Agenda, decisions and minutes

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

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor M J Hughes (the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Services), G F Watling (the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Regeneration) and Councillor J A Broderick (Leader of the Holland-on-Sea Residents’ Group).

The Leader of the Council informed Members that Councillor Hughes was seriously ill and in hospital. He expressed his best wishes to Councillor Hughes and his wife, Jane, for a speedy recovery to full health.

To confirm and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet held on Friday 16 December 2016.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Cabinet, held on Friday 16 December 2016, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members are invited to declare any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, or other interests, and the nature of them, in relation to any item on the agenda.   

There were none at this time though later in the meeting under Minute 137 below:

(1)       Councillor G V Guglielmi declared a non-pecuniary interest in the subject matter of that item insofar as his wife (Councillor V E Guglielmi) was a Trustee of TeenTalk; and

(2)       Councillor I J Henderson declared a non-pecuniary interest in the subject matter of that item insofar as his wife (Councillor J Henderson) was an appointed Observer on behalf of Harwich Town Council of the activities of TeenTalk.

In addition, under Minute 138 below,  Councillor G V Guglielmi declared a non-pecuniary interest in that item insofar as he was the Ward Member for Mistley.

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

The Leader of the Council referred to the recent serious flood warning event at Jaywick and informed Cabinet that he would be make a statement on this at the meeting of the Council on Tuesday 24 January 2017.

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

The Commercialisation Portfolio Holder (Councillor Turner) informed Cabinet that the first public consultation event on the proposed cliff stabilisation scheme between Clacton Pier and Holland-on-Sea had recently been held at The Kingscliff Hotel in Holland-on-Sea. He was pleased to report that members of the public had offered much support for the proposals.

There are none on this occasion.

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

There are none on this occasion.

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

There are none on this occasion.

There were none on this occasion.

Cabinet’s agreement is sought for the Annual Treasury Strategy for 2017/18 (including the Prudential and Treasury indicators) for consultation with the Corporate Management Committee.

That the Annual Treasury Strategy for 2017/2018 (including Prudential and Treasury Indicators) be approved and be submitted to the Corporate Management Committee for review.

There was submitted a report by the Interim Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits (Report A.1), which sought the Cabinet’s approval for the Annual Treasury Strategy for 2017/18 (including Prudential and Treasury Indicators) for consultation with the Corporate Management Committee.

It was reported that the Local Government Act 2003, and supporting regulations, required the Council to set out its treasury strategy for borrowing and to prepare an Annual Investment Strategy (as required by Investment Guidance subsequent to the Act), which set out the Council’s policies for managing its investments and for giving priority to the security and liquidity of those investments, “having regard” to the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Prudential Code and the CIPFA Treasury Management Code of Practice.

It was noted that the Treasury Strategy had been prepared in light of advice received from the Council’s Treasury advisers and reflected the latest codes and guidance.

Accordingly, it was moved by Councillor G V Guglielmi, seconded by Councillor Turner and:

RESOLVED that the Annual Treasury Strategy for 2017/2018 (including Prudential and Treasury Indicators) be approved and be submitted to the Corporate Management Committee for review.

Cabinet’s approval is sought to the final budget proposals for 2017/18 (including Council Tax proposals) for recommendation to Council on 7 February 2017.

RESOLVED that:

1.               if the financial position changes prior to Council considering the budget on 7 February 2017, the Corporate Director (Corporate Services), in consultation with the Interim Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits, be authorised to adjust the budget, including the use of Reserves;

2.               in consultation with the Leader of the Council and the Interim Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits, the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) reports directly to Council in respect of the formal draft resolutions necessary to implement the Cabinet’s budget proposals, along with any late information or notifications received from the Department for Communities and Local Government etc. as may necessarily affect the budget;

3.               the Corporate Management Committee be thanked for the work it has undertaken and continues to take in supporting the development of the budget and that the comments of the Interim Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits, in response to those of the Committee, as set out in the report, be agreed;

4.               in respect of the proposals for the Career Track Service to seek to become a registered apprenticeship training provider:

(i)       delegation be given to the Corporate Director (Corporate Services) to undertake the necessary activities to implement the revised delivery model;

(ii)      delegation be given to the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits Services to undertake the necessary budget adjustments within the overall approved net budget to reflect the revised delivery model;

5.               in respect of the proposals to bring the maintenance of Public Conveniences in-house:

(i)       delegation be given to the Corporate Director (Operational Services) to undertake the necessary activities to facilitate and implement the in-house delivery model;

(ii)      delegation be given to the Head of Finance, Revenues and Benefits Services to undertake the necessary budget adjustments within the overall approved net budget to reflect the in-house solution; and

6.               in respect of supporting the delivery of Council priorities, the budget be amended to reflect the setting aside of amounts from one-off budgets as set out in Table 3 of the report.

That, subject to the above, Cabinet RECOMMENDED to COUNCIL that:

(a)            following the consideration of the comments from the Corporate Management Committee and the responses from the budget consultation activities undertaken, the following final budget proposals be made (based on a £5 increase in a Band D Council Tax for district services):

i)                 that the detailed budgets, as per Appendix A to the report, be approved, which provides for a Council Tax Requirement for 2017/2018 of £7.229m (£6.855m for 2016/2017) (excluding parish precepts);

ii)                that the Council agrees and formally approves:

a)              the specific recommendations, calculations and other matters in respect of the Council’s requirements – Appendix C to the report; and

b)              the Council Tax for this Council’s services – Appendix F to the report.

To set out and seek Cabinet’s approval of:

·                    A Revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for 2016/17 and Original HRA Budget for 2017/18, including the movement in HRA balances;

·                     The level of fees and charges for 2017/18; and

·                     The five-year HRA Capital Programme.

In addition to the above, Cabinet is asked to note the 1% reduction in rents along with an update on the various housing related issues and challenges faced by the Council following recent announcements by the Government/other public sector partners.

That:

1.               the 2017/2018 Scale of Charges, as detailed at Appendix B to the report, be approved;

2.               the 1% reduction in actual rents and formula rents in 2017/2018, in line with the Government’s imposed restrictions on rent-setting policy, be noted;

3.               subject to 1 and 2 above, the Housing Revenue Account revised estimates for 2016/2017 and original estimates for 2017/2018, as set out at Appendix A to the report, along with the HRA Capital Programme and the movement in HRA Balances and Reserves, as set out at Appendices C and D to the report respectively, be approved; and

4.               in respect of 2016/2017, the corporate financial system be amended accordingly to reflect these changes, along with any amendments arising from revised financial reporting requirements.

There was submitted a report, which set out, and sought the Cabinet’s approval to:

(i)            a Revised Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget for 2016/2017 and Original HRA Budget for 2017/2018, including the movement in HRA balances;

(ii)           the level of fees and charges for 2017/2018; and

(iii)          The five-year HRA Capital Programme

In addition to the above, Cabinet was requested to note the 1% reduction in rents along with an update on the various housing related issues and challenges faced by the Council following recent announcements by the Government and other public sector partners.

Accordingly, it was moved by Councillor G V Guglielmi, seconded by Councillor Honeywood and:

RESOLVED that:

1.    the 2017/2018 Scale of Charges, as detailed at Appendix B to the report, be approved;

2.    the 1% reduction in actual rents and formula rents in 2017/2018, in line with the Government’s imposed restrictions on rent-setting policy, be noted;

3.    subject to 1 and 2 above, the Housing Revenue Account revised estimates for 2016/2017 and original estimates for 2017/2018, as set out at Appendix A to the report, along with the HRA Capital Programme and the movement in HRA Balances and Reserves, as set out at Appendices C and D to the report respectively, be approved; and

4.    in respect of 2016/2017, the corporate financial system be amended accordingly to reflect these changes, along with any amendments arising from revised financial reporting requirements.

To inform Cabinet about a joint £1.2million investment by Anglia Ruskin University and IntoUniversity. A new IntoUniversity learning centre will open in Clacton in September 2017 and, together with its associated programmes for both children and young people in primary and secondary schools, will support educational attainment and aspirations of young people within Tendring.

That the contents of the report be noted.

Councillor G V Guglielmi declared a non-pecuniary interest in the subject matter of this item insofar as his wife (Councillor V E Guglielmi) was a Trustee of TeenTalk.

Councillor I J Henderson declared a non-pecuniary interest in the subject matter of this item insofar as his wife (Councillor J Henderson) was an appointed Observer on behalf of Harwich Town Council of the activities of TeenTalk.

There was submitted a report by the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Well-being and Partnerships (Report A.4), which informed Cabinet about a joint £1.2 million investment over five years by Anglia Ruskin University and IntoUniversity.  A new IntoUniversity learning centre would open in Clacton-on-Sea in September 2017 and together with its associated programmes for both children and young people in primary and secondary schools, would support educational attainment and aspirations of young people within the District of Tendring.

Cabinet was aware that the Council’s Corporate Plan 2016-2020 put Community Leadership at the heart of everything the Council undertook and within that context, education and the raising of educational attainment and aspirations within the Tendring District had been, and continued to be, a priority.

It was reported that the Council had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Anglia Ruskin University (and Essex County Council [ECC]) on 10^th June 2014.  As well as raising attainment levels and aspirations, the parties had agreed to work together in collaboration to share information, experience, materials and to develop effective working practices. This had included the University supporting the work of the Tendring Education Improvement Group, exploring opportunities for supporting teacher development and training in Tendring schools and developing employability with young people in Tendring.

Cabinet was informed that the MOU with Anglia Ruskin University had been reviewed in February 2016, through a joint meeting with the University, ECC and this Council. The Council’s Leisure, Wellbeing and Partnerships Portfolio Holder and Head of People Performance and Projects had attended this meeting and had provided feedback about this Council’s education initiatives and workstreams and how the Council was using its influencing role to support school attainment and raise aspirations across the District.

Members were advised that IntoUniversity and Anglia Ruskin University had recently formed a partnership to launch a new IntoUniversity centre in the District of Tendring to serve at least 900 children and young people, commencing in Autumn 2017. IntoUniversity and Anglia Ruskin University were jointly investing a total of £1.2 million into development of the new centre which would ensure that the project could run for at least 5 years.  IntoUniversity offered long term support to young people, and to date no centre that has been opened had subsequently been closed.

It was felt that that this joint initiative was an excellent example of community leadership and partnership working, with Anglia Ruskin University supporting the Tendring District directly to enhance educational standards and aspirations.  With investment over five years, the partnership aimed to have a significant positive impact on the futures of children and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 150.

To determine whether St Mary’s Church Hall, Mistley meets the criteria set out in the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012 following its nomination as as Asset of Community Value by Mistley Thorn Residents’ Association. No other criteria are pertinent.

That Cabinet agrees that St Mary’s Church Hall, New Road, Mistley, Manningtree, CO11 1ER meets the definition of an Asset of Community Value, as set out in Section 88 of the Localism Act 2011, and that the building be added to the Council’s list of Assets of Community Value.

Councillor G V Guglielmi declared a non-pecuniary interest in this item insofar as he was the Ward Member for Mistley.

There was submitted a report by the Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Well-being and Partnerships (Report A.5) which sought Cabinet’s decision on whether St Mary’s Church Hall, Mistley met the criteria set out in the Localism Act 2011 and the Assets of Community Value (England) Regulations 2012, following its valid nomination as an Asset of Community Value by the Mistley Thorn Residents’ Association. No other criteria were pertinent to the decision.

The Cabinet was informed that the Officers, taking the evidence provided into account, were of the opinion that the building nominated did meet the criteria set out in Section 88 of the Localism Act 2011 and, accordingly, were recommending that the building should be listed as an Asset of Community Value.

Having considered the report, the valid nomination and the advice of Officers, it was moved by Councillor McWilliams, seconded by Councillor G V Guglielmi and:

RESOLVED that Cabinet agrees that St Mary’s Church Hall, New Road, Mistley, Manningtree, CO11 1ER meets the definition of an Asset of Community Value, as set out in Section 88 of the Localism Act 2011, and that the building be added to the Council’s list of Assets of Community Value.

There are none on this occasion.

There were none on this occasion.

The Cabinet is asked to consider 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 16 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.”

It was moved by Councillor Stock, seconded by Councillor Turner 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 16 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the relevant paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A, as amended, of the Act.

To confirm and sign the exempt minute of the last meeting of the Cabinet held on Friday 16 December 2016.

The exempt minute of the last meeting of the Cabinet, held on Friday 16 December 2016, was approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.