Agenda for Finance and Performance Scrutiny Sub-Committee on Tuesday, 18th January, 2022, 7.00 pm

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Civic Centre Folkestone. View directions

Contact: Kate Clark 

Media

Items
No. Item

12.

Declarations of interest

Members of the committee 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.

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Councillor Patricia Rolfe declared a DPI as she is a director of Oportunitas Ltd.  A dispensation has been applied. 

 

Councillor Peter Gane also declared a DPI as a director of Oportunitas with an applicable dispensation. 

 

Councillor Rebecca Shoob declared a DPI as she is a director of Otterpool Park LLP.  A dispensation has been applied. 

 

All members remained in the meeting, taking part in discussions and voting on all items. 

 

Councillor Gary Fuller declared a significant interest as a F&HDC housing tenant.  He did not take part in discussions or voting on Agenda Item 5 (HRA Budget Monitoring Q3 2021/22) and Agenda Item 8 (Draft HRA Revenue and Capital Original Budget 2022/23). 

13.

General Fund Revenue Budget Monitoring - 3rd Quarter 2021/22

Monitoring report C/21/65 provides a projection of the end of year financial position of the General Fund revenue budget, based on expenditure to the 30 November 2021.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Monitoring Report C/21/65 provided a projection of the end of year financial position of the General Fund revenue budget, based on expenditure to the 30 November 2021. 

 

Comments and questions raised by members included: 

 

  • Business rates appeal – Members noted the position following the revaluation of Dungeness B Power Station appeal.  Officers advised that the Council are in a pooling arrangement with other Kent authorities and hoped that they would be able to advise on the long term impact with the quarter 4 projections. 
  • Development control fees – Members asked for clarification on the decreased income projected.  Could be due to the types of applications received and fee variations.  The Director of Place offered to provide further details. 
  • Waste contract – additional costs to Council, will these be settled by the contractor?  Extra staff were recruited to Customer Services to handle increased calls.  Time spent was from core officer base.  Recharging is annual, no further details available at present. 
  • Decrease in Council Tax collection – general collection is going well, however the challenge has been securing courts dates although this situation is improving. 

 

Proposed by Councillor Patricia Rolfe

Seconded by Councillor Peter Gane: and

 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report C/21/65

 

(Voting: For 5; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

14.

General Fund Capital Programme Budget Monitoring 2021/22

Monitoring report C/21/60 provides an updated projection of the current financial position for the General Fund capital programme profiled for 2021/22, based on expenditure to 30 November 2021, and identifies variances compared to the latest approved budget.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Monitoring report C/21/60 provided an updated projection of the current financial position for the General Fund capital programme profiled for 2021/22, based on expenditure to 30 November 2021 and identified variances compared to the latest approved budget. 

 

Members were advised that the General Fund MTCP will be presented to Cabinet on 10 February 2021 and not 23 February as mentioned in the report. 

 

Members commented on reprofiling figures which mainly affected larger proposed developments. 

 

Disabled Facilities Grant – figure shown is an underspend, however all applications received had been dealt with. 

 

Proposed by Councillor Patricia Rolfe

Seconded by Councillor Rebecca Shoob

 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report C/21/60.

 

(Voting: For 4; Against 1; Abstentions 0)

 

Councillor Fuller left the Chamber and did not take part in discussions or voting on the following item. 

15.

HRA Budget Monitoring Quarter 3 2021/22

Monitoring report C/21/62 provides a projection of the end of year financial position for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue expenditure and HRA capital programme based on net expenditure to 30 November 2021. 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Monitoring report C/21/62 provided a projection of the end of year financial position for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue expenditure and HRA capital programme based on net expenditure to 30 November 2021. 

 

Members sought clarification on provision and repayment of bad debts as well as the rephasing of the Highview scheme. 

 

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Patricia Rolfe

 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report C/21/62. 

 

(Voting: For 4; Against 0;  Abstentions 0)

 

Councillor Fuller returned to the Chamber and took part in discussions and voting on the following items. 

16.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2022/23 and Treasury Management Monitoring Report 2021/22

Report C/21/61 sets out the proposed strategy for treasury management for 2022/23 including Treasury Management Prudential Indicators. The report also provides an update on the council’s treasury management activities that have taken place during 2021/22 against the agreed strategy for the year.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Report C/21/61 set out the proposed strategy for treasury management for 2022/23 including Treasury Management Prudential Indicators.  The report also provided an update on the council’s treasury management activities that have taken place during 2021/22 against the agreed strategy for the year. 

 

Mr Lee Walker, Capital & Treasury Senior Specialist, provided a presentation to members which is attached to these minutes. 

 

The presentation was divided into three sections, Mr Walker asked members for comments and questions at each section as well as referring to the report. 

 

Introduction and summary:

TM code changes – would member training be available?  Tendering is progressing for TM advisory service and training will then be arranged. 

 

Section A – TM Monitoring Report 2021/22

·         Public Works Loan Board rate 4.69% seems high?  This rate is for existing borrowing and advice from Arlingclose is that repaying higher interest loan debt would be cost prohibitive at present. 

 

Section B – TM Strategy Statement 2022/23

  • HRA debt – could this be redeemed?  Council’s policy is to improve current stock, build further homes and not to reduce the HRA Capital Financing Requirement.  Housing values will increase further.  The expanding asset base and increased revenue will compensate against the additional costs of borrowing.  This will be reviewed in the HRA Business Plan. 
  • Liability Benchmark increasing rapidly?  This shows capital investment costs for large developments namely Otterpool Park and Princes Parade.  Ultimately revenue streams will have an impact on the net borrowing requirement leading to its reduction over time. 

 

Members thank Mr Walker and the finance team for their hard work in preparing this report. 

 

Proposed by Councillor Peter Gane

Seconded by Councillor Patricia Rolfe; and

 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report C/21/61. 

 

(Voting: For 5; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

 

17.

Draft General Fund Budget 2022/23

Report C/21/67 sets out the Council’s Draft General Fund Budget for 2022/23. 

 

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Report C/21/67 set out the Council’s Draft General Fund Budget for 2022/23.

 

The Director of Corporate Services, Mrs Charlotte Spendley, presented the report, referring to point 2.3.  Also mentioning the funding gap of £1.11mn, some use of reserves would be required. 

 

Members commented as follows: 

 

  • Rising energy costs – energy market is extremely volatile and this will be reviewed again ahead of the final budget being set.
  • Members noted the tax base position at a slight increase, figures are to be finalised. 
  • Although there are savings to be made, these will not affect services. 
  • GF Reserves figure – no definitive figure to aim for, down to judgement,  CIPFA do not provide specific guidance on reserve balances required
  • Contingency levels?  There is a small budget for contingencies which is monitored by the Corporate Leadership Team.

 

Mrs Spendley advised members that the budget consultation is open for comments and would ask members to encourage residents to respond.  Also, a short video has been produced explaining Council Tax, this is now live on the Council’s website.  A second video is being produced which will explain how to pay your Council Tax and assistance available for residents. 

 

Proposed by Councillor Connor McConville

Seconded by Councillor Patricia Rolfe

 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report C/21/67. 

 

(Voting: For 4; Against 1; Abstentions 0)

 

 

Councillor Fuller left the Chamber and did not take part in discussions or voting on the following item.   

18.

Draft Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Original Budget 2022/23

Report C/21/66 sets out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2022/23 and proposes an increase in weekly rents and an increase in service charges for 2022/23.

 

Supporting documents:

Minutes:

Report C/21/66 set out the Housing Revenue Account Revenue and Capital Budget for 2022/23 and proposes an increase in weekly rents and an increase in service charges for 2022/23. 

 

Proposed by Councillor Connor McConville

Seconded by Councillor Patricia Rolfe

 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report C/21/66. 

 

(Voting: For 4; Against 0; Abstentions 0)

 

Prior to the closure of the meeting, members thanked all officers involved for their work in producing tonight’s complex reports.