Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Appletree Court, Beaulieu Road, Lyndhurst, SO43 7PA. View directions

Contact: 023 8028 5588 - ask for Andy Rogers  Email:  andy.rogers@nfdc.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

Apologies

Cllr Thorne

 

21.

Minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2019 as a correct record.

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the minutes of the meeting held on 26 September 2019 be signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

 

 

22.

Declarations of Interest

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.

 

 

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by any member in connection with any agenda item.

 

 

23.

Public Participation

To note any issues raised during the public participation period.

 

 

Minutes:

No issues were raised during the public participation period.

 

 

24.

ICT Strategy and Budget Update pdf icon PDF 423 KB

To note progress against the ICT Strategy 2018-2022 during the last two years together with an update on the budget.

 

 

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Panel received a progress report in respect of the ICT Strategy for 2018-2022, together with an update on the related budget position.

 

The report covered:

 

·                  Resilient and secure information

·                  Smarter working

·                  Better digital services for residents and businesses

·                  Financial implications

 

Members asked for a detailed clarification of the financial position in respect of each main strand of the ICT Strategy currently and over recent years.  Officers subsequently provided this as follows:

 

Confirmation of ICT workstream, strategy and device budgets;

 

2.1       Protect and Maintain Strategy; approved in 2017, covering 2017/18 – 2018/19 – 2019/20.  Original ‘ball park’ estimate £1.5M. Supplement in Nov 18; £100k. Supplement in Dec 19; £150k.  Additional costs to complete large and complex infrastructure project looking likely; will be reported accordingly.

 

2.1       Device Replacement; approved through annual budget setting.  Total expenditure 2017/18 – 2018/19 – 2019/20 = £715k.  On-going cyclical replacement required; will be approved through annual budget setting.

 

2.2       Smarter Working Strategy; approved via ‘Case for change’ report through COSP and Dec ’18 Cabinet.  Original ‘ball park’ estimate £750k, covering 2019/20 - 2020/21 – 2021/22.

 

2.3/2.4 ICT Strategy 18-22; approved in 2018, covering 2018/19 – 2019/20 – 2020/21 – 2021/22.  Original ‘ball park’ estimate £1.570M.  4 themes are;

 

§  Resilience and Security

§  Members ICT Support

§  Digital Residents (i.e Website)

§  App Replacement

 

The overall financial summary, bringing together all of the most recent ICT workstreams, including a table for the originally budgeted positions and latest actual/budgeted positions is shown in Appendix 1 to these minutes;

 

Members noted that ICT was a growth area within NFDC, and it was a service which had to keep pace with rapid change in the industry.  The Chairman reminded the Panel of the considerable step changes that had been achieved over recent years, which had come at a significant cost but were necessary and had led to real savings and income generation through the efficiencies realised by smarter working and improvements in the work place.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Panel support the progress as against the Investment Strategy and the budget update, detailed in the report for inclusion in the Medium Term Financial Plan, subject to the approval of individual business cases.

 

 

25.

Portfolio Holders' Updates

To receive an oral update from the Portfolio Holders for Corporate Affairs, Finance, Corporate Services & Improvement and Local Economic Development, Property & Innovation on developments within their Portfolio areas.

 

 

Minutes:

The Panel received oral updates from Portfolio Holders.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Investment & Corporate Services referred to the previous paper on ICT and reiterated that the Council was delivering complex ICT projects under a fully funded budget.

 

He outlined plans for property investments in various locations, including progress on the Lymington Town Hall, Ringwood, the Lymington car park and other areas.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Economic Development reported on the following issues:

 

·                     Involvement in the property investment decisions

·                     Broadband

·                     High streets (paper elsewhere on agenda)

·                     Contacts with local businesses

·                     Budget Task and Finish Group

·                     Staffing of the Economic Development Team

·                     Income generation

 

 

26.

Council Tax Reduction Scheme pdf icon PDF 610 KB

To receive the recommendations of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Task and Finish Group.

 

 

Minutes:

The Panel received the recommendations of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme Task and Finish Group 2020/2021.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Panel recommend to Cabinet and the full Council that Option B and C as set out in the report be approved.

 

 

27.

Council Tax Discounts, Exemptions and Premiums pdf icon PDF 233 KB

To consider proposed Council Tax discounts, exemptions and premiums, as recommended by the Task and Finish Group.

 

 

Minutes:

The Panel considered proposed Council Tax discounts, exemptions and premiums, as recommended by the Task and Finish Group.

 

Reference was made to the section of the report on care leavers (and the responsibilities of NFDC as ‘Corporate Parents’) and Cllr Heron pointed out that rather than single out care leavers, the existing Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Exceptional Hardship Scheme should support all vulnerable people on a low income with paying their Council Tax.

 

Some members felt care leavers should be given specific consideration and that this should be reviewed again in the future.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the Panel support the following recommendation to the Cabinet and the Council:

 

(i)         That, insofar as it is entitled to do so by law, the discretionary discounts to and premiums on Council Tax as set out in Options A-C, as set out in paragraph 3 of the report be approved; and

 

(ii)        To review, by Task and Finish Group, the empty homes premium in 2020.

 

 

28.

Budget Task and Finish Group - Final Report pdf icon PDF 392 KB

To receive the report of the Budget Task and Finish Group.

 

 

Minutes:

The Panel considered the recommendations of the Budget Task and Finish Group.

 

The Chairman of the Task and Finish Group, Cllr O’Sullivan, reiterated the terms of reference of the Budget Task and Finish Group and explained that the theme followed by the Group was one of scrutiny and assurance.  He was pleased to note some progress on the previous year’s recommendations, and the Panel reviewed the suggested actions to follow up for each portfolio.

 

After discussion, it was suggested that the Budget Task and Finish Group be renamed the Performance and Strategy Review Group which should meet earlier in the year, and that proposals for changing the function of the Group be brought to a future meeting of the Panel.  Individual recommendations for each portfolio would be brought to the attention of each Overview and Scrutiny Panel as appropriate.

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a)        That the relevant Overview and Scrutiny Panels be given regular updates on progress with the actions and matters highlighted throughout the report for each portfolio; and

 

(b)        That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Panel with proposals for the renaming of the Budget Task and Finish Group reflect its current function and to a suggested earlier timeframe starting in the summer to allow enough time for its deliberations.

 

 

29.

Economic Development - Town Centres pdf icon PDF 562 KB

To receive an update on Economic Development in town centres, and related issues.

 

 

Minutes:

The Panel noted issues relating to Economic Development in the town centres and the high street.  The report set out the national and local picture including national planning policy, the Local Plan Review and various reports on high street development and town centre regeneration.

 

After a detailed discussion, the Chairman thanked Mrs Upton-Brown for an interesting and informative report.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the report be noted.

 

 

30.

Pensions Update (Presentation) pdf icon PDF 223 KB

An update on the provisional results of the 2019 triennial Pension Revaluation.

 

 

Minutes:

The Panel received an update on the provisional results of the 2019 triennial pension revaluation, the presentation slides from which are attached to these minutes as Appendix 2.

 

In summary, the 2019 triennial valuation confirmed a particularly strong investment return over the previous 3 year period, which had all but diminished the historic fund deficit.

 

In 2020, the Council would receive its own primary contribution rate, which although at 18.4% is above the rate that was set out in for 2020 the 2016 valuation, can be temporarily absorbed by the savings resulting from the deficit contribution no longer required over the period covering 2020-2022.

 

RESOLVED:

 

That the presentation be noted.

 

31.

Work Programme pdf icon PDF 183 KB

(a)     To consider the Panel’s future Work Programme, including any reviews of previous work undertaken; and

 

(b)     To receive any updates on Task and Finish Group work.

 

 

Minutes:

The Panel considered its future work programme.

 

 

32.

Dates of Future Meetings

RECOMMENDED:

 

That the following dates be agreed for future Panel meetings:

 

(All Thursdays at 9.30 a.m.)

 

18 June 2020

24 September 2020

19 November 2020

21 January 2021

25 March 2021

 

 

Minutes:

RESOLVED:

 

That the following meeting dates for 2020/21 be approved:

 

(All Thursdays at 9.30 a.m.)

 

18 June 2020

24 September 2020

19 November 2020

21 January 2021

25 March 2021