Meeting documents

No apologies were submitted.

There were no declarations of interest

RESOLVED: (Unanimous)

That the minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday 9 January 2012 be signed as a correct record.
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(a) Corporate Plan and Corporate Risk Register 2013/2014

The Leader of the Council introduced this report on the Council?s Corporate Plan which had been agreed by the Council in September 2011 following extensive engagement with councillors after the 2011 council elections. Progress on the Corporate Plan has been monitored by the Scrutiny Committee and Cabinet at the six-monthly stage and on a quarterly basis.
The Corporate Plan was a two-year plan to reflect the local government finance settlement which was about to enter into its second year, consequently it was not proposed to make any major changes to it as it remains focussed on the delivery of the Council?s agreed priorities.
The Cabinet Member for Shared Services and Corporate Support referred to Key Action 16 ?Deliver a shared service for Revenues & Benefits with Chorley Council? and informed Cabinet that over the last couple of years the Council had been progressing the extension of the very successful Finance and Assurance Services partnership with Chorley Council to cover the Revenues & Benefits service. The existing partnership was now over 4 years old and had delivered in excess of ?0.5 million (around 30%) in annual recurring savings shared equally between the two authorities.

However, as previously reported to the Shared Services Joint Committee, Chorley Council have taken the view that, whilst happy to continue exploring opportunities for delivering efficiencies in the Revenues & Benefits service, they do not wish to pursue deeper integration of the two services until that Government clarifies the future for local authority delivered housing benefit services.

In view of this he suggested that key action 16 should be taken out of the draft Corporate Plan for the coming year and the risk register updated accordingly.

The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Housing referred to item 3 in the Corporate Risk Register ?Continue to Ensure the Delivery of Affordable Housing? commenting that as the Council was now much clearer on the timetable for agreeing the Local Development Framework and had seen a welcome upturn in planning applications, a number of which were for some large developments, we should be taking a different view on the rating for this risk and proposed that the risk should be scored as a 9, with the rating changed from Red to Amber.

RESOLVED (Unanimous):

That the Corporate Plan (appendix 1) and Corporate Risk Register 2013/2014 (appendix 2) subject to the incorporation of the amendments referred to above be approved.

(b) Financial Strategy, Budget and Council Tax 2013/14
The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced this item which provided background information that needed to be taken into consideration in determining the Council?s forward financial strategy and, specifically, budget and council tax setting for 2013/14. The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) recognised the priorities set out in the Corporate Plan and the risks identified through the corporate risk assessment processes. The Medium Term Financial Strategy recognised the continued and significant uncertainty surrounding core government grant funding as a result of the new funding regimes that had come into effect in the last couple of years.

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources referred to the exemplary budgeting process which enabled the Council to put forward a positive budget allowing for the freezing of Council Tax for 2013/14. He also referred to some changes to the figures in the report which had required adjustment following further information from central government and which had been circulated.

Members referred to the hard work put in by the Cabinet Member and the Finance team which had enabled the Council to be in a position to go forward in such a measured way.

The Leader of the Council commented on the substantial savings achieved over the last four years through the hard work of Councillors and officers across the authority.

RESOLVED (Unanimous):

Revenue Estimates?

1. That the Council's projected out-turn estimates for 2012/13, the original estimate for 2013/14 and indicative original estimates for 2014/15 through to 2016/17, summarised at Appendix A to the report be approved

2. That Appendix E and the proposals designed to further improve efficiency / increase income and reduce the forecast budget deficit be approved

3. That the forecast residual revenue funding deficit in 2013/14 (?0.607 million) be addressed through making appropriate contributions from the General Fund Reserve, whilst recognising that this figure may need to be revised when the Government announces the final Revenue Support Grant figures for 2013/14 in advance of the Council meeting on 6th March.

4. That a Borough Council Net Expenditure requirement for 2013/14 (including parish/town council precepts) be recommended for approval at the Council meeting on 6 March adequate to support the delivery of the Medium Term Financial Strategy.

5. That the Chief Executive be Authorised to deal with all staffing issues arising from the report within the agreed budget and in accordance with council?s human resources policies, in consultation with the Leader, and in her absence the Deputy Leader, and the Cabinet member with responsibility for Finance and Resources and other relevant Cabinet Members.

Council Tax

6. That it be recognised that the Government?s changes to Council Tax Support will reduce the council tax base for parish/town councils, and that this Government?s announcement was only made very late in the budget setting process, and recommend that a one-off grant in the sum of ?20,998 be paid to the parish/town councils in 2013/14 only, as detailed in the table on page 15 of this report.

7. That it be recommended that the Borough Council?s Band D equivalent Council Tax for 2013/14, for approval at the council meeting on 6 March 2013, remains at the same level as for 2012/13 being ?208.38 which would entitle the Council to receive an estimated Council Tax Freezing Grant in the sum of ?78,000. (This amount will be received in 2013/14 and 2014/15 making a total receipt of ?156,000 over the two years only.)

Capital Programme/Budget

8. That the Capital Programme as set out at Appendix F of the report along with the proposed funding be approved?
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The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources introduced this report on the prudential indicators and the treasury strategy for the years to 2015/16.

The report proposed one change in policy, namely that the three month restriction on deposits with all counterparties other than the part nationalised institutions should end (paragraph 2.11 of the Investment Strategy refers) and that the Sector Consultancy contract should be allowed to continue for a further year at the existing price.

The report had previously been considered by the Governance Committee on 30 January 2013 who recommended Cabinet to approve the report but to also consider increasing the investment limit for the part nationalised banks.

RESOLVED (Unanimous):

1. That the Prudential Indicators for 2013/14 to 2015/16, as set out in the report be approved.

2. That the Treasury Management Strategy for 2013/14, incorporating the Treasury prudential Indicators be approved.

3. That the Annual Investments Strategy 2013/14 including:

(a) The end to the three month limit on investments which has applied since September 2011;

(b) The limit for each of the part-nationalised banks being increased from ?3.0m to ?5.0m, of which with no more than ?3.0m per bank to be on fixed term deposit at any one time;

be approved.

4. That the Annual MRP Policy Statement 2013/14 be approved.

5. That the contract, with Sector Treasury Services, continue for a further year be approved.
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The Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Housing introduced this item which outlined the main local targets and actions that were necessary to ensure improvements in the energy efficiency of residential accommodation. These targets were requirements of the Climate Change Act 2008, Home Energy Conservation Act 1995 and link into the Carbon Plan issued in December 2011 which set out how the Government aims to achieve reductions in carbon emissions.
RESOLVED (Unanimous):

1. That the recommendations as set out in the report for the council?s role as promoter in the delivery of the Green Deal be approved

2. That the details of the ?further report? (as attached as Appendix 2 to the report to Cabinet) for submission to the Secretary of State, including the targets for reduction in carbon emissions and fuel poverty be approved
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The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure and Healthy Communities introduced this item which reported that in February 2012 the Council introduced five My Neighbourhood Plans across the Borough. These plans each had ten projects on local priorities set after consultation. The My Neighbourhood Plans were a mixture of projects - high and low cost, long and short term delivery, and a mix of capital works and community based non capital schemes. The plans covered a two year period.

Over the last twelve months projects had been delivered in all of the My Neighbourhood Plans and these plans had now been refreshed following extensive public consultation.

However, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Leisure and Healthy Communities reported that the development of the My Neighbourhood Plans were continually evolving, and it was likely that changes could be reported by the next or subsequent Council meetings.

Members of the Cabinet and Councillors present commented on the success of the ?My Neighbourhoods? and commented on the increasing community involvement that was developing.

RESOLVED (Unanimous):

1. That the the 2013-2015 My Neighbourhood Plans be approved.

2. That the Capital estimates attributed to the My Neighbourhood Plans for inclusion in the Capital Programme be noted.
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The Leader of the Council informed Cabinet that this item was being deferred as it was still the subject of discussions with Lancashire County Council.

The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Streetscene introduced this report which referred to the Scrutiny Committee?s report on its task group?s review of Worden Park on 1 November 2012.

The Scrutiny Committee had requested that the Council agree and take forward their recommendations.

The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Streetscene welcome the report in general but indicated that although the idea referred to in recommendation 3 of one named Cabinet Member with responsibility for Worden Park was a good idea in principle, in practice it needed input at various times from other Cabinet Members, not least Finance and Resources.

Cabinet Members also considered that Recommendation 6 which sought a separate budget for Worden was not possible due to the complexity of the Council?s budget process.

RESOLVED (Unanimous):

That the review of Worden Park completed by the Scrutiny Committee be welcomed and that the recommendations identified by the review, along with the proposed responses as outlined in this report, subject to the amendments detailed above be agreed.
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The Cabinet Member for Neighbourhoods and Streetscene introduced this report which sought to extend the Dog Control Orders adopted in September 2009 to include a number of additional play areas and sites within the borough.

The importance of publicising these new and existing control areas to the public was accepted by the Cabinet Member Neighbourhoods and Street Scene, who also agreed to look at other areas as they were brought to his attention.

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RESOLVED (Unanimous):

1. That a consultation and advertising process for the proposed play areas and sites to be included in the extended Dog Control Orders be undertaken.

2. That Director of Neighbourhoods, in consultation with the Deputy Leader, Neighbourhoods and Street Scene, be authorised to confirm the proposed play areas and sites to be included in the extended Dog Control Orders, following the completion of the consultation and advertising period.
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RESOLVED (Unanimous):

That the Forward Plan submitted under section 22 of the Local Government Act 2000 be approved.
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