Meeting documents

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on  17 December 2015. 

The minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17 December 2015 were confirmed and signed by the Leader.

To note the 28 Day Notice of decisions to be taken by:

Circulated at the meeting was an updated copy of the 28 day Notice prepared in accordance with Regulation 9 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 setting out the key (and non-key) decisions the Cabinet was intending to make at public and private meetings.

The Cabinet also received a copy of the 28 day Notice setting out the key (and non-key) decisions the Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee were intending to make at public and private meetings.

RESOLVED that the 28 day Notices be noted.            

To consider report of the Director of Resources.

The Cabinet received a report on the Council’s Budget Proposals and Council Tax for 2016/2017 containing the following sections:

Section A      Financial Context and Base Budget position

Section B      Investment Income and Grants

Section C      Budget Requirement and Council Tax Issues

Section D      Medium Term Financial Strategy Update

Section E      Advice of Director of Resources

The report also attached the following appendices:

·       Appendix A – Chief Financial Officer Report

·       Appendix B – Budget Sensitivity Analysis 2016/17

·       Appendix C – Farnham Park Trust Budgets

Circulated at the meeting were details of the Final Local Government Settlement 2016/17 published by the Government on 8 February 2016. The significant changes from the December Provisional Settlement affecting district councils are:

·       The additional tariff (Negative RSG) is removed for 2017/18 and 2018/19.  It is still intended to be a feature of the 2019/20 funding.

·       A Transition Grant in 2016/17 and 2017/18 to ease the pace of RSG reduction

·       The ceiling for council tax increases for all districts is raised to £5.

The implication for South Bucks from the changes in grant funding are as follows and replaces the table in paragraph 5.4 of the report:

The impact on the Medium Term Financial Forecast is shown in the following table (which supersedes the table in 5.20 of the report) which  assumes a £5 per annum increase in the council tax for 2016/17 followed by 1.995 increases over the period to 2019/20.

After noting the approach to investment, including the Government consultation on changing the New Homes Grant system as set out in Section B and being advised that the report to Council will incorporate the implications of the Final Settlement the Cabinet as well as the decisions of preceptors.

To consider report of the Director of Resources.

The Cabinet considered a report setting out in Appendix A the Capital Programme for 2016/17 – 2019/20.

The Capital Programme is financed from three sources, grants, capital receipts, and revenue reserves/contributions and a table in the report showed the proposed funding of the programme. A further table indicated the impact on capital resources and with capital receipts declining to £3.127m in year 2019/20 the Cabinet agreed that there was a need not only to keep the Capital Programme under review but also to ensure that the resources available are invested in projects that generate income/produce savings.

After indicating their support for the capital schemes set out in Appendix A, the Cabinet

To consider report of the Acting Chief Executive.

The Cabinet received a report attaching a summary of the service plans produced by service areas within the Council.

To note the minutes of the meeting of the PAG held on 8 December 2015.

The Cabinet received the Part I minutes of the Environment Policy Advisory Group held on 8 December 2015.

The Cabinet received a copy of the report considered by the Resources PAG on 10 December 2015 setting out the Treasury Management Strategy 2016/17. The Cabinet noted that the level of cash available for investment in the future would be influenced by capital projects undertaken.

 Having considered the recommendation of the Portfolio Holder, the Cabinet

To note the minutes of the meeting of the PAG held on 3 December 2015.

The Cabinet received the minutes of the Healthy Communities Policy Advisory Group held on 3 December 2015.

To note the minutes of the meeting of the PAG held on 26 November 2015.

The Cabinet received the minutes of the Sustainable Policy Advisory Group held on 26 November 2015.

To consider and agree any recommendations arising from the minutes of the meeting of the Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee held 26 October and 16 November 2015.

The Cabinet received for information the minutes of the meetings of the Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee held on 26 October and 16 November 2015.

After noting that the list of those present at the meeting on 16 November 2015 would be amended to include Mr Naylor, Mrs Darby, Mr Harris, Mr Stannard, Mr Wilson and Mr Martin.

The Cabinet considered a report setting out a proposal for the Council Tax Support Scheme for 2016/17 to remain unchanged other than the annual uprating of premiums, allowances, non-dependant deductions and any changes to the national pension age scheme that need to be reflected in the Council’s scheme.

After noting that there have been relatively few queries or complaints about the current scheme the Cabinet

A recent review of safeguarding procedures had highlighted the need to update the existing safeguarding policies operating in both Chiltern and South Bucks District Councils to reflect recent changes to legislation and to provide guidance to staff on the Council’s roles and responsibilities in this area.

The Cabinet accordingly considered a report (which had also been considered by the Personnel Committee) requesting that;

·            SBDC and CDC adopt the Buckinghamshire Multi- agency policy and procedures for safeguarding vulnerable adults.

·             both Councils adopt the joint Chiltern and South Bucks Child Protection Policy

In setting out the reasons for the request, the report explained that both Councils are partners on the Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Childrens Board (BSCB) and Buckinghamshire Safeguarding Adults Board (BSAB). Whilst not delivering services directly to young people the Councils support and facilitate services used by young people. Both Councils directly deliver services involving children, young people and vulnerable persons and staff have a duty to report any concerns. 

The Councils’ Safeguarding responsibilities include reporting abuse, neglect, trafficking, radicalisation, and exploitation and closely link to the Councils’ responsibilities under the Crime and Disorder legislation.

The Buckinghamshire Multi- agency and the joint Chiltern and South Bucks Child Protection Policies provide clear guidance as to the standards of governance, training, reporting and assistance required to safeguard children, young people and vulnerable persons. The Policies had been written to reflect the roles of both Councils and to identify the training and reporting structures required. They had also been designed to reduce risk to the Councils by, for example, setting out clear responsibilities and reporting lines.

Following adoption of the policies, staff and members would receive appropriate training on their responsibilities and on how to identify safeguarding concerns, the duty to report and opportunities to mainstream the safeguarding responsibility into their everyday activity.

Following endorsement of the Policies and the proposed delegation of responsibility the Cabinet

To consider report of the Acting Chief Executive.

The Cabinet considered a report outlining the performance of Council services against performance indicators and service objectives during April – September 2015.

The Cabinet particularly noted the six off target PIs as set out paragraphs 4.3  and 4.4 of the report.

"that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1974 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act "

            The paragraph number is given after each heading.

Private report referred to in item 8a.

Paragraphs 3 and 4 - Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person and relating to consultations/negotiations in connection with a labour relations matter.

Following the report considered at the Resources PAG on 10 December 2015 the Cabinet considered a report providing further details of the proposal for the space planning and possible sub-leasing of space at Capswood, together with costs.

Implementation of shared service reviews, with a net staff movement to Amersham created surplus space at Capswood, and the report set out a proposal to carry out a phased movement of staff from Capswood 1 to Capswood 2, culminating in the ground floor and first floor of Capswood 1 being refurbished and sublet.  Consolidating staff within Capswood would improve the working environment for staff.

The report went on to identify the cost of the refurbishment phases with paragraph 4.9 providing a breakdown of potential savings and income for the ground floor and first floor of Capswood 1.

A project manager would be required to implement the project, at an estimated cost of £25,000. Paragraph 5.7 set out the total cost of the project. The Cabinet noted that the cost of decanting and refurbishing the upper floor of Capswood 1 totalled £117K and not £107k as stated in the report.

The report also identified the potential risks of the project, with paragraph 5.7 setting out the cost and savings of mothballing the first floor of Capswood 1 if it were not sublet.

After supporting the proposal the Cabinet

Paragraphs, 3 and 4 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person/information relating to any consultations or negotiations.

The Cabinet considered a report setting out a proposal to allocate a sum from uncommitted commuted sums budget to Catalyst Homes Ltd to facilitate the delivery of 12 affordable rented unites at the ex SGT Car Dealership site Corner of Institute Road (and Station Road) Taplow. Members asked for some additional information on the sizes and mix of the units.

After noting the benefits, which included reducing bed and breakfast pressures on the Council the Cabinet

To receive the Part II Minutes of the meeting of the SD PAG held on 26 November 2015 and agree the recommendations in the following Minute:

 Minute 32  - HS2 Update –Report attached as an Appendix

The Cabinet received the Part II minutes of the meeting of the Sustainable Development PAG on 26 November 2015 which contained a recommendation from the Portfolio Holder following an update the PAG had received on HS2.

Having considered the recommendation of the Portfolio Holder the Cabinet