1 Contact Officer: Richard Farnhill Tel. 01484 221713 (860 1713) KIRKLEES COUNCIL CABINET Tuesday 7 February 2012 Present: Coun
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Contact Officer: Richard Farnhill Tel. 01484 221713 (860 1713) KIRKLEES COUNCIL CABINET Tuesday 7 February 2012 Present: Councillor Mehboob Khan in the Chair Councillors Calvert, Harris, McBride, O’Neill, Pandor, Sheard and Walton Observer: Cllr D Firth Minutes – 17 January 2012 The Minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2012 were agreed as a correct record. Interests No interests were declared at the meeting. Admission of the Public All items were considered in public session. Deputations/Petitions Gordon North presented a deputation asking the Council to retain Redhouse Museum. Bruce Illingworth presented a deputation seeking the retention of day care facilities at Red Laithes Court and Paddock Day Centre. Cabinet Members responded to the issues raised in the deputations during the meeting. Public Question Time No questions were asked at the meeting. Member Question Time No Member questions were asked at the meeting. Proposed Amendments to the Council’s Fairer Contributions Policy Cabinet considered a report setting out detailed information on consultation responses received on proposed amendments to the Council’s Fairer Contributions Policy and seeking consideration of proposals for changes to the Contributions Policy, taking account of the consultation and responses received. The considered report proposed an increase in the percentage of a persons personal budget on which charge could be made from 67% to 100% and removal of the upper limit for contributions, which would mean removing the current cap on contributions set at £205 per week. 1 The considered report set out a detailed analysis of the responses received to the questionnaire setting out the options under consideration for changes to the Fairer Contributions Policy, set out information of the potential impact of the proposals on service users and provided information on the quality impact assessment undertaken and of considerations given to the Public Sector Equality Duty under the Equality Act 2010. Officer recommendations were set out within the report at paragraph 5 which were being put forward against the background of scarce resources and projected increases in both demand and complexity of services required and Cabinet’s attention was drawn to other proposals contained within the wider budget proposals to vary the cost of transport to and from day centres and the introduction of a nominal contribution to a meal at Council day centres. The Cabinet Portfolio Holder, in response to comments received during the consultation process, proposed that a cap be placed on the upper limit of an individuals contributions, at the maximum weekly charge of a Council funded place in a residential care home. RESOLVED – (1) That the implementation of the proposed amendments to the Council’s Fairer Contributions Policy be approved as indicated below:- (i) to increase the percentage of a persons personal budget on which a charge is made from 67% to 100%. (ii) to implement an upper limit contributions at a cap of the maximum weekly charge of a Council funded place in a residential care home, which is currently £418.03. (2) That the above changes take effect from 9 April 2012 to coincide with the annual increase in the Department of Work and Pensions benefits. Transformation of Day Opportunities for People with Physical Disabilities Cabinet considered a report seeking consideration of proposals to transform the way in which the Council met the needs of adults with physical disabilities who currently use directly provided traditional day opportunities. The report set out information on the need to make changes to day opportunities that were available to people with physical disabilities, providing information on both national and local circumstances that affected the Council’s decision to change the provision in the area of this activity. The report provided details of services currently available at Red Laithes Court, Ravensthorpe and Paddock Village Centre and went onto provide information on proposals for the transformation of Kirklees Council’s 2 physical disability day opportunities based on a personalised plan made up of a combination of a range of options set out at paragraph 2.9.3 to the considered report, depending on the individual service users needs and preferences. The report went onto set out the financial and legal implications to the Council, together with asset and human resource implications and provided information on the assessment of the proposal in accordance with the Public Sector Equality Duty of the Equality Act 2010. RESOLVED – That the implementation of proposals for the transformation of Kirklees day opportunities as set out in the considered report, be approved. Budget Issues 2012/13 and Beyond (a) Capital Investment Plan 2012/13 and Beyond Cabinet were asked to consider making a recommendation to Council on a multi-year plan for capital investment for the period 2012/13 to 2015/16. The report provided information on capital resources that were available to the Council in taking decisions on the allocation of capital over the period set out above and Cabinet agreed to recommend the capital investment plan attached to the considered report, together with a request that Council determine prudential indicators as set out at Appendix 2 to the considered report. RESOLVED – (1) That the level of capital resources estimated to be available for the plan be noted. (2) That the capital investment plan as presented to the meeting be recommended to the Council and that Council be advised to determine prudential indicators set out at Appendix 2 to the considered report. (3) That the report be referred to Council as advice and background information on which other political groups could base their proposals for investment. (b) Treasury Management Strategy Cabinet received a report seeking consideration of proposals to be considered at the meeting of Council on 22 February 2012 in relation to a Treasury Management Strategy and prudential indicators. The report set out proposals for a borrowing and investment strategy for the Council and set out specific proposals for dealing with Housing Revenue Account Finance Reforms. The report went onto set out a proposed policy for the provision of the repayment of debt and made recommendations on Treasury Management Indicators which were set out at Appendix 3 to the considered report. 3 Appendix F to the report considered by Cabinet set out an updated Treasury Management policy statement and Council were recommended to approve its content at the meeting on 22 February 2012. RESOLVED – That Council be recommended to approve the following:- * the borrowing strategy outlined in section 2.4 to the considered report. * the investment strategy outlined in section 2.3 and Appendix A to the considered report. * the proposals for dealing with Housing Revenue Account finance reforms as outlined in Appendix C to the considered report. * the policy for provision of the repayment of debt outlined in Appendix D to the considered report. * the Treasury Management indicators set out at Appendix E to the considered report. * the updated Treasury Management policy statement as set out in Appendix F to the considered report. (c) Revenue Budget 2012/13 and Beyond Cabinet considered a report setting the scene for the recommendation to be made to Council with regard to a revenue budget for 2012/13 and beyond, to be considered at the meeting of Council on 22 February 2012. The considered report reviewed the Council’s revenue budget strategy, which incorporated the Government’s announcement of the Local Government finance for 2012/13, together with the Council’s pay policy statement for 2012/13. The report also provided information on the Council’s financial position in 2011/12 and asked Council to give early consideration to roll over and the forecast of balances likely to be available at 31 March 2012. Cabinet were also asked to make recommendations on current levels of reserves and balances, together with decisions on the level of budgets required for Treasury Management and central contingencies. In considering the Officer proposals as set out within the considered report the Cabinet put forward an amendment to the Officer proposals and Portfolio Holders provided information on the different aspects of the amendment as detailed at the meeting. RESOLVED – (1) That the current forecast of spending in 2011/12 and the resulting changes to the estimated level of general fund balances as at 31 March 2012 be noted. 4 (2) That the strategy for the use of balances, as set out in paragraph 2.8.2 to the considered report be reaffirmed. (3) That it be acknowledged that for 2012/13 the minimum level of general fund balances, based on the latest corporate risk matrix, should be £5m. (4) That estimated balances on all other earmarked reserves should be maintained, net of the proposed revision to the workforce restructuring reserve. (5) That approval be given to prudential indicators as set out within section 3.10 of the considered report. (6) That the Council’s pay policy statement for 2012/13 be noted and that it be referred to Councillors for information. (7) That the Director of Resources Positive Assurance Statement as set out within the considered report be noted. (8) That Council be asked to indicate whether it wishes to make changes to the current approved rollover rules for the 2011/12 financial year. (9) That Cabinet’s draft revenue budget, as submitted to the meeting be approved and presented to the Council meeting on 22 February 2012, and that this report be referred to Council as advice and background information on which other political groups can base their budget proposals. 5 Legal and Governance Second Floor, Civic Centre 3, Huddersfield HD1 2TG Tel: 01484 221712 Fax: 01484 221707 [email protected] www.kirklees.gov.uk Please ask for: Adrian Johnson Our Ref: CTE021DD 8 February 2012 To: All Members of the Council Internal Distribution Public and Press Dear Councillor BUDGET COUNCIL MEETING - 22 FEBRUARY 2012 I refer to the above meeting to be held at Huddersfield Town Hall commencing at 5.00 p.m.