Items
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Item |
126. |
Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies for absence were received from
Councillor A Cooper Councillor J Oates and M Summers.
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127. |
Minutes of Previous Meeting  PDF 98 KB
The approve the minutes of the previous
meetings held on the 25th
January 2024 and the 1st February 2024.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The minutes of the previous meetings held on
25th January 2024 and 1st February 2024 were
approved and signed as a correct record.
(Moved by
Councillor T Clements and seconded by Councillor S Smith)
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128. |
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.
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129. |
Question Time:
To answer questions from members of the public
pursuant to Executive Procedure Rule No. 13
Minutes:
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130. |
Matters Referred to the Cabinet in Accordance with the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules
Minutes:
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131. |
Corporate Vision, Priorities Plan, Budget & Medium Term Financial Strategy 2024/25 PDF 960 KB
(Report of the
Leader of the Council, Finance and Governance)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Report of the Leader of the Council, Finance
and Governance to approve the recommended package of budget
proposals (attached at Appendix 2) to enable the Council to agree
the:
• General Fund (GF) Revenue Budget and
Council Tax for 2024/25;
• Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Budget
for 2024/25;
• 5 Year General Fund Capital Programme
(2024/29);
• 5 Year HRA Capital Programme
(2024/29);
• 3 Year General Fund Medium Term
Financial Strategy (MTFS) (2024/27); and • 5 Year HRA Medium
Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) (2024/29).
To comply with the requirement of the
Council’s Treasury Management Policy in reporting to Council
the proposed strategy for the forthcoming year and the Local
Government Act 2003 with the reporting of the Prudential Indicators
(attached at Appendix 3) and the requirement to prepare an annual
Corporate Capital Strategy (Appendix A of the MTFS).
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RESOLVED
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that Cabinet:
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endorsed the following
recommendations to proceed to Council for
approval:
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1.
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the proposed revisions to Service Revenue
Budgets (Policy Changes) (Appendix E of the MTFS);
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2.
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the sum of £27,070 be applied from
Council Tax Collection Fund surpluses in reducing the Council Tax
demand in 2024/25 (Table 16, Section 7.8 of the MTFS);
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3.
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the sum of
£1,151,630 be applied to Business Rates Collection Fund
deficits in 2024/25 (Table 16, Section 7.8 of the MTFS);
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4.
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that on 14 December 2023, the Cabinet
calculated the Council Tax Base 2024/25 for the whole Council area
as 23,479 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B(3) of the Local
Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the "Act")];
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5.
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that the Council Tax requirement for the
Council’s own purposes for 2023/24 is £4,759,193
(Appendix F and Appendix H of the MTFS);
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6.
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the following amounts as calculated for the
year 2024/25 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:
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a. £4,759,193 being the amount
calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the
Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Item R in the
formula in Section 31A(4) of the Act);
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b. £202.70 being the amount at 6 (a)
above (Item R), all divided by Item T (at 4 above), calculated by
the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the
basic amount of its Council Tax for the year;
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7.
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the Council Tax level for the Borough Council
for 2024/25 of £202.70 (an increase of £5.81 (2.95%) on
the 2023/24 level of £196.89) at Band D;
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8.
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an aggregate Council Tax (comprising the
respective demands of the Borough Council, Staffordshire County
Council, Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner Staffordshire
and Stoke-on Trent and Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Authority) of
£2,107.68 at Band D for 2024/25 be noted (£2,012.94 in
2023/24) (Appendix H of the MTFS);
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9.
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the Council Tax levels at each band for
2024/25 (Appendix H of the MTFS);
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10.
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the sum of £1,134,859 be transferred
from General Fund Revenue Balances in 2024/25 (Appendix F of the
MTFS);
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11.
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the Summary General Fund Revenue Budget for
2024/25 ...
view the full minutes text for item 131.
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132. |
Review of Fees & Charges 2023/24 PDF 60 KB
(Report of the
Leader of the Council, Finance and Governance)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Report of the Leader of the Council, Finance
and Governance to seek approval for the proposed fees and charges
payable with effect from 1st April 2024.
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RESOLVED
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that Cabinet:
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1.
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Implemented the annual inflationary increase
(5%) for the fees and charges where appropriate.
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2.
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Endorsed increases in the charges applied for
goods sold through the catering bar and shops throughout the year
as these are based on cost price plus a margin.
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(Moved by
Councillor T Jay and seconded by Councillor S Smith)
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133. |
Write Offs 1st April 2023 to 31st December 2023 PDF 77 KB
(Report of the Leader of the Council,
Finance and Governance)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Report of the Leader of the Council, Finance
and Governance to endorse the amount of debt written off for the
period 1st April 2023 to 31st September 2023.
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RESOLVED
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that Cabinet:
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Endorsed the amount of debt written off for
the period of
1st April 2023 to 31st December 2023 (Appendix
A-E).
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(Moved by
Councillor T Jay and seconded by Councillor S Smith)
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134. |
Quarter 3 Performance Report PDF 59 KB
(Report of the
Leader of the Council, Finance and Governance)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Report of the Leader of the Council, Finance
and Governance to provide Cabinet with an overview of Council
performance for the third quarter of the 2023-24 financial year
(October to December 2023). It reports the Council’s position in relation to progress
with strategic corporate plan projects and updates on the financial
position, corporate risks, audits, information governance and
complaints. The report was considered
by Corporate Scrutiny Committee on 7th February 2024.
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RESOLVED
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that Cabinet:
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Endorsed the contents of this report.
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(Moved by
Councillor T Jay and seconded by Councillor S Smith)
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135. |
Emergency Planning and Civil Contingencies PDF 105 KB
(Report of the
Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health and Community
Partnerships)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Report of the Portfolio Holder for
Environmental Health and Community Partnerships to set the current
progress on the Council’s preparedness for Emergency and
Business Continuity planning, as required by Civil Contingencies
legislation, regulations, and directions.
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RESOLVED
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that Cabinet:
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1.
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Acknowledged and Supported the Emergency
Planning & Business Continuity Improvement Plan – RAG
rated and shown at Annex 1;
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2.
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Endorsed the Local Government
Association’s 2018 Guidance document titled ‘A
Councillor’s Guide to Civil Emergencies’ when dealing
with major incidents and emergencies and shown at Annex 2; and
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3.
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Delegated authority to the Portfolio Holder
for Environmental Health and Community Partnerships, in conjunction
with Assistant Director Neighbourhoods, for the development of
member FAQs and communications guidance on handling emergency
planning situations - supporting Member seminar(s) and onward
training material via the Council’s MemberZone.
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(Moved by
Councillor S Smith and seconded by Councillor P Thompson)
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136. |
Housing Revenue Account Business Plan 2023-2053 PDF 175 KB
(Report of the
Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and
Planning to present the updated baseline assessment and financial
projections for the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA)
covering the 30-year period 2023/4-2053/4. A detailed financial analysis, supported
externally, is shown in Annex 1 and incorporates revised budgets
and assumptions.
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RESOLVED
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that Cabinet:
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1.
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Approved the baseline and HRA investment
forecast shown at Annex 1;
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2.
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Endorsed the financial modelling at Annexes 1
and 2, evidencing that the HRA balances in the medium term. But
from 2042/43, the longer-term horizon scan shows that the plan is
not financially sustainable;
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3.
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Agreed to consultation with Tenants and
Leaseholders on the proposed scenarios around service efficiency to
support interventions longer term to balance the HRA budget as
shown at Annex 3;
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4.
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Delegated final approval, of the detail, in
the full and summary HRA Business Plan working papers to the
Portfolio Holder Housing and Planning, in consultation with the
Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods shown at Annex 4;
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5.
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Approved the creation of a HRA Business &
Viability Planning Project within the Social Housing Regulatory
Programme to ensure oversight, scrutiny and monitoring of the
consultation and progression of the service review opportunities
identified;
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6.
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Delegated Authority to the Portfolio Holder of
Housing and Planning, in conjunction with the Council’s S151
Officer, to write to the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and
Communities to set out the financial challenges and further impact
of government intervention on rent setting regarding the
Council’s ability to invest in its stock achieving
environmental ambitions particularly around decarbonisation;
and
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7.
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Endorsed continued financial support and
modelling with Housing Finance Associates supporting the
Council’s HRA business planning, costs met from existing
budgets.
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(Moved by
Councillor S Smith and seconded by Councillor T Clements)
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137. |
Local Plan Progression Options PDF 109 KB
( Report of the
Portfolio Holder for Housing and Planning)
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Report of the Portfolio Holder for Housing and
Planning sought Cabinet approval of the revised approach to the
delivery of a new local plan for Tamworth resulting from
Government’s proposed changes to the planning system, and for
the publication of associated documents.
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Resolved
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that Cabinet
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1.
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Approved the revised approach to the
development of the new local plan for Tamworth
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2.
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Approved the publication of the updated Local
Development Scheme and Statement of Community Involvement.
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(Moved by
Councillor S Smith and seconded by Councillor P Thompson)
Members thanked the Anna Miller, Richard
Powell and the team for an in depth and informative
report.
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