Agenda and minutes

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Exclusion of the Public

Resolved:

That pursuant to Regulation 4 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012, the public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following matters on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the following Paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, indicated below. The public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information for the reason given below:

Estates Property Matters  Paragraph 3

It is considered that this report contains exempt information within the meaning of paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended.  It is further considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because the information relates to the financial or business affairs of the Council and third parties who are necessarily identified, which information is commercially sensitive and which by its disclosure would have an adverse effect upon the interests of those third parties and the Council as they seek to settle agreed terms of business.

  Estates Property Matters

  Consideration was given to an urgent confidential report of the Finance Portfolio Holder to consider an estates property matter.

Resolved:

That the Head of Estates, in consultation with the Finance Portfolio Holder and the Head of Finance, be authorised to approve the Heads of Terms for the sale of the development as described in the report, provided that the minimum return level set out in paragraphs 7.6 to 7.9 is achieved.

Recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny meeting held on 17 October 2018.

Drug Intervention Services in Test Valley

Cabinet were supportive of the recommendation from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee which requested officer support to explore funding opportunities to provide drug education services for young people to help them make life choices in the community. 

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Resolved:

That opportunities for funding drug prevention education programmes be explored.

Public Involvement Panel Final Report

The Public Involvement Panel had undertaken a review into public involvement which reflected on the progress the Council had made over recent years to engage and involve communities and the public more effectively in informing decision making.

The Panel had identified a number of proposals which could help the Council continue to strengthen its approach to public involvement.  The Member and Community Development Working Group had endorsed the proposals and developed an action plan which will form part of their work programme.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Resolved:

That the proposed action plan emanating from the Public Involvement Review be endorsed.

Corporate

To recommend approval of the Council’s Statement of Licensing Principles as required by the Gambling Act 2005.

Consideration was given to a report of the Corporate Portfolio Holder, which recommended a draft revised Statement of Licensing Principles for adoption. 

The Council was required to publish a Statement of Licensing Principles (or policy) detailing its responsibilities under the Gambling Act 2005 every three years.  Following consultation over the summer a draft revised Statement is recommended for adoption.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Recommended:

1.  That the revised Statement of Licensing Principles attached as an annex to the report be recommended for approval.

2.  That the Statement be effective for a three year period commencing 31 January 2019 subject to it being kept under review and the Council making such changes to it at such times as it considers appropriate.

Finance

To provide an update of the progress of the 2018/19 Asset Management Plan (AMP) and to propose the items to be included in the AMP for 2019/20.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder, which provided an update to the approved 2018/19 Asset Management Plan (AMP) and recommended the projects to be included in the 2019/20 budget. It also provided an update on the financing of AMP projects, including a forecast of the balance on the Asset Management Reserve at 31 March 2020.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Recommended:

1.  That the revised 2018/19 and original 2019/20 Asset Management Plan, as shown in annexes 1 and 2 to the report, be approved.

2.  That the Head of Finance, after consultation with the Finance Portfolio Holder and Head of Service responsible for any project, be authorised to amend the Asset Management Plan during the year, as discussed in paragraph 7.3 of the report.

Finance

To provide an update on the approved Capital Programme and identify new capital bids which are recommended to be added to the Programme.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder, which provided an update on the progress of the existing 2018/19 Capital Programme and included forecast changes to its timescale and total cost. Proposals were also put forward for new capital schemes recommended to be added to the Capital Programme over the period 2018/19 to 2020/21.

The total cost of bids recommended for inclusion in the Capital programme is £2.765M.  After taking into account external funding, the net cost of these bids is £158,000. These bids would help to deliver the Council’s key priorities and were recommended to be added to the Capital programme. 

The report also provided an update on the existing approved Capital Programme.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Recommended:

1.  That the new capital schemes with a total cost of £2.765M as shown in Annex 1 to the report, be added to the 2018/19 to 2020/21 Capital Programme.

2.  That the revised estimates and financing for the 2018/19 to 2020/21 Capital Programme as shown in Annex 2 to the report, be approved.

Finance

To compare actual revenue income and expenditure against profiled budget for the six months ended 30 September 2018. The Annex to the report explains the reasons behind the most significant of these variances.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder, which reviewed the Council’s revenue spending for the first six months of the 2018/19 financial year. It also examined the main differences between the original estimate for 2018/19 and actual spend to 30 September 2018 and provided explanations for significant variances.

Overall, net expenditure to 30 September 2018 was £620,000 less than budgeted at this stage of the year.  This favourable variance comprised additional income and savings of £553,000 due to service related expenditure and £67,000 additional income from the Council’s investing and borrowing activities.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Resolved:

That the financial position for each Portfolio and the key revenue areas contained in the Annex to the report be noted.

Finance

To explore additional resourcing within the Estates department that will allow the service to maintain adequate resourcing to adhere to legislation and regulation.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance Portfolio Holder, which set out the implications for resourcing of the Estates and Economic Development Service in response to the increasing statutory responsibilities in respect of management of Council land and buildings.  The report also recommended that a mix of permanent and temporary additional posts were added to the establishment for the Service in order that the Council was adequately resourced to comply with these responsibilities.

Having considered the options and for the reasons set out in the report, Cabinet agreed to the following:

Recommended:

1.  That the posts set out at paragraphs 6.1.4 and 6.1.5 in the report be added to the Estates and Economic Development establishment at a total cost of £164,150 p.a.

2.  That the sum of up to £89,865 p.a. be vired from the Investment Property Income budget to finance the cost of the permanent posts as set out in paragraph 8.2 of the report.

3.  That the sum of up to £138,950 be drawn from the Capacity Building Reserve to finance the cost of the temporary posts as set out in paragraph 8.5.