Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillors Nick Naylor and Gareth Williams.  Councillor Gary Hall (Deputy Cabinet Member – Planning Enforcement) and Councillor Mark Winn (Deputy Cabinet Member – Homelessness) attended the meeting in their places.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 7 December 2021.

RESOLVED –

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 December, 2021, be approved as a correct record.

Councillors S Bowles and P Strachan declared a pecuniary interest as Aylesbury Vale Estates Board Members and left the meeting while the AVE Business Plan agenda item was discussed.  Councillor M Winn declared a personal interest as he had recently called-in a planning application submitted by AVE to the Central Bucks Area Planning Committee and left the meeting while the AVE Business Plan agenda item was discussed.

The following hot topics were discussed:-

Cabinet Member for Finance, Resources, Property and Assets

Reference was made to the consultation on the Winslow Sports Hub where the Council was proposing to build a new purpose-built sports hub on land at Redfield Farm. The deadline for the consultation had been extended to end of January 2022. https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/culture-sports-and-leisure/winslow-sportshub/

Cabinet Member for Transport

There would be a number of gritting runs over the next few days during the cold weather.

Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services

The new term for schools had started with secondary school children wearing masks and 12-15 year olds were being offered two doses of the vaccination. A decision would be taken in February regarding examinations. Regarding the Ofsted Inspection for Children’s Services a decision was expected on 11 February 2022.

Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment

The Cabinet Member had agreed for Veolia to suspend collecting green waste for the next few weeks as a number of staff were isolating and priority would be given to the other waste streams. The Leader asked a question about Christmas trees and was informed that they could be chopped up and put in the garden bin or taken to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.

Cabinet Member for Communities

A recent report on the lack of infrastructure on Aylesbury had incorrectly referred to the fact that the Council was not addressing the problem. The Council had plans in place to improve infrastructure however building links roads was a complex project and also needed to link in with housing applications.

Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure

Lane swimming was now being provided for people of different abilities and quieter times when there was less usage of the pool. Residents were asked to contact their local leisure centre about their timetable. In the first week the new Chiltern Lifestyle Centre had 10,000 visitors.

Deputy Cabinet Member for Enforcement

A reminder was given regarding the survey on brownfield sites. As the Council was in the discover and exploration phase of the Local Plan for Buckinghamshire a survey had been posted on Your Voice Bucks to obtain views on where new development should be located and what the Council should do to protect Buckinghamshire. The deadline for the survey was 11 February 2022. Included in this was how the Council could make the best use of sites that had already been built on (brownfield sites). https://yourvoicebucks.citizenspace.com/planning/local-plan-2021/

Deputy Cabinet Member for Homelessness

The Government had helped provide funding again this winter for ‘rough sleepers’ and those who were homeless who wished to have shelter could do so.

No questions have yet been received.  

No written questions had been submitted in advance of the meeting.

The Leader introduced the Forward Plan and commended it to all Members of the Council and the public, as a document that gave forewarning of what Cabinet would be discussing at forthcoming meetings.

RESOLVED –

That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

For Cabinet to note the Select Committee Work Programme.

RESOLVED –

That the Select Committee Work Programme be noted.

Cabinet received a report on the Council Tax Base Setting 2022/23.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the Buckinghamshire Council Tax Base of 225,030.74 for the year 2022/23 be approved.

(2)               That the Buckinghamshire Council’s collection rate for the year 2022/23 is 98.2%.

The Local Authorities Calculation of Council Tax Base (England) Regulations 2012 prescribed rules for the calculation of the Council Tax base.  On an annual basis, all local authorities were required to calculate a Council Tax Base that was used to set the level of Council Tax.  The process was governed by the Local Authorities’ (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992.

Cabinet received a report which set out the methodology for calculating the Council tax base.  Local discounts and premiums arising from the Council Tax Support Scheme and Council Tax Reforms brought in from 1 April 2014 had been taken into account in the tax base calculation.  The calculation was based on the current position in terms of numbers on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTR).  The result of this calculation for each band and each part of the area was then scaled to a Band D equivalent by reference to the ratios laid down in Section 5 of the 1992 Act.

The estimate of the collection rate was the main area over which the Council has any discretion.  Cabinet was recommended to approve an estimated collection rate of 98.2% which had been estimated by reference to past experience of Council Tax collection, including the current observable conditions. Collection rates would be monitored, and any adjustments would be reflected in the calculation of the 2022/23 surplus or deficit.

A Member was given reassurance that the Council should be able to achieve a 98.2% collection rate for 2022/23 – the Council was on track to achieve a 98.1% collection rate for the current year. The situation would continue to be monitored throughout the year.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the Buckinghamshire Council Tax Base of 225,030.74 for the year 2022/23 be approved.

(2)               That the Buckinghamshire Council’s collection rate for the year 2022/23 is 98.2%.

Cabinet received a report setting out the draft 3-year revenue budget and 4-year capital programme for Buckinghamshire Council.  This included updates on the latest estimated funding position, service budget pressures and the key financial risks facing the Council in the future.

The Council Tax Resolution report would be presented as a separate report as part of the final budget in February 2022 and would contain the final information from the other precepting authorities leading to the total Council Tax for the area, which full Council was required to approve.  The Cabinet report did not include special expenses.  Discussions were ongoing to agree special expenses budgets for 2022/23, and these would also be presented alongside the final budget.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the draft revenue budget and capital programme for 2022/23 (Appendices 1-3) be approved.

(2)               That the outcome of the budget consultation (Appendix 4) be noted.

(3)               That the proposal to seek delegation from Council to Cabinet for up to £100m of new capital schemes to be added to the capital programme, through Prudential Borrowing, and where robust financial business cases have been made, be supported.

(4)               That it be noted that a supplementary report, the formal Council Tax Resolution, will accompany the final budget submitted to full Council.

(5)               That the current risks associated with the draft budget proposals be noted.

Cabinet received a report setting out the draft 3-year revenue budget (2022/23 to 2024/25) and 4-year capital programme for Buckinghamshire Council.  Local Government funding remained very uncertain in the medium term due to proposed changes to the Local Government funding regime and the implementation of key Government policies in regard to Adult Social Care reform and the ‘Levelling Up’ agenda.  The Spending Review had laid out the Government’s funding totals and priorities for the period 2022/23 to 2024/25.  However, actual allocations to individual authorities, through the Provisional Local Government Settlement, only covered 2022/23.

Changes to the revenue budget were largely focussed around changes in service demand and income (both service and corporate), the wider economic impacts of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and the recognition of the ongoing risks relating to the pandemic and the wider Local Government funding regime.

The Leader introduced the report and stated that significant uncertainty remained over the future course of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the potential impacts of the current Omicron variant, and potential new variants currently unknown. Further lockdowns and national or local restrictions would impact both on the day to day operation of the Council, the duration of the pandemic and potentially the scale and pace of the recovery of local, national and global economic activity. The draft budget might be subject to significant change before the final budget was presented to Cabinet and full Council as the consequences of the Omicron variant become more apparent over the coming weeks and months.

The draft budget proposed had been built on the proposed Council Tax base and assumed a 1.99% increase in basic Council Tax and a 2% increase for the Adult Social Care Precept (including 1% carried forward from 2021/22), giving a total increase of 3.99%.  The draft budget included the one-off use of £1.36m of General Fund balances to produce a balanced budget and mitigate risks in 2023/24.

The Capital programme covered 4 years as many schemes span across multiple financial years.  The Council currently had borrowing headroom of £100m whereby schemes that were brought forward with a robust and financially viable business case could be added to the Capital Programmes subject to Cabinet approval.

The Cabinet report explained the significant impacts that the global impact had on the operations of the Council during 2021/22, including significant decreases in service income levels whilst expenditure pressures, especially in Care Services, had been increasing at unprecedented rates. The draft budget reflected the latest estimates for the ongoing impacts of Covid-19 and the future recovery on income streams and normalisation of demand growth for critical front-line services which the post-Covid ‘new normal’ would bring.

At the end of quarter 1 of 2021/22 most direct Government grant support to the Council for the ongoing impacts of the pandemic had ceased. However, this situation was subject to change as the Government’s response to the ongoing pandemic developed and changed, as evidenced by the announcement of additional Business Grants to support sectors adversely affected at the current  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Aylesbury Vale Estates (AVE) had been formed in 2009 as a 20-year Joint Limited Partnership (JLP), following a 15-month full OJEU procurement process.   It was a 50-50 partnership between the Council and private investors who collectively formed Akeman Partnership LLP.  Akeman Asset Management provided the day to day management of the portfolio with the ‘Board’ meeting formally every quarter with more informal monthly interim meetings.

AVE was required to present a rolling three year business plan for comment and sign-off by the Council as 50% shareholder.  Cabinet received a report and accompanying business plan which set out the strategy for achieving the core objectives of AVE (as agreed in 2009), during the plan period.  The detail of the plan was focused on the first year i.e. 2022/2023.  The strategy for years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, would be kept under review to enable new opportunities and challenges to be responded to.  The report also summarised the performance to date in the current financial year.

RESOLVED –

(1)               That the performance of AVE against the current Business Plan and for the current financial year be noted.

(2)               That the AVE Board be asked to consider the comments made at this meeting on their strategy and business plan, in finalising their Business Plan for 2022-25.

Aylesbury Vale Estates (AVE) had been formed in 2009 as a 20-year Joint Limited Partnership (JLP), following a 15-month full OJEU procurement process.   It was a 50-50 partnership between the Council and private investors who collectively formed Akeman Partnership LLP.  Akeman Asset Management provided the day to day management of the portfolio with the ‘Board’ meeting formally every quarter with more informal monthly interim meetings.

AVE was required to present a rolling three year business plan for comment and sign-off by the Council as 50% shareholder.  Cabinet received a report and accompanying business plan which set out the strategy for achieving the core objectives of AVE (as agreed in 2009), during the plan period.  The detail of the plan was focused on the first year i.e. 2022/2023.  The strategy for years 2023/2024 and 2024/2025, would be kept under review to enable new opportunities and challenges to be responded to.  The report also summarised the performance to date in the current financial year.

The report detailed the background to the formation of AVE that was now over 12 years old and performing well.  The starting portfolio had been valued at £36.1m.  The starting portfolio had been valued at £36.1m, with the purchase financed by non-interest bearing loans from each member of £4m plus two loans from AVDC.  Details of loans provided and arrangements for their payback were detailed.  The current outstanding debt was just under £33m in line with the agreed amortisation schedule.

The council’s and private investors net asset value of their ownership of AVE had now risen to £17.020m from the original £8m investment which showed an annualised return to investors once distributions and set up costs were paid, of 16.93% per annum.  The portfolio was usually valued annually but this had not happened in 2020 due to Covid. At the end of March 2021, the portfolio had been valued at just under £44m. This was a slight drop from the 2019 valuation, attributable to value impairment of the Hale Leys Shopping Centre. However, the value of the Centre was expected to increase, as footfall builds following the various lockdowns, supported by the signing of a number of new lettings.

The report provided a summary of the 2021/22 Business Plan and performance to date.  The overall aim for the past few years had been to produce a self-sufficient portfolio, not reliant on sales, which paid all AVE overheads, all amortisation and distributed £600,000 pa whilst still retaining an annual profit.  Information was provided on:

·                     That strategy in 2021/22, as approved by the Council.

·                     The sale of high value/low income assets for reinvestment in the portfolio through redevelopment of current sites.

·                     The Development of key assets and renewal/upgrade of industrial stock.

·                     Target Distribution – a distribution of £600,000 would be paid in March 2022 as forecast.

·                     The vacancy level across the main multi-let industrial estate which had remained very low over the last three years at between 0% and 2% despite the pandemic.

·                     Hale Leys Shopping Centre – which had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10.

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 they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED –

That pursuant to Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Minute No 12, on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act as defined as follows:

Minute 12 – Aylesbury Vale Estates Business Plan

Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) (Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A, Local Government Act 1972)

(The need to maintain the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosure, because disclosure could prejudice the Council’s position in any future process or negotiations)

This item was undertaken in confidential session as part of Minute item 10 and details of the public discussion and the decisions taken are included within Minute number 10.

RESOLVED –

That the confidential Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 December, 2021, be approved as a correct record.

15 February 2022 at 10am

Tuesday 15 February 2022 at 10.00am.