Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Items
No. Item

70.

Declarations of Interest

To receive from Members, declarations of the existence of any disclosable pecuniary, or non-pecuniary, interests and the nature of those interests in relation to any agenda item. Please see Agenda Notes.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

71.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 152 KB

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 5th December 2018.

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 5th December 2018 be taken as read and signed by the Chair.

 

 

72.

Public Question Time (15 minutes)

The opportunity is given to members of the public to put questions to Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs provided that a question does not relate to:

 

·         Matters which are the subject of current or pending legal proceedings, or

·         Matters relating to employees or former employees of the Council or comments in respect of individual Council Officers

Minutes:

There were no public questions.

73.

Petitions and Deputations (15 minutes)

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

Minutes:

There were no petitions or deputations.

74.

Leader and Cabinet Members' Question Time (15 minutes)

Any Member of the Council may ask the Leader of the Council or any Cabinet Member any question without prior notice, upon:

       

·       Any matter relating to the Council’s administration

·       Any matter relating to any report of the Cabinet appearing on the summons

·       A matter coming within their portfolio of responsibilities

 

Only one supplementary question is allowed per question.

Minutes:

There were no questions to the Leader of the Council or Cabinet.

 

75.

Council Tax Empty Homes Premium pdf icon PDF 119 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking a Council Tax Empty Homes Premium to be applied to all homes which meet the criteria at the specified rates.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that a Council Tax Empty Homes Premium of 50% is implemented from 01 April 2019 in respect of properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for more than two years, increasing to 100% from 01 April 2020. It is further recommended that the empty homes premium be implemented from 01 April 2020 at 200% on properties which have been empty for more than five years and from 01 April 2021 at 300% on properties which have been empty for more than ten years.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought a Council Tax Empty Homes Premium to be applied to all homes which meet the criteria at the specified rates.

 

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources summarised the key points of the report and emphasised the importance of bringing empty homes back into use.  The Cabinet Member for Environment commented that these measures would work alongside the incentive to private landlords initiative approved by Members at the meeting of 7th November 2018 (Minute 55) which took a different approach to the same goal of alleviating homelessness.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy reassured Members that officers would consider the circumstances of each case individually before applying the premium.  The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economy drew attention to the time periods allowed for reoccupation before any premium would be applied and stated that the measures were not intended to raise money but to encourage empty homes to be returned to use.

 

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that a Council Tax Empty Homes Premium of 50% is implemented from 01 April 2019 in respect of properties that have been unoccupied and substantially unfurnished for more than two years, increasing to 100% from 01 April 2020. It is further recommended that the empty homes premium be implemented from 01 April 2020 at 200% on properties which have been empty for more than five years and from 01 April 2021 at 300% on properties which have been empty for more than ten years.

 

76.

Local Council Tax Support Scheme pdf icon PDF 96 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources seeking approval to retain the Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTS) for 2019/20.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that the current Local Council Tax Support scheme as the approved scheme for Gloucester City Council in 2018/19 be adopted for 2019/20.

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought approval to retain the Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTS) for 2019/20.

 

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources outlined the background to the report and placed the scheme in the context of those undertaken by other local authorities.

 

RESOLVED it is recommended to Council that the current Local Council Tax Support scheme as the approved scheme for Gloucester City Council in 2018/19 be adopted for 2019/20.

77.

Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) - Review of Procedural Guide pdf icon PDF 95 KB

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that updates Members on the Council’s use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

Decision:

RESOLVED that the six monthly update on the use of RIPA powers be noted.

 

Minutes:

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that updated Members on the Council’s use of its powers under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

 

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy commented that although the powers had not been used, it was nonetheless important for Members to continue to review the matter and ensure that the correct procedures were in place. 

 

RESOLVED that the six monthly update on the use of RIPA powers be noted.