Agenda and minutes

52.1     The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 13 December 2016 were agreed as a correct record

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

Report by Chief Executive

54.1    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 and additional comments from the Adult Social Care and Community Safety Scrutiny Committee and a petition in relation to the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

54.2    The following amendment moved by Councillor Elkin and seconded was CARRIED

Delete recommendation 2. (iv) and replace with:

2. (iv) Approve the net Revenue Budget estimate of £365.0m for 2017/18 setout in Appendix2, including the contributiontotheEastSussex BetterTogether budgetof £135.0m and authorisethe ChiefOperatingOfficer, in consultationwiththeChief FinanceOfficer,Leaderand DeputyLeader, to make adjustmentsto the presentationof thebudgetbooktoreflect the final settlement and final budgetdecisions; subject to the amendments set out below:

Deleting the following savings proposals Children’s Services:

Duke of Edinburgh- County Council continues to co-ordinate the D of E award scheme -  £0.029m

Youth Cabinet - continue to organise the election and running of Youth Cabinet - £0.041m

Increase investment into the following areas in support of the County Councils priorities:

1.    Highways: additional investment into highways drainage to support the strategic asset management approach to maintaining the highways infrastructure £1.000m

2.    Highways: Additional investment into highways pavements to support mobility in local communities - £0.300m

3.    Communities: Additional investment into Community Match -  £0.150m

4.    Children’s Services: Additional investment into Youth Services

·         Detached and mobile outreach Youth Work Programmes – working with community safety to identify and then target Antisocial Behaviour hot spots - £0.045m

·         Junior Autistic Spectrum Disorder activity sessions – £0.052m

·         Drop in group work provision in targeted communities - £0.033m

5.    Transition funding for schools for 2017/18: Allocate £0.750m to schools to mitigate impact of changes to High Needs Block

Delete recommendation 2. (vi) and replace with:

2 (vi)   Approve the Capital Programme for 2016- 2023,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 54.

Report by Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

55.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

55.2     It was RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to:

(1)              agree to adopt and publish the Waste and Minerals Sites Plan, incorporating the main modifications and minor modifications, and updated Policies Map;

(2)  publish the relevant adoption statement and Sustainability Appraisal (incorporating Strategic Environmental Assessment) Report;

(3)  authorise the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport to agree any further minor non-material changes to the content of the Waste and Minerals Sites Plan with the South Downs National Park Authority and Brighton & Hove City Council prior to publication; and

(4)  agree to adopt the revised Minerals and Waste Development Scheme attached as Appendix 2 to the report.

Reason

55.3     Following a Public Examination into the WSMP, the Inspector who carried out the examination has found that the Plan, subject to Main Modifications, is legally compliant and sound which means that the Council should now adopt the WMSP. The WMSP contains waste and minerals site specific planning policy to 2026 which replaces the remainder of the saved polices contained in the Waste Local Plan (2006) and Minerals Local Plan (1999).  The revised Minerals and Waste Development Scheme, should the Council adopt the WMSP, will reflect the adoption of the WMSP and commit the Council to undertaking a review of relevant minerals policies within the WMP in partnership with the South Downs National Park Authority and Brighton & Hove City. 

Report by Chief Operating Officer

56.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer

56.2It was RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to:

1)         approve the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy Statement for 2017/18;

2)            approve the Prudential and Treasury Indicators 2017/18 to 2019/20; and

3)            approve the revised Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement 2016/17 and 2017/18

Reason

56.3     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

Report by Chief Operating Officer

58.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer

58.2     It was RESOLVED to recommend the County Council to:

1.             approve that the Council opts into the national scheme for the appointment of an External Auditor to the Council for 2018/19;

2.             approve the adoption of Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA) as the appointing persons for the Council; and

3.             approve the inclusion of a request for a collaborative auditor appointment with Orbis partners (Surrey County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council) in the prescribed acceptance form

Reason

58.3     Opting into the national scheme is one choice open to the Council. The PSAA have the support of the LGA, which has worked to secure the option for principal local government bodies to appoint auditors through a dedicated sector-led national procurement body. Appointing an External Auditor via a national collective scheme has some clear advantages, which are outlined in paragraph 3.3 of this report. There are also benefits to the Council in requesting a collaborative auditor appointment with the other Orbis partners.

Report by Chief Operating Officer

59.1 The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer

59.2   It was RESOLVED to:

1.   approve the Conservators’ budget for 2017/18;

2.  recommend to the County Council the annual contribution of £68,220 for 2017/18 from Communities, Economy and Transport (CET) budget; and

3. approve the annual grant for 2017/18 from the Trust Fund of £65,100

Reason

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

60.1     The Cabinet agreed that items 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 should be reported to the County Council

[Note: The items being reported to the County Council refer to minute numbers 54, 55, 56, 57 and 58]