Agenda and minutes

Members of the Council should declare any interests which fall under the following categories:

a)   disclosable pecuniary interests (DPI);

b)   other significant interests (OSI);

c)   voluntary announcements of other interests.

Councillor Wimble made a voluntary declaration in respect of Minute No 53 (Romney Marsh Employment Hub (Land at Mountfield Road Industrial Estate, New Romney)), in that he was a Ward Member for New Romney and lived in the area.

To consider and approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 October 2020 were submitted, approved and signed by the Chairman.

This report sets out a proposed list of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be monitored during 2020/21 in line with the Council’s current Corporate Plan strategic priorities and objectives. The report also sets out performance data for the first two quarters of the year against these proposed key performance indicators.

The report set out a proposed list of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to be monitored during 2020/21 in line with the Council’s current Corporate Plan strategic priorities and objectives. The report also set out performance data for the first two quarters of the year against these proposed key performance indicators.

The report had been considered by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 November 2020. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members prior to the meeting.

A Cabinet Member asked why the target for Fixed Penalty Notices was so specific (Appendix 1), when there was no target for PCNs, and also queried the figures relating to the number of homelessness approaches in Q2, in respect of the outcome for such cases (Appendix 3). The Director of Housing and Operations advised he would provide a written response after the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee;

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/20/49 be received and noted.

2.        That the proposed KPI measurements for 2020/21 in Appendix 1 be approved.

3.        That the performance information for Quarters 1 & 2 2020/21 in Appendix 3 be noted.

(Voting figures: 8 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

a)     Relevant key performance indicators (KPIs) are essential to provide a ‘golden thread’ to the delivery of the Corporate Plan strategic objectives.

b)     The Council is committed to monitoring performance across all of its service areas to ensure progress and improvement is maintained.

c)     The Council needs to ensure that relevant aspects of performance is measured, monitored and the results are used to identify where services are working well and where improvement action needs to be taken.

This report sets out the proposed amendments to the General Fund budget for 2020/21 to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the Councils financial position in year.

The report set out the proposed amendments to the General Fund budget for 2020/21 to reflect the impact of COVID-19 on the Councils financial position in year.

The report had been considered by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 November 2020. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members prior to the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Mrs Hollingsbee; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/20/47 be received and noted.

2.        That the virements to the 2020/21 General Fund budget as set out within the report be approved.

3.        That the current reserves position and the potential requirement upon them be noted. 

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

Prior to the debate on this report, Councillor Field arrived at the meeting.

Reasons for DECISION:

Cabinetwas asked to agree the recommendations because:

a)           The Local Government Finance Act 1992 requires authorities to set a balanced budget.  Whilst a balanced budget was set in February for the financial year 2020/21 a number of financial pressures have emerged since due to the global pandemic.  This paper seeks to address how the emerging budget gap will be managed.

b)           Cabinet has the authority to approve virements to the in-year budget.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31^st March 2025.  It covers both revenue and capital for the General Fund.  Also included are the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) is the Council’s key financial planning document.  It puts the financial perspective on the council’s Corporate Plan priorities, expressing the aims and objectives of various plans and strategies in financial terms over the four year period ending 31^st March 2025.  It covers both revenue and capital for the General Fund.  Also included was the Council’s reserves policies.  The MTFS is a key element of sound corporate governance and financial management.

The Finance and Performance Sub-Committee had received a presentation, outlining the key points within this report, at their meeting on 3 November 2020. Their comments had been circulated to the Cabinet Members prior to the meeting.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Prater; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/20/51 be received and noted.

2.        To recommend to Full Council that the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as appended to the report, be adopted. 

3.        That the Reserves Policy outlined in appendix 2 be adopted.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations because:-

(a)       The MTFS is the council’s key financial planning document.

(b)       The strategy defines the financial resources needed to deliver the council’s corporate objectives and priorities and covers the financial implications of other key strategies.

(c)        The council needs to be able to carry out an early assessment of the financial implications of its approved policies and strategies and also external financial pressures facing the authority to ensure that it has robust budgeting and remains financially viable. 

This report updates the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme for decisions which have occurred since the Council approved the budget on 19 February 2020. Changes to the Capital Programme are required to be submitted to full Council for consideration and approval.

The report updated the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme for decisions which have occurred since the Council approved the budget on 19 February 2020. It also considers a proposal to provide loan funding met from prudential borrowing to Veolia Environmental Services Limited for the provision of the new fleet and equipment required for the new Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Contract. Changes to the Capital Programme are required to be submitted to full Council for consideration and approval.

The report had been considered by the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee meeting held on 3 November 2020. Their comments had been circulated to Cabinet Members prior to the meeting.

Members raised concerns with regard to recommendation three, relating to the provision of loan funding to Veolia Environmental Services Limited for the provision of the fleet and equipment required for the new Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Contract. A Cabinet Member asked it to be noted that lawyers had been instructed to include in the agreement that the council retains a ‘lean’ on the vehicles, i.e., to safeguard and minimise financial risk to the council.

Proposed by Councillor Monk,

Seconded by Councillor Peall; and

RESOLVED:

1.         That report C/20/46 be received and noted.

2.         That full Council approval to be sought to update the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme for the changes outlined in section 2 of the report.

3.         That full Council approval be sought to include a budget of £4,052,000 in the General Fund Medium Term Capital Programme to provide loan funding met from prudential borrowing to Veolia Environmental Services Limited for the provision of the fleet and equipment required for the new Waste, Recycling and Street Cleansing Contract.

4.         That the Director of Place be authorised to incorporate terms within new the Waste, Recycling & Street Cleansing Contract to provide funding of the new vehicle fleet in return for contract savings as outlined.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

Cabinet was asked to agree the recommendations because:

a)             It needs to be kept informed of the General Fund Capital Programme position and take appropriate action to deal with any variance from the approved budget.

b)             Proposed changes to the General Fund Capital Programme need to be considered before being submitted to full Council for approval.

This report outlines the opportunity to complete the Romney Marsh Employment Hub project by bringing forward the remaining five hectares of employment land at Mountfield Road Industrial Estate, New Romney through constructing an access road and services to be funded by the Government’s ‘Getting Building Fund’ (to be confirmed on 20 November 2020).

The report outlined the opportunity to complete the Romney Marsh Employment Hub project by bringing forward the remaining five hectares of employment land at Mountfield Road Industrial Estate, New Romney through constructing an access road and services to be funded by the Government’s ‘Getting Building Fund’ (to be confirmed on 20 November 2020).

Proposed by Councillor Wimble,

Seconded by Councillor Collier; and

RESOLVED:

1.        That report C/20/48 be received and noted.

2.        That delegate authority be given to the Director of Place to accept a Getting Building Fund grant offer and associated terms;

3.        To proceed with the construction of a road and services to bring forward five hectares of land at Mountfield Road Industrial Estate, New Romney; and

4.        That delegated authority be given to the Director of Place, in consultation with the Director of Housing & Operations, to market, negotiate terms and conclude disposal of development plots for employment purposes.

(Voting figures: 9 for, 0 against, 0 abstentions).

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The bringing forward of five hectares of employment land will create serviced plots for development by growing local businesses and inward investors to help diversify the local economy and create alternative employment opportunities.