April 2022 be cancelled and any items moved to the meeting of PPS in June