Agenda and minutes

Venue: Microsoft Teams - Remote

Contact: Victoria Foreman  01757 292046 Email: vforeman@selby.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors R Packham and M McCartney.  Councillor K Franks was in attendance as a substitute for Councillor Packham.

 

 

2.

Disclosures of Interest

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.

 

Minutes:

There were no disclosures of interest.

3.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 243 KB

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Policy Review Committee held on 10 March 2020.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered the minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2020.

 

RESOLVED:

To approve the minutes of the Policy Review Committee meeting held on 10 March 2020 for signing by the Chair.

 

4.

Chair's Address to the Policy Review Committee

Minutes:

There was no address from the Chair.

 

5.

Revised Estimate 2020/21 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy (PR/20/3) pdf icon PDF 302 KB

To provide comments on the revised Budget for 2020/21 and the update to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) covering both the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA), prior to consideration by Council in September 2020.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received the report of the Chief Finance Officer, which asked Members to consider the content of the report and make any comments on the proposed revised Budget for 2020-21, and updated Medium-TermFinancial Strategy (MTFS), prior to consideration by Council later in September 2020.

 

The Chief Finance Officer explained that for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) three scenarios, ‘best’, ‘mid’ and ‘worst’ case, had been modelled over the 10 years from 2021-22 to 2030-31 and were attached at appendix A of the report, the mid-case scenarios were proposed as the framework for the forthcoming budget.

 

Members acknowledged that Covid-19 had, and continued to have, a significant impact on the Council’s finances. As at the end of July 2020 the full year forecast for 2020-21 totalled £3.8m, it was confirmed that £1.068m had been received from the Government to help off-set these impacts. The key assumptions that underpinned the strategy had been updated, and this forecast had informed the revised estimate put forward for approval, with £1.44m New Homes Bonus proposed to be diverted from reserves to help mitigate the impacts. Based on current assumptions a surplus of £43k was forecast but given the risk and volatility as a result of the virus, this could change.

 

The Chief Finance Officer explained that the MTFS highlighted further delays to the Fair Funding Review and the reform of the Business rates Retention system, as a result of Covid-19. It was assumed therefore that the settlement for 2021-22 would be another roll-forward, which could result in a further year of the renewable energy business rates income.

 

It was highlighted that the MTFS mid-case scenario assumed a Council Tax rise of £5 (2.8%) for 2021-22, which mirrored the referendum principles that applied in 2020/21, and an on-going CPI +1% increase in housing rents.

 

The Committee were informed that the MTFS also set out the Council’s reserves strategy which sought to set aside sums to cover known commitments and cover financial risk, as well as earmarking resources to support delivery of the “Council Plan”.

 

The Chief Finance Officer assured Members that despite the challenges faced, the Council was in a strong financial position but savings remained a key feature of the budget going forward.

 

A query was raised regarding the savings requirement which identified an estimated rise to between £2.4m and £2.9m over the next 3 years; with savings of £848k p.a. already planned from which area’s would the further £2m be identified.  It was confirmed that at this time the report was to highlight the potential savings identified and that it would be subject to discussion with Members.

 

Members queried what effect the government’s plans to introduce unitary authorities would have on the budget.  The Chief Finance Officer stated that the MTFS assumed that the Council was a going concern.  The Lead Executive Member for Finance and Resources assured Members that the Executive were keen to ensure that Selby District Council’s resources would be used for the benefit  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

Annual Report of the Policy Review Committee 2019-20 (PR/20/4) pdf icon PDF 310 KB

To agree the Committee’s Annual Report for 2019-20 submitted by the Chair of the Policy Review Committee.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report from the Democratic Services Officer which asked them to agree the annual report for 2019-20.

 

Members felt that it was a very comprehensive report, and one member complimented the Committee on their work on the Taxi Licensing Policy.

 

The Chair thanked the Committee for their support and continued hard work.

 

 

RESOLVED:

To agree the Annual Report of the Policy Review Committee for 2019-20, submitted by the Chair of the Committee.

7.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 299 KB

To consider the Committee’s work programme.

 

Minutes:

Members considered the work programme for the rest of the 2020-21 municipal year.

 

RESOLVED:

To note the work programme 2020-21.