Agenda and minutes

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Paul Carpenter due to his commitment on other council business.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 7 July 2008 were confirmed as a correct record.

No declarations of interest were made.

Report number CHFR113 by the Interim Corporate Head, Finance.

                                                                        (Attached)

DECISION:

(1)           To recommend to Council the approval of the revised medium term financial plan for the period of 2008/09 to 2010/11 as appended to report CHFR113;

(2)           To note that an annual review of the plan will be undertaken to reflect the local and national economic climate and emerging issues;

(3)           To note that following publication, an updated plan will need to take into consideration the findings of the newly revised housing revenue account business forecast model.

Considerations/Reasons for decision:

(1)            Report number CHFR113 and appended documents prepared by the Interim Corporate Head of Finance explaining how the medium term financial plan (MTFP) brings together the Council’s financial position and demonstrates how the revenue and capital financial resources are organised in order to deliver the council’s priorities;

(2)            The MTFP needs to be kept under constant review and updated annually to ensure it remains fit for purpose, taking into account current economic factors, spending pressures, the Government’s efficiency target agenda, and the three year grant settlement;

(3)            The long term financial planning of the housing revenue account will be undertaken to reflect both the updated HRA business plan and the outcome of the stock condition survey.  Opportunities for securing the long term financial sustainablility of both the revenue and capital budget will need to be identified and incorporated into HRA service planning;

(4)            Noting that, in relation to the cost of running the concessionary travel scheme, the county travel administrators have confirmed that the first quarter figures on take up will not be available until September and it will not be possible to use these as a basis to forecast where the Council’s future position will lie as a) the first month will not be a sound indicator of future take up, and b) the figures will need to be subject to sensitivity analysis.

Other options considered and assessed: None – the MTFP needs to be reviewed to ensure it remains fir for purpose.

Report number CHFR112 by the Assets and Resources Portfolio Holder.                                                               (Attached)

DECISION:To recommend to Council

(1)           the approval of the revised housing capital programme as attached at appendix A to report CHFR112;

(2)           the approval of the revised general fund programme as attached at appendix B to report CHFR112;

(3)           the approval of the revised summary financial statement as attached at appendix C to report CHFR112.

Considerations/Reasons for decision:

(1)            Report number CHFR112 and accompanying papers representing a complete review of the capital programme for 2008/09 and progress with its delivery.  The housing capital programme for 2008/09 had been reviewed in the light of current and up coming contractual commitments for completing work on the Council’s housing stock in the remaining part of 2008/09.  The general fund had been reviewed to reflect slippage from the 2007/08 programme and new additional projects that had been scored by the capital assets and management group;

(2)            A review of the capital programme is necessary to both ensure good financial planning and an up to date document which fully reflects the Council’s spending programme;

(3)            The capital programme has been amended to take account of the outturn position for 2007/08 and the current officer and contractor capacity to deliver the programme by the end of the financial year.

Other options considered and assessed: None – the review is necessary to ensure good financial planning.

Report number SS006 by the Healthy Environment Portfolio Holder.

                                                                           (Attached)

The appendices to report SS006 contain exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).  This is because the information they contain is commercially sensitive.

DECISION: To award the contract for the processing of dry recyclable materials collected by the Council’s kerbside collection activities to Mid UK Recycling Limited for the initial term of three years from the date of the commencement of the contract with potential to extend the term for a further two years.

Considerations/Reasons for decision:

(1)            Report number S006 by the Policy & Business Support Officer on behalf of the Healthy Environment portfolio holder detailing the outcome of the tendering and evaluation process;

(2)            Noting the current arrangements for dry recyclable material.  To ensure the Council continues to offer the best service possible for its customers, the contract was subject to competitive tender.  The tender process ensures that the service is as advantageous to the customer in terms of the range of materials collected for recycling, and that it is at the lowest possible costs;

(3)            A competitive tender process ensures that the Council is legally compliant with current procurement regulations and achieves the most economically advantageous option for the authority;

(4)            There is sufficient budget within the financial year to support the award of the contract to the recommended contractor.

Other options considered and assessed:  All four tenders submitted were subject to a comprehensive evaluation in accordance with the specification providing sufficient linkage between the weightings in the tender assessment and the information requested in the tender documentation.  Tender 2 submitted by Mid UK Recycling Limited offered the most economically advantageous option to the Council.

Report number PLA713 by the Economic Development Portfolio Holder.                                                          (Attached)

DECISION: The Cabinet recommends to Council:

(1)           the adoption of the local list of information to be submitted with an application under the Planning Acts as appended to report PLA713;

(2)           that delegated authority be granted to the Corporate Head of Sustainable Communities to correct any typographical errors, amplifications or amendments within the local list, but not to add any additional items to it.

Considerations/Reasons for decision:

(1)            Report number PLA713 by the Development Control Service manager and Lead Professional on behalf of the Economic portfolio holder concerning new statutory requirements introduced on 6 April 2008 for plans and information to accompany a planning application.  The new legislation sets out for the first time the exact information required to support a planning application.  If the required information is not submitted, the application is invalid.  The information is divided into two lists; the national list which sets out the mandatory requirements for all applications and a local list that sets out optional information that a local planning authority can request to support an application;

(2)            The overall content of the local list is at the discretion of the local planning authority.  The proposed local list for South kesteven, as appended to report PLA713, is of no legal effect until it is formally adopted by the Council and published on the Council’s website;

(3)            Consultation on the proposed local list is recommended but not a legal requirement;  consultation has taken place via the Council’s new local planning agents’ forum who raised no objection to the proposed local list.  Officer advice on undertaking wider consultation is that it would engender little response and it is probable that very little or no change would be made to the list as a result. 

Other options considered and assessed: None – if a local list is not adopted, the statutory requirements of the national list would prevail.  The local list will provide clarity to developers, enhance the consultation process and contribute to the sustained performance of Development Control.

DATE DECISIONS ARE EFFECTIVE:

Minutes CO20, CO21, and CO23 are policy framework proposals and therefore stand referred to the full Council for approval on 4 September 2008.  Minute CO22 is a key decision reserved to the Cabinet and can be implemented on 20 August 2008 subject to the decision not having been called in.