8Th March 2021
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HARBOROUGH DISTRICT COUNCIL MINUTES OF THE CABINET MEETING held remotely on 8th March 2021 commencing at 5.30pm Present: Cllr King (Chair) Councillors: Bateman, Dann, Hallam and Whelband Councillors (guest): Bannister and Knowles Officers: D. Atkinson, C. Bland, L. Elliott, S. Green, S. Hamilton, C. Mason, N. Proudfoot and J. Smith INFORMATION EXCHANGE FROM PORTFOLIO HOLDERS Planning, Environment & Waste Councillor Bateman reported that in relation to the Green Waste Service the number of subscriptions currently stood at 9,400 compared with 6,834 as of last year, which represented an increase of 37.5%. Of these subscriptions 72% were completed online. Councillor Bateman also congratulated the Communications team for using innovative messages to encourage subscription take-up. Corporate and Regulatory Services Councillor Dann reiterated the encouraging number of subscriptions for the Green Waste Service and the use of the Netcall system which has resulted in a quicker service. Wellbeing, Communities & Housing Councillor Whelband expressed his thanks to the Community Safety Partnership team and the local police for their work and efforts in tackling dog thefts and reported that a stolen dog had recently been reunited with its owners in Hallaton. Strategy Councillor King reported the following : • Chaired a meeting of Scraptoft North Strategic Development Area on the 4th March. • Chaired a meeting of Lutterworth East Strategic Development Area on the 25th February. These aspects have now been handed over to Councillor Bateman. • Attended meetings with MHCLG and the District Council’s Network Board Meeting. • Attended the All Party Parliamentary Group Local Government Finance meeting on the 23rd February. 1 • Attended the A5 Partnership Meeting. HDC is now chairing this strategic group for two years. The partnership includes representatives from 20 Councils, Police Authorities, County Counties, Highways England and Midlands Connect amongst others on the 12th February. • Attended a meeting with the Market Harborough Chamber of Trade and Commerce on the 24th February. • Attended a meeting with Neil O’Brien MP, the Environment Agency and the owners of the car park at Welland Place to discuss flooding prevention measures of the car park in the future on the 25th February. A further meeting will take place shortly. TOPICAL ISSUES There were none. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE There were none. CHANGE OF AGENDA ORDER With the agreement of the Committee the order of items on the agenda was changed to consider Report 6 – Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan as the last item, as Councillor Hallam has a declaration of interest in this item. MINUTES RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 8th February 2021 be approved as a correct record. DECLARATION OF MEMBERS’ INTERESTS Councillor Hallam declared an interest in Report 6: The Leicester and Leicestershire Strategic Growth Plan, as declared previously, as his landlord, Homes England, owns land adjacent to Leicester. Councillor Hallam stated that he would leave the meeting prior to the discussion of this report. 2021 REVENUE AND CAPITAL MONITORING - QUARTER 3 The Cabinet considered the financial forecast for Quarter 2, based on information at the end of December, for revenue and capital. As at 31 December 2020 the revenue budget is forecast to be overspent by £1.333m as shown in Appendix A.1 to the report, the deficit before disposal of capital interests. Net direct cost of services is a £99k underspend, and when the Covid impact of £475k is removed this shows a net underspend of £574k on services. The forecast outturn for the net direct cost of services, excluding Covid 19 (CV19) expenditure, when compared to the revised budget is showing a net underspend of £574k. Quarter 2 showed a net overspend of £154k (excluding CV19) which is a net movement of £728k compared to Quarter 3, with the main reasons shown in Table 1 to the report. At the end of Quarter 2 managers were expecting to resume normal operations, but due to going back into lockdown, that didn’t occur, and as lockdown will be in place until at least until the end of Quarter 4, the Quarter 3 position is very different to that at Quarter 2. Movements over £75,000 are as follows :- 2 • Car Parking Income: reduction in income due to further lock downs leading to reduced pay & display and permit income. • Symington Building Income: anticipated lower service charge income reflecting the reduced usage of the Symington Building. • Planning Income: One additional major application submitted earning extra Income (£175k). • Recycling Income: The increased income in this area reflects the continued increase in the uptake of green bins during the different lockdown periods. • Leisure Project: this project is now on hold for the rest of the year. Two options were being assessed; one of which was expected to incur revenue expenditure but this will be carried- forward to 2021/22. • Open Spaces: Maintenance work not undertaken due to lower demand as a consequence of further lock downs. In relation to the Capital Programme, the forecast outturn is an estimated spend of £3.225m in 2020/21. Several schemes are now requiring a re-phasing of their expenditure profiles and this is expected to move £17.481m of expenditure to 2021/22 and details are summarised in Table 2 of the report. In relation to Revenue, the main financial impacts of CV19 have been met by the Council during 2020/21. However the government is currently indicating that some elements of the local government support/compensation process will be extended into future years. To date, the gross CV-19 expenditure/income losses total £4.806m; this is currently split as follows: £2.394m in respect of services; £2.412m in respect of estimated Collection Fund losses. In respect of Services; the Council has received direct government support totalling £1.8m (an increase from Quarter 2 of £476k); split as follows: £1.174m Emergency Funding; £83k Town Centre Support; £23k Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant; £9k Next Steps Accommodation Programme (NSAP) Funding to support rough sleeping; £24k Test & Trace Discretionary Schemes; £31k Covid Marshalls Funding; £100k Self Isolation Payments; £375k Fees and Charges Compensation. This gives a total net impact on the Council of £575k, (£100k was brought forward from 2019/20 so the 2020/21 impact is £475k). Councillor Knowles queried the apparent underspend of £75k on Open Spaces and asked how the Council is ensuring that play equipment is maintained and meets the required health and safety standards, following the easing of lockdown restrictions. The Director of Communities and Wellbeing reported that the saving has occurred as the play equipment hasn’t been in use over the whole year due to Covid, and is confident that when the equipment is able to be used the equipment will be at the safety standard demanded. She also stated that the Council has a good maintenance plan for Open Spaces and parks. RESOLVED that: (i) as at 31 December 2020 the revenue budget is forecast to be overspent by £1.333m as shown in Appendix A.1 to the report be noted. (ii) the analysis given in Appendix B to the report for cost centre variances over £25k be noted. (iii) the actual expenditure to 31 December 2020 incurred on the Capital Programme as shown in Appendix C to the report be noted. 3 (iv) as at the 31 December 2020 the Capital Programme is forecast to underspend by £17.481m, as outlined in Appendix C to the report, and that this underspend may be required to be carried forward into 2021/22 as slippage be noted. Summary of Reasons To provide Cabinet with a forecast outturn position based upon the period 1 October to 31 December 2020. PERFORMANCE, QUARTER 2 2020/21 YEAR The Cabinet was presented with details of the performance of the Council against the Corporate Delivery Plan at the end of Quarter 2 of the 2020/21 year. With regards to the status of the 34 Key Activities at the end of Quarter 3, 0 (0%) were completed, 20 (50%) had a status of Green, 3 (14.7%) had Amber status, and 0 (0%) were classed as Red Status. 8 Key Activities are due to start later in the year and 3 (8.8%) Key Activities have been deferred and may be considered for inclusion in the Corporate Delivery Plan at a later date. The following key performance indicators on the Strategic Performance dashboard were Red Status at the end of Quarter 3 of the 2020/21 year : Percentage of all homeless applications owed a duty housed; Increase footfall in town centres; Number of affordable home completions; Number of interventions carried out to encourage owners of empty properties to bring them back into use; and Percentage avoidable contact. Councillor King commented on how much had been achieved and how positive it was to see so much key activity being undertaken, and expressed his congratulations to staff on doing a fantastic job. RESOLVED that the performance of the Council at the end of Quarter 3 of the 2020/21 year be noted. Summary of Reasons Performance is monitored and reported to Members on a quarterly basis as part of the Council’s Performance Management Framework. CORPORATE RISK AND OPPORTUNITY MANAGEMENT: QUARTER 2 2020/21 The Cabinet considered the report on Corporate Risk and Opportunity Management for Quarter 3, 2020/21. The Corporate Risk and Opportunity Register sets out the Council’s Corporate Risks and Opportunities. Corporate Risks and Opportunities are defined as issues that may have a significant impact on the delivery of the Council’s vision and priorities. They are identified, monitored and managed via the Council’s Risk and Opportunity Strategy Board which meets on a quarterly basis.