Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from the Chief Executive – John Sellgren.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting.

Resolved:              That the minutes of the meeting, held on 11 November, 2015, be approved as a correct record.

Councillor Turner queried Item 6 – Land at Sheldon Grove.  The item had been Called-In and it had been assumed that it would be brought back to tonight’s meeting.

Members were advised that, given the new information in the Cushman and Wakefield report to the Asset Policy Committee, the previous decision would need to be reviewed in view of the additional detail, and possibly remove Land at Sheldon Grove at this stage.

a.)  That, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amounts calculated as the Council Tax Base for 2016/17 shall be as follows:-

                                                                          Band D Equivalent properties      

Newcastle Borough Council                         36,078

Kidsgrove Town Council                            6,536

Loggerheads                                             1,878

Audley                                                       2,510

Balterley, Betley and Wrinehill                      576

Chapel and Hill Chorlton                               192

Keele                                                            332

Madeley                                                     1,445

Maer                                                             260

Whitmore                                                      814

Silverdale                                                           1,457

b.)   That approval be given to delegate responsibility for the calculation of the Council Tax Base in future years to the Executive Director (Resources and Support Services) and that the Council’s Scheme of Delegation be amended accordingly.

Consideration was given to a report requesting that Members approve the Council Tax Base to be used to calculate the 2016/17 levies.

In addition, Members were asked to delegate the responsibility for the calculation, in future years to the Executive Director for Resources and Support Services in consultation with the relevant portfolio holder.

Resolved:            (i)          `That, in accordance with the Local Authorities

(Calculation of Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amounts calculated as the Council Tax Base for 2016/17 shall be as follows:-

                                                                          Band D Equivalent properties      

Newcastle Borough Council                         36,078

Kidsgrove Town Council                               6,536

Loggerheads                                               1,878

Audley                                                        2,510

Balterley, Betley and Wrinehill                         576

Chapel and Hill Chorlton                                 192

Keele                                                             332

Madeley                                                      1,445

Maer                                                             260

Whitmore                                                       814

Silverdale                                                      1,457

(ii)                  That approval be given to delegate responsibility for the calculation of the Council Tax Base in future years to the Executive Director (Resources and Support Services) and that the Council’s Scheme of Delegation be amended accordingly.

That the fees and charges proposed to apply from 1 April, 2016, as set out in Appendix 1 be approved

Members considered a report requesting approval for the proposed scale of fees and charges which would apply from 1 April, 2016.

The fees and charges which the Council makes need to be reviewed in order to keep them in line with the cost of service provision and ensure compliance with the Charging Policy.

Attention was drawn to page 20 of the report which showed some new charges and page 22 which showed deleted charges.

In addition, the Council’s Executive Director – Resource and Support Services  advised members of a minor change in the report.  The section  headed  ‘Land Charges’ at the bottom of page 36 indicated no VAT to all.  However, VAT will be added to Con 29 and therefore this would be added into the Land Charges figures where appropriate.

Resolved:              That the fees and charges proposed to apply from 1 April,

                              2016, as set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

(a)        That the assumptions set out in the report be approved. 

(b)       That it be agreed to increase the Council Tax levy by 1.99% for 2016/17.

(c)        That the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee be asked to consider what comments it wishes to make on the draft Budget and Council Tax proposals before the final proposals are considered at Cabinet in February 2016.

Consideration was given to a report on Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2016/17.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer thanked all officers who had been involved in the preparation of the budgets.

Members were advised that a decision had had to be made as to whether Council Tax should be increased for the year 2016/17 and unfortunately, due to circumstances, an increase of 1.99% was necessary.

Attention was drawn to page 59 of the agenda which indicated changes to the Medium Term Financial Strategy since its approval in November, 2015.  Page 61 listed savings which had been made and page 61 showed that there would be no shortfall for 2016/17.

A suggestion was made to include a leaflet in with the Council Tax bills when they are sent out giving as breakdown of the individual charges for the County, Fire Service, Police and ourselves.

Resolved:                   (i)         That the assumptions set out in the report be approved. 

(ii)         That it be agreed to increase the Council Tax levy by

1.99% for 2016/17.

(iii)        That the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee be asked to consider what comments it wishes to make on the draft Budget and Council Tax proposals before the final proposals are considered at Cabinet in February 2016.

(a)        That the request from the Chair of the Hackney Carriage Association be rejected.

(b)      That the Council continue with the current arrangement for tariff 2.

The Cabinet considered a report with a request from the Hackney Carriage Association to change the commencement time of Tariff Two from midnight to 10pm.

The item had been considered by the Council’s Public Protection Committee  on 3 November, 2015 where it had been recommended to reject the request as it would have a harmful effect on the night time economy.

The Portfolio Holder for Safer Communities also recommended that the request be rejected.

Resolved:                   (i)         That the request from the Chair of the Hackney

Carriage Association be refused.

(ii)         That the Council continue with the current arrangement

for tariff 2.

a)    That the progress made in implementing the Community Centre Review actions be noted and that it be recognised that there is still further work to be done.

b)    That the continuation of the Cabinet Panel to provide ongoing oversight of the implementation of the Community Centres Review Action Plan be approved.

Consideration was given to a report updating Members on the progress made in implementing the actions from the Community Centre Review.

Members were advised that five Community Centres had taken on, or were about to sign for, a lease.  In addition there were a few who were ready to enter discussions regarding a lease.

The Chair expressed her thanks to the officers who had carried out the work on this and also to the people working in the community to keep them going.

Resolved:             (i)       That the progress made in implementing the

Community Centre Review actions be noted and that it

be recognised that there is still further work to be done.

(ii)              That the continuation of the Cabinet Panel to provide ongoing oversight of the implementation of the Community Centres Review Action Plan be approved.

1) That Members note again that the advice received by the City Council that it would be inappropriate to proceed at this point in time with progressing a Community Infrastructure Levy is considered still to apply.

2) That officers continue to consider and advise the Planning Committee in specific cases whether particular obligations, following the coming into force of the provisions of Regulation 123 on 5^th April 2015, are lawful

3) That officers bring forward a timetable, with resource implications, detailing how it is proposed to develop proposals for a Community Infrastructure Levy Draft Preliminary Charging Schedule for consultation purposes, the approval of a Draft Charging Schedule and its submission for examination, and its examination following or at the same time as the Examination of the Joint Local Plan in 2018

Consideration was given to a report giving Members further guidance on the prospects of pursuing the bringing in of a Community Infrastructure Levy.

Resolved:         (i)       That Members note again that the advice received by the

City Council that it would be inappropriate to proceed at this point in time with progressing a Community Infrastructure Levy is considered still to apply.

(ii)      That officers continue to consider and advise the Planning Committee in specific cases whether particular obligations, following the coming into force of the provisions of Regulation 123 on 5^th April 2015, are lawful.

(iii)     That officers bring forward a timetable, with resource implications, detailing how it is proposed to develop proposals for a Community Infrastructure Levy Draft Preliminary Charging Schedule for consultation purposes, the approval of a Draft Charging Schedule and its submission for examination, and its examination following or at the same time as the Examination of the Joint Local Plan in 2018.

a.)That the procurement of new and replacement ICT hardware to expand the Council’s current ICT facilities at Kidsgrove Customer Services Centre in support of the Public Sector Hub, as detailed in the report be approved.

b.) That the authority to award the various contracts be delegated to the Executive Director (Resources and Support Services) in consultation with the portfolio holder for Finance, IT and Customer.

A report was submitted to Cabinet seeking approval for the procurement of new and replacement ICT hardware which is required to expand the Council’s current ICT facilities at Kidsgrove Customer Service Centre, in support of the Public Sector Hub.

Members were advised that when the Hub opens, the back-up which is currently at Kidsgrove, would be moved to the Hub.

Resolved:       (i)         That the procurement of new and replacement ICT hardware

to expand the Council’s current ICT facilities at Kidsgrove Customer Services Centre in support of the Public Sector Hub, as detailed in the report be approved.

(ii)        That the authority to award the various contracts be delegated to the Executive Director (Resources and Support Services) in consultation with the portfolio holder for Finance, IT and Customer.

a)     That it be confirmed that Cabinet believes the Selective Licensing Proposal is appropriately evidence based and robust.

b)     That it be agreed to move forward to a ten week consultation of local residents, landlord’s, businesses and other stakeholders.

c)     That a report on the outcome of the consultation which will  consider  the representations made be brought to a future meeting.

A report was submitted to Cabinet to present the case for Selective Licensing in the Miners Estate in Kidsgrove  and to recommend the next steps.

It was felt necessary on this estate, to introduce Selective Licensing, to address low housing demand and high levels of private renting. 

Members were advised that anti-social behaviour was high in this area and as a result people did not reside there for very long.  The area also suffers from low demand.

Under the scheme, action could be taken against landlords who do not adequately maintain their properties.  The Scheme would also allow the Council to control what is happening with properties in that locality.

Before the scheme is introduced, a consultation process would have to be undertaken and sufficient evidence given.

If it proved to be successful, it could be rolled out to other areas within the Borough.  Members were advised that there were now more private landlords than social ones.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer expressed his thanks to the officers who had carried out this work.

Resolved:             (i)         That it be confirmed that Cabinet believes the Selective

Licensing Proposal is appropriately evidence based

and robust.

(ii)         That it be agreed to move forward to a ten week

consultation of local residents, landlord’s, businesses and other stakeholders.

(iii)        That a report on the outcome of the consultation which will  consider  the representations made be brought to a future meeting.

There was no Urgent Business.