Agenda and minutes

The Mayor congratulated and welcomed Councillor Gary White to his first meeting following his election as the Borough Councillor for Madeley.

The Mayor announced that he was saddened to hear of the passing of former Councillor Elsie Bates on Monday 20 February 2017.  In addition former Councillor Muffi Fox hadsadly passed away in December 2016. 

Members stood in silent tribute.

Apologies were received from Councillors Mrs Astle, Ms Bloor, Harper,  Loades and Miss Mancey.

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items contained within this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest stated.

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 23 November, 2016 be agreed as a correct record.

The Mayor’s Annual Civic Mass would be held at Holy Trinity Church, Newcastle, on 5 March 2017 at 10.30 a.m.

The Mayor’s Ball would be held in the Ballroom, Keele Hall on 21 April.  Members were advised to contact the Mayor’s Secretary Peter Whalan for more information and tickets.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer introduced this report which set out the recommendations of Cabinet for Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2017/18 and sets out the recommendations for setting the 2017/18 Council Tax.  In summary the Council’s updated Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) as reported to Cabinet indicated a forecast budget shortfall of £2.728m for 2017/18 (from a budget of £8m).  The Council had a duty to deliver a balanced budget.

Cabinet proposed an increase in council tax for 2017/18 of £5.00 per month from the 2016/17 amount, the maximum amount permitted without triggering the need for a referendum.  This represented an increase of 2.77 per cent from 2016/17.  Detailed recommendations were set out in Appendix A of the report.  The Portfolio Holder stated that over 95 per cent of local authorities were increasing Council Tax by the maximum amount.  Appendix B sets out the proposed Revenue Budget for 2017/18.  A summary of additional income, additional expenditure and loss of income and new pressures was given in the report.  The Portfolio Holder drew Members’ attention to the financial pressure on local authorities who were expected to be self-funding by 2020.

A summary of savings and funding strategies to bridge the £2.728m gap had been identified and agreed with managers and were given at Appendix C, including staff efficiencies. The impact that savings were having on the Council was acknowledged, with posts being frozen or unfilled.  Services continued to be delivered to a high standard.  Staff had shown flexibility in their ability to adapt to increasing use of technology to save money. 

A review of the Council’s Balances and Reserves together with a risk assessment had been carried out. Details were given in Appendices D and E.  The MTFS and budget proposals had been scrutinised by the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee.  The Portfolio Holder thanked Members for their comments. 

With reference to the reduction in funding for Parish Councils, Parish Councils were thanked for their co-operation and support for the work that they do. 

The next publication of the Reporter would be final edition, following which it would cease production. 

The Capital Programme for 2017/18 was given in Appendix F of the report together with the Prudential Indicator relating to the Incremental Impact of Capital Investment Decisions on the Council Tax, as set out in paragraph 8.10.  This showed that the Council was constrained by the availability of funding.  All items listed in the programme are those most urgently required and these had been carefully assessed against health and safety risks or to safeguard income from commercial properties.  Only a basic programme of new schemes is proposed for approval in 2017/18.  The importance of integrating the revenue and capital budgets was stressed.  The emphasis will now be on speeding up the disposal of surplus land that has been approved for sale.  This will enable the Council to achieve its policy objective of bringing forward more affordable and social housing.  Expenditure on a small number of new  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer sought approval of the Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18, including the Prudential Indicators, Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy contained within it. 

Resolved:     (i)         That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2017/18 be

                                                approved.

                        (ii)        That the Prudential Indicators contained within the Report

                                                be approved.

                        (iii)       That the Investment Strategy contained within the Report

                                                be approved.

                        (iv)       That the Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy contained

                                                within the report be approved.

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder - Policy, People and Partnerships introduced this item by stating that the Localism Act 2011 requires local authorities to prepare and publish a pay policy statement for each financial year.  Full details were given in the Appendices of the report.  

Resolved:     That the Pay Policy Statement attached at Appendix A to the

report be approved and published on the Council’s website by 31 March, 2017.

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder - Policy, People and Partnerships sought authorisation to make an Order under Section 53 of the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to enable the Borough Council to make an Order to change the electoral cycle of Town and Parish Councils within its area to bring them in line with the Borough Council’s all-out elections to be held from May 2018 onwards.  Necessary consultation had taken place.  The proposal aimed to avoid the need for Town or Parish Councils elections to meet the cost of their own elections.

Resolved:    That an Order be made under Section 53 of the Local

Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 to enable the Borough Council to change the electoral cycle of Town and Parish Councils within its area. 

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder - Policy, People and Partnerships sought authorisation to make consequential changes to the Constitution to reflect resolutions of the Council or Cabinet, decisions properly made under delegated powers and changes of fact and law, subject to regular notification of Members to such changes, as detailed in the report.  The proposed changes had been scrutinised.

Resolved:     (i)         That the addition made to the Finance Scheme of

Delegation be noted;

(ii)        That the proposed amendment to the Licensing Scheme of Delegation be approved.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, IT and Customer sought approval to enable the Council to determine the arrangements for the appointment of external auditors for the Council, with effect from the accounts for the financial year 2018/19.

Resolved:    That the Council opts into the national scheme for auditor

appointments (Public Sector Audit Appointments).

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder - Policy, People and Partnerships sought approval of absence of Councillor Mrs Margaret Astle from 9 September until 22 February 2017. 

Resolved:                 That approval of absence of Councillor Mrs Margaret

Astle under section 85 of the Local Government Act on grounds of ill health be approved. 

The Mayor Councillor Ian Wilkes agreed to write to Councillor Astle on behalf of the Council, wishing her a speedy recovery.

The Mayor stated that a vacancy had arisen for Vice-Chair of the Public Protection Committee.  One nomination had been received from Councillor G White. 

Resolved:    That Councillor G White be appointed as Vice-Chair of the

            Public Protection Committee for the remainder of 2016/17.

The Leader of the Council / Portfolio Holder - Policy, People and Partnerships provided Members with an update on the activities and decisions of Cabinet together with the Forward Plan. 

Resolved:    That the statement of the Leader of the Council be received and

                        noted.

a)         Audit and Risk Committee – A verbal update will be given

b)         Planning Committee – Report attached

c)         Licensing Committee – Report attached

d)         Public Protection Committee – A verbal update will be given

The Chairs of the Planning Committee and Licensing Committee presented their reports.

The Report of the Chair of Audit and Risk Committee was tabled at the meeting.  A verbal update was given for the Public Protection Committee.

Resolved:    That the reports of the Planning Committee; Licensing Committee, Public Protection Committee and Audit and Risk Committees be noted.

a)         Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee

b)         Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee

c)         Cleaner, Greener and Safer Communities Scrutiny Committee

d)         Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee

e)         Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

The Chairs of the Active and Cohesive Communities Scrutiny Committee, Cleaner Greener Safer Scrutiny Committee and Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee presented their reports.

The Report of the Finance, Resources and Partnerships and Economic Development and Regeneration Scrutiny Committees were tabled at the meeting.

Resolved:    That the reports of the Active and Cohesive Scrutiny

Committee, Cleaner Greener Safer Scrutiny Committee, Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, Finance, Resources and Partnerships and Economic Development and Regeneration Scrutiny Committees be noted.

A notice of motion other than those listed in Standing Order 19 must reach the Chief Executive ten clear days before the relevant Meeting of the Council.

Resolved: No notices of motion had been received.

Resolved: No questions had been received.

To receive from Members any petitions which they wish to present to the Council.

Resolved: No petitions were received.

Resolved: There was no Urgent Business.