Issue - meetings

Matter for Decision 

The Budget-Setting Report (BSR) includes the updated Corporate Plan and detailed revenue bids and savings and capital proposals and sets out the key parameters for the detailed recommendations and budget finalisation being considered at this meeting. This report reflects recommendations that will be made to The Executive on 8 February 2021 and then to Council, for consideration at its meeting on 25 February 2021.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Finance and Resources

 

To recommend the Executive to:

 

i.               Approve Revenue Pressures and Bids shown in Appendix C(b) and Savings shown in Appendix C(c).

ii.             Approve Non-Cash Limit items as shown in Appendix C(d).

iii.            Agree that there are no bids to be funded from External or Earmarked Funds (which would be included as Appendix C(e).

iv.           Agree any recommendations for submission to the Executive in respect of the proposals outlined in Appendix D(a) for inclusion in the Capital Plan.

 

To recommend Council to:

 

i.               Approve delegation to the Chief Financial Officer (Head of Finance) of the calculation and determination of the Council Tax taxbase (including submission of the National Non-Domestic Rates Forecast Form, NNDR1, for each financial year) which is set out in Appendix A(a).

ii.             Approve the level of Council Tax for 2021/22 as set out in Appendix A (b) (to follow for Council) and Section 4 [page 20 of the BSR refers].

 

Note that the Cambridgeshire Police and Crime Panel will meet by 3 February 2021 to consider the precept proposed by the Police and Crime Commissioner, Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Fire Authority will meet on 11 February 2021 and Cambridgeshire County Council will meet on 9 or 12 February 2021 to consider the amounts in precepts to be issued to the City Council for the year 2021/22.

 

iii.            Approve delegation to the Head of Finance authority to finalise changes relating to any corporate and/or departmental restructuring and any reallocation of support service and central costs, in accordance with the CIPFA Service Reporting Code of Practice for Local Authorities (SeRCOP).

iv.           Approve the revised Capital Plan for the General Fund as set out in Appendix D(c) and the Funding as set out in Section 6, page 29 of the BSR.

v.             Note the impact of revenue and capital budget approvals and approve the resulting level of reserves to be used to support the budget proposals as set out in the table [Section 8, page 49 refers].

vi.           Approve the updated Corporate Plan 2019 - 2022, attached at Appendix B.

 

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

 

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable

 

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Finance.

 

Members of the Executive and Spokes Councillors who did not ordinarily attend the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee joined the Committee for discussion on the budget.

 

In response to members’ questions the Head of Finance confirmed:

        i.              That the quarter 3 financial management report supported the assumption in the Budget Setting Report that the Council would have a balanced budget at the end of the financial year.

      ii.               When the interim assessment was carried out in July a revised budget was put forward which proposed using £2million of reserves.

    iii.               Had been through a couple more lockdowns since this period which posed additional pressures but there had also been additional funding from Central Government.

    iv.              Were following requirements to spread the Collection Fund deficit over 3 years and currently anticipating that only £1million of reserves would have to be used. However they were yet to submit income compensation claims to government and go through the reconciliation process.

 

S4682 Closure of Housing Cashiers [linked to S4698 – HRA]

In response to members questions Councillor Davey confirmed:

i.               The Covid pandemic had provided the opportunity to look at the implications of potentially shutting the Housing Cashiers. Wanted to offer an improved and enhanced service. The consultation was currently on-going so they did not know whether there would be any redundancies. Was in constant discussion with Unions. There had been a 1% increase in arrears but did not think this was due to shutting down offices but due to the impacts of the Covid pandemic. The issue of poverty needed to be looked at.

 

S4679 Housing Enabling Officer

In response to members questions Councillor Davey confirmed:

i.               The post had been vacant for a few years this was why this post was being offered up as a saving.

 

S4798 Selective Landlord Licensing [linked to RI4797]

In response to members questions the Strategic Director (SH) and Councillor Johnson confirmed:

i.               Officers undertook a thorough investigation into this matter.

ii.             Noted discussions which had taken place at Housing Scrutiny Committee, some elements were clear, and some were not so clear. The feasibility study was useful as it provided a lot of information about the private sector and as a consequence, enforcement options could be considered. 

 

URP 4739 Review and consideration of possible alternative delivery models for the Arts Distribution Service (including a stop).

In response to members questions the Strategic Director (SH) confirmed:

i.               The revenue pressure arose because there had been a reduction in income as a result of the pandemic.

ii.             A decision had not been made regarding the service and it was currently being reviewed.

iii.            Consideration was being given as to whether the service could be digitised.

iv.           Noted the description of this budget could have been clearer.

 

CAP 4787 Market Square project

In response to members questions Councillor Moore confirmed:

i.               The project had been slightly delayed given the deferment of the item from Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee in January.  It was anticipated that the item would be brought back to the March Committee. This did not prevent the bid being included in the budget. This would not affect any future consultation. The market needed investment and updating.

 

CAP 4741 Investment programme for public toilet re-purposed property assets [linked to II4754] and S4743 Public toilet review and policy implementation.

In response to members questions Councillor Moore confirmed:

i.               There were 21 public toilets in varying states of condition. The review of the public toilets may result in closing the least used toilets and investing in the toilets used the most. Changing Places toilets were also being considered.

 

CAP4740 Creation of a new boat pumping station near or on Stourbridge Common.

In response to members questions Councillor Thornburrow confirmed:

i.               Regular meetings had been held with Cam Boaters and a close eye would be kept on how much maintenance was undertaken. Would continue to have regular meetings with the community.

 

II4754 New business opportunities on Parks and Open Spaces (not event related) [ linked to CAP 4741].

In response to members questions Councillor Thornburrow confirmed:

i.               Officers were working closely with Ward Councillors as this would affect certain wards more than others.

ii.             Questioned if the open spaces could be used for education or arts and culture events.

iii.            Once applications had been received regarding proposed new activities and these had been assessed, Ward Councillors would be consulted prior to the proposal moving ahead.

iv.           Wanted any business opportunities to reduce the use of diesel. If the activity involved food, would want this to be sustainable.

v.             Questioned if buildings could be repurposed for example as a hedgehog hospital.  

 

B4715 Community Seed Funding Scheme – grass root grants and B4813 Community Grants – additional Covid related support.

In response to members questions Councillor Smith confirmed:

i.               There was a £30,000 uplift in funding under B4813 because of the greater use of community grants coming through because of Covid. This funding would be allocated through Area Committee funding. Noted that not every community group was large enough to be able to access the Area Committee grant process.

 

CAP4706 Cambridge Corn Exchange – Infrastructure improvements and upgrades.

In response to members questions the Strategic Director (SH) and Councillor Smith confirmed:

i.               The Council was currently gathering information on the carbon footprint of the Corn Exchange. The boiler work needed to be carried out urgently as it was extremely inefficient.

ii.             Before the pandemic the Corn Exchange had been achieving high numbers of audiences.

iii.            This was an opportune time to change the boiler as the Corn Exchange was closed because of the pandemic. The works would be as carbon neutral as possible

iv.           Maintenance of the boiler had been undertaken.

v.             A report would be brought to the next Environment and Community Scrutiny Committee to provide further detail.

 

The Committee resolved by 4 votes to 0 to endorse the recommendations

 

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

 

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted) 

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.