Agenda, decisions and minutes

All Members and officers present at the meeting declared a general Non

Registrable Interest in respect of items related to the setting of the Council Tax for 2022/2023.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 January 2022 be

received and approved as a correct record.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 25 January 2022 be

received and approved as a correct record.

Non-Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Rachel Madden – Portfolio Holder for Leisure, Health and Wellbeing

RESOLVED

that the following updates be received and noted:

a)    progress towards opening the Kirkby Leisure Centre during summer 2022;

b)    the series of capital improvements across the Hucknall and Lammas Leisure Centres;

c)    progress in bringing forward a second swimming pool facility at Hucknall Leisure Centre;

d)    the continued strong recovery of usage and membership across the existing centres, now surpassing pre pandemic levels.

Cabinet was updated in respect of the implementation of the Leisure Transformation Programme including development of the new Kirkby Leisure Centre, specific capital improvements across the Hucknall and Lammas Leisure Centres and recovery of usage/membership of the leisure facilities operated by the Council’s delivery partner Everyone Active.

As the report was for information only, there were no alternative options for Members to consider.

RESOLVED

that the following updates be received and noted:

a)    progress towards opening the Kirkby Leisure Centre during summer 2022;

b)    the series of capital improvements across the Hucknall and Lammas Leisure Centres;

c)    progress in bringing forward a second swimming pool facility at Hucknall Leisure Centre;

d)    the continued strong recovery of usage and membership across the existing centres, now surpassing pre pandemic levels.

Reason:

To keep Cabinet updated as to progress towards the completion of the Council’s Leisure Transformation Programme.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor David Martin – Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits

RESOLVED

that Council be recommended to approve the following:

a)    a £5 annual increase in the level of the District’s own Council Tax for 2022/23, setting the Band D equivalent at £195.46;

b)    the proposed 2022/23 Revenue (General Fund) and HRA Budgets as set out in the report (Sections 3 and 4);

c)    the proposed Capital Programme and associated borrowing for 2021/22 to 2025/26 as set out in the report (Section 5);

d)    the 2021/22 Revised HRA and Capital Budgets as set out in the report (Sections 4 and 5);

e)    the precept figures from Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Police and Crime Commissioner and the two Parish Council’s within the District to be incorporated, when known, into the Council Tax recommendation to Council on 3rd March 2022;

f)      to note the estimated financial challenge in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2023/2024 and 2024/25 and the planned approach to address the challenge (Section 6 and Appendix 2);

g)    the proposed use of reserves as set out in this report. (Table 5 (General Fund) and Table 9 (HRA)), and the creation of an IT Reserve (Section 3.6);

h)    to note and accept the comments and advice of the Corporate Finance Manager (Section 151 Officer), provided in compliance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as to the robustness of the estimates included in the 2022/23 Budget and the adequacy of the reserves for which this budget provides (Section 7);

i)      to note that the proposed 2022/23 budgets reflect the agreed changes to Fees and Charges approved by Cabinet on 25th January 2022;

j)      to note that a potential call of up to £250k from the Corporate Transformation Reserve may be required to further progress the Digital Service Transformation (DST) programme at a quicker pace than had previously been planned (Section 3.7);

k)    to note the Local Government Association’s Finance Health Check report (Appendix 3);

l)      to accept that the report and the Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Reports be consolidated into a single report for Council on 3^rd March to recognise that all three reports are intrinsically linked and all form part of the annual budget setting and governance arrangements;

m)  to add to the Capital Programme the recently notified successful bid for funding of up to £1.203m from the BEIS Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Cabinet was presented with the Council’s Annual Budget, the Council Tax

proposals for 2022/23 and a Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) update.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to apply an increase to Council Tax for the 2022/23 financial year, but this was not recommended due to significant inflation increases to the Council’s energy, supplies and services budgets in recent months and the significant estimated funding gap for

2023/24.

RESOLVED

that Council be recommended to approve the following:

a)    a £5 annual increase in the level of the District’s own Council Tax for 2022/23, setting the Band D equivalent at £195.46;

b)    the proposed 2022/23 Revenue (General Fund) and HRA Budgets as set out in the report (Sections 3 and 4);

c)    the proposed Capital Programme and associated borrowing for 2021/22 to 2025/26 as set out in the report (Section 5);

d)    the 2021/22 Revised HRA and Capital Budgets as set out in the report (Sections 4 and 5);

e)    the precept figures from Nottinghamshire County Council, Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Authority, Police and Crime Commissioner and the two Parish Council’s within the District to be incorporated, when known, into the Council Tax recommendation to Council on 3rd March 2022;

f)     to note the estimated financial challenge in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2023/2024 and 2024/25 and the planned approach to address the challenge (Section 6 and Appendix 2);

g)    the proposed use of reserves as set out in this report. (Table 5 (General Fund) and Table 9 (HRA)), and the creation of an IT Reserve (Section 3.6);

h)    to note and accept the comments and advice of the Corporate Finance Manager (Section 151 Officer), provided in compliance with Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, as to the robustness of the estimates included in the 2022/23 Budget and the adequacy of the reserves for which this budget provides (Section 7);

i)     to note that the proposed 2022/23 budgets reflect the agreed changes to Fees and Charges approved by Cabinet on 25th January 2022;

j)     to note that a potential call of up to £250k from the Corporate Transformation Reserve may be required to further progress the Digital Service Transformation (DST) programme at a quicker pace than had previously been planned (Section 3.7);

k)    to note the Local Government Association’s Finance Health Check report (Appendix 3);

l)     to accept that the report and the Capital Strategy and Treasury Management Reports be consolidated into a single report for Council on 3^rd March 2022 to recognise that all three reports are intrinsically linked and all form part of the annual budget setting and governance arrangements;

m)  to add to the Capital Programme the recently notified successful bid for funding of up to £1.203m from the BEIS Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund.

Reason:

In accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Council must set its annual budget by 10th March in the preceding financial year.

The meeting was adjourned at 11.40am and reconvened at 11.50am.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor David Martin – Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits

RESOLVED that

a)    the content of the Capital Strategy (CS) for 2022/23 including Annexes 1 to 3, as appended to the report, be received and noted;

b)    Council be recommended to approve the following:-

·       Capital Strategy

·       Commercial Property Investment Strategy

·       Commercial Property Indicators.

Cabinet considered the Council’s proposed Capital Strategy prepared in accordance with the Chartered Institute Public Finance and Accountancy

(CIPFA) Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities.

As it is a requirement of the CIPFA Prudential Code for all Local Authorities to

have a Capital Strategy and a requirement of DLUHC Statutory Guidance on

Local Government Investments to have an Investment Strategy covering non

treasury management investments, Members did not have any alternative

options to consider.

RESOLVED that

a)    the content of the Capital Strategy (CS) for 2022/23 including Annexes 1 to 3, as appended to the report, be received and noted;

b)    Council be recommended to approve the following:-

·         Capital Strategy

·         Commercial Property Investment Strategy

·         Commercial Property Indicators.

Reasons:

1.    It is a requirement of the CIPFA Prudential Code for all Local Authorities to have a Capital Strategy approved by Council.

2.    DLUHC Statutory Guidance on Local Government Investments require that the Council has an Investment Strategy that covers non-treasury management investments and includes quantitative indicators approved by Council.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor David Martin – Portfolio Holder for Finance, Revenues and Benefits

RESOLVED that

a)    the content of the Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) for 2022/23, including changes to the Annual Investment Strategy, be received and noted;

b)    Council be recommended to approve the Treasury Management Policy Statement incorporating the following:

·       Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS)

·       Borrowing Strategy

·       Annual Investment Strategy

·       Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy

·       Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management Indicators

·       Treasury Management Practices: Risk Management.

Members were requested to consider the Council’s Treasury Management

Strategy for the financial year 2022/23 comprising the following:-

Treasury Management Policy

Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS)

Borrowing Strategy

Annual Investment Strategy

Minimum Revenue Provision Policy

Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management Indicators

Treasury Management Practices: Risk Management.

As it is a requirement of the CIPFA Treasury Management Code for all Local

Authorities to have a Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) and a requirement of DLUHC Statutory Guidance on Local Government Investments

to have an Investment Strategy, Members had no alternative options to

consider.

RESOLVED that

a)    the content of the Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) for 2022/23, including changes to the Annual Investment Strategy, be received and noted;

b)    Council be recommended to approve the Treasury Management Policy Statement incorporating the following:

·         Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS)

·         Borrowing Strategy

·         Annual Investment Strategy

·         Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy

·         Prudential Indicators and Treasury Management Indicators

·         Treasury Management Practices: Risk Management.

Reason:

In accordance with Financial Regulation C.28, the Council shall adopt and maintain a Treasury Management Policy Statement, setting out the policies, objectives and the approach to risk of its Treasury Management activities.

Key Decision

Portfolio Holder

Councillor Matthew Relf – Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Planning

RESOLVED that

a)    the vision and ambition for skills development in the District be noted and the Skills Strategy and Action Plan formally endorsed;

b)    Cabinet to be key advocates for investment in the education and skills projects within the District, based on the activities outlined within the action plans.

Cabinet was presented with the new Education and Skills Improvement Plan and asked to acknowledge and endorse the objectives from the Education and Skills Improvement Strategy and the development of the action plan of activities.

Members considered the alternative option of declining to develop a Skills Strategy Action Plan but this was not recommended as the required guidance and direction necessary to the Council and its partners would not be provided.

RESOLVED that

a)    the vision and ambition for skills development in the District be noted and the Skills Strategy and Action Plan formally endorsed;

b)    Cabinet be key advocates for investment in the education and skills projects within the District, based on the activities outlined within the action plans.

Reasons:

1.    Cabinet’s acceptance that education and skills is an area for improvement within the Ashfield District and agreement that the Plan is the best approach for the Council to declare their commitment to work in collaboration to have a high quality, local education and skills offer that is accessible and responsive to resident and employer needs.

2.    The offer will support all residents to build resilience and develop valuable workplace skills for a strong local economy now and in the future.

3.    Cabinet will endorse partner’s bids for investment in education and skills provision in Ashfield, in order to successfully complete the activities within the action plans.

3.