Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Al Bander, Pogonowski and Wright.

 

Councillor Sanders attended as an alternate for Councillor Al Bander.

 

Councillor Nimmo-Smith left the meeting after agenda item 11 (minute item 12/11/SR). 

Members are asked to declare at this stage any interests that they may have in an item shown on this agenda. If any member of the Committee is unsure whether or not they should declare an interest on a particular matter, they should seek advice from the Head of Legal Services before the meeting. 

 

Councillor	Item	Interest
Boyce	12/14/SR	Personal: Trustee of the Sports Hall Trust
Brown	12/11/SR	Personal: Wife works at the Citizens Advice Bureau
Nimmo-Smith	12/12/SR	Personal: Friend of Cambridge Botanic Gardens
Reid	12/12/SR	Personal: Member of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign Personal: Member of Cambridge Past, Present and Future
Rosenstiel	12/12/SR	Personal: Member of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign
Saunders	12/12/SR	Personal: Member of the Cambridge Cycling Campaign Personal: Member of Cambridge Past, Present and Future Personal: Friend of Cambridge Botanic Gardens Personal: Attends Cambridge Transitions Meetings

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 October 2011 were approved and signed as a correct record.  

Mr Andrey Pronin addressed the committee regarding agenda item 7 (minute item 12/7/SR) and expressed an interest in applying for the Mill Pond punt station licence. He highlighted the need for Cambridge City Council to maximise revenue from tourism and proposed a joint venture between himself and the Council regarding this location.

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources responded that discussions were ongoing with the current operator at this location about renewal of the licence. It was noted that, whilst the Council were keen to maximise their income from tourism, the current licence holder was paying market rent for this location. It was suggested that Mr Pronin contact the City Council’s Chief Estates Surveyor to discuss the proposal in more detail.

 

Mr Pronin stated that he would be willing be pay above market rent and, in the current climate, it was important that the Council look to increase their income.

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources responded that rent levels only formed part of the discussion when renewing licences. It was agreed that Mr Pronin would be contacted in order to arrange a meeting with officers.

Under paragraph 4.2.1 of the Council Procedure Rules, the Chair used his discretion to alter the order of the agenda to take agenda item 6 (minute item 12/06/12) after agenda item 11 (minute item 12/11/12).

 

However, for ease of the reader, these minutes will follow the order of the published agenda. 

To note decisions taken by the Leader of the Council and the Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources since the last meeting of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee. 

Appointment of Trustees to Cambridge United Charities

 

Councillor Herbert expressed concern that the relationship between the Council and Cambridge United Charities (CUC), specifically the need for a clear separation between the charity and the Council, had still not been resolved.

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources confirmed that he had written to the Chair of CUC advising them that the Council would be adhering to its Policy on Appointments to Outside Bodies and not making any further appointments to CUC. The Council had been approached recently by the charity regarding the need for an appointment and the Executive Councillor had refused.

 

The record of the urgent decision taken by the Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources was noted.   

Exclusion of Press and Public

It is recommended that the committee resolves to exclude the press and public during any discussion on confidential appendices A, B and C by virtue of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

The committee resolved to exclude the press and public by virtue of paragraphs 1, 2 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 

 

Matter for Decision: To consider write-off requests for Benefit, NNDR and Council Tax irrecoverable debts.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources resolved to:

 

i.        Approve the write-offs as outlined in the exempt annex of the

    officer’s report.

                  

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

N/A

 

The Executive for Customer Services and Resources approved the recommendations.

 

 

 

Matter for Decision: To consider the Council’s response to concerns about punt touting in the City Centre.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources resolved to: 

 

        i.            Note the update included in the officer’s report and approve the proposed action plan.

      ii.            Authorise officers to apply to the Land Registry to register ownership of the “slipway” by Garret Hostel Bridge.

    iii.            Support and approve the proposed application process and selection criteria for the Visit Cambridge Ticket Sales Agreement.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Guided Tours Manager.

 

The committee made the following comments on the report:

 

        i.            Highlighted the potential difficulty that the Cam Conservators may encounter when trying to regulate official punt stations.

      ii.            Whilst the proposed approach to ticket sales was welcomed there was a continued need to monitor and address aggressive punt ticket touting in the City Centre.

    iii.            It would be beneficial for the Cam Conservators to include specific clauses regulating ticket touting when reviewing annual licences.

   iv.            As landowners the City Council may be approached with regard to proposed new punt stations. At present no specific guidance was in place on issues such as navigation, access and planning issues. It was suggested that this needed to be addressed.

 

In response to members question’s the Guided Tours Manager and the Head of Tourism and City Centre Management confirmed the following:

 

        i.            The Council had been selling punt tickets as an agent for a single punt operator for a number of years but it was now proposing to adopt a multi concession operation. However limiting the number of operators to three would ensure visitors were not confused by too much choice for what is essentially the same experience. In addition this would ensure that the amount of back office reconciliation was manageable within existing resources.

      ii.            The Council would be actively encouraging all punt operators to apply to the scheme and it was hoped that at least one independent operator would be selected. The number of participants would however be reviewed after one year.

    iii.            In the medium term, officers would investigate the option of a specific punt ticket kiosk for use by all operators.

   iv.            Much of the aggressive punt touting was related to the area around Garret Hostel Bridge. As a result of the Cam Conservators new policy, and the fact that the issue of ownership had now been resolved, this should cease to be a problem as of April 1^st 2012.

     v.            The Council plans to develop a Code of Conduct for all punt operators. The Code would be voluntary and used to promote best practise and those signing up would receive a form of Kite Mark to indicate that they were operating to agreed standards. This would be compulsory for those wishing to have their tickets sold through the Tourist Information Centre and those operating from land owned by Cambridge City Council.

 

Councillor Herbert proposed the following amendment to recommendation 2.3 of the officer’s report:

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

The Executive Councillor is recommended:

 

“To develop ‘off-street’ facilities to enable legitimate punt operators to sell tickets.”

 

On a show of hands the amendment was lost by 3 votes to 5.

 

At the request of the Scrutiny Committee separate votes were taken on each of the recommendations:

 

The Scrutiny Committee approved the following recommendation by 5 votes to 0:

 

To note the update included in the report and approve the proposed action plan.

 

The Scrutiny Committee approved the following recommendation by 8 votes to 0 (unanimously):

 

To authorise officers to apply to the Land Registry to register ownership of the “slipway” by Garret Hostel Bridge.

 

The Scrutiny Committee approved the following recommendation by 5 votes to 0:

 

To support and approve the proposed application process and selection criteria for the Visit Cambridge Ticket Sales Agreement. 

 

The Executive for Customer Services and Resources approved the recommendations.

 

 

 

Matter for Decision: To consider the introduction of a metered electricity supply on Cambridge Market.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources resolved to:

 

        i.            Approve the proposal to introduce a metered electricity supply on the Market and that Market traders would purchase pre-loaded meter cards and only pay for the electricity they use.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Head of Tourism and City Centre Management. A summary of the feedback received from market traders on the proposed scheme was circulated.

 

In response to member’s questions the Head of Tourism and City Centre Management confirmed the following:

 

        i.            The detailed specification of the scheme would be worked up in consultation with market traders.

      ii.            Whilst the scheme would be bespoke for Cambridge Market initial investigation indicated that it would be based on a household metered electricity scheme.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 8 votes to 0 (unanimously).

 

The Executive for Customer Services and Resources approved the recommendations.

 

 

 Report attached in separate supplementary agenda pack

Matter for Decision: To consider the procurement of Building Cleaning and Associated Services.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources resolved to:

 

        i.            Approve the hard market testing of Building Cleaning and Associated Services through procurement.

      ii.            Support Option 1, as included in the officer’s report, as the preferred method of procurement.

    iii.            Take delegated decisions as required during the procurement process after minimum quality requirements had been discussed between the Executive Councillor and the Opposition Spokes.

   iv.            Approve a price/quality split of 50% cost / 50% quality.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from Head of Street and Open Spaces.

 

The committee made the following comments on the report:

 

        i.            As the service currently costs £3m (15% of the Council’s total net budget) it was important to have a clear and upper level management structure in place.

      ii.            More time was required to monitor the effectiveness of the current improvement measures. City Council staff should be given more time to address the issues before moving to hard market testing.

    iii.            Concern was raised regarding the price/quality split of 60% cost / 40% quality. 

   iv.            Concern was raised that, due to the very competitive nature of the cleaning business, the current services may be disadvantaged in the tendering process.

 

In response to member’s questions the Director of Environment and the Head of Streets and Open Spaces confirmed the following:

 

        i.            Officers had looked at improving the current service as a result of negative feedback from those receiving the service. A number of changes had been made in order to improve current standards and to put the services in the best position prior to tendering. These improvements were identified 10 months ago and implemented in September 2011.

      ii.            The following measures had been taken to improve the current service:

-         Internal and external training for staff

-         Improved and updated equipment

-         Introduction of Method Statements

-         ‘Change in working hours’ consultation

-         Working to best practice guidance

    iii.            Directors and Heads of Services had worked closely with the service to address the issues and it was now felt the best option would be to progress with hard market testing through procurement.

   iv.            Officers worked closely with the Tenants Regulation Panel to identify issues and monitor improvements to the service.

     v.            Safeguards and monitoring would be built into any contract specification to ensure an improvement in the service.

 

Councillor Herbert proposed the following amendment to the recommendations in the officer’s report:

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

The Executive Councillor is recommended:

 

“To prepare and implement a Building Cleaning Improvement Plan and that it be reported back to the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee before any decision is taken on tendering out the service.”

 

On a show of hands the amendment was lost by 3 votes to 5.

 

Councillor Brown proposed the following additional recommendation: 

 

The Executive Councillor is recommended:

 

“To approve a price/quality split of 50% cost  / 50% quality.”

 

On a show of hands the amendment was carried by 8 votes to 0 (unanimously).

 

Councillor Herbert proposed the following amendment to recommendation c) of the officer’s report (additional text underlined):

 

The Executive Councillor is recommended:

 

“To take delegated decisions as required during the procurement process after minimum quality requirements had been discussed between the Executive Councillor and the Opposition Spokes.”

 

On a show of hands the amendment was carried by 8 votes to 0 (unanimously).

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the amended recommendations by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive for Customer Services and Resources approved the amended recommendations.

 

Matter for Decision: To consider the Customer Services & Resources Portfolio Plan 2012-13.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources resolved to:

 

        i.            Approve the draft Customer Services & Resources Portfolio Plan 2012-13.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Director of Resources.

 

In response to member’s questions the Director of Customer and Community Services confirmed the following:

 

        i.            The City Council would be working with a number of different agencies, and through the Customer Services Centre, to ensure that information on changes to welfare reform was provided in a clear and accessible manner. Work would also be undertaken with the Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure that people were supported through these changes. 

      ii.            The City Council would be lobbying the Government, both individually and collectively with others, for amendment of the Broad Market Rental Area (BMRA) to be co-aligned with local authority boundaries.

    iii.            A new scheme for council tax benefit needed to be in place by December 2012 and implemented by April 2013. A guidance paper had been issued in December 2011 and officers were currently working through the detail. A further report would need to come back to the Strategy and Resources Committee in due course.

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources confirmed that, alongside MP Julian Huppert, he would continue to lobby the Government regarding BMRA. He was also very concerned about welfare reform and the implementation deadlines and would be personally lobbying Ministers.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive for Customer Services and Resources approved the recommendations.

 

 

Report attached in separate supplementary agenda pack

Matter for Decision: To consider the Revenue and Capital Budgets 2011/12 (Revised), 2012/13 and 2013/14 (Forecast) for the Customer Services and Resources portfolio.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor:

 

The Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources resolved to:

 

Review of Charges:

a) Approve the proposed charges for Customer Services & Resources services and facilities, as shown in Appendix B of the officer’s report.

 

Revenue Budgets:

b) Approve, with any amendments, the current year funding requests and savings, (shown in Appendix A of the officer’s report) and the resulting revised revenue budgets for 2011/12 (shown in Table 1 of the officer’s report) for submission to the Executive.

 

c) Agree proposals for revenue savings and unavoidable bids, as set out in Appendix C of the officer’s report.

 

d) Agree proposals for Priority Policy Fund (PPF) bids, as set out in Appendix E of the officer’s report.

 

e) Approve the budget proposals for 2012/13 as shown in Table 2 of the officer’s report, for submission to the Executive.

 

Capital:

f) Seek approval from the Executive to carry forward resources from 2011/12, as detailed in Appendix G of the officer’s report, to fund re-phased capital spending.

 

g) Approve capital bids, as identified in Appendix H of the officer’s report, for submission to the Executive for inclusion in the Capital & Revenue Projects Plan or addition to the Hold List, as indicated.

 

h) Confirm that there are no items covered by this portfolio to add to the Council’s Hold List, for submission to the Executive.

 

i) Approve the current Capital & Revenue Projects Plan, as detailed in Appendix J of the officer’s report, to be updated for any amendments detailed in (f), (g) and (h) above.

 

j) Approve the following project appraisals as detailed in Appendix K of the officer’s report:

 

K (1) Content Management System Replacement

K (2) Introduction of a metered electricity supply on Cambridge Market

K (3) Electronic Market Management System

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Director of Resources.

 

In response to membe’s questions the Director of Customer and Community Services, the Director of Resources and the Executive Councillor confirmed the following:

 

        i.            Work was ongoing with the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) regarding the installation of the Information Kiosks (Capital Bid C2740) and how these would complement the CAB rollout strategy.

      ii.            Regarding NCL2994 (Revisions to projected external interest income) officers were continuing to look at a range of options including internal borrowing.

    iii.            The reduction in funding for Trade Union Branch Secretary posts (S2747) had been discussed in detail at the Joint Staff Employer Forum (JSEF). Comparative studies had been undertaken and it was felt that the proposed funding was appropriate for a Local Authority of the size and budget of Cambridge City Council.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 5 votes to 0.

 

The Executive for Customer Services and Resources approved the recommendations.

 

Matter for Decision: Approval of Sustainable City Grants to voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in 2012/13

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change resolved to:

 

       i.            Approve the recommendations for Sustainable City Grants to voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in 2012/13 as set out in Section 3.6 of the officer’s report, subject to confirmation of the Council’s 2012/13 budget in February 2012 and, in some cases, to the provision of further information from applicants.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Operations and Resources Manager.

 

In response to member’s questions the Operations and Resources Manager confirmed the following:

 

        i.            The proposed sculpture at the Station Road gate of the Botanic Gardens would only be leased for a 10-month period and therefore did not fit the criteria for Public Art funding.

      ii.            Officers would continue to promote Sustainable City Grants throughout the year and actively support people to access the funding.

    iii.            The Cambridge Carbon Initiative had applied for funding from the 2011/12 pot. As the application was for over £2000 the award would be made in consultation with the Executive Councillor, Chair and Opposition Spokes.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 7 votes to 0 (unanimously).

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change approved the recommendations.

 

Matter for Decision: Annual update on the direction of the Greater Cambridge Greater Peterborough Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and the Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire Local Strategic Partnership.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy and Climate Change resolved to:

 

       i.            Continue to work with the emerging LEP to ensure that the strategic issues affecting Cambridge are responded to and to work with partners to review the role of the Local Strategic Partnership.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the Executive Councillor’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change.

 

In response to member’s questions the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change confirmed the following:

 

        i.            The Local Strategic Partnership had met on 16 January 2012 to discuss distribution of the second wave payment of £86,000. A further meeting with community and voluntary sector organisations would be arranged in due course.

      ii.            She would continue to press the LEP for greater openness and transparency when decisions were being taken about spending public money.

    iii.            Whilst the decision of the County Council to cut £4m of LPSA funding to the Local Strategic Partnership had had an affect it was important that efforts continue to improve partnership working in the area.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 7 votes to 0 (unanimously).

 

Matter for Decision: Approval to progress with the project to investigate the potential of implementing a district heating scheme to serve part of Cambridge city centre.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Strategy and Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change resolved to:

 

        i.            Agree that further work should concentrate on development of a larger district heating scheme.

 

      ii.            Support the recommendations for a joint public/private sector led scheme, subject to further detailed commercial and business modelling including the investigation of sources of capital funding and any legal constraints.

 

    iii.            Support the City Council’s further involvement in the Project, including the potential role of City Council assets in securing the viability of the Project.

 

   iv.            Agree to participation in Cambridgeshire’s Intelligent Energy Europe (IEE) project as a potential source of funding / capacity for the district heating scheme on revised terms from those agreed at the October 10 Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Committee meeting.

 

     v.            Delegate authority to the Director of Environment/Head of Corporate Strategy and Head of Legal Services to negotiate and complete the final form of the documentation needed for the countywide application to the EU’s IEE fund for technical assistance, subject to consultation with the Executive Councillor on the proposed governance arrangements and full financial details.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Senior Sustainability Officer.

 

In response to members questions the Senior Sustainability Officer, the Director of Environment and the Programme Director (Low Carbon Development Initiative) confirmed the following:

 

        i.            At this stage of the project there were no set specifications on the size of the Combined Heat and Power Unit (CHP).

      ii.            Officers in Arts and Recreation were currently looking at location options for the CHP.

    iii.            The existing gas fired CHP at Parkside Pools would need to be replaced.

   iv.            As Cambridge City was in an Air Quality Management Area the CHP would have to initially be gas fired as opposed to utilising biomass combustion.  In the long term there could be opportunities to replace the CHP units with renewably fuelled units as technology advanced.

     v.            Officers had been looking at examples of good practice across the country and would actively seek to learn from their experiences. Site visits are to arranged to similar projects in Milton Keynes and Islington, and Nottingham would also be contacted.

   vi.            Due to advances in technology, metering and regulating any heat produced by the CHP would not be an issue.

 vii.            Whilst a 30-year lifecycle costing methodology had been used to assess the economic performance of each option the CHP engine would probably need to be replaced after 15 years.

viii.            Further work was ongoing with partners to confirm the governance arrangements and dedicated Project Management support would be put in place to progress the project. 

 

In response to member’s questions the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change confirmed the following:

 

        i.            The Development Plan Scrutiny Sub-Committee would be meeting on 17 January 2012 to discuss renewable and low carbon energy opportunities for Cambridge City. It was noted that a move towards a district heating scheme could prove to be a significant opportunity for a reduction in the carbon footprint of the city.

 

 The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations 7 votes to 0 (unanimously).

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change approved the recommendations.

 

 

 

Matter for Decision: To recommend to Council the changes to the Prudential and Treasury Management indicators.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change resolved to:

 

        i.            Recommend to Council the changes to the Prudential and Treasury Management Indicators as set out in Appendix 2 of the officer’s report. These will be used to update the annual Budget Setting Report.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Director of Resources.

 

In response to member’s questions the Director of Resources confirmed the following:

 

        i.            Updates on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) would be reported back at the Council meeting on 23 February 2012.

      ii.            The Housing Revenue Account had an option of discounted borrowing at a fixed rate.

    iii.            Options would continue to be looked at for the General Fund.

   iv.            Options between a ‘portfolio’ of loans and a ‘single’ loan were being looked at in detail by officers.  

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 4 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change approved the recommendations.

 

 

 

Matter for Decision: To consider the Strategy and Climate Change Portfolio Plan 2012-13.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change resolved to:

 

        i.            Approve the draft Strategy & Climate Change Portfolio Plan 2012-13.

      ii.            Recommend the revised vision statements to Council for adoption.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

 The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 4 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change approved the recommendations.

 

 

 

Report attached in separate supplementary agenda pack

Matter for Decision: To consider the Revenue and Capital Budgets 2011/12 (Revised), 2012/13 and 2012/13 (Forecast) for the Strategy and Climate Change portfolio.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change:

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change resolved to:

 

Review of Charges:

a) Note that there is no proposed review of charges requiring approval for Strategy & Climate Change Portfolio services.

 

Revenue Budgets:

b) Approve, with any amendments, the current year funding requests and savings (shown in Appendix A of the officer’s report) and the resulting revised revenue budgets for 2011/12 (shown in Table 1 of the officer’s report) for submission to the Executive.

 

c) Agree proposals for revenue savings and unavoidable bids, as set out in Appendix C of the officer’s report.

 

d) Note that there are no proposals for bids from external or existing funding for Strategy & Climate Change Portfolio services.

 

e) Agree proposals for Priority Policy Fund (PPF) bids, as set out in Appendix E of the officer’s report.

 

f) Approve the budget proposals for 2012/13 as shown in Table 2 of the officer’s report, for submission to the Executive.

 

Capital:

g) Seek approval from the Executive to treat the variance shown in Appendix G of the officer’s report as a return to funding resources.

 

h) Approve capital bids, as identified in Appendix H of the officer’s report, for submission to the Executive for inclusion in the Capital & Revenue Projects Plan or addition to the Hold List, as indicated.

 

i) Confirm that there are no items covered by this portfolio to add to the Council’s Hold List, for submission to the Executive.

 

j) Approve the current Capital & Revenue Projects Plan, as detailed in Appendix J of the officer’s report, to be updated for any amendments detailed in (f), (g) and (h) above.

 

k) Note that there are no project appraisals requiring approval for Strategy & Climate Change Portfolio services.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Director of Resources.

 

With regards to the circulated amendments to Appendix G (a) of the Budget-Setting Report (see ‘recommendation k’ of Link 2 below) it was noted that further investment of £129,050 into the Climate Change Fund was proposed, to support delivery of the Carbon Management Programme. This further investment would bring the total amount of money available to the Fund in 2012/13 to around £513,000. It was proposed to use this funding to support delivery of a range of carbon reduction measures across the Council’s non-housing property portfolio, including the installation of LEDs and lighting controls in 2 car parks, and heating improvements and voltage optimisation on a number of sites. This explanatory text would be included in the revised BSR.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 4 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change approved the recommendations.

Report attached in separate supplementary agenda pack

                  

Matter for Decision: To consider the draft revenue and capital budgets.

 

Decision of the Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change:

 

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change resolved to:

 

General Fund Revenue Budgets and Cash Limit / Savings Target: [Section 4, page 30 of the BSR refers]

 

Budget 2011/12:

 

a) Approve, with any amendments, the revised budget items shown in Appendix D (page 75 of the BSR) - as amended for the attached replacement page 79 in Appendix D (see Link 2 above).

b) Approve, with any amendments, the overall revised budget for 2011/12, as shown in Section 4 (page 30 of the BSR) and Appendix G(a) (page 109 of the BSR) for General Fund Services.

 

Budget 2012/13:

 

c) Agree any recommendations for submission to the Executive in respect of:

 

• Bids to be funded from External or Earmarked Funds [Appendix H, page 112 of the BSR, refers] – as amended for the attached replacement page 113 in Appendix H (see Link 2 above).

 

• Non Cash Limit items [Appendix E, page 86 of the BSR refers]

 

• Revenue Savings and Bids [Appendix F, page 87 of the BSR refers]

 

• Priority Policy Fund (PPF) Bids [Appendix I(a), page 116 of the BSR refers] – based on the position as outlined in Section 4 (page 37 of the BSR refers).

 

d) Recommend to Council the Council Tax base, as set out in Appendix C (a) (page 74 of the BSR), and the level of Council Tax for 2012/13, based on a 99% collection rate [Section 3, page 27 of the BSR refers].

 

e) Recommend to Council to approve:

 

(i) the Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix T(a) (page 193 of the BSR refers) and to confirm that the “Authorised Limit” determined for 2012/13 will be the statutory limit determined under section 3 of the Local Government Act 2003.

 

(ii) to delegate to the Director of Resources, within the borrowing totals for any financial year within (i) above, to effect movement between the separately agreed figures for ‘borrowing’ and ‘other long term liabilities’.

 

(iii) the Treasury Management Annual Borrowing and Investment Strategies set out in Appendices T(b) (page 199 of the BSR refers) and T(c) (page 201 of the BSR refers), particularly:

• to increase the maximum sum that can be invested with HSBC Bank Plc from £12m to £16m.

 

·        to amend the limit for a single named institution from £6m to £10m; (retaining the existing maximum sum which may be invested with counterparties belonging to the same company group at 1.5 times the level for a single named institution); and

 

• to have the flexibility to use other financial means available to the Council, such as bank call accounts, notice accounts, money market funds, treasury bills and gilts. However, use of such financial instruments would be subject to an assessment in conjunction with the Council’s treasury management advisors (Sector) to ensure that it would not prejudice the council’s deposit priorities.

 

(iv) amendments to the Council’s Approved Lending (Revised Counterparty) List, shown in Appendix T(c), Annex 3 (page 210 of the BSR refers)

 

f) Delegate to the Director of Resources authority to finalise changes relating to the corporate and departmental restructuring and any reallocation of support service and central costs, in accordance with the CIPFA Best Value Accounting Code of Practice and the Service Reporting Code of Practice for Local Authorities (SeRCOP).

 

Capital: [Section 6, page 47 of the BSR refers]

 

Capital & Revenue Projects Plan: [section 6, page 50 of the BSR]

 

g) Approve the following project appraisals, that have been referred by Executive Councillors:

 

From the Executive Councillor for Arts, Sport and Public Spaces:

 

(i) Cherry Hinton Hall Grounds improvements

(ii) Coleridge Recreation Ground improvements

 

From the Executive Councillor for Community Development & Health:

 

(i) Centre at St Paul’s –Redevelopment of the main hall

 

(ii) Clay Farm Community Centre

                       (separate Report on CD&H agenda)

 

From the Executive Councillor for Housing:

 

(i)                Energy Efficiency Grant

(ii)              Landlord Accreditation Grant

 

From the Executive Councillor for Environmental & Waste Services:

 

(i) Vehicle replacements 2012/13

 

From the Executive Councillor for Customer Services and Resources:

 

(i)                Content Management System Replacement

(ii)              Introduction of a metered electricity supply on Cambridge Market

(iii)            Electronic Market Management System

 

h) Agree any recommendations to the Executive in respect of the bids outlined in Appendix O(a) (page 159 of the BSR) – as amended for the attached (see Link 2 above).

 

From the Executive Councillor for Planning and Sustainable Transport:

 

Approve the removal of H28 – Park Street Car Park, as identified in Appendix P (page 182 of the BSR refers, from the Council’s Hold List, for submission to the Executive.

 

i) Agree the Capital & Revenue Projects Plan, as shown in Appendix M (page 141 of the BSR) for the General Fund (which will be updated to incorporate rephrasing, new bids and the above recommendations) and Appendix S (to be included in Version 3 of the BSR – see Note) for the Housing Capital Investment Programme.

 

Note that revised Housing Capital Investment Plan for 2011/12 to 2016/17, will be presented to the special joint Housing Management Board and Community Services on 8^th February 2012, to include the impact of in year savings in capital budgets, re-allocation of budgets for decent homes works, rephrasing of existing projects and schemes and incorporation of capital bids (as detailed in Appendix O(b), page 177 of the BSR refers).

 

j) Note the impact of revenue and capital budget approvals and approve the resulting level of reserves to be used to:

 

(i)                support the 2011/12 budget

(ii)              support the 2012/13 and future years budgets.

(Appendix G(c), page 111 of the BSR refers)

 

Recommendation k) - NEW:

Approve contribution to Climate Change Fund in 2012/13 of £129,050. (This was previously included in page 109 of Appendix G(a)of the BSR under the line for “Use GF reserves above £5m”.

 

Recommendation l) - NEW:

To agree inclusion in the Capital & Revenue Projects Plan of new items identified below, to note additional funding for revised schemes approved by Executive Councillors namely:

 

• PR018 - Bus Shelters

• SC517 - Fuel Tanks Relining

• SC518 - Corn Exchange Lighting Improvement

• SC519 - Wulfstan Way Art Project

• SC520 - Community Olympic Public Art Commission

 

Also attached are updated tables [Page 51 of the BSR refers] and Appendix Q [page183 of the BSR] in the BSR reflecting the above changes (see Link 2 above).

 

Housing Revenue Account [Part 5, page 41 of the BSR refers]

 

• Whilst there are no changes at this stage, Council will consider the recommendations of the special Housing Management Board and Community Services Scrutiny Committee regarding Housing Self Financing at the meeting on 23rd February 2012.

 

Reasons for the Decision: As set out in the officer’s report

 

Any alternative options considered and rejected: N/A

 

Scrutiny Considerations

 

The committee received a report from the Director of Resources who highlighted the amendments as circulated.

 

The Scrutiny Committee considered and approved the recommendations by 4 votes to 0.

 

The Executive Councillor for Strategy & Climate Change approved the recommendations.