Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors J Cattanach and M Hobson.

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 disclosures of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Policy Review Committee held on 17 December 2018.

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2018.

RESOLVED: 

To approve the minutes of the Policy Review Committee held on 17 December 2018 for signing by the Chair.

The Chair had no address for the Committee.

To note the contents of the report and provide any comments on the draft policy.

The Committee received a report from the Licensing Manager which asked Members to note the contents of the report and to make any comments on the draft Taxi Licensing Policy.

Councillor C Pearson, Executive Lead Member for Housing, Health and Culture was also present at the meeting.

Members noted that Selby District Council’s Taxi Licensing Policy was being reviewed; a consultation on the proposed policy took place between 1 December 2018 and 12January 2019. Officers were currently reviewing the responses. It was intended that the revised policy will be presented to Executive in March 2019 for approval.

The committee were informed that the consultation with the trade to determine a ‘definition of a wheelchair accessible vehicle’ and ‘Discrete Plate licensing’ (Appendix 1) finished on the 8October 2018. The Council received 19 responses out of 192. Although the response to the consultation was poor, the feedback that was received indicated a level of agreement with the Council’s recommendations, which had been incorporated into the proposed new Taxi Licensing Policy which went out for public consultation in December 2018.

Members noted that the introduction of an age limit on existing vehicles was also being considered, although there would be a five year lead-in time in order to ensure that no drivers were caused financial hardship by such a proposal. Officers explained that any newly registered vehicle would have to be no more than five years old.

The Committee asked Officers to ensure that the correct spelling of discrete was used in the policy.

Members were reassured that all vehicles applying for a discrete licence would be inspected to make sure they were high specification vehicles; it was acknowledged that photographs were often not enough evidence in these matters.

The Committee queried whether higher fares could be charged for vehicles that were wheelchair accessible; Officers explained that this was not possible as hackney carriage fares were set at one rate. However, the Council had recently undertaken a consultation on fare levels and this would be considered by the Licensing Committee in February.

Members were interested to note that there was a demand for wheelchair accessible vehicles across the district, with the NHS and NYCC School Transport requiring the services of vehicles adapted for wheelchair accessible travel. Officers confirmed that all registered Selby District taxi drivers were required to undertake safeguarding training in a course run with City of York Council. The course also included disability and equalities training.

Lastly, the Committee acknowledged the importance of drivers informing the Council’s Licensing Team if they developed a health condition that could affect their driving.

RESOLVED:

To note and endorse the proposed amendments to the Taxi Licensing Policy and the recommendations by Officers.

To consider the Draft Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Plan.

The Committee received the report of the Chief Finance Officer and were afforded the opportunity to comment on the Draft Revenue Budget and Capital Programme 2019-20 and Medium Term Financial Plan.

Councillor C Lunn, Executive Lead Member for Finance and Resources was also present at the meeting.

Members noted that at its meeting on 10 January 2019 the Executive discussed the budget report, which asked the Executive to recommend that the draft budgets, bids and savings be approved for public consultation and submitted to Policy Review Committee for comment.

The Chief Finance Officer explained that the budget report presented the draft revenue budget, capital programmes and latest forecast for the Programme for Growth for 2019/20 to 2021/22. The 2019/20 budgets showed a forecasted balanced budget after taking into account planned savings and reserve drawdowns.

Members noted that in 2019/20 it was proposed that circa £3.7m be transferred to the Business Rates Equalisation Reserve to provide future revenue support in line with the previously approved MTFS policy. In 2020/21 £745k would be drawn down from this reserve and a further £294k would be required in 2021/22. The on-going use of reserves to support the revenue budget in this way was not a long term sustainable solution and therefore achievement of efficiency savings and additional income generation remained crucial, as plans for Business Rates and Council Tax growth were brought to fruition.

The Committee acknowledged that the draft budget also included Capital Programme proposals for the General Fund and HRA which, with exception of housing development loans and programmes (which were funded through borrowing) were funded from reserves and external funding. Subject to the outcome of the 2019 Spending Review, Fairer Funding Review and wider economic risks, plans were in place to deliver a sustainable budget going forward.

The Chief Finance Officer updated the Committee on the discussions that were had at Executive meeting on 10 January 2019; the draft minutes of the meeting were circulated to the Committee. The Executive had resolved to amend the proposed increase in council tax to £3 for an average band D property. The Executive Member for Finance and Resources explained that the financial impact of this amendment would be that an additional £63k would need to be found to fund Council services, and would require the Council to draw down more from its reserves in the short term. Members noted that there would also be an ongoing impact to the council tax income base and required savings for future years.

Members debated the report in full and queried a number of issues, including the outcome of the government’s upcoming Fairer Funding Review, the impact of the 1% reduction in housing rents on the Housing Revenue Account and the future of renewable energy business rates from Drax Power.

Members also queried whether a one year freeze in council tax had been considered. The Executive Member confirmed that whilst this had been considered, it had been rejected as the effect it would have on the council  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26.

To consider the work programme for 2018-19, and the draft work programme for 2019-20.

The Committee considered the work programme for the rest of the 2018-19 year, and the draft work plan for 2019-20.

Members noted the upcoming items for the next meeting of the Committee in April 2019, and were content with the draft work programme for 2019-20. It was expected that more items would be added to the 2019-20 draft work programme in the coming months.

RESOLVED:

To note the work programme for the remainder of the 2018-19 year and the draft work programme for 2019-20.