The Cabinet is asked to note any apologies for absence received from Members.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor I J Henderson (the Leader of the Labour Group).

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet held on Friday 18 December 2020.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet, held on Friday 18 December 2020, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.

Councillors are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Personal Interest, and the nature of it, in relation to any item on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made at this time.

The Cabinet is asked to note any announcements made by the Leader of the Council.

There were no announcements made by the Leader of the Council on this occasion.

The Cabinet is asked to note any announcements made by Members of the Cabinet.

There were no announcements made by Cabinet Members on this occasion.

There are none on this occasion.

There were no matters referred to the Cabinet by the Council on this occasion.

To enable the Cabinet to consider the comment made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following that Committee’s scrutiny of the Council’s transformation of Digital services.

RESOLVED that the comment of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the comments of the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder, in response thereto, be endorsed.

Cabinet was aware that, at the meeting of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 December 2020 (Minute 108 referred) that Committee had been provided with an overview of the Council’s Digital Services Transformation.

It had been reported to the Committee that with Councillors having varying degrees of IT expertise the Council had identified an emerging picture whereby:

·           Some councillors were increasingly becoming disengaged - losing the ability to fully/ effectively engage with the range of digital information and services that the council operated.

·           Some councillors were struggling with their IT and asking Council Officers to fix their personal equipment – potentially creating an insurance liability issue.

·           The diversity of different Councillor Applications, all at different versions, was causing Councillors to experience different IT problems causing unnecessary stress and pressures for all concerned.

The emerging digital picture had been therefore perceived as an opportunity to assist councillors in their community leadership role. Through providing each councillor with a standard, managed device backed up by IT training and supported via the Council’s IT service desk intended benefits and improvements were, and remained, as follows:

·           To assist Councillors to improve their efficiency and access to stored digital information.

·           Strengthen cybersecurity (and cybersecurity awareness) and further reduce any possibility of a data breach and Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) data loss.

·           Enhance Councillors’ digital engagement.

·           Enhance mobile working and flexible working capabilities and thereby work/ life balance

·           Further reduce reliance (and the costs) of printed information.

·           Councillor IT equipment standardisation would in turn enable officers council-wide to standardise the range services that they provide which would achieve efficiency savings for both Councillors and Officers. 

Members of the Committee had heard how the strategy had been to purchase high quality Microsoft Surface Go tablets during 2019 and at the beginning of 2020 for Councillors to undertake their council-related duties. With some Councillors struggling with the tablet screen size Officers had additionally offered Councillors connection hubs, full size keyboards, 24” screens, cabled mouse. This gave Councillors a blend of home-based digital access with the ability to go mobile with their tablets when required.

As a result of COVID-19 and an emerging understanding as to its longevity, Officers had become conversant with the new face-to-face restrictive working arrangements and the use of virtual Microsoft Skype meetings had become a key ‘new working norm’. Likewise, virtual meeting MS Skype capabilities had needed to be extended to Councillors to enable them to perform their duties, which was not an intended original use of the previously purchased tablets.

The Committee had also been informed that the Council now had a pressing financial, technological and support need to migrate fully from Microsoft Skype to Microsoft Teams. MS Teams offered a range of additional meeting business functionality benefits over Skype but it was far more demanding in terms of computing processing power. As such, it was close to the limit and was very likely to become beyond the processing capabilities of councillor tablets as Microsoft invested in further  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116.

To enable the Cabinet to consider the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following that Committee’s scrutiny of the Council’s transformation of Digital Customer services.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the comments of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, in response thereto, be endorsed.

Cabinet was aware that, at the meeting of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 December 2020 (Minute 108 referred), the Committee had been provided with an overview of the Council’s Transformation of Digital Customer Services.

The Committee had heard that the Customer Service provision at Tendring District Council had undergone significant change in the last two years. Over the past 18 months the Council had seen telephone calls into the Customer Service centre rise dramatically. Firstly in the summer of 2019, with the roll-out of 70,000 wheelie bins and the associated changes in the recycling service and then more latterly with the advent of the Covid-19 pandemic. Undoubtedly the option for many residents to use the My Tendring self-serve portal had been of great benefit to them.

Members of the Committee had heard that, within the next few months, the Council would complete the roll-out of self-service processes relating to Council Tax, Benefits and Taxi Licensing. Along with Recycling, those were considered as having the biggest impact for residents. When those services had gone live the Council would commence a media campaign so that it could channel shift more people away from the customer service centre and towards the self-serve portal, thus looking to reduce the need for human resources.

After deliberation the Committee had recommended to Cabinet that:

·           the development time frames and future services to be made available on My Tendring be shared periodically with Councillors, together with volume ofcustomer services calls and email contact information, including call numbers, durations of call waiting and abandoned calls, with appropriate bench marking information from other organisations.

·           the prospect of creating a seamless link between My Tendring and my permit for parking permits is actively explored.

·           council tax billing and other services be asked to deliver those services in a way that avoids overloading the customer services team incoming call capacity, e.g. by spreading the dispatch of council tax bills.

·           the development of the leisure app be urgently addressed.

·           the Council look at joining the Institute of Customer Service.

·           the progress of the transformation agenda and how the Council has responded to the COVID19 pandemic in its ability to work from home be noted and applauded.

The Cabinet had before it the following response thereto which had been submitted by the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance & Governance:-

“I would like to thank the Committee for their comments, and my responses are:

1. This information is being collated for Management Team and will be made available for Councillors on a quarterly basis starting beginning April. We currently have no benchmarking practices in place but this is part of the Customer Services action plan for this year and will be added as soon as possible.

2. A link to the MiPermit process on the My Tendring portal has now been added on.

3. The despatch of council tax bills is very closely controlled by legislation so we do not have much leeway here. We will however do our utmost to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

To enable the Cabinet to consider the comment made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following that Committee’s scrutiny of the Council’s transformation of staffing resources.

RESOLVED that the comment of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the comments of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, in response thereto, be endorsed.

Cabinet was aware that, at the meeting of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 3 December 2020 (Minute 109 referred), the Committee had been provided with an overview of the Council’s transformation of staffing.

It had been reported to the Committee that throughout 2019 a significant focus had been placed on preparing staff to work more flexibly and with greater autonomy. Two programmes had been key to this: InDependence and Managing Remote Teams. All courses had been delivered by external providers who had worked very closely with the Organisational Development Manager and HR Operations Manager on design, development and content.

The InDependence programme had been designed and developed by the Organisational Development Manager with input from an organisational psychologist. The workshops had been delivered by a team of six internal managers who had been trained in how to deliver the programme. In total 273 staff had attended that programme. The Managing Remote Teams course had been attended by 52 managers and team leaders.

In addition, a booklet entitled Modern Working, Your Guide had been circulated to all course attendees.

Members of the Committee had heard how a number of policies had been updated to support flexible working including the Allowances Policy (2018) and the Remote Working Policy (2019) which also included the Flexi Hours Scheme.

To further support the move towards greater flexible working and staff personal accountability online training had been overhauled. The Council had used a specialist online provider (iHasco) for all health and safety awareness training. That shift had resulted in greater compliance as staff could plan their own training schedule according to their work patterns. Compliance rates were in excess of 90%. Face to face delivery was still used for those requiring additional support or greater detail.

During the consideration of this report the Committee had made the following comment to Cabinet:-

·           that the adaptability of the staff and Councillors in relation to the restrictions introduced for COVID19 to continually deliver success, be formally recorded and appreciated.

The Cabinet had before it the following response thereto which had been submitted by the Portfolio Holder for the Corporate Finance & Governance:-

“I would like to thank the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee for their comment and appreciation of both Staff and Councillors during the pandemic. I agree that Staff and Councillors have shown great flexibility, adaptability and a commitment to keep the business of the Council moving forward, alongside responding to the additional demands of the Covid response and recovery programmes.”

Having considered the comment submitted by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee together with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance & Governance’s response thereto:

It was moved by Councillor G V Guglielmi, seconded by Councillor McWilliams and:-

RESOLVED that the comment of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the comments of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, in response thereto, be endorsed.

To enable the Cabinet to consider the recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following that Committee’s scrutiny of the Updated Financial Forecast/Budget 2021/22 and Housing Revenue Account Budget Proposals 2021/2022.

RESOLVED that the recommendations of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the comments of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, in response thereto, be endorsed.

Cabinet was aware that, at the meeting of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 14 January 2021 (Minutes 116 and 117 referred), and in accordance with the requirements of the Budget & Policy Framework Procedure Rules had scrutinised:-

(1)       the updated financial forecast and proposed budget position for 2021/22; and

(2)       the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2021/22 including the movement in HRA Balances, the level of fees and charges for 2021/22 and the HRA Capital Programme.

As a result of that scrutiny the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee made the following recommendations to Cabinet:-

Updated financial forecast and proposed budget position for 2021/22

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET:

(a)       In respect of future outturn positions on the Council's annual budget, to allocate as a priority any available underspend following permitted carry forwards to extend further the measures to achieve the Back to Business Agenda of the Council.

(b)       Further to (a), to establish a Business Roundtable for the District as part of the Back to Business Agenda and to inform that Agenda going forward.

(c)     To reassess all the current reserves, provisions and one off sums allocated by the Council to determine whether they were still required, relevant to the Council’s Corporate Plan and the associated sum was at the appropriate level and:

(i)     to re-allocate sums such as those for the Clacton Town Centre Fountain and Residents Free Parking (where the cost has been incorporated in the base revenue budget) to more closely align with the Corporate Plan priorities of the Council.

(ii)   to identify the specific intentions for the £1.585M for Business Investment and Growth Projects reserve or otherwise look to reallocate that reserve.

(ii)    To allocate a further £56k to resourcing public realm improvements across the District (supplementing and extending the £44k set aside to fund ‘2 One year fixed term posts to support improvements to the overall appearance of the District') thereby allocating a total of £100k to this initiative in total.

(iv)  From the reallocation process, and in recognition of the additional £110k in recycling credits achieved by the Council in 2020/21, to identify £10k to improve recycling bring sites operated by the Council in the District to improve the attractiveness of those sites, signage at and to those sites and thereby further encourage their use and address relevant issues at those sites.

(d)       To request that proposals for use of the Tendring Community Fund be developed swiftly so that these can be put in front of a meeting of the Portfolio Holder Working Party on the Tendring Community Fund without delay.

(e)       To identify whether existing funding in the revenue budget and reserves, provisions and one-off sums enables the Council to adequately support co-ordinated measures to address the mental health needs of the local population as we ultimately come out of covid-19 pandemic restrictions and if this is found to be insufficient to look to allocate further resources as necessary to address those needs.

(f)      To pro-actively assess and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 119.

To notify Members of recent urgent Executive Decision(s) taken by the Leader of the Council on behalf of the Cabinet.

RESOLVED that –

(a)   the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)   the urgent decisions taken by the Leader of the Council on behalf of the Cabinet, as detailed in this report, be formally endorsed.

During the meeting Councillors Scott and Chapman each declared for the public record that they had been recipients of Covid business support grants.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Leader of the Council (A.5) which notified Members of recent urgent Executive Decision(s) taken by the Leader of the Council on behalf of the Cabinet.

The Cabinet recalled that, as part of the Council’s response to the COVID-19 public health emergency the Council’s Monitoring Officer had produced a formal “Note on Decision Making Business Continuity Arrangements” which had set out the ways in which the normal operational business of the Council could continue in relation to decisions which would normally be referred to Cabinet, Council or Committees.

In relation to Cabinet decisions the Monitoring Officer’s formal Note, as issued on 20 March 2020, had contained, inter alia, the following information and advice:

“The Constitution requires certain matters to be decided by Cabinet collectively.  The Leader of the Council may exercise any of the powers delegated to the Cabinet:

a. Following a resolution of the Cabinet (subject to the Constitution), or

b. In cases of urgency, in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and/or Section 151 Officer.

In cases of urgency the decision of the Leader of the Council will be recorded and published in accordance with the Constitution.  The Leader of the Council will also be required to make a public statement at the next formal meeting of the Cabinet which will explain why they had taken the decision as a matter of urgency.

Therefore, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, it is recommended that to enable formal decisions to be made on behalf of Cabinet the following procedure should be adopted:

·           a formal decision will be published recording the matters taken into account;

·           at the first formal meeting of Cabinet a report of the decisions taken by the Leader under urgency powers will be produced; and

·           if it was necessary for a key decision to made under urgency provisions this must be reported to Full Council (in accordance with the Access to Information Procedure Rules 15 & 16.2).

Whilst it was anticipated that decisions taken during urgency provisions would be limited or uncontroversial in nature, it must be highlighted that the ability of Members to undertake the statutory overview and scrutiny function is not removed.”

The Monitoring Officer had considered that, in responding to COVID-19, the Council was in exceptional times which therefore satisfied the grounds of urgency.

It was reported that in making the decision in question the Leader of the Council had exercised his delegated power as set out in the Council’s Constitution in Part 3, Schedule 3 (Responsibility for Executive Functions) - Section 3 (General Principles Regarding Decision Making by the Cabinet) – Principle 4b [Part 3.28].

Members were reminded that the decisions taken as a matter of urgency had related to:-

(1)    Members’ Grant Scheme – Phase 2 [Published 8 January 2021]

Decision: (a) To approve the allocation of a further £1,000  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120.

To invite Cabinet to determine its provisional key priority actions for 2021/22 and the means by which performance against the priorities will be monitored and reported on in that year.

Cabinet is further invited to approve that consultation on these key priority actions and the performance monitoring proposals be undertaken with the Overview and Scrutiny Committees. The outcome of the consultation would then be reported to Cabinet on 19 March 2021.

RESOLVED that –

(a)    the provisional key priority actions for 2021/22, as set out at Appendix A to item A.6 of the Report of the Leader of the Council, be adopted;

(b)    the means by which performance against the priorities will be monitored and reported on in 2021/22 be determined on the basis set out in Appendix B to the aforementioned report;

(c)    consultation on the adopted provisional key priority actions referred to in (a) above and the performance monitoring proposals referred to in (b) above be undertaken with the Council’s two Overview and Scrutiny Committees during February 2020;

(d)    the outcome of the consultation with the Overview and Scrutiny Committees referred to in (c) above be reported to Cabinet at its meeting due to be held on 19 March 2021 in order that Cabinet can formally adopt its finalised key priority actions for 2021/22.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Leader of the Council (A.6) which invited it to determine its provisional key priority actions for 2021/22 and the means by which performance against those priorities would be monitored and reported on in that year. Cabinet was further invited to approve that consultation on those key priority actions and the performance monitoring proposals be undertaken with the Council’s two overview and scrutiny committees.  The outcome of such consultation would then be reported to Cabinet at its meeting due to be held on 19 March 2021.

Members were aware that the Council, at its meeting held on 21 January 2020 (Minute 78 referred), had approved a Corporate Plan for 2020/24 and that this had established its strategic direction for those four years.  That strategic direction itself sought to reflect the issues that mattered most to local people, the national requirements from Government and the challenges that faced the District over that time period. 

The themes of the 2020/24 Corporate Plan were:

·         Delivering High Quality Services

·         Building Sustainable Communities for the Future

·         Strong Finance and Governance

·         Community Leadership through Partnerships

·         A Growing and Inclusive Economy

Cabinet was aware that it established each year its priority actions to deliver against the Corporate Plan and thereby ensured that the ambition of that Plan was central to its work. The priority actions did not cover every separate element of the ambition of the four year Corporate Plan; nor were they intended to indicate that other projects, schemes or activities were not being pursued.  They were though intended to reflect imperatives across the Council and for the District and actions that it was right to focus on in that year.

Members were aware that 2020 had been an exceptional year not only nationally but globally.  In Tendring the Council’s Community Leadership role had never been more important as the Council had taken on additional responsibilities in supporting its residents and businesses through the COVID-19 pandemic.  Whilst Tendring District Council had not formally reported on its performance against priorities during 2020, much had been achieved including but not limited to:

·           The roll out of numerous grants in excess of £38million to businesses;

·           The adoption of a local Back to Business Agenda which not only supported businesses to survive but prepared to help them flourish;

·           An Economic Growth Strategy focusing on recovery for the future;

·           Allocation of monies from the Tendring Community Fund to Ward Councillors to provide grants to local organisations to enable them to respond to the pandemic locally;

·           Business continuity arrangements immediately being invoked to ensure Council services remained in place where they were able to do so and for those services impacted by the various lockdowns, staff had been redeployed to work with different teams in response to the pandemic, such as the Community Hub;

·           Adoption of a Climate Change Action Plan to meet the Council’s aspirations towards the Climate Emergency;

·           Section 1 of the Local Plan had been found sound by the Planning Inspectorate  ...  view the full minutes text for item 121.

To approve the draft Executive Scrutiny Protocol which has been produced following consultation undertaken with the Chairmen of the relevant Committees and Portfolio Holders for recommendation onto the two Overview and Scrutiny Committees and full Council for adoption and incorporation into the Council’s Constitution.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(1)    approves the draft Protocol for Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny roles, as set out in Appendix B to item A.7 of the Report of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder;

(2)    recommends the Protocol to both Overview and Scrutiny Committees for their agreement; and

(3)   recommends to Council that the Protocol be adopted for inclusion within Part 6 of the Council’s Constitution.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a detailed report of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder (A.7) which sought its approval for the draft Protocol for Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny roles, which had been produced following consultation undertaken with the Chairmen of the relevant Committees and Portfolio Holders for recommendation onto the Overview and Scrutiny Committees and full Council for adoption and incorporation into the Council’s Constitution. 

It was reported that in May 2019, Statutory Guidance had been published by the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government on Overview and Scrutiny in Local and Combined Authorities.  This Council, in operating a Leader and Executive Governance Model must have regard to it when exercising their functions and it should be followed unless there was a good reason not to in a particular case.

Section 2 of the Government’s Statutory Guidance referred to Culture and expressly stated:-

“The prevailing organisational culture, behaviours and attitudes of an authority will largely determine whether its scrutiny function succeeds or fails. 

While everyone in an authority can play a role in creating an environment conducive to effective scrutiny, it is important that this is led and owned by members, given their role in setting and maintaining the culture of an authority.

Creating a strong organisational culture supports scrutiny work that can add real value by, for example, improving policy-making and the efficient delivery of public services.  In contrast, low levels of support for and engagement with the scrutiny function often lead to poor quality and ill-focused work that serves to reinforce the perception that it is of little worth or relevance.

Members and senior officers should note that the performance of the scrutiny function is not just of interest to the authority itself. Its effectiveness, or lack thereof, is often considered by external bodies such as regulators and inspectors, and highlighted in public reports. Failures in scrutiny can therefore help to create a negative public image of the work of an authority as a whole.”

Cabinet was informed that the Guidance recommended an ‘executive-scrutiny protocol’ in order to help define the relationship between the two arms of the organisation, dealing with the practical expectations of scrutiny committee members and the Executive, as well as the cultural dynamics.  Councils should consider adopting a protocol with its formal integration into the Council’s constitution.

Members were aware that the Council already had strong measures in place to demonstrate the openness of Cabinet being held to account and had introduced some years ago that Group Leaders of all political groups would have the right to attend Cabinet meetings, and to speak on agenda items whilst not being able to vote.  The Terms of Reference of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee stated that the positions of its Chairman and Vice-Chairman would normally be taken by a Member of a political group not represented on the Cabinet.  Informal Group Leaders’ meetings were also held at which the Leader or Deputy Leader could share information in advance of going  ...  view the full minutes text for item 122.

To seek Cabinet’s approval of the latest financial forecast and final General Fund budget proposals 2021/22 (including Council Tax proposals) for recommendation to Council on 16 February 2021.

RESOLVED that –

a)    the latest financial forecast set out in Appendix A to item A.8 of the Report of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, along with the savings and cost pressures set out in Appendices B and C respectively to that report that form the firm proposals for the 2021/22 budget be agreed and that therefore it is recommended to Full Council that a Band D Council Tax for district services of £177.64 for 2021/22 (a £5 increase), along with the associated council tax requirement of £8.604m be approved.

b)    the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance be authorised to agree the ‘technical’ appendices and resolutions for the budget proposals for recommending to Full Council on 16 February 2021;

(c)  in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Corporate Finance and Governance Portfolio Holder, the Chief Executive reports directly to Full Council in respect of the formal resolutions necessary to implement the Executive’s budget proposals along with any late information or notifications received from the Government;

(d)  in respect of the Treasury Strategy 2021/22, the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance be authorised to approve the draft Strategy for consultation with the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and

(e)   the council tax discount policy for young people leaving care, as set out in Appendix D to the aforementioned report, be endorsed and recommended to Full Council for formal adoption.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder (A.8) which sought its approval of the latest financial forecast and final General Fund budget proposals for 2021/22 (including council tax proposals) for onward recommendation to Council.

Cabinet recalled that, at its meeting held on 18 December 2020, it had considered the Updated Financial Forecast / Budget 2021/22. The forecast at that time had provided for a deficit of £1.647m that was to be met by drawing down money from the Forecast Risk Fund.

Subsequently, the Updated Financial Forecast had been subject to consultation with the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee which had met on 14 January 2021 to consider it and the Committee’s comments had been considered earlier in the meeting.

It was reported that since the Cabinet’s meeting on 18 December 2020, additional changes had been required, primarily as a result of new or revised information becoming available which had included the Government’s Financial Settlement announcements. Those changes had result in a reduced deficit for 2021/22 of £1.227m, a change of £0.420m compared to the £1.647m deficit presented to Cabinet in December. Appendix A to the Portfolio Holder’s report provided further details across the various lines of the forecast, with the most significant change being the receipt of the revenue support grant from the Government.

Members were aware that in previous years, this report had set out the full detailed estimates along with the various resolutions / ‘technical’ appendices required for Full Council in February. However, given the increased and on-going COVID 19 workload of a number of officers who played a key role in developing the budget, it had not been possible to finalise this more detailed information at this stage. However, the most up to date forecast, savings schedule and cost pressure summary were set out in the Portfolio Holder’s report, with a recommendation included that would delegate approval of the more detailed budget information and associated ‘technical’ appendices and resolutions to the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance.

Cabinet was advised that this budget position could change as further adjustments might be required as part of finalising the budget for presenting to Council on 16 February 2021, with a further delegation included in the Portfolio Holder’s recommendations to reflect this.

It was reported that based on the final proposed budget for 2021/22, the Council Tax requirement was £8.604m, which was based on a £5 increase for this Council’s services, with a Band D council tax of £177.64. These figures would remain unchanged and therefore would be reflected in the various budget resolutions / ‘technical’ appendices proposed to be delegated to the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance.

Cabinet was aware that the Council’s annual budget and the district and parish elements of the council tax would be considered by Full Council at its meeting due to be held on 16 February 2021 with approval of the ‘full’ council tax levy for the year to be considered by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 123.

To seek Cabinet’s approval of the final Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget proposals 2021/22 (including fees and charges, capital programme and movement in HRA Balances) for recommendation to Council on 16 February 2021.

RESOLVED that –

(a)    if the financial position changes prior to Council considering the HRA budget on 16 February 2021, the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Housing Portfolio Holder, be authorised to adjust the forecast / budget, including the use of reserves; and

(b)    subject to (a) above, a 1.5% increase in dwelling rents in 2021/22 along with the detailed HRA Budget proposals for 2021/22, as set out in Appendices A to D to item A.9 of the Joint Report of the Housing Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, be agreed and recommended to Full Council on 16 February 2021 for its approval.

The Cabinet gave consideration to a joint report of the Housing Portfolio Holder and the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder (A.9) which sought its approval of the final proposals for following for onward recommendation to Full Council at its meeting due to be held on 16 February 2021:

·           a Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2021/22 (including the movement in HRA Balances);

·           the level of fees and charges for 2021/22; and

·           the HRA Capital Programme.

Cabinet recalled that, at its meeting held on 18 December 2020, it had considered the initial Housing Revenue Account Budget Proposals 2021/22. The budget proposals at that time had provided for a small deficit of £0.012m that was to be met by drawing down money from general balances. Those initial budget proposals had then been subject to consultation with the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee, which had met on 14 January 2021 to consider them and the Committee’s comments thereon had been considered earlier in the meeting.

It was reported that since the Cabinet’s meeting on 18 December 2020, only one change had been made that related to an adjustment to the cost of a new IT system where the previous forecast had included a one-off amount on top of the on-going annual maintenance cost. As the one-off cost was to be met from the current year’s budget, this had been removed from the latest 2021/22 forecast. Consequently, that change had resulted in a small surplus for 2021/22 of £0.012m, a change of £0.024m compared to the £0.012m deficit presented to Cabinet in December 2020. Appendix A to the Portfolio Holders’ joint report set out the revised position that reflected that change.

Members were advised that this position remained subject to further adjustments that might be required as part of finalising the budget for presenting to Council on 16 February 2021, with a delegation included in the Portfolio Holders’ recommendations to respond to that possibility.

Cabinet was made aware that the revised forecast surplus of £0.012m in 2021/22 had been contributed to general balances.

Members were informed that the proposed HRA Capital Programme for 2021/22 was set out in Appendix C to the Portfolio Holders’ joint report, which continued to provide for a range of projects, including new build and initiative schemes.

It was reported that the average weekly rent remained unchanged to the figure reported in December 2020 at £84.10, an increase of 1.5% over the comparable figure of £82.42 for 2020/21.

Cabinet was advised that the HRA general balance was forecast to total £5.282m at the end of 2021/22, which retained a strong financial position against which the Housing Strategy and associated HRA 30 year Business Plan could be delivered and developed.

Members were made aware that HRA debt continued to reduce year-on-year as the principal was repaid with a total debt position at the end of 2021/22 forecast to be £36.777m (a reduction of £1.664m compared with the figure at the end of 2020/21).

Having considered all of the information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 124.

There are none on this occasion.

There were none on this occasion.

The Cabinet is asked to consider passing the following resolution:

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 18 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.”

It was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor Talbot and:-

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 18 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.

To confirm as a correct record the exempt minute of the meeting of the Cabinet held on Friday 18 December 2020.

It was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor Talbot and:-

RESOLVED that the exempt minute of the meeting of the Cabinet, held on Friday 18 December 2020, be approved as a correct record and be signed by the Chairman.