Meeting documents

To sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2016.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2016 were agreed and signed by the Chairman.

During the discussion on item 8 (Medium Term Financial Strategy) Councillor D Varley declared a personal interest that related to Lords Mill Weir as she lived in close proximity to the site.

The Committee’s comments were sought on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS). This was a financial statement that showed how the Council intended to fund its key objectives over the next 3 to 5 years and manage its financial risks over the medium term. The document would continue to be updated throughout the budget process, and would be considered by the Cabinet at a meeting on 1 November.

The Council is taking up the Government’s offer to keep the grant funding and tariff levels the same as the last Financial Settlement data until 2020/21. This would provide some financial certainty as it was unlikely that Government funding would improve over that period. Those Councils accepting the offer were required to produce efficiency plans and the joint Chiltern and South Bucks Plan was attached to the report for Members’ consideration.

There was a discussion regarding the potential projects contained in the capital programme (Appendix A), in particular the estimated costs for Amersham Leisure Centre and Amersham Multi-Storey Car Park (AMSCP). Whilst accepting that there was a need for additional parking and a new leisure facility in Amersham, Members were unclear on how the estimated costs for those projects had been calculated.

Particular concern was expressed in relation to the anticipated cost of the AMSCP project, which was approximately £2.5M higher than previous estimates had stated, and that this would probably impact on the payback period. It was considered important to ensure that the estimated figures were accurate.

It was noted that no final decision had been made on those projects, and that they were included in the MTFS for financial planning purposes only. The MTFS in itself was not giving approval to these projects that would only be done by Cabinet following consideration of business cases. Whilst acknowledging that the business case for those projects would be the subject of separate reports, undergo full scrutiny and be subject to final approval from Members, the Committee felt that it was important to ensure that the MTFS contained realistic cost estimates for projects.

Councillor D Varley advised during the discussion that she had a personal interest because she lived in close proximity to Lords Mill Weir which was one of the other items contained in the capital programme.

During the discussion it was requested that when the Cabinet is considering the business case for the Amersham Pools Redevelopment that they are provided with the impact on the Council’s balance sheet of the write off of the old asset and the write on of the new asset taking into account the basis of valuations required for accounting purposes.

In response to a question it was clarified that GLL managed the Council’s leisure centres on its behalf. Amersham leisure centre was approaching the end of its operational life. The Council would therefore need to consider how it funded a replacement facility. It was advised that it was likely to be most cost effective for the Council to undertake borrowing and build its own facility  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

The Committee received a report showing the Council’s performance against priority performance indicators and quarterly corporate performance indicators for the first quarter of 2016/17.

Officers were asked to double check the figures relating to working days lost due to sickness absence. Members also requested further information on whether the number of staff leaving the Council voluntarily was a continuing issue. It was noted that the Personnel Committee received regular update reports on staffing matters and monitored this closely.

Members highlighted that the increase in the number of households living in temporary accommodation may impact the medium term financial strategy. A Member working group had been setup to look into identifying additional affordable housing in the district, and 40 different locations were currently being explored. Paradigm were also involved with this project.

The Committee requested an explanation at a future meeting as to why the target for processing minor planning applications within 8 weeks was not being met. The percentage of planning appeals allowed was also highlighted, and it was noted that this was being investigated. Members also requested further information on the net additional homes provided. It was felt that this should be measured regularly in line with other performance indicators.  

Members highlighted that the number of household refuse collection containers missed per month had increased. It was noted that this was being monitored by the CDC & WDC Joint Waste Collection Committee.

RESOLVED -

That the report be noted and the information requested by the Committee be reported at a future meeting.

Note: Councillor H Wallace left the meeting at 7.40 pm.

The Committee received a report providing an annual review of the Overview Committees’ work. This was provided to the external auditors and sets out the work undertaken by both of the Council’s Overview Committees.

RESOLVED -

That the report be noted.