Meeting documents

To approve the minutes of the Cabinet held on 6 February 2019

The minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 6 February 2019 were approved and signed by the Cabinet Leader as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.

To note the decisions to be taken by:

Appendix A – SBDC Cabinet

Appendix B - Chiltern and South Bucks Joint Committee

The Cabinet received a copy of the 28 day Notice and Forward Plan 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 and Forward Plan be noted.      

Cabinet received a report which provided the Service Plans of all service areas within the Councils. The Service Plans which were jointly produced per service area for both Chiltern and South Bucks, provided a summary of achievements from the current year and an overview of what each service aimed to deliver for 2019-20.

Cabinet welcomed the new layout of the Service Plans which had been dramatically reduced in size, changed in format to be more user friendly so that both staff and the public could easily reference the document, more results and risk orientated. A Member commented on some of the figures for the Performance Indicator targets for 2019/20 for Community and Leisure and was informed that these would be looked at before the Plans were published.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the Service Plans 2019-20

The Cabinet received a report which sought approval for the refreshed Joint Business Plan 2019-20 as set out in the Appendix to the report.

The Cabinet received a report which sought approval for the refreshed Joint Business Plan 2019-20 as set out in the Appendix to the report. The Joint Business Plan was reviewed every year to reflect the changing needs of the locality and the communities that lived and worked within Chiltern and South Bucks, as well as the service planning process. One small amendment was suggested on page 16 of the document. Cabinet welcomed the new user friendly layout and

The Cabinet received a report which updated Members on the outcomes of the Performance Indicator (PI) review for 2019/20 and which sought approval for the proposed changes to reporting.

RESOLVED that the changes to the Performance Indicators for each service be approved.

The Cabinet received a report which updated Members on the outcomes of the Performance Indicator (PI) review for 2019/20 and which sought approval for the proposed changes to reporting. Reviewing Performance Indicators allowed each service to adjust targets, add in more relevant indicators and remove those indicators which did not provide valuable information. Reference was made to a small amendment to the figures in the overview of performance indicators for 2019/20 table and it was

RESOLVED that the changes to the Performance Indicators for each service be approved.

Cabinet received a report which outlined the annual performance of Council services against pre-agreed performance indicators and service objectives for Quarter 3 of 2018-19. The Chief Executive reported that there were two indicators which were slightly below target which related to issues with vWorkspace issues and resolving helpdesk calls within agreed timescales. This was due to Members of the Infrastructure Team having to deal with transformational projects and also being one officer short. Cabinet were pleased to note that the percentage of food hygiene inspections was back above target and planning control and enforcement targets had greatly improved. A Member suggested that it would be useful to highlight performance indicators where a lower number was better than a higher one.

RESOLVED that Cabinet note the performance reports.

Cabinet received a report which provided Members with options for consideration to maximise the use of parking facilities across South Bucks to continue to meet the needs of the local towns and villages and also to ensure that management of the car parks took into account the recommendations made at the Task and Finish Group on the budget.

RESOLVED that:-

1a an increase in short stay parking tariffs (1hr to 4hrs) and the flat Sunday rate across all car parks by 10p be agreed.  

b   an increase in the 24hr tariff in Burnham and Farnham Common by 20p be agreed.

c   a one hour tariff in the Broadway car park, Farnham Common be introduced.

The current tariffs alongside the above options provided at Appendix A of the report were noted. 

2        the Head of Environment be authorised to publish the statutory Notice of proposed Amendment to the Off Street Parking Places Order.

 3     if no valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2 the Director of Services be authorised to make and publicise the Amendment Order.

 4    That if valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2, the Director of Services be authorised to deal with any such objections after consultation with the Portfolio Holder and to make and publicise the necessary Amendment Order with or without modifications as considered appropriate.

Cabinet received a report which provided Members with options for consideration to maximise the use of parking facilities across South Bucks to continue to meet the needs of the local towns and villages and also to ensure that management of the car parks took into account the recommendations made at the Task and Finish Group on the budget. Members noted that the charges were reviewed on an annual basis and there were four areas where SBDC had pay and display car parks. There was no proposal to increase the long stay tariffs in Beaconsfield or Gerrards Cross as the charges currently aligned with market value for the area. Similarly with season ticket prices across the District. The Portfolio Holder for Environment commented that these increases had been discussed with Parish Councils who had contributed information from residents and businesses.

RESOLVED that:-

1a an increase in short stay parking tariffs (1hr to 4hrs) and the flat Sunday rate across all car parks by 10p be agreed.  

b   an increase in the 24hr tariff in Burnham and Farnham Common by 20p be agreed.

c   a one hour tariff in the Broadway car park, Farnham Common be introduced.

The current tariffs alongside the above options provided at Appendix A of the report were noted. 

2        the Head of Environment be authorised to publish the statutory Notice of proposed Amendment to the Off Street Parking Places Order.

 3     if no valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2 the Director of Services be authorised to make and publicise the Amendment Order.

 4    That if valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2, the Director of Services be authorised to deal with any such objections after consultation with the Portfolio Holder and to make and publicise the necessary Amendment Order with or without modifications as considered appropriate.

Cabinet considered the option of introducing electric vehicle charging points in SBDC car parks to promote sustainable transport and enable the car parks to be viable for all motoring groups.

RESOLVED that:

1a        the Off Street Parking Places Order be amended to enable electric vehicle charging points to be introduced in locations where evidence supports the requirement and that the Head of Environment be authorised in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to approve the locations.

1b        car park fees and charges for electric vehicle users be retained.

2                   That the Head of Environment be authorised to publish the statutory Notice of proposed Amendment to the Off Street Parking Places Order.

3                   That, if no valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2 the Director of Services be authorised to make and publicise the Amendment Order.

4          That if valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2, the Director of Services be authorised to deal with any such objections after consultation with the Portfolio Holder and to make and publicise the necessary Amendment Order with or without modifications as considered appropriate.

Cabinet considered the option of introducing electric vehicle charging points in SBDC car parks to promote sustainable transport and enable the car parks to be viable for all motoring groups. Members noted that initially when electric vehicles were introduced, local authorities exempted customers who were charging their vehicles from paying car park tariffs. However, as the number of electric vehicles have increased over the years, there was an expectation from customers that they would pay for the energy to drive their vehicles.

A Portfolio Holder referred to the National Infrastructure Assessment which recommended preparing for 100% electric vehicle sales by 2030. Another Portfolio Holder emphasised the need to be flexible. He referred to a neighbouring authority who had installed a charging point in their car park only to find that a supermarket next door later installed free charging points. The Portfolio Holder for Environment responded that the Council would be going out to statutory consultation on the proposals and would obtain residents and stakeholder views on location and need.

RESOLVED that:

1a        the Off Street Parking Places Order be amended to enable electric vehicle charging points to be introduced in locations where evidence supports the requirement and that the Head of Environment be authorised in consultation with the Portfolio Holder to approve the locations.

1b        car park fees and charges for electric vehicle users be retained.

2                   That the Head of Environment be authorised to publish the statutory Notice of proposed Amendment to the Off Street Parking Places Order.

3                   That, if no valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2 the Director of Services be authorised to make and publicise the Amendment Order.

4          That if valid objections are received in response to publication of the Notice at 2.2, the Director of Services be authorised to deal with any such objections after consultation with the Portfolio Holder and to make and publicise the necessary Amendment Order with or without modifications as considered appropriate.

Cabinet receive a report which sought authority to adopt and implement the revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy following consideration by the Healthy Communities Policy Advisory Group and the Cabinet.

Cabinet receive a report which sought authority to adopt and implement the revised Bucks Home Choice Allocations Policy following consideration by the Healthy Communities Policy Advisory Group and the Cabinet. Cabinet noted that 308 responses were received and the majority of respondents to the consultation were in favour of the proposed revisions with the exception of the proposal that same sex siblings should be expected to share a bedroom until the older child reached the age of 21.  The draft Policy has been amended so that the maximum age was raised from 16 to 18 and not 21 years as originally proposed, which was consistent with the policies of Registered Providers. Cabinet welcomed the report which was clearly laid out and reflected the new national legislation and guidance.

Customer Services and Business Support             4 March 2019

Healthy Communities                                               28 February 2019

Planning and Economic Development                   7 March 2019

The Policy Advisory Group Minutes in the supplement pack were noted.

To resolve that under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that under section 100 (A) (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Cabinet received a report on the write-off of debts, which were non recoverable due to insolvency action.

RESOLVED that the position regarding the debts listed be noted and to authorise these to be written off on the Council’s books.

Cabinet received a report on the write-off of debts, which were non recoverable due to insolvency action. Members noted that some businesses faced problems following a revised valuation being received from the Valuation Office. The Council would put recovery action in place with a Liability Order being granted by the court. Since the service had come back in-house from November 2018, new arrangements had been put in place to monitor debt.

RESOLVED that the position regarding the debts listed be noted and to authorise these to be written off on the Council’s books.

Cabinet considered an application for Hardship Relief as set out in the report.

RESOLVED that the Hardship Relief be not awarded.

Cabinet considered an application for Hardship Relief as set out in the report. When granting rate relief on the grounds of hardship consideration was given to whether the ratepayer would sustain hardship if the Council failed to grant relief and whether it was reasonable to grant relief having regard to the interests of persons subject to the Council Tax.

Members considered the application and commented that it was not reasonable to grant hardship relief in this instance, particularly as it was a commercial venture which did not significantly benefit the community.

RESOLVED that the Hardship Relief be not awarded.

Cabinet received a report which provided Members with an update on the work of the HS2 project and the budget for the resources of the HS2 Project Team. Reference was made in particular to the progress in the Colne Valley Regional Park and the Hillingdon Outdoor Activity Centre which was being relocated to Denham Quarry. Members noted the resource implications which were set out in table 6.2 of the report and that some additional work being carried out by the Team was not covered by the Funding Agreement, however this was minimal and was undertaken in the best interests of residents.

RESOLVED that the report and progress made on the project be noted including the financial implications which will be met in 2019/20 from reserves of each authority for these purposes.