| Item | Description | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
| PART 1 - PUBLIC | ||
| CB 11/019 |
Declarations of interest. |
There were no declarations of interest made. |
| MATTERS FOR RECOMMENDATION TO THE COUNCIL | ||
| CB 11/020 |
Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12 |
The report of the Director of Finance invited the Cabinet to consider a number of amendments to the Council's investment parameters and to review and recommend adoption of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12. Details were given of proposed amendments to the current investment parameters in order to ensure that an adequate number of counterparties were available with whom to invest, to simplify the existing arrangements and provide a common approach to both internally and externally managed funds. A rationalisation of the approach to reporting treasury management activity was also suggested involving the receipt of high level information on performance by the Finance and Property Advisory Board and more detailed scrutiny of activity reports by the Audit Committee. It was noted that the Audit Committee had been asked to review the matters covered by the report at its meeting on 24 January 2011 and the revised arrangements had been commended for adoption. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the investment parameters and reporting arrangements for 2011/12 be amended as outlined in paragraphs 1.2.2 to 1.2.5 of the report; and (2) the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy for 2011/12, as set out at Annex 1 to the report, be adopted. *Referred to Council |
| CB 11/021 |
Setting the Budget for 2011/12 |
The Chief Executive and Director of Finance presented a report updating the Cabinet on issues relating to the setting of the budget for 2011/12 together with a number of changes which had emerged since preparation of the draft Revenue Estimates booklet. A more detailed supplementary report prepared in liaison with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance was circulated in advance of the meeting. This updated the position in relation to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and gave details of the necessary procedures to be followed in order to set the budget for 2011/12. In introducing the report the Director of Finance advised that the final grant settlement was received late on 31 January 2011 and, whilst not significantly different from the provisional figures, would require all the statutory calculations set out in the supplementary report to be amended. The Cabinet accordingly received revised Annexes 1, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 17A, 18 and 19. The Director of Finance updated the key messages arising from the provisional grant settlement which had previously been reported to the extraordinary meeting of the Cabinet on 15 December 2010. The outcome was a grant reduction of 16.2% in 2011/12 and 13.6% in 2012/13 and meant that Tonbridge and Malling would now receive the lowest grant per head of the Kent authorities. The report referred to the examination of the draft Revenue Estimates and the Capital Plan review process undertaken by the Finance and Property Advisory Board and the Policy Overview Committee. Attention was drawn to a summary of the recommendations from Advisory Boards regarding the levels of fees and charges to be implemented from 1 April 2011 which had been incorporated in the draft Estimates. Reference was made to the proposed deferral of the transitional increase in Members' allowances recommended by the Finance and Property Advisory Board and Policy Overview Committee together with the 0% staff pay award approved by the General Purposes Committee. Members were reminded of the new approach to preparation of the Capital Plan and the annual allowance of £350,000 for capital expenditure. An updated summary of the Capital Plan was set out at Annex 7 to the report including the proposed transfer of six schemes from List B. The Director of Finance also updated the table of prudential indicators in the light of the final grant settlement. The report then described the remaining procedures to be followed in setting the budget for 2011/12 and calculating the council tax requirement. Consideration was given to the updated Medium Term Financial Strategy which had been remodelled over a 10 year period, setting the minimum general revenue reserve balance at £2 million with a view to achieving a balanced budget by the end of the Strategy period. The Cabinet had regard to the budget, the Government's stance on capping and its provision of funding to enable a council tax 'freeze' in 2011/12 together with the future review to address the Council's budget funding gap. The Director of Finance explained the basis on which the statement as to the robustness of the estimates and adequacy of the reserves had been made. Members discussed the potential for income from the New Homes Bonus and other Government schemes to provide funding towards some of the aspirations of various groups in the Borough. It was therefore suggested that during the period leading to the Council meeting on 17 February efforts continue to be made to identify any opportunities for assisting such community projects. RECOMMENDED: That (1) the fees and charges set out in Annex 2 to the report as recommended by the Advisory Boards be endorsed (see Decision Nos D110006CAB and D110012CAB to D110015CAB); (2) the Capital Plan be updated as set out in paragraph 1.5.14 of the report as follows and adopted accordingly: (i) the position of the existing Capital Plan (List A) as summarised in Annex 3 to the report be approved; (ii) the addition to and deletion from List C of those List C schemes shown in Annex 4 to the report be approved; (iii) the selection of those List C schemes listed in Annex 5 to the report for evaluation over the coming year be approved with those so indicated being selected for fast track evaluation; (iv) the transfer of the following List B schemes to List A be approved: Tonbridge Swimming Pool: Disinfection System Larkfield Leisure Centre: Energy Saving Measures Public Open Spaces Site Improvements Tonbridge Memorial Garden Improvements IT Initiatives: Homeless Management System IT Initiatives: Corporate Document Management System (v) the retention on List B of the following schemes be approved: Tonbridge Riverside Path Enhancement Tonbridge Town Lock (vi) a contribution in this year of £120,000 to the Revenue Reserves for Capital Schemes be approved using unallocated Local Authority Growth Scheme monies and as a result of the better than expected budget position; (3) the draft Capital Strategy as presented to the Finance and Property Advisory Board on 5 January and the Policy Overview Committee on 18 January 2011 be endorsed and adopted by the Council; (4) the prudential indicators listed in paragraphs 1.6.6 and 1.6.10 (as amended) of the report be adopted; (5) for the financial year 2011/12 the Council's Minimum Revenue Provision be endorsed as nil, as set out in paragraph 1.6.14 of the report; (6) the adjustments to the draft revenue estimates, as outlined in the holding report and summarised in paragraph 1.3.2 of the main report, be endorsed; (7) the Medium Term Financial Strategy be updated in accordance with Annex 11 to the report and the proposal to move to a Strategy covering a ten year period be endorsed; (8) the key objectives of the Medium Term Financial Strategy be updated as set out in paragraph 1.8.10 of the report; and (9) the Statement provided by the Director of Finance as to the Robustness of the Estimates and Adequacy of the Reserves be noted and endorsed. *Referred to Council |
| CB 11/022 |
Setting the Council Tax 2011/12 |
The joint report of the Chief Executive, Director of Finance, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance set out the requirements under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for a billing authority to set an amount of council tax for each category of dwelling in its area. Members were advised that the Kent County Council, the Kent Police Authority and the Kent and Medway Fire and Rescue Authority had not yet met to determine their respective precepts for 2011/12. The report explained the figures which had to be calculated and the process to be undertaken in arriving at the levels to be set for each part of the Borough. Consideration was given to a revised draft resolution in respect of the Borough Council's level of council tax which was circulated at the meeting following receipt of the final grant settlement. It was noted that information regarding the precepts of the other authorities would be reported to the full Council on 17 February 2011. Members of the Cabinet recorded their thanks to the Director of Finance and colleagues and to the Chief Executive and Management Team for all their efforts in assisting the Council to deliver its aspirations in respect of a zero change to council tax with no reduction in front line services or compulsory redundancies. RECOMMENDED: That the revised draft resolution set out at Annex 2 to the report and annexed to these Minutes, as it relates to the Borough Council's level of Council Tax, be referred to the full Council at its meeting on 17 February 2011 for approval. *Referred to Council |
| CB 11/023 |
Anti-Fraud Policies Item PO 11/005 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 18th January, 2011 |
Consideration was given to the report of the Director of Finance reviewing the Anti-Fraud Policy and Housing and Council Tax Benefit Anti-Fraud Policy which were designed to set out the Council's zero tolerance approach to fraud and corruption and promote the anti-fraud culture of the organisation. It was noted that the revisions had been considered jointly by Tonbridge and Malling and Gravesham Borough Council staff as part of the partnership arrangements between the Internal Audit and Benefit Investigations Sections. The Policy Overview Committee and Audit Committee at their meetings on 18 and 24 January 2011 had commended the policies for adoption. RECOMMENDED: That the updated Anti-Fraud and Corruption Policy and Housing and Council Tax Benefit Anti-Fraud Policy, as set out at Annexes 1 and 2 to the report to the Policy Overview Committee, be endorsed for adoption. *Referred to Council |
| CB 11/024 |
Review of Anti Money Laundering Policy Item PO 11/006 referred from Policy Overview Committee minutes of 18th January, 2011 |
The Director of Finance invited the Cabinet to consider two minor administrative amendments to the Council's Anti Money Laundering Policy as recommended by the Policy Overview Committee and Audit Committee on 18 January and 24 January 2011 respectively. RECOMMENDED: That the Anti Money Laundering Policy and accompanying Guidance Note be amended to reflect the change in responsible officers and the updated policy be adopted. *Referred to Council |
| DECISIONS TAKEN IN ACCORDANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 4, PART 3 OF THE CONSTITUTION | ||
| CB 11/025 |
Corporate Document Management System Expansion Decision Notice D110010CAB |
|
| CB 11/026 |
Procurement of New Fleet of Multi-Functional Devices Decision Notice D110011CAB |
|
| CB 11/027 |
Review of Environmental Health Service Fees and Charges Item LEM 10/040 referred from Local Environmental Management Advisory Board minutes of 23rd November, 2010 Decision Notice D110012CAB |
|
| CB 11/028 |
Leisure Services - Review of Charges 2011/12 Item LAA 10/056 referred from Leisure and Arts Advisory Board minutes of 13th December, 2010 Decision Notice D110013CAB |
|
| CB 11/029 |
Leisure Services Business Unit - Review of Charges Item LAA 10/057 referred from Leisure and Arts Advisory Board minutes of 13th December, 2010 Decision Notice D110014CAB |
|
| CB 11/030 |
Review of Fees and Charges 2011/12 Item FP 11/007 referred from Finance and Property Advisory Board minutes of 5th January, 2011 Decision Notice D110015CAB |
|
| MATTERS FOR CONSIDERATION IN PRIVATE | ||
| CB 11/031 |
Exclusion of Press and Public |
There were no items considered in private. |