Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members  on items included in the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th January 2012 be agreed as a correct record.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 18^th January 2012 be agreed as a correct record.

Resolved:     (a)       That it be recommended to Full Council that the revised minimum balances requirement be £1,500,000 with the excess of £350,000 above the current levels being transferred to the Contingency Reserve (£80,000), the Insurance Fund (£120,000) and the Provision for Bad Debts (sundry debtors) (£150,000)

(b)       That the 2012/13 General Fund Revenue Budget and the Capital Programme 2012/13 as detailed in the report to Cabinet dated 18 January 2012 be recommended to Full Council for approval together with a recommendation that there be no increase in the Borough’s council tax for 2012/13.

(c)        That the contribution from the Budget Support Fund be £179,000.

A report was submitted to enable Cabinet to recommend the 2012/13 General Fund Revenue Budget and the 2012/13 Capital Programme to Full Council in February 2012 and to consider the comments from the Transformation and Resources Overview and scrutiny Committee.

The Chair of the Transformation and Overview Committee was in attendance to feedback comments from the Committee meetings on 18^th and 25^th January 2012. The Committee had discussed many areas including the £523k budget shortfall gap and the impact of the £60k subsidy from the Government, the upkeep costs of Jubilee 1 and Knutton Recreation Centre and the maximisation of income streams from car parking and Jubilee 2.

The Council tax level was debated and concerns had been raised regarding the knock on effect of a 0% increase this year on future Council Tax levels. There was however no recommendation that Council Tax should be increased. The Committee had also requested additional information for its meeting on 25^th January which included detail on the insurance fund, a breakdown of the 60 FTE jobs that had been removed from the Council’s structure and information of the remaining potential savings identified in the service reviews carried out in 2010.

The Chair of the Transformation and Resources Committee thanked Officers for the provision of all the requested information and congratulated them on a well written and comprehensive report.

The good work and valuable contribution of the Scrutiny Committee was also noted.

Resolved:     (a)       That it be recommended to Full Council that the revised minimum balances requirement be £1,500,000 with the excess of £350,000 above the current levels being transferred to the Contingency Reserve (£80,000), the Insurance Fund (£120,000) and the Provision for Bad Debts (sundry debtors) (£150,000)

(b)       That the 2012/13 General Fund Revenue Budget and the Capital Programme 2012/13 as detailed in the report to Cabinet dated 18 January 2012 be recommended to Full Council for approval together with a recommendation that there be no increase in the Borough’s council tax for 2012/13.

(c)        That the contribution from the Budget Support Fund be £179,000.

Resolved:     (a)       That the revised timetable set out in Appendix A now be adopted.

(b)       That Cabinet agree the consultation proposals set out in this report.

(c)        That a further report be submitted in June/July to the Planning Committee with a revised Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document draft Issues and Options Paper for public consultation purposes, incorporating a set of generic development management policies and taking into account a revised Infrastructure Delivery Plan together with details of the public consultation arrangements.

(d)       That a map be provided to all Members in June indicating all sites that formed part of the development plan document and a further and final map be produced for all members at the conclusion of the consultation process.

(e)       That Cabinet receive in June/July the recommendations of the Planning Committee with respect to the above revised Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document Draft Issues and Options Paper, incorporating a set of generic development management policies and taking into account a revised Infrastructure Delivery Plan, for consultation purposes together with details of the public consultation arrangements.

(f)         That at the above stage it be advertised that the entire process is open for public comment and a generic email address be provided for this purpose.

A report was submitted requesting Cabinet to consider the timetable, likely scope and consultation arrangements for the site allocations and policies development plan document issues and options paper.

All Councils were required to have such a plan and the timetable for Newcastle would be extended to allow for a significant public consultation process following which a set of policies would be agreed. It was reiterated that no sites had been singled out yet and would not be until the consultation process had been completed which could be up to 2 and a half year in the future.

Resolved:     (a)       That the revised timetable set out in Appendix A now be adopted.

(b)       That Cabinet agree the consultation proposals set out in this report.

(c)        That a further report be submitted in June/July to the Planning Committee with a revised Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document draft Issues and Options Paper for public consultation purposes, incorporating a set of generic development management policies and taking into account a revised Infrastructure Delivery Plan together with details of the public consultation arrangements.

(d)       That a map be provided to all Members in June indicating all sites that formed part of the development plan document and a further and final map be produced for all members at the conclusion of the consultation process.

(e)       That Cabinet receive in June/July the recommendations of the Planning Committee with respect to the above revised Site Allocations and Policies Development Plan Document Draft Issues and Options Paper, incorporating a set of generic development management policies and taking into account a revised Infrastructure Delivery Plan, for consultation purposes together with details of the public consultation arrangements.

(f)         That at the above stage it be advertised that the entire process is open for public comment and a generic email address be provided for this purpose.

Resolved:     That the Asset Management Strategy 20111/12 – 2013/14 be approved.

A report was submitted to seek final approval for the Asset Management Strategy 2011/12 – 2012/14.

The Strategy had now been scrutinised by both the Economic Development and Enterprise Committee and the Transformation and Resources Committee and no additional comments had been returned and it was therefore unnecessary to make any changed to the document that Cabinet had originally discussed and agreed at its meeting on 18^th January 2012.

Resolved:     That the Asset Management Strategy 20111/12 – 2013/14 be approved.

Resolved:     That information be provided to LAPs and Parish Councils regarding the nomination process and that further discussion be held regarding the distribution of the current list.

A report was submitted requesting Cabinet to consider the recommendation of the Planning Committee to adopt the Register of Locally Important Buildings and Structures in Newcastle under Lyme Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

A draft Register of Locally Important Buildings and Structure Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) had been agreed by Planning Committee in July 2011 for consultation purposes. The period for consultation had ended on 23^rd September 2011. The buildings and structures on the list would be protected by the Council and would be at levels below those classed as listed. A preliminary list existed at the moment but it was very dependant upon local action and knowledge and it was agreed that all LAPS and Parish Councils be made aware of the list and requested to submit any buildings of structures that they were aware of for inclusion.

A standard approach was required for the additional of buildings and structures to the list and there would be a nomination process followed by assessment from an independent panel working from a standard set of criteria. Further discussions would be held regarding whether to release the current list at a future meeting.

Resolved:     That information be provided to LAPs and Parish Councils regarding the nomination process and that further discussion be held regarding the distribution of the current list.

Resolved:     That the actions taken to date be noted

A report was submitted to update Cabinet Members of progress regarding the Improvement and Efficiency West Midlands Low Carbon funding in support of capital projects delivering carbon savings.

It was confirmed that the Council was on track to meet the April deadline for indentifying areas for the funding and it was hoped that all orders would be in place by the end of March and work commencing.

Resolved:     That the actions taken to date be noted

To consider any business which is urgent within the meaning of Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972.