Agenda and minutes

Cabinet - Tuesday, 26th January, 2016 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, Lewes. View directions

Contact: Andy Cottell  01273 481955

Media

Items
No. Item

40.

Minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2015 pdf icon PDF 134 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

40.1     The minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2015 were agreed as a correct record

41.

Reports

Additional documents:

Minutes:

41.1     Copies of the reports referred to below are included in the minute book

42.

Disclosures of interests

Disclosures by all members present of personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the member regards the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

42.1     Councillor Chris Dowling declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest in item 5 (Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources) as a Trustee of East Sussex Association for the Blind

43.

Reconciling Policy, Performance and Resources (including draft Council Plan 2016/17, Revenue Budget and Capital Programme) pdf icon PDF 3 MB

Report by Chief Executive

Additional documents:

Minutes:

43.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Executive together with further information received following the publication of the Cabinet agenda including a summary of the consultation meeting held with Trade Unions

 

43.2 It was RESOLVED to:

 

            1)         i) agree the proposals recommended for implementation in Appendix 3a and 3b, subject to Council agreeing the budget limit for that particular item in Appendix 3; and

 

                        ii) delegate authority to the relevant Chief Officers to take any actions necessary to give effect to or in consequence of the above recommendation.

 

          2)           approve the fees and charges set out in Appendix 4 and delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to approve an increase to all other fees and charges by up to 2%;

 

         3)          recommend County Council to:

i)        Approve in principle the draft Council Plan at Appendix 1 and authorise the Chief Executive to finalise the Plan in consultation with the relevant Lead Members;

ii)       Increase the Council Tax, in line with the current Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) by 3.99% (2% of which relates to the Adult Social Care precept), and then issue precepts accordingly to be paid by Borough and District Councils in accordance with the agreed schedule of instalments at Appendix 5;

iii)       Approve the net Revenue Budget estimates for 2016/17 set out in Appendix 2a;

                        iv)        Approve the fees and charges set out in Appendix 4 and delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to approve an increase to all other fees and charges by up to 2%;

                        v)         Approve the draft Capital Programme (see Appendix 2a) including further investment in essential programme need 2016/17 to 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 2a;

                        vi)        Authorise the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer, Leader and Deputy Leader, to make adjustments to the presentation of the budget to reflect the final settlement;

                        vii)       Note the MTFP forecast for the period 2016/17 to 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 2a; and

                      viii)         Note the comments from engagement exercises set out in Appendix 7.

 

4)         endorse the letter to the Prime Minister set out in Appendix 8

 

Reason

 

43.3     The County Council is still projecting an overall deficit of at least £70m over 3 years. The proposed Medium Term Financial Plan provides a proposed budget which will give residents, businesses and partners a sustainable service offer during a period of significant change and uncertainty in local government and its financing. Identifying sustainable savings proposals for 2016/17 in order to deliver a balanced budget has been very challenging. The remaining two years of the current plan will be even more difficult as we need to bring forward significant additional savings in 2017/18, at the same time as demand will continue to grow. The County Council continues to be on track to deliver balanced budgets for the remaining two years of the MTFP. However, the significant policy changes that will take place over this period, particularly within Adult Social Care/Health integration and the removal of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 43.

44.

Scrutiny Review of Raising the Age of Participation pdf icon PDF 125 KB

Report by Director of Children’s Services

Additional documents:

Minutes:

44.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Children’s Services Scrutiny Committee and a report by the Director of Children’s Services with observations on the Scrutiny Committee’s report. 

 

44.2     It was RESOLVED to (1) note the report of the Scrutiny Committee; and

                                                (2) recommend the County Council to welcome the report of the Scrutiny Committee and to agree the response of the Director of Children’s Services to the recommendations and their implementation as set out in the action plan attached as Appendix 1 to the report.

 

Reason

 

44.3     The Scrutiny Review has provided a useful insight into Raising the Participation Age and demonstrates the Council’s commitment to this subject and the importance of developing further good quality careers education, information, advice and guidance in securing and sustaining education, training and employment opportunities. 

 

45.

Treasury Management Strategy 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 146 KB

Report by Chief Operating Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

45.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer

 

45.2     It was RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to:

 

1)            approve the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy Statement for 2016/17;

2)            approve the Prudential and Treasury Indicators 2016/17 to 2018/19; and

3)            approve the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement for 2016/17.

 

Reason

 

45.3     The Policy sets out the acceptable limits on ratings, investment periods, amounts to be invested and the borrowing strategy. The financial position is kept under constant review and if at any time it is felt that any of these limits represent an unacceptable risk appropriate and immediate action will be taken accordingly

46.

Conservators of Ashdown Forest Budget 2016/17 pdf icon PDF 342 KB

Report by Chief Operating Officer

Additional documents:

Minutes:

46.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer

 

46.2     It was RESOLVED to –

 

1)         approve the Conservators’ budget for 2016/17;

2)         recommend to the County Council the annual contribution of £75,800 for 2016/17 from the Communities, Economy and Transport budget; and

3)         approve the annual grant for 2016/17 from the Trust Fund of £65,100.

 

Reasons

 

46.3     The County Council has a statutory obligation to meet the shortfall between expenditure and income of the Conservators and it has the responsibility for approving the level of expenditure.

47.

To agree which items are to be reported to the County Council

Additional documents:

Minutes:

46.1     The Cabinet agreed that items 5, 6, 7 and 8 should be reported to the County Council

 

[Note: The items being reported refer to minute numbers 43, 44, 45 and 46]