Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor Organ (Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning) and Councillor Porter (Cabinet Member for Environment) declared personal interests in agenda item 7 (Change in Discount Levels for Class C Empty Properties) by virtue of their roles as landlords within the City.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2015.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 11^th November 2015 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

There were no public questions.

To receive any petitions or deputations provided that no such petition or deputation is in relation to:

·         Matters relating to individual Council Officers, or

·         Matters relating to current or pending legal proceedings

There were no petitions or deputations.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources reviewing the Council’s Draft Money Plan 2016-21 & Budget Proposals 2016/17.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the assumptions contained in the Council’s Draft Money Plan from 2015/16 to 2020/21 and revisions to the revenue budget be approved.

2.    That the uncertainties regarding future incomes, as shown in this report and Appendix 1, and the need to update the Draft Money Plan when there is more certainty regarding Central Government financing be noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which reviewed the Council’s Draft Money Plan 2016-21 & Budget Proposals 2016/17.

Councillor James (Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy) summarised the key areas of the report highlighting that the City Council had achieved substantial savings over the last five years. He commented that the current economic climate remained challenging, advising that further savings would be achieved through back office efficiencies in order to protect front line services. He concluded by reporting that following a five year consecutive freeze in council tax rates, the current proposals were recommending a small  increase noting that the results of the public consultation  had not demonstrated any objections to this.

Cabinet Members welcomed the proposals acknowledging that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had raised few challenges to the proposals at their meeting on Monday 7^th December 2015 indicating cross party support.  They cautioned that a continued reduction in funding from central government in future years could potentially impact on the services the City Council would be able to offer and stressed the importance of delivering a sustainable and balanced financial plan. They welcomed the additional public consultation that would take place in early 2016 and placed on record their thanks to Officers involved in the preparation of the proposals.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the assumptions contained in the Council’s Draft Money Plan from 2015/16 to 2020/21 and revisions to the revenue budget be approved.

2.    That the uncertainties regarding future incomes, as shown in this report and Appendix 1, and the need to update the Draft Money Plan when there is more certainty regarding Central Government financing be noted.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking approval to change the level of discount for Class C empty properties from 100% in the first month and 25% in subsequent 5 months, to 25% for the 6 months period.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:

That the amendments to the existing discount for Class C empty properties to 25% discount for a 6 month period upon a property becoming empty be approved.

Councillor Organ (Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning) and Councillor Porter (Cabinet Member for Environment) declared personal interests in agenda item 7 (Change in Discount Levels for Class C Empty Properties) by virtue of their roles as landlords within the City.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which sought approval to change the level of discount for Class C empty properties from 100% in the first month and 25% in subsequent 5 months, to 25% for the 6 months period.

Councillor James highlighted key areas of the report commenting that the proposals were in line with a majority of neighbouring authorities and would generate an income stream to the City Council.  

Cabinet Members endorsed the proposals commenting that this approach would encourage empty properties to be bought back into use to the benefit of the wider regeneration of the City.

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL:

That the amendments to the existing discount for Class C empty properties to 25% discount for a 6 month period upon a property becoming empty be approved.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources updating Members on the Strategic Risk Register for their awareness and consideration.

RESOLVED:

That the Strategic Risk Register be noted and endorsed.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources which updated Members on the Strategic Risk Register for their awareness and consideration.

In response to a query from Councillor Organ (Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning) regarding the inclusion of cyber security and terrorism as an additional risk factor, the Managing Director explained that the Section 151 Officer had been tasked with chairing a meeting to explore the wider implications of information security and potential mitigation options.

RESOLVED:

That the Strategic Risk Register be noted and endorsed.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment informing Members of the formal assessment undertaken to ensure the Council’s Waste and Recycling service is regarded as TEEP compliant and confirm that no change is required to the current method of collecting and re-processing of recycled materials.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the contents of the report be noted

2.    That the outcome of the compliance assessment be approved and endorsed, and

3.    That the need to review compliance if changes are made to the way in which recycling is collected and or re-processed in the future be noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Environment which informed Members of the formal assessment undertaken to ensure the Council’s Waste and Recycling service is regarded as TEEP compliant and confirmed that no change is required to the current method of collecting and re-processing of recycled materials.

Councillor Jim Porter (Cabinet Member for Environment) explained that following the introduction of legislation in January 2015 all local authorities were required to undertake a TEEP compliance test, demonstrating that the City Council met all the necessary requirements. He advised that if the change to the Waste and Recycling Service were considered there was the possibility that the City Council would no longer be TEEP compliant noting that some authorities had been threatened with a legal challenge after changing to a co-mingled recycling method. The Managing Director reported that adopting a co-mingled service could still meet the requirements of the TEEP test and be regarded as compliant.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the contents of the report be noted

2.    That the outcome of the compliance assessment be approved and endorsed, and

3.    That the need to review compliance if changes are made to the way in which recycling is collected and or re-processed in the future be noted.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods updating Members on the completion of the Social Prescribing project and the progress of the fully implemented scheme.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods which updated Members on the completion of the Social Prescribing project and the progress of the fully implemented scheme.

Councillor Dallimore (Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods) advised that the City’s pilot scheme had experienced the highest number of referrals and demonstrated significant health outcomes commenting that as a preventative measure it delivered long term financial benefits to the City. She reported that most recently published statistics analysing deprivation within the City had evidenced improvements in some of the most affected areas of the City citing Podsmead as an example. She concluded by reporting that the project which enhanced ongoing work around asset based community development and utilised resources of partnership agencies could be model to help deliver future services noting that the service had generated a modest income for the City Council.

RESOLVED:

That the contents of the report be noted.