Agenda and minutes

The Chairman of the Panel was unavoidably delayed for the start of the meeting. The Vice Chairman began the meeting with Councillor Jacobs acting as a temporary Vice Chairman until the Chairman arrived.

1.         This meeting is to be webcast. Members are reminded of the need to activate their microphones before speaking.

2.         The Chairman will read the following announcement:

“I would like to remind everyone present that this meeting will be broadcast live to the Internet and will be capable of repeated viewing and copies of the recording could be made available for those that request it.

If you are seated in the lower public seating area it is likely that the recording cameras will capture your image and this will result in the possibility that your image will become part of the broadcast.

This may infringe your human and data protection rights and if you wish to avoid this you should move to the upper public gallery”

The Vice Chairman made a short address to remind all present that the meeting would be broadcast on the Internet, and that the Council had adopted a protocol for the webcasting of its meetings. The Panel noted the Council’s Protocol for webcasting of Council and Other Meetings.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services)  To report the appointment of any substitute members for the meeting.

The panel noted that Councillor K Chana was substituting for Councillor R Church.

(Head of Research and Democratic Services). To declare interests in any items on the agenda.

In considering whether to declare a personal or a prejudicial interest under the Code of Conduct, Overview & Scrutiny members are asked pay particular attention to paragraph 11 of the Code in addition to the more familiar requirements.

This requires the declaration of a personal and prejudicial interest in any matter before an OS Committee which relates to a decision of or action by another Committee or Sub Committee of the Council, a Joint Committee or Joint Sub Committee in which the Council is involved and of which the Councillor is also a member.

Paragraph 11 does not refer to Cabinet decisions or attendance at an OS meeting purely for the purpose of answering questions or providing information on such a matter.

There were no declarations of interest given.

To consider and agree the notes of the meeting the Panel held on 14 November 2006.

The notes of the previous meeting, held on 14 November 2006, were agreed.

(Chairman/Lead Officer) The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has agreed the Terms of Reference of this Panel and associated Work Programme. This is attached. The Panel are asked at each meeting to review both documents.

The current work programme was noted.

(Head of Finance) To consider the attached report.

The Head of Finance introduced the report containing the breakdown of the individual Portfolio Holders budgets for 2007/08.

It was intended that the recommendations from this Panel would go to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 1 February. Cabinet will then consider the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Finance and Performance Management Cabinet Committee on 5 February. Cabinet will then recommend a budget and Council Tax to Full Council for approval on 20 February.

The following detailed information was provided for each Portfolio:

(i)                  Estimate Summary – containing actual figures for 2005/06, original and revised estimates for 2006/07 and gross and net figures for 2007/08.

(ii)                Development Fund & Growth Items – containing development fund and growth proposals, original and revised for 200607 and original 2007/08.

(iii)               Detailed Estimates – containing figures and comments on each distinct area of the Portfolio.

The Panel considered the detailed Portfolio Holder budgets. One of the points raised was the future of the Council’s land assets.

RECOMMENDED to the Overview and Scrutiny/ Cabinet:

(1)            That the draft Portfolio Holder budgets be endorsed and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the Cabinet be informed accordingly;

(2)            That a further report comes to this Panel looking at the Councils unallocated land holding (e.g. depots, vacant holdings etc.), setting out the future plans for these assets.

(Head of Finance) To consider the attached report.

The Head of Finance introduced the revised four year forecast and the proposed level of Council Tax increase for 2007/08 and subsequent years.

The Panel noted that the Finance and Performance Management Cabinet Committee confirmed that the budget guidelines previously set down should be adhered to:

a)      that the ceiling for CSB net expenditure be no more than £17M including net growth.

b)      that balances continue to be aligned to the Council’s net budget requirement and that balances be allowed to fall no lower than 25% of the net budget requirement.

c)      that the District Council Tax be increased by no more than the rate of increase in the Retail Price Index.

Areas of uncertainty flagged up were the impact on the budget of the waste management contractor being placed in administration, the capitalisation of pensions fund deficit payments (final Government clearance would not be forthcoming until 31 January 2007), and the impact of the Lyons review on the future financing of Local Government.

The Panel noted that the reserves although very healthy at present (at 40.9%) was likely to dip down to 19.1% in 2010/11 unless corrective action was taken over the intervening years. This possibility was being flagged up now to give the council sufficient forward warning. Despite this the Panel noted that the Council was currently in a good financial situation.

            RECOMMENDED to Overview and Scrutiny Committee / Cabinet:

(1)               That the revised four year forecast be agreed and the District Council Tax be increased by no more than the rate of increase in the Retail Price Index.

(2)               That the Panel flag up to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the Waste Management budget figures and the Reserves for the next two or three year ahead should be kept under observation.

To consider which reports are ready to be submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its next meeting.

That the two budget items discussed at this meeting be referred to the next Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To consider the forward programme of meeting dates for the Panel, the next and last meeting programmed for this municipal year is scheduled for 12^th February 2007.

Noted that the next meeting would be held on 12 February 2007, at 7pm.