Agenda item

(Finance Portfolio Holder) To consider the minutes of the meeting of the Finance & Performance Management Cabinet Committee, held on 17 September 2015, and any recommendations therein.

Invest to Save Proposals

(1)        That the proposals to invest in additional grass cutting equipment and LED Lighting in the Car Parks be agreed;

(2)        That the following proposals currently being developed be supported in principle:

            (a)        Replacement of the Cash Taking Facilities with Cash Kiosks within the      District;

            (b)        Management of Off-Street Parking throughout the District;

            (c)        A Masterplanning exercise for the redevelopment of the Hill House site in Waltham Abbey for the co-location of services; and

            (d)        Provision of additional Rental Loans to homeless single people to   avoid the use of bed and breakfast accommodation;

(3)        That the proposal for a pool of hybrid vans for the Housing department be investigated; and

(4)        That, when acquired by the Council, the car park at St John’s Primary School be considered for use by business permit users from the car park in Baker’s Lane for the interim of the development on the site;

Corporate Risk Update

(5)        That the Key Dates within the Action Plan for Risk 1, Local Plan, be updated;

(6)        That the Effectiveness of Controls/Actions for Risk 2, Strategic Sites, be updated;

(7)        That the Key Date for Risk 4, Finance Income, be amended;

(8)        That the Required Further Management Action and updated Key Date for Risk 5, Economic Development, be amended;

(9)        That the Required Further Management Action for Risk 6, Data/Information, be amended;

(10)      That the Required Further Management Action for Risk 7, Business Continuity, be amended;

(11)      That the Existing Control within Risk 8, Partnerships, be amended;

(12)      That the Existing Control and Required Further Management Action for Risk 9, Safeguarding, be updated;

(13)      That the Vulnerability and Trigger for Risk 10, Housing Capital Finance, be added;

(14)      That the identification of no new risks for inclusion in the Corporate Risk Register by the Cabinet Committee be noted; and

(15)      That, as amended above, the revised Corporate Risk Register be approved.

The Finance Portfolio Holder presented the minutes from the recent meeting of the Finance & Performance Management Cabinet Committee, held on 17 September 2015.

The Cabinet Committee had made recommendations to the Cabinet concerning: Invest to Save Proposals; and updates to the Corporate Risk Register. Other issues considered by the Cabinet Committee included: the Financial Plan for the Housing Revenue Account; the performance of the Key Performance Indicators during the first quarter of 2015/16; the Annual Outturn Report on Treasury Management and the Prudential Indicators for 2014/15; the revenue and capital financial monitoring reports for the first quarter of 2015/16; and the Annual Governance Report for 2014/15.

The Director of Resources stated that there had only been the headline announcement of Business Rates Retention by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and details of the new scheme had not yet been forthcoming. The Council currently had a 97% collection rate for non domestic rates, of which 50% was currently paid direct to the Government. It was expected that some sort of equalisation system would be put in place to support those local authorities whose had low levels of Business Rates within their areas.

Decision:

Invest to Save Proposals

(1)        That the proposals to invest in additional grass cutting equipment and LED Lighting in the Car Parks be agreed;

(2)        That the following proposals currently being developed be supported in principle:

            (a)        Replacement of the Cash Taking Facilities with Cash Kiosks within the      District;

            (b)        Management of Off-Street Parking throughout the District;

            (c)        A Masterplanning exercise for the redevelopment of the Hill House site in Waltham Abbey for the co-location of services; and

            (d)        Provision of additional Rental Loans to homeless single people to   avoid the use of bed and breakfast accommodation;

(3)        That the proposal for a pool of hybrid vans for the Housing department be investigated; and

(4)        That, when acquired by the Council, the car park at St John’s Primary School be considered for use by business permit users from the car park in Baker’s Lane for the interim of the development on the site;

Corporate Risk Update

(5)        That the Key Dates within the Action Plan for Risk 1, Local Plan, be updated;

(6)        That the Effectiveness of Controls/Actions for Risk 2, Strategic Sites, be updated;

(7)        That the Key Date for Risk 4, Finance Income, be amended;

(8)        That the Required Further Management Action and updated Key Date for Risk 5, Economic Development, be amended;

(9)        That the Required Further Management Action for Risk 6, Data/Information, be amended;

(10)      That the Required Further Management Action for Risk 7, Business Continuity, be amended;

(11)      That the Existing Control within Risk 8, Partnerships, be amended;

(12)      That the Existing Control and Required Further Management Action for Risk 9, Safeguarding, be updated;

(13)      That the Vulnerability and Trigger for Risk 10, Housing Capital Finance, be added;

(14)      That the identification of no new risks for inclusion in the Corporate Risk Register by the Cabinet Committee be noted; and

(15)      That, as amended above, the revised Corporate Risk Register be approved.

Reasons for Decision:

The Cabinet was satisfied that the Cabinet Committee had fully addressed all the relevant issues.

Other Options Considered and Rejected:

The Cabinet was satisfied that the Cabinet Committee had considered all the relevant options and that there were no further options to consider.