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Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Thursday, 30th November, 2017 6.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 1, Marmion House, Lichfield Street, Tamworth, B79 7BZ. View directions

Contact: Democratic Services  01827 709264

Items
No. Item

65.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor J Goodall

66.

Minutes of Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 228 KB

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 2nd November 2017 were approved and signed as a correct record

 

(Moved by Councillor r Pritchard and seconded by Councillor M Thurgood)

 

 

 

67.

Declarations of Interest

To receive any declarations of Members’ interests (pecuniary and non-pecuniary) in any matters which are to be considered at this meeting.

 

When Members are declaring a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they have dispensation, they should specify the nature of such interest.  Members should leave the room if they have a pecuniary or non-pecuniary interest in respect of which they do not have a dispensation. 

Minutes:

There were no Declarations of Interest.

68.

Question Time:

To answer questions from members of the public pursuant to Executive Procedure Rule No. 13

Minutes:

None

69.

Matters Referred to the Cabinet in Accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules

Verbal report on the findings of the Infrastructure, Safety and Growth Scrutiny Committee on Electric Car Charging in Tamworth.

 

Verbal report on the findings of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee on the Quarter Two Performance Report.

Minutes:

Councillor P Thurgood put forward the recommendations from the findings of the Infrastructure, Safety and Growth Scrutiny Committee on Electric Car Charging in Tamworth.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet agreed the recommendations:-

 

1.

There is no case for Tamworth Borough Council intervening in the provision of electric charging points at present, with a review to take place in 2020;

 

2.

The issue of future provision for home charging of vehicles be included in the next Local Plan to ensure that consideration is given to the future needs of the growing number of people who will have electric / hybrid fuel cars;

 

3.

Tamworth Borough Council to consider placing information on the website that details of existing charging points within the local area.

 

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

 

70.

Quarter Two 2017/18 Performance Report pdf icon PDF 10 KB

(Report of the Leader of the Council)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Leader of the Council to provide Cabinet with a performance and financial health-check.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1.

endorse the contents of the report and consideration be given to a campaign against high cost lending.

 

2.

Agreed that a Universal Credit campaign be promoted to prioritise rent, particularly around the festice season; tied into the annual ‘Pay Your Rent Campaign’; and

3.

Agreed that a promotion on the progress of the Assembly rooms be considered including a banner outside to enable the public to be informed and advising stakeholders of the progress to ensure their continued support. 

 

 

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

 

 

71.

Draft Base Budget Forecasts 2018/19 to 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 1 MB

(Report of the Leader of the Council)

Minutes:

 

Report of the Leader of the Council to inform Members of the re-priced base budget for 2018/19, base budget forecasts for the period 2018/19 to 2022/23 (the 5 Year Medium Term Planning Period) and the underlying assumptions and to consider the future strategy to address the financial trends.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

 

1.

Approved the technical adjustments and re-priced base budget figures for 2018/19 & indicative budgets to 2022/23 be approved (as attached at Appendix B, C, D, E, F, G & H;

 

2.

Agreed that consideration be given to the proposed Policy Changes and Capital Programmes, as detailed within the report;

 

3.

Agreed that consideration be given to the planned changes to Council Tax and Housing Rent for 2018/19, as detailed within the report; and

 

4.

Agreed that in compliance with the Constitution of the Council, the Joint Scrutiny Budget Workshop be asked to consider the budget proposals contained within this report.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor R Pritchard)

 

72.

Council Tax Base 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets & Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Finance to report the Council Tax Base for the Borough Council for 2018/19.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

 

 

Agreed that Tamworth Borough Council resolves its calculation of the Council Tax Base for the year 2018/19 to be 21,438 (2017/18 – 21,093).

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

 

73.

Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme 2018/19 onwards pdf icon PDF 209 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets & Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

 

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Finance to advise Members of the results and feedback from the recently undertaken consultation on the proposed Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 2018 onwards and to review the consultation feedback when considering potential changes to be applied in the 2018/19 onwards Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme;

 

The report is also to advise members that the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age customers for 2018/19 should include continued alignment to Applicable Amounts with those of Housing Benefit; and ask that the Committee endorses the proposed change, moderately supported by the consultation results, that Council Tax Reduction awards will disregard in full Bereavement Support Payments.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

considered the results of the public consultation on the current scheme, carried out 18 August to 10 November 2017, and endorsed the proposed recommended change;

 

2.

Approved the base scheme going forward with the following;

 

a.    That the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme for working age customers for 2018/19 will continue to be aligned to Applicable Amounts with those of Housing Benefit, and

 

b.    That Council Tax Reduction awards will disregard in full Bereavement Support Payments.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

74.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-year Review Report 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 523 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets & Finance)

Minutes:

 

 

Report of the Porfolio Holder for Assets and Finance to present to Members the Mid-year Review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy. 

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

 

accepted the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-year Review Report 2017/18

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

 

75.

Write Offs 01/04/17 - 30/09/17 pdf icon PDF 212 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets & Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Finance requested that Members endorse the amount of debt written off for the period 01 April 2017 to 30 September 2017 and to seek approval to write off irrecoverable debt in line with policy re Housing Benefit Overpayments and Business Rates in excess of £10k.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

1.

Endorsed the amount of debt written off for the period of 1st April 2017 to 30th September 2017 – Appendix A-D, and:

 

2.

Approved the write off of irrecoverable debt for Housing Benefit Overpayments of £35,778.61 –Appendix E and Business Rates of £184,355.96 – Appendix F respectively

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

 

76.

Temporary Reserves, Retained Funds and Provisions pdf icon PDF 101 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets & Finance)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Assets and Finance to advise Members on the levels of reserves and to seek approval for the return of unspent reserves to balances, following the recent review by the Executive Director Corporate Resources.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

approved the return of the reserves, as detailed in Appendix A, of £238,741 to General Fund balances and £83,500 to Housing Revenue Account (HRA) balances;

 

2.

noted the reserves to be spent in 2017/18 and 2018/19 which will otherwise be returned to balances; and

 

3.

noted the current levels of reserves remaining.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor R Pritchard and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

77.

Brownfield Land Register pdf icon PDF 232 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration to seek approval to publish the Tamworth Borough Council Brownfield Land Register.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

approved the publication of the Brownfield Land Register 2017;

 

2.

approved delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and the Head of Managed Growth, Regeneration and Development to make any final changes to the Brownfield Register prior to publication; and

 

3.

authorised approval of the publishing the Brownfield Register in future years to the Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and the Head of Managed Growth, Regeneration and Development.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor S Claymore  and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

78.

Tamworth Borough Council CCTV Resiliance and Development pdf icon PDF 184 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Communities & Wellbeing)

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Communities to update Cabinet on the current status of Tamworth Borough Council CCTV system and approve further actions to ensure future resilience and development.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

Endorsed the findings of this report and recommend that Officers, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Communities, explore the options available to provide a resilient and fit for purpose CCTV operation in Tamworth;

 

2.

Agreed that Cabinet refer this to Infrastructure and Growth Scrutiny Committee in order to seek views on any proposals that come out of this options appraisal.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor S Doyle and seconded by Councillor D Cook)

 

 

79.

Arts and Events Delivery 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 151 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Culture)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Report of the Portfolio Holder for Environment & Culture to update members on current projects and progress, to endorse the Mid-Point evaluation submitted to Arts Council England. To seek approval for the proposed programme of work for 2018-19 and to seek approval to the proposed changes to outdoor events booking processes, timelines and requirements and note that once amended that the new procedure’s will be presented to Cabinet for endorsement at a later date prior to implementation.  The report will also advise Cabinet of the proposed Policy Change (Net £15,000) for Outdoor Events 2018/19.  Budgets and the proposal to seek approval for the creation of retained fund for the financial year ending 31st March 2019 and to seek approval for spending the Capital Grant from Arts Council England as part of the Tamworth Assembly Rooms Development Project.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

endorsed the update given on the 2016/17 programme and Arts Council Mid-Point Grant for the Arts Review;

 

2.

approved the 2018/19 programme;

 

3.

approved the proposed changes to the Outdoor events processes;

 

4.

noted the proposed changes to the Outdoor Events budget  which are to be considered as a Policy Change  during  the 2018/19 Budget Process; and

 

5.

Approved the Capital Grant expenditure.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor D Cook and seconded by Councillor S Claymore)

 

80.

Variable Rent Policy for Council Tenants pdf icon PDF 412 KB

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing Services to amend the Councils Rent Setting Policy to include arrangements to charge affordable rents on new and affordable housing as detailed in the report.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

approved the Rent Setting Policy as provided at Annex one detailing the specific arrangements for charging affordable rent as per the DCLG conditions;

 

2.

 

 

 

3.

 

 

 

4.

 

 

 

 

5.

 

Agreed to delegate authority to the Director Communities, Partnerships and Housing in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder of Housing to:

 

Agreed to amend the Rent Setting Policy in line with the changing Government agenda around rent setting and charging. 

 

Agreed to vary affordable rent charges in line with HCA grant funding conditions should it differ from the methodology contained in the proposed policy to ensure it maximises commercial opportunities around future grant funding.

 

Agreed in conjunction with Councils s151 Officer seek a financial waiver to invest in the Orchard Housing Management Affordable rent module to ensure efficient rental recovery.  In order to oversee the arrangements for investing in the housing management system to ensure digital solution to track affordable tenancy types for the purposes of both re-valuation and rent generation.

 

 

(Moved by Councillor M Thurgood and second by Councillor D Cook)

 

81.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

To consider excluding the Press and Public from the meeting by passing the following resolution:-

 

“That in accordance with the provisions of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meeting and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, and Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public  interest in disclosing the information to the public”

 

At the time this agenda is published no representations have been received that this part of the meeting should be open to the public.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

That members of the press and public be now excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item on the grounds that the business involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

 

 

82.

Community Development Review

(Report of the Portfolio Holder for Communities & Wellbeing & Portfolio Holder for Housing Services)

Minutes:

Report of the Portfolio Holder for Communities and Wellbeing & Portfolio Holder for Housing Services to update Cabinet on the outcomes of the review of Community Development and make recommendations arising from the review to ensure the most effective approach in the delivery of the Council’s Vision and Objectives.

 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet

 

1.

Endorsed officers recommendations contained within the report