Agenda and decisions

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Michael Downing and for lateness from Councillor Michelle Gardner.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve as a correct record and for signing by the Chair, the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 July 2018.

It was RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee Meeting held on 16 July 2018 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To consider the following Part I decisions of the Executive taken on 5 September 2018.

Executive Agenda Item No.                                                                     Page No.

2.         Minutes of the Executive – 11 July 2018                                                5

3.         Minutes of Overview & Scrutiny Committee and                                   13

            Select Committees

4.         Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)                                                       35

5.         Council Tax Support Scheme                                                                 61

6.         General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy                                  77

            2018/2019 to 2022/2023

7.         1^st Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report 2018/2019 -                         111

            General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

8.         1^st Quarter Capital Programme Monitoring Report                            127

            2018/2019 - General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

9.         Annual Treasury Management Review of 2017/18, including            153

            Prudential Code

10.       Corporate Performance – Quarter One 2018/19                               169

PLEASE BRING YOUR AGENDA AND REPORTS FOR THE EXECUTIVE MEETING HELD ON 5 SEPTEMBER 2018

This report had not been circulated to Members five clear days before the meeting nor had it been made available for public inspection.  The Chair determined however that given the short time left before the end of the call-in period on 14 September 2018 it be considered on this occasion.

Minutes – Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Select Committees

The Committee noted the comments of the Executive.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL)

In reply to a number of questions on the report, the Committee was advised:

·      CIL was now recommended, as (unlike Section 106) it allowed the Council to charges for all development applications that created net additional floorspace of at least 100 square metres or development of any size that resulted in a new house or flat.  CIL was not subject to the pooling restrictions imposed on Section 106 Agreements introduced in 2015, whereby a maximum of 5 payments could be used to contribute towards infrastructure improvements on larger schemes.  Also, the level of CIL charges proposed struck an acceptable balance in terms of the viability of schemes progressing.

·      CIL rates would be non-negotiable, which should help speed up the process of the receipt of contributions.  CIL monies could be used to fund infrastructure improvements required by the Council anywhere in the Borough.  However, Section 106 would still apply to those larger schemes which required site-specific infrastructure improvements (ie. new schools, highway improvements etc.).

·      CIL would be regularly monitored by the Planning and Development Committee, and the Audit Committee would be used to monitor CIL on a retrospective basis.  CIL performance would also be added to the Executive’s Performance Monitoring indicators.

Council Tax Support Scheme

The Assistant Director (Finance and Estates) reminded Members that she had informed the Committee in March 2018 that the existing software was not robust enough to bring about the introduction of a new scheme for 2019/20 based on claimants’ income bands.  Hence further modelling would be required with the aim of operating a new scheme for 2020/21.  In the meantime, it was proposed that the existing (2018/19) scheme would remain operational for 2019/20, and would form an additional recommendation in the Budget report in January 2019.

General Fund Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/2019 to 2022/2023

In reply to a question, the Assistant Director (Finance and Estates) confirmed that the Leader’s Services Financial Group would be considering potential savings for the next 3 financial years, even though the annual General Fund/HRA budget only contained one year’s information.

1^st Quarter Revenue Monitoring Report 2018/2019 – General Fund and Housing Revenue Account

In response to questions, the Assistant Director (Finance and Estates) commented:

·      The minimum investment rating for organisations that the Council invested in as part of its Treasury Strategy was AA.

·      The Council’s investment portfolio assumed an annual increase in the Bank of England base interest rate of 0.25%.

·      The works to the St. George’s Multi-Storey Car Park entailed refurbishment works carried out and funded by the Council, followed by new cladding works to  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.

None.

None.

To consider any Part I business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.

To consider the following motions –

1. That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

2. That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

It was RESOLVED:

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs 1-7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by SI 2006 No. 88.

2.   That having considered the reasons for the following items being in Part II it be determined that maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

To consider the following Part II decisions of the Executive taken on 5 September 2018.

Executive Agenda Item No.                                                                     Page No.

13.       Part II Decisions of the Executive – 11 July 2018                       205  

14.       Town Centre Regeneration – Regenerating Queensway          209

            North

This report had not been circulated to Members five clear days before the meeting nor had it been made available for public inspection.  The Chair determined however that given the short time left before the end of the call-in period on 14 September 2018 it be considered on this occasion.

Members asked a number of detailed questions about the report which were answered by officers.

It was RESOLVED that the following Part II decisions of the Executive are noted:

·      Part II Decisions of the Executive – 11 July 2018

·      Town Centre Regeneration – Regenerating Queensway North

None.

None.

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

None.