Agenda and minutes

(Enclosure)

The minutes of the meeting held on 5th August were agreed as a correct record of the decisions taken subject to Councillor Paul Carpenter being shown as the Chairman not the Deputy Chairman.

None disclosed.

Report HOF253 by the Strategic Director (Corporate Focus) and the Head of Finance

(Enclosure)

Decision

Cabinet recommends to Council the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the period 2013/14 – 2017/18.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Report HOF253 from the Strategic Director Corporate Focus and the Head of Finance.

2)              The MTFS sets out the Council’s strategic approach to the management of its finances in order to deliver its stated priorities as laid out in the Councils Corporate Plan.

3)              The MTFS presented indicative budget levels which included assumptions around Council Tax and Government grant over the medium term together with a cyclical review of Fees and Charges.

4)              It highlighted significant financial risks facing the Council in forthcoming years and what the Council was doing to reduce those risks to ensure the plans were robust, realistic, achievable, deliverable and fully funded.

5)              Work on the MTFS had been carried out with Cabinet Members and the Resources PDG.

6)              Two main principles were incorporated into the MTFS, the delivery of efficiencies and the transformation plan and the delivery of treasury management, capital framework and the asset review.

7)              The Capital Framework was outlined within the MTFS showing the spending proposals for the five year period and how the Council’s resources would fund the programme.

8)              The pooling of business rates was still under discussion, although a decision had to be made by 31st October.  It had been agreed that a decision on whether or not to join the Lincolnshire organisation (Lincolnshire County Council, South Holland District Council and North Kesteven District Council) would be made by way of an urgent key decision by the Portfolio Holder Strategic Resources.

9)              Comments made at the meeting from the Portfolio Holder Strategic Resources thanking the Officers and their teams for their hard work in compiling the MTFS.

10)           Comments made by the Leader on the current situation with the Pooling of business rates.

11)            Comments made by the Strategic Director and the Leader about the New Homes Bonus and where the actual funding came from.

12)            Comments made by the Head of Finance on grants that were no longer funded by the Government (Better Homes and Empty Homes).

Report TSE059 by the Housing Management Service Manager.

(Enclosure)

Decision

1)              Cabinet approves the adoption of the Safeguarding Adults Policy and Procedure as attached to report TSE0059; and

2)              notes the intended arrangements for briefing staff and volunteers and agrees that Members should be briefed by e-mail.

Considerations/reasons for decision:

1)              Report TSE0059 from the Service Manager, Housing Management.

2)              Lincolnshire County Council had adopted a new Safeguarding Adults Multi Agency Policy and Procedure manual on 1st August 2013.

3)              As a partner agency with a social and moral responsibility to provide a duty of care to adults at risk within South Kesteven, the Council was required to sign up to the Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) Policy and Procedures or produce its own.

4)              In light of the extensive content of the LCC Policy it was agreed that the District Council should produce its own policy.

5)              Comments from the Management Team, Communities PDG and the Portfolio Holder had been incorporated into the document.

6)               A copy of the document had been sent to Lincolnshire County Council’s Adult Safeguarding Board.

7)              Comments made by the Portfolio Holder Good Housing thanking the Service Manager Housing Management for the concise policy.

8)              Comments made by the Service Manager Housing Management on the proposed training and roll out of the policy.

9)              Comments made by the Portfolio Holder Governance and Communication that the document, in order to be effective had to be reacted to.

Other Options Considered:

That the Lincolnshire County Council Policy and Procedures be adopted however, it was felt more appropriate to develop policy and procedures specifically tailored to South Kesteven District Council’s own arrangements.

Decision CO21 as made on 7th October 2013 can be implemented by Wednesday 16th October unless subject to call-in by the Scrutiny Committee Chairman or any five member so the Council from any political group.

Decision CO20 stands referred to Council on 7th November 2013.