Agenda and minutes
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Contact: Democratic Services
Media
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Apologies Additional documents: Minutes: There were no apologies for absence |
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Declarations of Interest To receive any declarations of interest from Members and Officers, relating to items to be considered at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no declarations of interest from Members.
There were no declarations of interest from Officers. |
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To approve the minutes of the previous meeting on 9th January 2023 Additional documents: Minutes: RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED that the Minutes of the meeting of Cabinet held on 9 January 2023 were a correct record.
Voting Record – For 8, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 0, |
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Chair's Announcements Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair extended his condolences to the Turkish and Syrian communities in the district who were mourning families and friends that had been tragically killed by the earthquake that had hit Southern Turkey and North Syria during the early morning.
The LGBTQ+ flag was flying over Trinity Road Council Offices to mark LGBTQ History Month. |
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Public Questions To deal with questions from the public within the open forum question and answer session of fifteen minutes in total. Questions from each member of the public should be no longer than two minutes each and relate to issues under the Committee’s remit. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no Public Questions |
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Member Questions To deal with written questions by Members, relating to issues under the Committee’s remit, with the maximum length of oral supplementary questions at Committee being no longer than one minute. Responses to any supplementary questions will be dealt with in writing if they cannot be dealt with at the meeting. Additional documents: Minutes: There were no Member Questions |
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Purpose The purpose of this report is to present a revised schedule of fees and charges for 2023/24. The report also describes the rationale for the revised charges compared to current charges for 2022/23. Revised charges are presented at Annex A alongside current charges for 2022/23.
Recommendations That Cabinet resolves to: 1. Endorse the rationale for revising fees and charges as set out in the report; 2. Approves the implementation of revised fees and charges for 2023/24 as detailed in Annex A from 1 April 2023; and 3. Approves the proposal set out at paragraphs 2.4 to 2.6 in relation to Pest Control services Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of this report was to present a revised schedule of fees and charges for 2023/24. The report described the rationale for the revised charges compared to current charges for 2022/23 and also considered the revised charges presented in Annex A alongside current charges for 2022/23.
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report that outlined how charges had been changed in line with the increase of fuel, employment and other costs.
The Cabinet Member for Development Management and Licensing provided context for the changes to Planning and Development charges..
Cabinet noted the wide range of fees and charges that reflected the wide range of statutory and discretionary services that were being provided to Cotswold residents by skilled, professional Council Officers and key workers
Cabinet noted that wherever possible the cost of delivering discretionary services would be priced to fully recover costs, unless the Council had made a specific policy decision to subsidise a service.
RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED to endorse the rationale for revising fees and charges as set out in the report, approve the implementation of revised fees and charges for 2023/24 as detailed in Annex A from 1 April 2023, approve the proposal set out at paragraphs 2.4 to 2.6 in relation to Pest Control service
Voting Record – For 8, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 0, |
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Car Parking - Review of Season Ticket Pricing Purpose Further to the report considered by Cabinet on 10 January 2022, this report proposes an updated pricing strategy for car park season tickets which is linked to the ‘pay and stay’ tariff and current demand for season tickets at specific car parking sites.
Recommendations That Cabinet: a) Approves the adoption of the car park season ticket pricing methodology set out at paragraphs 2.10 to 2.16 b) Approves the adoption of revised car park season ticket charges set out at paragraphs 2.17 to 2.22 effective from 1 April 2023; and c) Notes the current position with regard to the lease of the Whiteway car park site (paragraphs 2.29 to 2.32) d) Delegate the consideration of the consultation response to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Economy and Transformation Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of this report was to enable Cabinet to consider the report,, that proposed an updated pricing strategy for car park season tickets which was linked to the ‘pay and stay’ tariff and current demand for season tickets at specific car parking sites.
The Cabinet Member for the Economy and Transformation introduced the report that proposed an updated pricing methodology linking prices for daily parking tickets with those for season tickets.
Cabinet noted that different car parks had different combinations of casual and season ticket spaces, and different parking charges applied to them in order to manage and balance the usage of car parks across the District.
Cabinet noted that ‘off-peak’ permits still existed enabling parking for short periods at specific time.
District wide consultation had taken place prior to decisions being made on parking allocations and charges.
RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED the adoption of the car park season ticket pricing methodology set out at paragraphs 2.10 to 2.16 and adopt the revised car park season ticket charges set out at paragraphs 2.17 to 2.22 effective from 1 April 2023 and Noted the current position with regard to the lease of the Whiteway car park site (paragraphs 2.29 to 2.32 and delegated consideration of the consultation response to the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Cabinet Member for the Economy and Transformation
Voting Record – For 8, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 0, |
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Public Toilet Financial Review Purpose To inform Cabinet of the overall cost of public toilet provision, and to provide options for revising charges. Additional resource has been set aside within the capital programme to equip all sites with cash and card payment systems.
Recommendations That Cabinet resolves to: · Endorse the inclusion of £50,000 within the Council’s Capital Programme (considered elsewhere on the agenda) to allow for the potential installation of cash and card payment facilities at all sites; · Delegate the decision to install cash and card payment facilities on a site-by-site basis to the Group Manager for Resident Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services in line with the process set out at paragraph 2.5; · Approve a waiver of the Council’s Contract Rules for the reason set out at paragraph 2.6; · Approve an increase in service charges to 40p at all chargeable sites with effect from 1 April 2023 in line with the options appraisal presented at paragraphs 2.8 to 2.13.
Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the report was to inform Cabinet of the overall cost of public toilet provision, and to provide options for revising charges. Additional resource had been set aside within the capital programme to equip sites with card payment systems.
The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services introduced the report and explained the reasons for updating the method of payment and the charging structure. This was focussed around the decline of cash use and the increasing costs of running the service.
Cabinet noted that card payments had been successfully introduced at Bourton-On -The-Water, where most payments are now made by card.
Cabinet noted that local authorities were not required to provide public toilets but Cotswold District Council had decided to make provision for this and currently had 15 public toilets across the Cotswolds.
Cabinet noted that increasing public toilet charges to 40p would enable the cost of delivering the service to remain largely unchanged.
RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED to endorse the inclusion of £50,000 within the Council’s Capital Programme (considered elsewhere on the agenda) to allow for the potential installation of cash and card payment facilities at all sites, and delegate the decision to install cash and card payment facilities on a site-by-site basis to the Assistant Director for Resident Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Corporate Services in line with the process set out at paragraph 2.5. Approve a waiver of the Council’s Contract Rules for the reason set out at paragraph 2.6; and increase service charges to 40p at all chargeable sites with effect from 1 April 2023 in line with the options appraisal presented at paragraphs 2.8 to 2.13
Voting Record – For 8, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 0, |
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Planned Expenditure of the Homelessness Prevention Grant 2023-24 Purpose To consider the planned expenditure of the Homelessness Prevention Grant for 2023 – 2025
Recommendations It is recommended that Cabinet resolves to: · Approve the expenditure detailed within section 2 of this report · Approve the recommendation to extend the current Fixed Term Contract posts until 2025, detailed in paragraph 2.7 · Approve the delegation of any amendments to these allocations to the Business Manager - Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Chief Finance Officer subject to compliance with the ring fenced grant conditions · Approve the delegation of decisions on any other uplifts or grants that may be given over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 to address increased demands on the Housing Service be given to the Business Manager - Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Chief Finance Officer subject to compliance with the ring fenced grant conditions. Additional documents: Minutes: The purpose of the report was to consider the planned expenditure of the Homelessness Prevention Grant for 2023 – 2025
The Leader of the Council with portfolio responsibility for Housing introduced the report and outlined the expenditure detailed within the report and paid tribute to the dedication and tireless work of the Housing Team in reducing and maintaining low levels of homelessness.
The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services provided more details of the grant and how it would be used to prevent homelessness.
RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED the expenditure detailed within section 2 of this report, the expenditure for the Fixed Term Contract posts until 2025, detailed in paragraph 2.7, and the delegation of any amendments to these allocations made to the Business Manager - Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing and the Chief Finance Officer subject to compliance with the ring fenced grant conditions Delegation of decisions on any other uplifts or grants that may be given over the financial years 2023/24 and 2024/25 to address increased demands on the Housing Service is made to the Business Manager - Housing in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing Chief Finance Officer subject to compliance with the ring fenced grant conditions.
Voting Record – For 8, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 0, |
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2023/24 Revenue Budget, Capital Programme and Medium Term Financial Strategy Purpose The purpose of this report is to present the budget for 2023/24.
Recommendations Cabinet are requested to consider and approve for recommendation to Council: (a) the Medium-Term Financial Strategy set out in Annex B (b) the Savings and Transformation items for inclusion in the budget, set out in Annex C (c) the Council Tax Requirement of £6,310,795 for this Council (d) the Council Tax level for Cotswold District Council purposes of £148.93 for a Band D property in 2023/24 (an increase of £5) (e) the Capital Programme, set out in Annex D (f) the Annual Capital Strategy 2023/24, as set out in Annex E (g) the Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Non-Treasury Management Investment Strategy 2023/24, as set out in Annex F (h) the Strategy for the Flexible use of Capital Receipts, as set out in Annex H (i) the balances and reserves forecast for 2023/24 to 2026/27 as set out in Section 5 of the report Cabinet are recommended to approve delegation to the Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance (j) for any changes to the General Fund Summary arising from the Local Government Finance Settlement and the Business Rates Retention Scheme estimates prior to submission to Council
Additional documents:
Minutes: The purpose of the report was to present the budget for 2023/24.
The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance introduced the report and provided an overview of its content and annexes and the Executive Summary
Cabinet noted that with the combined factors of increased inflation (& higher pay costs), high interest rates and increased energy costs, many councils (including Cotswold District Council) would be using their financial reserves to balance their 2023 and 2024 budgets.
Cabinet noted that plans to reduce Council expenditure (by £1.1m) and increase income and revenue (by £415,000) would reduce the amount of financial reserves required to bridge the funding gap to around £1.5m.
Cabinet noted that both the Council, and its partners Publica and Ubico, would be expected to deliver the reduction in the Council’s expenditure
Cabinet noted that details of the proposed budget had been considered by both the Audit Committee and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
Cabinet noted the recent additional increase in Bank of England interest rates had been anticipated and factored into the proposed budget.
Cabinet noted the addition of a late amendment to the budget: Amendment - The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance proposed an amendment to add a recommendation to remove the budgeted amount for an increase in member allowances in 2023/24 (£12,184).
The recommendations (as amended) were proposed by Councillor Mike Evemy and seconded by Councillor Joe Harris
RESOLVED: Cabinet AGREED to recommend to Council for consideration and approval: (a) the Medium-Term Financial Strategy set out in Annex B (b) the Savings and Transformation items for inclusion in the budget, set out in Annex C (c) the Council Tax Requirement of £6,310,795 for this Council (d) the Council Tax level for Cotswold District Council purposes of £148.93 for a Band D property in 2023/24 (an increase of £5) (e) the Capital Programme, set out in Annex D (f) the Annual Capital Strategy 2023/24, as set out in Annex E (g) the Annual Treasury Management Strategy and Non-Treasury Management Investment Strategy 2023/24, as set out in Annex F (h) the Strategy for the Flexible use of Capital Receipts, as set out in Annex H (i) the balances and reserves forecast for 2023/24 to 2026/27 as set out in Section 5 of the report Cabinet are recommended to approve delegation to the Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, in consultation with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance (j) for any changes to the General Fund Summary arising from the Local Government Finance Settlement and the Business Rates Retention Scheme estimates prior to submission to Council.
additional recommendation to remove the budgeted amount for an increase in member allowances in 2023/24 (£12,184)
Voting Record – For 8, Against 0, Abstentions 0, Absent 0, |
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Schedule of Decisions taken by the Leader of the Council and/or Individual Cabinet Members There are no Cabinet Member Decisions to note since the last meeting Additional documents: Minutes: There were no Cabinet Member Decisions to note since the last meeting |
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Issue(s) Arising from Overview and Scrutiny and/or Audit To note any issues or feedback from either the Overview and Scrutiny Committee or the Audit Committee. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee updated Cabinet on the proceedings of Overview and Scrutiny Committee including consideration and the robust scrutiny of the Called-In item on the Kemble Community Gardens. |