Meeting documents

To receive a presentation on the role of the Resources PAG.

Members received a PowerPoint presentation on the role of the PAG and the services covered by the Resources Portfolio Holder. Members noted that a copy of the presentation would be made available in the Councillors Area on the extranet and hard copies of the slides were circulated at the meeting.

The presentation covered the following areas:

·        Revenue, Benefits and Business Rates

·        ICT

·        Environment Unit – Asset Management

·        Treasury Management

Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments after each section. 

The PAG agreed that it would be useful for them to take part in a joint training session with Chiltern District Council members on local authority investment before the PAG is due to consider the Council’s Investment Strategy. 

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.

To receive the minutes of a meeting of the Policy Advisory Group held on 5 March 2015

The minutes of the meeting of the Policy Advisory Group (PAG) held on 5 March 2015 were received.

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

None.

The Portfolio Holder and Head of Service to update members on current issues relating to the PAG and to receive from members.

There were no part I current issues to discuss.

The PAG received a report which sought Members views on a request received from Burnham Parish Council for the provision of one hour free parking at the Summers Road car park.

The PAG were advised that there was currently no free parking periods in the Council car parks, but that previous discussions had indicated that the Council may consider this if the loss of income was reimbursed. Appendix A set out the proposal from the Parish Council which had yet to be discussed/agreed by officers.

The PAG noted that any agreement from South Bucks District Council’s point would need to have regard to the following:

·        Cover all costs / loss of income

·        Proceed year to year and reviewed every September with the following years likely costs agreed based upon free tickets issued

·        Can be terminated by either party on giving 6 months’ notice

·        Lost income calculated every 3 months and the Parish invoiced accordingly

·        Agreement to be by way of exchange of letters not a lease

·        District Council free to review other charges, season tickets etc. but will consult with the Parish

·        Parish Council to monitor and provide evidence of success or other wise of the scheme

·        Users to obtain free ticket from car park machine to display in their vehicle

In the discussion which followed, the PAG indicated its support for the proposal that officers continue negotiations with the Parish Council based on the points listed above.  The need to ensure that any administrative costs would also be covered in the agreement was emphasised.

The PAG noted that this issue was also due to be considered by the Environment PAG on 15 June and that a report would be submitted to Cabinet for the final decision following negotiations.

The PAG considered a report setting out the Treasury Management performance of the Council for 2014/15.

The report, after providing a reminder of the new matrix for in house investments as approved by members as part of the Treasury Management Strategy, set out:

·       A summary of movements in the year;

·       A summary of the Council’s fixed deposits as at 31 March 2015;

·       The Council’s corporate bonds held at the end of March 2015

·       A comparison between the actual and budgeted interest returns for 2014/15.

On investment returns the PAG noted there had been an underachievement of £163,000 from the budget during 2014/15 which was in line with the £170,000 declared in the February budget monitoring report - this was a result of the current very low interest rate environment. Taking into account the low interest rate environment, the investment income figure for 2015/16 had been set at £400,000.

RESOLVED that the investment performance for 2014/15 be noted.

None.

"That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the following item of business is not for publication to the press or public on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act."

The minutes of the Part II minutes held on 5 March 2015 were received.

The PAG received a briefing note on proposals for moving towards a single network infrastructure and noted that a report would be submitted to Cabinet for consideration on 7 July 2015.