Meeting documents

None.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY): That subject to the amendment of min. no.13 resolution (4) to replace the words ?Delegated authority granted? ? with ?Council be recommended to grant authority? ?, the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 21 June 2017 be approved as a correct record.

None.

The Director of Development, Enterprise & Communities and the Revenues Manager addressed the Cabinet with a report that sought approval to implement three business rate relief schemes for rate payers following revaluation of rateable values in April 2017.

Two were central government schemes and the third was discretionary. In respect of the latter Discretionary Local Relief Scheme there was sufficient grant funding for 2017/18. However, this funding would reduce annually and the council would review this scheme after the initial year.

It was confirmed that this item came within the Corporate Support and Assets portfolio. Although following the appointment of the new Chief Executive the Leader may review the portfolios.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):
1. Approve the Discretionary Local Relief Scheme for 2017-18;
2. Approve delegation to the Director of Development, Enterprise & Communities to design a scheme for subsequent years to 2020-21 in consultation with the Cabinet member for Corporate Support and Assets and the Chief Finance Officer; and
3. Approve delegation to the Revenues Manager following consultation with the Cabinet member for Corporate Support and Assets and the Chief Finance Officer to consider individual applications for relief from ratepayers who are suffering hardship caused by the re-valuation.

The Director of Development, Enterprise & Communities remained and present the report. The council?s Corporate Plan 2017/18 included actions to complete a review of leisure by March 2018. This report proposed the ambitious way forward with the development of borough-wide leisure campuses (focused around leisure centres). Discussions were being held with partners and included health and wellbeing.

There were comments from members not on Cabinet on the apparent change in direction of the review from the vision around Heatherleigh and the associated processes followed and costs incurred.

In respect of the attached plan, it was confirmed that this was a diagrammatic conceptual view of what it could look like.

It was accepted that this was an important decision needing cross party involvement and the sooner the working group was set up the better. It was envisaged the working group would be chaired by the portfolio holder and work to clear terms of reference reporting back to Cabinet.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):
1. That a Member Cross Party Working Group is established; and
2. That a further report be presented to Cabinet in December 2017 detailing the findings with recommendations and a resource plan.

The Interim Corporate Improvement Manager addressed Cabinet explaining that the council faced significant financial challenges and the Strategy aimed to enable it to be financially self-sufficient by 2019/2020. In addition to efficiencies and adapting services there would also be developing staff to enable them to serve communities and customers the best they could. The report included a proposal to create a Transformation Fund which subject to meeting the criteria transformation projects could apply to.

The strategy had earlier in the week been considered by the Scrutiny Committee and its recommendations had been circulated before tonight?s meeting. These were acknowledged as positive and constructive and would be taken into account (particularly regarding the use of plain English) when finalising the strategy.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):
1. Approval of the council?s Transformation Strategy for 2017-18; and
2. Recommends to council the use of council financial reserves to establish a Transformation Fund of ?500,000.

The Leader explained that there were two versions of this report, the first (this one) was open to the public. The second (Part 2) report later on the agenda contained more information for councillors such as the names of the tenderers and was exempt from press and public. If any councillor had wanted to discuss any exempt information contained in the second report then the Cabinet would have resolved to exclude press and public.

The Director of Neighbourhoods, Environmental Health & Assets presented the report on proposed substantial improvement works to this park. This would significantly enhance the facility for the benefit of residents and raise the standard of the park to the Green Flag Award. Cabinet was asked to approve the capital expenditure and accept the most economically advantageous tender.

The park was very well used by both residents and public from outside the borough and the works would greatly improve its facilities. It was hoped that next year this park would become the fourth park in the borough to have Green Flag status.

It was appreciated that the Cabinet had brought this proposal forward. In respect of the additional works (?66,103) it was confirmed that this would be in line with the council?s procedure rules.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY):
1. That Tender 4 in Table A, Part 2 of the report at a cost of ?183,897 be accepted for the improvement of Withy Grove Park;
2. That the remaining budget of ?66,103 be utilised for the remainder of the works as detailed in the financial implications of the report; and
3. Grant authority under section 3.4 of the Financial Regulations to incur capital expenditure of up to ?250,000 for the above works.

RESOLVED (UNANIMOUSLY): That the Forward Plan submitted under Section 22 of the Local Government Act 2000 be noted.

Not required as the consideration of the Improvement of West Side of Withy Grove Park, Bamber Bridge was contained to the Part 1 (Open Report), min. no.23 above refers.

This report was not considered as the discussion was contained to the Part 1 (Open Report), min. no.23 above refers.