Meeting documents

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the PAG held on 17 September 2015.

The minutes of the PAG held on 17 September were agreed.

To update members on the operation of the Bucks home Choice Scheme and current issues.

The PAG received a presentation regarding the operation of,  and general background to the Bucks Home Choice Scheme, which they found particularly informative.

PowerPoint presentation by Head of Healthy Communities

The PAG received a presentation regarding Private Sector Housing, including the challenges posed, and the Joint Housing Assistance Policy.

The Portfolio Holder asked members of the PAG to consider  the points raised so that they can be discussed in  more detail  at the Member o the briefing session on 3 February 2016.

To consider any reports/updates from the Portfolio Holder or Members on Outside Bodies.

The PAG noted a written report from Mr. Pepler regarding the Meeting of the Buckinghamshire Healthcare Trust on 30 September 2015.

Dr Matthews gave an oral updateregarding the HS2 response on AP2, concentrating on the noise issues around Mansion Lane Caravan Park.

To consider the report of the Head of Healthy Communities.

The PAG, after being introduced to Ben Coakley, the newly appointed shared Environmental Health Manager, received a report on the Healthy Communities Portfolio, which included updates on the newly implemented Environmental Health Shared Service. The PAG noted that infrastructure is currently being put in place to enable the team to work from both sites, alongside mobile working.

In terms of Public Health and Nuisance, the team had been working with Planning Policy in order to mitigate the infrastructure impacts of: HS2 depot at Langley; M4 Smart Railway Public Inquiry; Western Rail Access; Heathrow.

The PAG noted  that violent crimes within South Bucks had increased by 17.2%, most likely due to the change in national recording standards.

The PAG considered a report on the application from Gerrards Cross Fun Run for funding for the purchase of medals for participants of the fun run. The total medal cost is £1,347.48, and with maximum eligibility for funding at 50%, the maximum amount that could be allocated was£673.74 which could be met from the existing budget.

The PAG noted that the Council had supported this event in 2013/14 when a grant of £1,000 was made. A grant of £1,250 had also been made in 2010 but as one of the conditions was not met, the grant was reduced by 50%.

·         Having considered the advice of the PAG, the Portfolio Holder has AGREED in accordance with the Scheme of Delegation to Cabinet Portfolio Holders, that a grant of £673.74 be made to the Gerrards Cross Fun Run on condition they submit a Safety Advisory Group form in accordance with the Council’s guidance.

The PAG received a report presenting the draft revenue budget, and fees and charges schedule for 2016/17 for the Health and Housing Portfolio. The report outlined the context of the overall financial position facing the Council for the coming year.

In considering the report the PAG particularly noted the following inflation assumptions:

·         Salaries inflation from April 2016 of 1%

·         Contracts inflation 1.9% (unless different rate specified within contract)

·         Business rates 1.9%

·         Gas 1.8%, Electricity 9% and water 1.9%

·         Insurance 3.5% - as Insurance Premium Tax has gone up from 6% to 9.5%

·         Other expenditure heads

·         Income 0%.

The PAG also noted that the 2016/17 budget of £1,500,000 was an increase of £82,000 on the current year’s approved budget due to reasons set out in paragraph 4.4 of the report. The PAG were made of aware of the risks within the budget, the main risk being homelessness expenditure which was demand driven and sensitive to the general economic climate.

Having considered the advice of the PAG, the Portfolio Holder has RECOMMENDED for submission to the Cabinet:

1) The 2016/17 revenue budget

2) The 2016/17 fees and charges

The PAG received a report presenting the draft revenue and capital budgets, and fees and charges schedule for 2016/17 for the Farnham Park Charitable Trust Budgets and noted that the report would be discussed further at the meeting of The South Buckinghamshire Members Advisory Panel on 7 December 2015

None.

Mr Egleton updated the PAG on the demonstrations that had occurred outside the Windmill Road Mosque and said that the Police had determined that no public order offences had been committed.