Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The Executive is asked to approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2018.

The Executive considered the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2018.

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 December 2019 with the above amendment for signature by the Chair.          

A copy of the Register of Interest for each Selby District Councillor is

available for inspection at www.selby.gov.uk.

Councillors should declare to the meeting any disclosable pecuniary

interest in any item of business on this agenda which is not already

entered in their Register of Interests.

Councillors should leave the meeting and take no part in the

consideration, discussion or vote on any matter in which they have a

disclosable pecuniary interest.

Councillors should also declare any other interests. Having made the

declaration, provided the other interest is not a disclosable pecuniary

interest, the Councillor may stay in the meeting, speak and vote on that

item of business.

If in doubt, Councillors are advised to seek advice from the Monitoring

Officer.

There were no declarations of interest.

Report E/18/37 provides the Executive with an update on High Speed 2 (HS2) and specifically the Working Draft Environmental Statement (WDES) which was recently out for public consultation.

The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping presented the report which provided the Executive with an update on High Speed 2 (HS2) and specifically the Working Draft Environmental Statement (WDES) which was recently out for public consultation.

The Lead Executive Member for Place Shaping explained that the Council had submitted their comments to HS2 Ltd on 20^th December 2018 and that the Council’s position on HS2 agreed by the Executive on 7 June 2018 was to seek to minimise any adverse local impacts as well as maximise the benefits for Selby District’s residents and businesses.

Concern was raised regarding the impact of the construction compounds outlined on the map in the report and the effect of these on local residents along with the proposed viaduct for the route through Church Fenton. It was noted that concerns regarding these had been expressed in the consultation response.

In response to queries concerning the route, it was noted this was currently being challenged and concerns had been passed onto HS2.

RESOLVED:

i)             To notes the contents of this report;

ii)            To note the consultation response attached at Appendix A which was submitted to HS2 Ltd on 20^th December 2018.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To note the comments which were submitted to HS2 Ltd on 20^th December 2018.

Report E/18/38 provides the further information requested by the Executive on 8 November 2018 in relation to the proposed Economic Development Framework (EDF) Delivery Plan 2019 and 2020 and the associated progress review and budgetary transfers.

The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development presented the report which provided the further information requested by the Executive in relation to the proposed Economic Development Framework (EDF) Delivery Plan 2019 and 2020 and the associated progress review and budgetary transfers.

The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development explained that since the Executive meeting in November, officers had engaged with Members and external partners on the delivery plan and the comments were outlined in section 2.3 of the report. The Executive were informed that there had also been a recent announcement of the Future High Street Fund which the Council would be able to bid for.

The Lead Executive Member for Communities and Economic Development stated that the delivery plan was a long term commitment designed to create jobs for the area and lead additional business rates income. 

Members praised the work of officers delivering the Economic Development Framework to date while acknowledging a number of the projects were long term and therefore further work was required.

RESOLVED:

1)    To agree the EDF Delivery Plan for 2019 and 2020 (Appendix A) and the priority order set out at paragraph 2.6 of this report;

2)    To agree the movements between budget headings in the existing Programme for Growth (P4G) budget to resource delivery of the EDF Delivery Plan (Appendix B);

3)    To agree the performance indicators to monitor progress (Appendix C);

4)    To agree that details of the Year One Review and Delivery Plan be shared with partners.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To continue to deliver the EDF and the Corporate Plan following significant progress through Programme for Growth investment in this work area.

Report E/18/39 presents proposals for Housing Revenue Account rent levels which have been set in accordance with Central Government’s current policy on rent setting. 

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources presented the report which outlined proposals for Housing Revenue Account rent levels which have been set in accordance with central Government’s current policy on rent setting.

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that 2019/20 would be the last year of the Government’s four year policy to decrease rents 1% year on year and it would result in an average decrease of £0.78. The Executive was informed that from 2020/21 the Council would allowed to increase their rent up to the level of the consumer price index (CPI) plus 1%.

RESOLVED:

To approve the proposed 1.0% rent decrease for 2019/20.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To allow rent levels to be set in advance of the coming financial year within the constraints of Government rent setting policy.

Report E/18/40 presents the draft revenue budget; capital programmes and latest forecast for the Programme for Growth for 2019/20 to 2021/22.

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources presented the draft revenue budget, capital programme and latest forecast for the Programme for Growth for 2019/20 to 2021/22.

The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that the Government’s multi-year finance settlement had been better than expected for the Council however there were pressures on council finances.

The Leader of the Council explained that as part of the District Council’s Network, they had lobbied the Government to not introduce a negative Revenue Support Grant along with retaining the threshold on the New Homes Bonus and they had been successful on both of these issues.

Discussion took place on proposed level of council tax increase which was currently proposed at £5 for an average band D property. The Executive felt that due to the better than expected settlement from the Government, the proposed increase should be reduced to £3 for an average band D property. It was noted that this would still be below the rate of inflation and that the Council had only increased council tax at a level above the rate of inflation on one occasion.

The Chief Finance Officer explained that the new proposal would result in an loss of income of just under £63k for the Council which would have to be found through savings or income generation in other areas. The Executive was informed that although the settlement had been better than expected, there were still areas of uncertainty such as the New Homes Bonus which were not secured for future years. Additionally, the Chief Finance Officer explained that the Government was currently undertaking a consultation on local government needs and resources and would assume that the Council would raise council tax at the maximum level.

The Executive discussed the implications and felt that the Council’s savings plan was robust enough to make up the shortfall therefore agreed to include a £3 council tax rise for an average band D property in the draft budget proposals.

RESOLVED:

i)             To amend the proposed increase in council tax to £3 for an average band D property;

ii)            To approve the draft budgets, bids and savings for public consultation and submit then to the Policy Review Committee for comment.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To enable the views of the public and Policy Review Committee members to gathered through consultation.

Report E/14/41 highlights the proposed changes to the Constitution and asks Executive to refer them for consideration at the Audit and Governance Committee before they are presented to Council for approval.

The Leader of the Council presented the report which highlighted the proposed changes to the Constitution and asked the Executive to refer them for consideration at the Audit and Governance Committee before they were presented to Council for approval.

It was noted that then paragraph (b) under section 23 ‘Grant applications and claims’ under the financial procedure rules should read as follows:

Applications and claims with a value exceeding £50,000 shall be approved by the relevant Director and the Chief Finance Officer except where such initiatives will require additional funding (either capital or revenue) beyond that contained within the approved estimates.

RESOLVED:

To endorses the proposed changes and ask Audit and Governance to consider and report on the changes before they are considered by full Council.

REASON FOR DECISION:

To ensure the constitution is up to date and fit for purpose.