Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Beeton.

The Leader of the Council advised members that Cllr Mrs Beeton was resigning as a member of the Cabinet, although she would remain a member of the Council.  She had been elected to the Milford Ward on the District Council at a by-election in July 21012 serving on the General Purposes and Licensing Committee and Environment Overview and Scrutiny Panel, proving to be a remarkable and able young councillor.  She had been appointed to the Cabinet as Environment Portfolio Holder in May 2015 and, as part of that role, had been an able representative for the Council at the Local Government Association’s Coastal Issues Group and Project Integra’s Strategic Board.  He wished her well for the future.

The Leader of the Council advised Members that Mrs Churchill had left her post as Executive Director for Economy, Housing and Planning with effect from 31 October 2017 and had returned to her consultancy work.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2017 as a correct record.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October 2017 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest made by members in connection with an agenda item.  The nature of the interest must also be specified.

Members are asked to discuss any possible interests with Democratic Services prior to the meeting.

Cllr E J Heron – Minute 43.

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

No issues were raised in the public participation period.

To agree the policy to be applied to the Discretionary Rate Relief Scheme.

RESOLVED:

(a)         That the locally administered Discretionary Rate Relief policy, as attached as Appendix B to Report Item 4 to the Cabinet, be approved and adopted; and

(b)         That the Revenues Manager and Service Manager be given delegated authority to make decisions on the above policy.

The Cabinet recalled that, on 4 October 2017 (minute 33 refers), they had been advised that the Government had issued guidance on three rate relief schemes to support businesses following the recent revaluation of rateable values.  The three rate reliefs available were for public houses; small businesses and a discretionary relief scheme.  The schemes for public houses and small businesses were relatively well defined and had been agreed in October.  Billing authorities should however decide on their own discretionary rate relief scheme.  The scheme would be funded for four years, with a progressive decrease in the funding available. 

The proposed policy for the first year of the scheme had been considered and supported by a Task and Finish Group, and was attached as Appendix B to Report Item 4 considered by the Cabinet.

The comments of the County Council, the Fire and Rescue Authority and the Police and Crime Commissioner, as precepting authorities, were set out in Appendix C to Report Item 4 to the Cabinet.  It was noted that the scheme had been designed to use all of the funding available, within the Government’s defined parameters, while avoiding any charge falling on this Council.

RESOLVED:

(a)         That the locally administered Discretionary Rate Relief policy, as attached as Appendix B to Report Item 4 to the Cabinet, be approved and adopted; and

(b)         That the Revenues Manager and the Service Manager be given delegated authority to make decisions on applications under the above policy.

To receive and update on the 2017/18 budget, adjusted for any budget changes required (on a portfolio and Committee basis), taking into account the financial performance of the Council between April and September 2017.

RESOLVED:

That the latest budget forecasts for the General Fund (paragraph 3.2), Capital (paragraph 4.1) and Housing Revenue Account (paragraph 5.1) as set out in Report Item 5 to the Cabinet be noted.

The Cabinet was updated on the Council’s financial performance for the period April to September 2017.

Savings, additional income and rephasings into earmarked reserves, together with a small additional requirement of £25,000, created a further overall net reduction in the General Fund budget which now stood at £16.138 million.  Further details were set out in Section 3 of the report.

There were no new significant variations to report on capital expenditure in either the General Fund or the Housing Revenue Account.

With respect to the Housing Revenue Account a favourable variation of £153,000 had been identified, further details of which were set out in Section 5 of the report.

RESOLVED:

That the latest budget forecasts for the General Fund (paragraph 3.2), Capital (paragraph 4.1) and Housing Revenue Account (paragraph 5.1) as set out in Report Item 5 to the Cabinet be noted.

To date, Cllr E J Heron has been this Council’s representative on the Partnership Board, in his role as the Member for the Downlands and Forest Ward.  The County Council has recently appointed him to the Board as their representative and it is therefore opportune to appoint a substitute to represent this Council.

RECOMMENDED:

That Cllr Mrs Matcham be appointed to serve as this Council’s representative on the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Board in place of Cllr E J Heron.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Mrs Matcham be appointed to serve as this Council’s representative on the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Board in place of Cllr E J Heron.

Cllr E J Heron disclosed a non-pecuniary interest as this Council’s former representative, and the County Council’s current representative on this body.  He concluded that there were no grounds under common law to prevent him from remaining in the meeting to speak and to vote.

RESOLVED:

That Cllr Mrs Matcham be appointed to serve as this Council’s representative on the Cranborne Chase and West Wiltshire Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty Partnership Board in place of Cllr E J Heron.