Issue - meetings

To consider the Reports of the Cabinet dated: -

·        1 November 2017; and

·        6 December 2017 (to follow)

The recommendations arising from the meetings of 1 November and 6 December 2017 were agreed.

The Leader of the Council, as Chairman of the Cabinet, presented the reports of the meetings held on 1 November and 6 December 2017.

The Cabinet at their meeting in November welcomed the opportunity to support local businesses with details of a rate relief scheme for public houses and small businesses. It had been identified that 410 ratepayers could benefit from the scheme.

The Cabinet also received the half yearly budget monitoring report which identified savings that the Council was making as part of ongoing plans.

The December meeting was the first meeting of the new Cabinet. The highlight of the meeting was the feedback report from the Peer Review. The Leader expressed the view that the review process had proved to be extremely useful. Particularly being able to engage with, and listen to, the perspective of people from outside the Council had been very beneficial. A response to the Peer report would be developed early next year.

The Cabinet would shortly be setting a budget and Council Tax for 2018/19. This would include the setting of the tax base report that will be used by all precepting authorities, together with the Council Tax Reduction Scheme where minor amendments have been made. The Cabinet agreed to support this, together with a Prosecutions and Penalties policy. The December meeting also included an update on the Medium Term Financial Plan and changes to the Treasury Management Strategy.

The Leader explained that the Council continued to face financial challenges moving forward, particularly in light of the very recent pay offer of 2% made by the national employers to the unions. The Council was in a good financial position as identified by the Peer review and the recent monitoring report showed that the Council was meeting targets and plans. As such, the Leader was confident that the Cabinet would continue to deliver on its manifesto promises.

Planning the Council’s finances and providing housing were both key priorities for the Council and in support of this the Leader was pleased to recommend to the Council the Residential Property Investment Strategy.

On the motion that the reports be received and the recommendations be adopted: -

Review of Parliamentary Constituency Boundaries

Cllr Mrs Wyeth expressed her disappointment that the revised arrangements proposed by the Boundary Commission for the New Forest East constituency included the Chilworth, Nursling and Rownhams Ward of Test Valley Borough Council. She felt that the rural areas of the New Forest East Constituency had limited affinity with these more urban areas.

RESOLVED:

That the reports be received and the recommendations be adopted.