Agenda and minutes

Members joined the Mayor in one minute’s silence in memory of Jim Astin, a highly valued and well respected member of the Council’s Licensing and Compliance team, who had sadly passed away since the last meeting.

Members paid warm tributes to him and shared their recollections of working with him and the sadness which they and the taxi trade had felt on hearing of his passing.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Chair of the Audit & Standards Committee, had granted a dispensation for agenda item 4c, Fees and Charges Tariff 2023/24, prior to the meetings of the Executive and Council as members had a pecuniary interest related to contracts for additional services (contract car parking charges and garden waste collection service charge) delivered by the Council. In his opinion the number of persons affected would impede the business.

Councillor Fewings declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in agenda items 4a Revenue Monitoring Report 2022/23 – Quarter 2 and 4b Capital Monitoring Report 2022/23 – Quarter 2. He left the room and took no part in the debate or decision on either item.

To consider the latest revised net budget of £15.322m and the net transfers from earmarked reserves of £2.710m.

With reference to Minute 54 of the Executive (30^th November 2022), consideration was given to the forecast outturn position for the year as at 31^st March 2023 based upon actual spending and income to 30^th September 2022.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    The latest revised net budget of £15.322m as shown in Table 1 be approved, and

2.    The net transfers from earmarked reserves of £2.710m as shown in Appendix 2 be approved.

To consider a revised capital budget totalling £38,738,753 and note the latest estimated year end position.

With reference to Minute 55 of the Executive (30^th November 2022), consideration was given to a revised capital budget.

RESOLVED THAT:

1.    Net budget changes totalling a decrease of £2,694,558, giving a revised capital budget for 2022/23 totalling £38,738,753, as detailed in Appendix 1 be approved, and

2.    The proposed financing of the revised capital budget totalling £38,738,753 as shown in Appendix 2 be approved.

To consider the proposed fees and charges from 1 April 2023.

With reference to Minute 57 of the Executive (30^th November 2022), consideration was given to the proposed list of fees and charges to be levied from 1^st April 2023.

RESOLVED, THAT:

1.    The proposed tariff of fees and charges from 1^st April with an increase of 5%, as outlined in Appendix A, with a range of exceptions as outlined in the report, be approved;

2.    The Head of Finance and Property, in consultation with the relevant Head of Service, be authorised to determine any new charges or changes to existing charges relating to the preparation and approval of the 2023/24 revenue budget;

3.    Executive Portfolio Members be authorised to amend fees and charges periodically in their own area with the prior agreement of the Head of Finance and Property, and

4.    The Strategic Head of Economy and Growth, in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources and Performance Management and the Head of Finance and Property, be authorised to adjust fees and charges in relation to the Markets service from time to time to reflect current trading conditions and the overall position of the market.

To consider the mid-year update on Treasury Management Strategy for 2022/23 in compliance with the requirements of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management.

With reference to Minute 56 of the Executive (30^th November 2022), consideration was given to the treasury management activity for the first half of the year of 2022/23 covering the period 1^st April to 30^th September 2022.

RESOLVED, THAT:

The mid-year update on Treasury Management Strategy for 2022/23 be endorsed in compliance with the requirements of the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy’s (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management.

RESOLVED, THAT:

The reports of the Chairs of the Scrutiny, Audit & Standards, Licensing and Development Control Committees be noted.

RESOLVED, THAT:

The Strategic Plan Progress Reports of Executive Members be noted.