Agenda, decisions and minutes

There was no public participation.

There were no declarations of interest.

There were no urgent items to consider.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 12 January 2022 be confirmed and signed as a correct record.

Resolved:

That Cabinet notes that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee received and approved a Budget Update and endorsed the work undertaken to deliver a Budget for 2022/23.

The Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder thanked the Budget Panel and Overview and Scrutiny Committee Members for considering the recommendations.

Resolved:

That Cabinet notes that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee received and approved a Budget Update and endorsed the work undertaken to deliver a Budget for 2022/23.

Resolved:

1.  The fee for obtaining an overseas criminal records check be set at the cost charged by the third party provider plus a fee of £27.00.

2.  The fees for the grant or renewal of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence be set at the amounts listed in paragraph 7.1 of the report.

The Democracy and Governance Portfolio Holder explained that the Council currently charges a rolled-up fee for taxi drivers’ licences, which includes the fee and associated costs for a UK Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check.

On 22 February 2022 Licensing Committee resolved to remove the DBS check costs from the Council’s application fee and adjust the officer costs accordingly.  This accords with recommended practice and enables applicants to pay for their DBS check at the post office as part of their ID verification process.

For those applicants who have lived overseas at any time since the age of 10, a DBS equivalent must be obtained for the country or countries where they have lived.  The process varies from country to country and can be convoluted and difficult.  The Council’s DBS provider is able to offer an overseas check facility.  In order to assist these applicants (who number only a handful per annum) Licensing Committee resolved that the Council offer a service of obtaining these overseas checks for a set fee representing officer time plus the DBS provider’s fee, which varies from country to country.

Resolved:

1.  The fee for a obtaining an overseas criminal records check be set at the cost charged by the third party provider plus a fee of £27.00.

2.  The fees for the grant or renewal of a Hackney Carriage/Private Hire Vehicle Driver Licence be set at the amounts listed in paragraph 7.1 of the report to Licensing Committee of 23 February 2022; namely new licence applications for one year £87 and three years £100 and renewal applications for one year £60 and three years £87.

To consider the future of revenue funding for the charity and voluntary sector.

Resolved:

1.  That funding for 2022/23, as outlined in the report and shown at Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed, subject to the approval of the Council’s revenue budget.

2.  That the funding for 2023/24 and 2024/25 shown in Annex 1 to the report be recommended.

3.  That the Head of Finance and Revenues be authorised to apply an appropriate level of additional inflationary increases in 2023/24 and 2024/25, subject to affordability in context of pressures on the Council’s overall budget.

4.  That funding for the services of voluntary sector support, Shopmobility provision and free and impartial advice and support be ring-fenced as strategic funding to support these functions specifically.

5.  That the funding allocation recommended for King John’s House for 2022/23 be moved from the current funding programme and be managed directly by Planning Policy and Economic Development Service.

6.  That the Council work with the existing funding recipients and other stakeholders to develop a revised revenue funding model for project funding in time for the 2024/25 financial year.

7.  That the Community Manager or appointed deputy bring an annual report to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the impact of both strategic and project funding.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder which captured the outcomes of a review which will inform the nature of the programme for the period of 2022-25.  Within that review, eight organisations were invited to apply for funding covering nine areas of work.  The report included the recommendations on allocation of funding made by the officer panel which considered those applications.  It also included recommendations of that panel to explore a new model of revenue funding in future.

The report contained an overview of the benefit of council property offered at below market rent to the charity and voluntary sector.

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

Resolved:

1.  That funding for 2022/23, as outlined in the report and shown at Annex 1 to the report, be endorsed, subject to the approval of the Council’s revenue budget.

2.  That the funding for 2023/24 and 2024/25 shown in Annex 1 to the report be recommended.

3.  That the Head of Finance and Revenues be authorised to apply an appropriate level of additional inflationary increases in 2023/24 and 2024/25, subject to affordability in context of pressures on the Council’s overall budget.

4.  That funding for the services of voluntary sector support, Shopmobility provision and free and impartial advice and support be ring-fenced as strategic funding to support these functions specifically.

5.  That the funding allocation recommended for King John’s House for 2022/23 be moved from the current funding programme and be managed directly by Planning Policy and Economic Development Service.

6.  That the Council work with the existing funding recipients and other stakeholders to develop a revised revenue funding model for project funding in time for the 2024/25 financial year.

7.  That the Community Manager or appointed deputy bring an annual report to Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the impact of both strategic and project funding.

To recommend the Council’s revenue budget and Council Tax proposals for 2022/23.

Recommended:

1.  That the Revised Forecast for 2021/22, as set out in Column 3 of Annex 1 to the report, be noted.

2.  That the Savings Options, Income Generation Proposals and Revenue Pressures, as set out in Annexes 2 – 4 to the report, be approved.

3.  That subject to recommendation 2 above and taking due regard of the Head of Finance & Revenues’ comments in Annex 8 to the report, the budget for 2022/23 as set out in Column 6 of Annex 1 to the report be approved.

4.  That subject to recommendations 2 and 3 above, the revenue estimates for each Service contained in Annex 7 to the report be approved.

5.  That a draw of £250,000 from the Budget Equalisation Reserve in 2022/23 be approved.

6.  That a Council Tax Requirement for 2022/23 of £10,089,081 be approved.

7.  That a Special Expenses Levy of £339,854 be made in respect of the area of Andover to cover the cost of providing burial grounds, sports grounds and playgrounds.

8.  That a general precept of £7,901,432 be levied for the year 2022/23.

9.  That the Medium Term Forecast contained in Annex 6 to the report be noted.

10.  That a Band D Council Tax excluding Parishes and Special Expenses of £153.91 in 2022/23 be approved – an increase of £5.00 on 2021/22 levels.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder which presented the proposals for the final Revenue Budget and Council Tax for the financial year 2022/23. The report took into account the previous budget information and options for changes in service delivery that were presented to the Cabinet in October 2021 and January 2022.

The Cabinet had considered the Budget Strategy for 2021/22 in December 2020.

The report showed a best, middle and worst case scenario of the budget gap the Council expected to face for 2022/23.  An update of the budget forecast was presented to Cabinet in January 2022 in light of the provisional Local Government Finance Settlement and further work that had been carried out to identify the savings necessary to balance the budget for 2022/23.

The report was the culmination of a process that started in the summer of 2021. It showed the savings and additional income that has been identified to enable the Council to propose a balanced budget for 2022/23.

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

Recommended:

1.  That the Revised Forecast for 2021/22, as set out in Column 3 of Annex 1 to the report, be noted.

2.  That the Savings Options, Income Generation Proposals and Revenue Pressures, as set out in Annexes 2 – 4 to the report, be approved.

3.  That subject to recommendation 2 above and taking due regard of the Head of Finance & Revenues’ comments in Annex 8 to the report, the budget for 2022/23 as set out in Column 6 of Annex 1 to the report be approved.

4.  That subject to recommendations 2 and 3 above, the revenue estimates for each Service contained in Annex 7 to the report be approved.

5.  That a draw of £250,000 from the Budget Equalisation Reserve in 2022/23 be approved.

6.  That a Council Tax Requirement for 2022/23 of £10,089,081 be approved.

7.  That a Special Expenses Levy of £339,854 be made in respect of the area of Andover to cover the cost of providing burial grounds, sports grounds and playgrounds.

8.  That a general precept of £7,901,432 be levied for the year 2022/23.

9.  That the Medium Term Forecast contained in Annex 6 to the report be noted.

10.  That a Band D Council Tax excluding Parishes and Special Expenses of £153.91 in 2022/23 be approved – an increase of £5.00 on 2021/22 levels.

To provide an update of the Capital Strategy as required by the CIPFA Prudential Code.

Recommended:

That the Capital Strategy 2021/22 to 2026/27 be approved.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder which set out the framework within which all Council capital expenditure is approved, monitored and financed. The CIPFA Prudential Code requires that it be updated annually.

The report provided an update of the existing Capital Strategy and included forecast changes to its timescale and total cost.

The approval of a Capital Strategy is an annual requirement under the revised CIPFA Prudential Code 2021.  The Code requires that councils have in place a strategy that sets out the long term context in which capital expenditure and investment decisions are made, giving due consideration to both risk and reward and the impact resulting from those decisions.

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

Recommended:

That the Capital Strategy 2021/22 to 2026/27 be approved.

To provide an update on the approved Capital Programme for 2021/22 to 2023/24.

Resolved:

That the revised estimates and financing for the 2021/22 to 2023/24 Capital Programme, as shown in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.

Consideration was given to a report of the Finance and Resources Portfolio Holder which updated Councillors on the progress of the existing 2021/22 Capital programme and included forecast changes to its timescale and total cost.

The report also provided an update on projects where the timetable has changed from that currently approved, in particular where projects are expected to slip from the current year.

The progress of the Capital Programme is reported to Councillors each year usually in May, November and February.  The last update was presented on 8 December 2021 and gave details of the overall expenditure and financing of the Capital Programme for 2021/22 to 2023/24.

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

Resolved:

That the revised estimates and financing for the 2021/22 to 2023/24 Capital Programme, as shown in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.

To consider the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies for 2022/23.

Recommended:

1.  That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23, as set out in the report, be approved.

2.  That the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy, as shown in paragraph 4.4 of the report, be approved.

3.  That the Prudential Indicators, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.

Consideration was given to a report which presented the Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategies of the Council and had been produced in accordance with the latest statutory requirements and relevant codes of practice.

Borrowing costs are currently limited to the interest payable on long-term borrowing on PWLB loans, which have been used to fund various initiatives as defined in this strategy.  There is no additional borrowing expected in this strategy.

Whilst largely unchanged from the 2021/22 strategy, the report set out the criteria within which cash surpluses can be invested and how external borrowing will be managed should the Council choose to take on debt in the year.

The report and annexes showed how the Council plans to minimise its risks to the current economic climate by stipulating creditworthiness requirements on lenders and limiting the maximum amount available to be invested at any one time.

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

Recommended:

1.  That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and the Annual Investment Strategy for 2022/23, as set out in the report, be approved.

2.  That the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy, as shown in paragraph 4.4 of the report, be approved.

3.  That the Prudential Indicators, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be approved.

To propose the adoption of the Braishfield Village Design Statement as a Supplementary Planning Document.

Resolved:

1.  That the Braishfield Village Design Statement, attached as Annex 1 to the report, be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.

2.  That the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Development, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder, be delegated to carry out amendments of a minor nature to improve the presentation of the document and correct any typographical errors.

Consideration was given to a report of the Planning Portfolio Holder which presented an updated version of Braishfield’s Village Design Statement, which has been submitted for consideration for adoption as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).  The Council had undertaken a formal public consultation in order to meet the requirements of a SPD in line with the relevant regulations and guidance.

The report set out a summary of the comments received and the Council’s response.  This included amendments which were recommended in light of these comments.  These amendments had been carried out by the VDS working group and agreed with the Parish Council.  The VDS was considered appropriate for adoption, following the inclusion of these amendments.

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

Resolved:

1.  That the Braishfield Village Design Statement, attached as Annex 1 to the report, be adopted as a Supplementary Planning Document.

2.  That the Head of Planning Policy & Economic Development, in consultation with the Planning Portfolio Holder, be delegated to carry out amendments of a minor nature to improve the presentation of the document and correct any typographical errors.