Meeting documents

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 6 December, 2017, copy attached as an appendix.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the meeting of Council held on 6 December, 2017, be approved as a correct record.

Members to declare any interests.

Members declared a number of interests for the Budget Proposals 2018/19 and Capital Programme agenda items.  The declarations were recorded against the individual items.

By the Chairman of the Council.

By the Leader/Cabinet Members.

(i)            Council Tax setting meeting – the Chairman reminded Members that the Council Tax setting meeting would now take place on Thursday 22 February 2018 (not Wednesday 21 February 2018).

(ii)           Vote 100 – the Chairman, along with all Members present, acknowledged ‘Vote 100’ that was celebrating 100 years since Parliament had passed a law which allowed some women, and all men, to vote for the first time.  To celebrate this milestone a series of events was taking place across the UK.

There were none.

Councillor Mordue

Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Compliance

To consider the attached report.

Council received a report, similar to that submitted to Cabinet on 9 January, 2018, summarising the rationale behind Cabinet’s budget proposals for 2018/19 and beyond.  The report also contained the Chief Financial Officer’s report on the robustness of the budget proposals and the adequacy of reserves.  Both the Cabinet report and the Council report had been posted on the Council’s website.  The report covered:-

·                    The detail of Cabinet’s budget proposals and budget recommendation.

·                    The position with Government Grant – the Government had largely honoured its commitments within the 4 year settlement, although they had increased the Council Tax threshold by 1% across all Councils.  Information was also provided on what the Government was doing to revise the distribution methodology for Revenue Grant Support and business rates retention from 2020/21.

·                    The New Homes Bonus position, including that the Government had decided not to make any changes to the scheme this year.  The NHB baseline growth requirement would remain fixed at 0.4%, with NHB only paid on growth above this.  AVDC would receive £6.3m in 2018/19.

·                    Retained Business Rates – the revaluation of all properties had taken effect from 1 April 2017.  Based on the trends which sat below the revaluation, previous year’s outturn income and in-year financial performance, an initial target of £476,000 had been included in the Budget for 2018-19 as the AVDC retained share of the Business Rates Growth.  By way of mitigation, the Council also held a Business Rates revaluation Reserve.

·                    Business Rates Pooling – to continue with the arrangement that had benefited the Council in the last financial year.  For 2018/19 planning purposes, no account has been taken of any anticipated gain from this pooling arrangement.  As such, any gain achieved would be placed in the Business Rates Equalisation Reserve.

·                    Budget Pressures – a list of the significant budgetary pressures impacting in the financial plan for 2018/19 were detailed at Appendix C to the Council report.  These comprised £1.65m in relation to service delivery pressures, £0.68m inflationary cost pressures and £0.27m relating to revenue consequences of capital decisions.

·                    Savings and Income identification options (including information at Appendix D).  A total of £2.63m of savings had been identified including £0.78m in further savings opportunities arising from the continued review of staffing requirements, £0.85m from improved income opportunities and £1m from proposed improvements in efficiencies.  Some of the areas these related to included the leasing of waste vehicles, increased income from planning (applications, pre-planning agreements and Building Control fees), proactive and effective management of contracts and reduced costs for the HB Law contract.  This last contract savings would be offset by the cost of appointing an in-house expert.

·                    Fees and charges changes – which had been reviewed and proposals agreed by Cabinet on 9 January, 2018.  A significant review was planned during the forthcoming financial year of the car parking charges and season ticket prices.   Any proposed changes to income levels might potentially be implemented in year, although any additional income was not currently factored into the financial plan.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Councillor Mordue

Cabinet Member for Resources, Governance and Compliance

To consider the attached report.

Council received a report that had been considered by Cabinet on 20 December, 2017 and 9 January 2018, and by the Finance and Services Scrutiny Committee on 8 January, 2018.  The report covered the position in relation to capital resources from 2018/19 to 2021/22 and explained the situation in connection with the three main elements that make up the Capital Programme, namely, major projects, housing schemes and other projects, within the context of both the national and local economic climate.

During discussions, Members of the Finance and Services Scrutiny Committee had commented that they were supportive of the use of residual Right to Buy capital receipts and nominal sums from New Homes Bonus for affordable housing, to fund new affordable housing schemes.  The Scrutiny Committee had also been satisfied with the information provided in response to its comments and endorsed the Capital Programme overall.

Proposed by Councillor Mordue, seconded by Councillor Winn, and

RESOLVED –

That the updated Capital Programme for 2018/19 onwards be approved.

NOTE:  Councillors Hewson, Macpherson and Ward declared a pecuniary interest  in this item as Board Members of the Vale of Aylesbury Housing Trust and left the chamber whilst this matter was considered.