Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

There were no interests declared.

There were no public questions received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2015

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2015.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2015 be approved and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

Reason for decision: To comply with the Constitution.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He highlighted to Members that the predicted shortfall had been made up following additional New Homes Bonus and increased efficiency, which had also allowed for additional spending on increasing affordable housing, sustainable transport and extending the free wi-fi. He stated that the report included proposals to invest the remaining VFM fund which included a second round of 20 4 7. He informed Members that there was increased  uncertainty around income streams in the future and therefore it was justifiable to increase the reserves using underspendings in the current year. He added that it was proposed to freeze the Council Tax and that the appendices showed provided updates on projects made possible through previous years’ underspendings.. Through the Chair he suggested that, to enable a full and informed debate at Council, it would be helpful to have early sight of any proposed amendments to the budget.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet:

1.    Approves the allocations from the VFM Reserve listed in paragraph 2.9.3

2.    Recommends to Council:

a.            That it notes the level of reserves and assurance statement by the Section 151 Officer in section 7 of the report.

b.            The surplus income over expenditure in 2015/16 is transferred to the General Fund Reserve at 31 March 2016.

c.            The consultation responses detailed in appendix 1 are noted

d.            Approval of the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2015/16 summarised in appendix 2.

e.            Approval of the Special Expenses Budget for 2015/16 set out in appendix 3.

f.             That it freezes the District’s Council Tax in 2015/16.

Reason for decision: To enable the Council to set a balanced budget for 2015/16 as required by statute.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder and Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He highlighted that the rent increase had been worked out on the approved option C and therefore it was proposed to increase rents by 5.41% for properties that are not yet at the target rent level, and 2.2% for those that are at target. He added that this approach would allow the Council to continue investing in improving the housing stock, and also ensure that discrepancies where tenants pay different levels for the same type of property are remedied. He also advised that rent increases would be lower in future years under the HRA business plan.  

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that the budget was in a much better position than it was twelve months previously.

It was moved by Councillor R D Bayliss, seconded by Councillor N J Rushton and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The Assurance Statement by the S151 Officer be noted,

2.    The Council be recommended to:

a.    Approve that council house rents in 2015/16 be increased by an average of 5.41% (average increase £4.27 per week).

b.    Approve the decision to let all properties at target rent on re-let regardless of the status of the incoming tenant.

c.    Approve the increase of 2.3% (average increase 14 pence) in garage rents for 2015/16.

d.    Approve the increase of 10% for central heating charges for 2015/16

e.    Approve the average increase of 1.82% (9 pence per week) in the weekly service charge for 2015/16.

f.     Approve the ground rent increase at Appleby Magna caravan site of 2.3% (70 pence per week) on the anniversary of each individual rent agreement in 2015/16.

g.    Approve the lifeline charges increase of 2.3% (98 pence per quarter) from July 2015.

h.    Approve the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2015/16 attached as appendix a.

Reason for decision: To enable the Council to set a balanced Housing Revenue Account Budget for 2015/16.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He highlighted that the report contained details of proposed General Fund projects for 2015/16 and that the authority would be making provision in the Housing Programmes to maintain Decent Homes standards. He also advised that an additional £400,000 was being made available for the provision of new, affordable housing.

The Head of Finance advised that the figure in paragraph 6.1 on page 65 should read £6,451,250 in line with the total in the table.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that it was great to see two organisations working together on the Wellbeing Centre.

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor R D Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The estimated General Fund, Coalville Special Expenses and H.R.A. Capital Outturn for 2014/15 and Planned Financing be noted.

2.    Council be recommended to approve expenditure in 2015/16 as per:

·         Appendix “a” General Fund and Special Expenses capital schemes

·         Appendix “b” for HRA Capital Schemes

And in 2016/17 these schemes only:

·         £984,000 for the vehicle replacement programme, as detailed in paragraph 3.4.

3.    Cabinet notes the proposed procurement routes and delegates the authority to award the contracts, and any associated agreements in furtherance of the projects, as detailed in section 7 (procurement routes) of this report.

Reason for decision: To enable projects to be included in the Programmes and proceed.

Report of the Head of Finance

Presented by the Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Corporate Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He reminded Members that Cabinet considered the annual report before making the recommendations to Council and it complied with all the professional codes adopted by the Council..

It was moved by Councillor N J Rushton, seconded by Councillor R D Bayliss and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet:

1. Re-adopt the CIPFA Treasury Management inPublic Services: Code of Practice

And

2. Recommend the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2015/16, Prudential Indicators -revised 2014/15 and 2015/16 to 2017/18, and the Annual Minimum Revenue Provision Statement, for approval by Full Council

Reason for decision: These are statutory requirements.

Report of the Director of Housing

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder and Corporate Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

He advised Members that the Council requires a statement of intent to govern how the authority would acquire any land or property, through either the purchase of existing dwellings or properties built through S106 contributions for example, in the future. This would enable an increase in the supply of affordable housing to meet local housing needs.

Councillor R Blunt thanked the Director of Housing for his hard work on the policy and stated that it was pleasing to conclude the term of office with a plan to invest in increasing the Council’s housing stock.

It was moved by Councillor R D Bayliss, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet:

1.    Approve the Draft Acquisition Policy; and

2.    Recommend to Council the necessary future changes that will need to be made to the scheme of delegation within the Council’s Constitution.

Reason for decision: To provide a framework that enables the acquisition of land, property or any other asset

Report of the Director of Housing

Presented by the Housing Portfolio Holder

The Housing Portfolio Holder presented that report to Members.

He advised Members that the Council had offered this provision for many years, that the current contract was coming to an end and the Council had negotiated a less expensive rate with the new provider. He stated that the premiums were added to the tenant’s rent and the Council would retain a  commission  fee to cover its costs. He added that tenants would be encouraged to take up the insurance cover on offer.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that it was a really good example of the Council using its purchasing clout to benefit  tenants and hoped that it would be widely taken up. Councillor T. Gillard also welcomed the scheme and stated that it should be publicised amongst all tenants.

Following a question from Councillor R Blunt, it was confirmed that currently just under 20% of tenants take up the insurance offered through the Council.

It was moved by Councillor R D Bayliss, seconded by Councillor N J Rushton and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet delegates authority to the Director of Housing to award and sign the contract for Tenants’ Home Contents Insurance via the Northern Housing Consortium Framework Agreement.

Reason for decision:Value of the contract exceeds thresholds in the scheme of delegation.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

She stated that she was pleased to see the continued progress of the projects and improvements and once again the town Christmas events had been well received. She highlighted that there had been some concerns raised over the location, but felt the market hall was the most suitable site, however, personally she would like to see more lights outside the hall, so there would be a bigger impact when switched on. She advised Members that work had begun at Phoenix Green as a window of opportunity had arisen.

Councillor R Blunt thanked the Members of the Working Party for the continued work.

It was moved by Councillor A V Smith, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet note the minutes of the Coalville Special Expenses Working Party 16 December 2014 and approve the recommendation as summarised at 3.0

Reason for decision: To progress Coalville Special Expenses projects and programmes.

The officers consider that the press and public should be excluded during consideration of the following items in accordance with Section 100(a) of the Local Government Act 1972 as publicity would be likely to result in disclosure of exempt or confidential information.

By affirmation of the meeting it was

RESOLVED THAT:

In pursuance of Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting on the grounds that the business to be transacted involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act and that the public interest in maintaining this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Reason for decision: To enable the consideration of exempt information.

Report of the Director of Services

Presented by the Community Services Portfolio Holder

The Community Services Portfolio Holder presented the report to Members.

She advised Members that as the project required investment of public money, it was appropriate to bring the report to Cabinet to inform Members of the potential risks. She stated that Coalville Town was doing very well and the Council wanted to continue its support of the club. She informed Members that they were delegating authority to the Director of Services, in consultation with the Corporate Portfolio Holder to enter into agreements that are to the satisfaction of the Section 151 Officer.

Councillor R Blunt stated that he would support the recommendation to ensure that the club could grow.

Councillor T J Pendleton stated that the Council had assisted in the past and that it would be very churlish not to support the local team. He highlighted that there was always risks with these types of agreements.

It was moved by Councillor A V Smith, seconded by Councillor R Blunt and

RESOLVED THAT:

Cabinet

1.    Notes the details contained within the report; and

2.    Gives delegated authority to the Director of Services in consultation with the Corporate Portfolio Holder to agree to the lease, the grant agreement and other associated agreements tothe satisfaction of the Section 151 Officer

Reason for decision: For Cabinet to agree to the potential costs to the authority.

Councillor D De Lacy entered the meeting at 5.07pm.