Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1, Civic Offices, Merrial Street, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, ST5 2AG

Contact: Jayne Briscoe 2250  01782 742250

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillors Spence, Stubbs, Woolley and Wright.

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive Declarations of Interest from Members on items included in the agenda

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

3.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 72 KB

To consider the minutes of the previous meeting(s)

Minutes:

Resolved:                 That the minutes of the meeting held on 27 November 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

4.

Treasury Management Strategy 2018-19 pdf icon PDF 84 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Director (Resources and Support Services) presented the Treasury Management Strategy 2018/19 for scrutiny by members of the Committee. The report included the Prudential Indicators, Investment Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Strategy. Members were made aware that the results of the consultation undertaken by the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and any impact this may have on proposals to update the guidance on Local Authorities Investments and on Minimum Revenue Provision and any impact on the Treasury Management Strategy was due to be received in the near future.

 

Members asked if the delayed move to Castle House would have a negative impact on the financial assumptions relating to the Ryecroft development site. It was considered that this would not have any immediate effect, due to the terms of the contract which allowed for the site to be available towards the end of the year.

 

Agreed:         The Committee approved the strategy for submission to Full Council on 21 February 2018.

5.

Revenue and Capital Budgets 2018-2019 pdf icon PDF 98 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Executive Director (Resources and Support Services) submitted a report which reviewed progress on the journey towards completion of the revenue and capital budgets for 2018/19 following agreement of the 5 year Medium Term Financial Strategy and provided the Committee with an opportunity to scrutinise the draft Budget and Council Tax proposals prior to consideration by Cabinet at their meeting on 7 February 2018.

 

In response to a suggestion from a member that the pressures could be reduced if Council Tax was raised to 3% it was noted that Cabinet had decided (17/01/2018) to increase Council Tax by 2.70%, £5.00 on Band D properties. 

 

In response to Members questions on the impact on anticipated savings of the delayed move to Castle House it was stated that these would be compensated for by a financial levy paid by the contractor.  

 

Members looked at the other areas of savings and to discussions with the BID which may offer an opportunity to make savings in certain areas of responsibility.

 

In respect of the repairs to J2, although it was agreed these were essential members asked if they could be covered by the warranty period.

 

The Capital Programme was funded to £1.5m which would be achieved through land sales.

 

Members scrutinised the costs of replacement waste bins and asked Cabinet to examine this in more detail as £150k seemed high..

 

A member asked why the Mayors budget had been reduced and, in response, the Portfolio Holder explained how the Mayors Allowance had been based on a Spinal Column point which had increased in line with officer salaries, this was in contrast to other members allowances which had not increased. Additional savings would be made by not replacing the dedicated Mayoral support.

 

Continuing, the Portfolio Holder explained that from May 2018 it was anticipated that the member iPad scheme would be discontinued.

 

In respect of Planned Activities for 2018-19 members asked that any jargon such as the word “resilience” be removed (reference number 1.13). 

 

Agreed:         That the budget for replacement of waste bins be examined further by Cabinet.                      

 

 

6.

WORK PLAN pdf icon PDF 89 KB

To discuss and update the work plans to reflect current scrutiny topics

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members noted that, due to the delay in moving into Castle House and the need for staff to concentrate on the move, it was not possible to scrutinise the following reports as planned:

 

·        Scrutiny of the time taken to answer calls to the Contact Centre including those transferred to the call holding system

·        Review of the move to Castle House – specifically the HR implications and workforce development.

 

In response to a member question concerning a meeting with the BID, the Scrutiny Officer reported that members of the Economic Development and Enterprise Scrutiny Committee would meet with the BID on 21 March and that members of this Committee could be invited to attend.

 

 Members noted that there was a lack of business to be transacted at the next meeting on 12 March and it was decided that this meeting should be cancelled, without prejudice.

 

 

 

7.

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Any member of the public wishing to submit a question must serve two clear days’ notice, in writing, of any such question to the Borough Council.

 

Minutes:

There were no members of the public present at the meeting.

8.

URGENT BUSINESS

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

Minutes:

There was no Urgent Business.

9.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Minutes:

It was agreed that, due to a lack of business to be transacted, the next meeting of the Finance, Resources and Partnerships Scrutiny Committee due to be held on 12 March, 2018, be cancelled.