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Apologies for absence Minutes: 116.1 Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Gowrley, Councillor Gibson-Harries, Councillor Green, Councillor Humphreys, Councillor Mansel and Councillor Wilshaw.
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To receive any declarations of pecuniary or non-pecuniary interests by Members Minutes: 117.1 The Monitoring Officer under her delegated authority had granted dispensations to all members in respect of Item 12, MC/17/15 Joint Medium Term Financial Strategy and 2018/19 Budget.
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MC/17/31 Confirmation of the minutes of the meeting held on 21 December 2017 PDF 266 KB Minutes: 118.1 Subject to the third paragraph of the supplementary question reading that Councillor Eburne had looked at the website and a policy was not stated but that it just gave an application form and the spelling of Councillor Killett’s name being amended, the Minutes were approved as a true record. |
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MC/17/32 Chairman's Announcements PDF 30 KB Minutes: 119.1 The Chairman’s report was noted.
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MC/17/33 Leader's Announcements PDF 182 KB Minutes: 120.1 In the absence of the Leader, Councillor Whitehead presented the Leaders report and added an update relating to Item 2 in the report with regards to the purchase in Stowmarket, informing Council that the contracts had now been exchanged on the property with completion being anticipated in mid- March. Councillor Whitehead then invited the Chief Executive to update Council on the Boundary Commission Review.
120.2 The Chief Executive informed Council that the Local Government Boundary Commission for England was due to publish its final recommendations for Babergh and Mid Suffolk boundary reviews on 6th February. However, the Council had been advised that the Commission had delayed publication of its final recommendations as they were currently examining the electorate data and forecasts that underpin all of the recommendations and considering the suggested amendments to the recommendations arising from the consultation. Officers have been working with the Boundary Commission to verify the electorate forecasts and provide additional clarity around the expected growth areas. Following his meeting with the Boundary Commission this week the Chief Executive went on to say that a further announcement was due shortly regarding an additional 8 week public consultation. This information would be circulated as soon as it was received.
120.3 Commenting further the Chief Executive referred to Item 3 in the Leaders report in respect of Comres and informed Council that they would all be receiving an invitation to a presentation from Comres in the Council Chamber on the 1st March 2018 at 5.30pm.
120.4 Councillor Eburne added that following the original announcement which had been due on the 6th February, Councillor Eburne had phoned the Boundary Commission on the 7th February to discuss some concerns she had relating to her wards and had been informed by the Commission that they were working with the Council to correct some anomalies and the new timetable will result in potential new recommendations to be published on the 7th August 2018.
120.5 In response the Chief Executive stated Councillor Eburne probably had more up to date information than he had. All he could say that there would be an additional 8 week public consultation and then it would go through the normal processes.
120.6 Councillor Marchant asked if there was any update on the possibility of the compulsory purchase of the ex-showroom in Needham Market High Street?
120.7 In response Councillor Whitehead told Council that due to the short notice of the Leaders absence because of an unexpected emergency he had not been able to update Councillor Whitehead fully before the meeting, however as soon as any information was known he would update Council accordingly.
120.8 Councillor Welham asked what had the Council planned to support Suffolk Day and also what support the Council were giving to Stowmarket Town Council and Suffolk Chamber of Commerce with regard to the business exhibition in Stowmarket?
120.9 In response Councillor Whitehead stated that he certainly hoped that councillors and the Council would be participating in Suffolk Day ... view the full minutes text for item 120. |
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To receive notification of petitions in accordance with the Council's Procedure Rule In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10, The Chief Executive will report the receipt of any petitions. There can be no debate or comment upon these matters at the Council meeting.
Minutes: 121.1 The Council noted that one petition had been received for Paddock House, signed by 53 valid signatures. The petition had requested that there was due public consultation and discussion before any commercial development was considered. In response the Council had agreed through the Assets and Investments Team to hold a consultation event on Tuesday 27 February 2018 specifically for Paddock House.
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Questions by the Public The Chairmen of Committees to answer any questions from the public of which notice has been given no later than midday three clear working days before the day of the meeting in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11. Minutes: 122.1 There were no questions received by the public.
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Questions by Councillors PDF 69 KB The Chairman of the Council, the Chairman of Committees and Sub-Committees and Portfolio Holders to answer any questions on any matters in relation to which the Council has powers or duties or which affect the District of which due notice has been given in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 12. Minutes: 123.1 The following questions were received in accordance with Council procedure Rule 12 of the Constitution:-
Question 1
Councillor Eburne to Councillor Nick Gowrley (answered by Councillor Whitehead in Councillor Gowrley’s absence)
1. In December 2014, a £3.35 million transformation challenge award was provided by Government to Suffolk. How has this been spent across Suffolk, what amount spent in Mid Suffolk and what on?
Response:
Thank you for your question. Just under £2.5m has been spent or committed to date. The majority of this funding has been directed to the ‘Suffolk System’ as a whole; and so Mid Suffolk has been an equal beneficiary. In answer to both this question and your next question I will email you the tables which detail exactly how these funds have been allocated.
Supplementary Question
Can all of those figures be sent out to all Members?
Response:
Yes I am committed to send the figures out on behalf of Councillor Gowrley.
Question 2
Councillor Eburne to Councillor Nick Gowrley
1. As Suffolk Public Sector Leaders Group has access to funding from Government and also from business rates pooling, how much funding is currently held as at 31 December 2017; how is this funding accounted for; and where is this reported to Mid Suffolk District councillors?
Response:
As a result of the decision made across Suffolk, since 2013/14 our Councils have taken a pooling approach to Business Rates, which has enabled us to retain several million pounds within Suffolk rather than losing it back to Government.
As at 19th January 2018, when the position was last reported to the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders, there is £2.1m available to be allocated by the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders. As I mentioned previously I will ensure that the tables for both the transformation challenge award funding and the business rate pool be circulated to all Councillors.
In addition the Leaders decided at their meeting on 19th January 2018 that a review of Suffolk Public Sector Leaders governance arrangements should be carried out. The outcome of this review is likely to also improve the mechanisms for reporting discussions and decisions of the Suffolk Public Sector Leaders to Mid Suffolk.
Supplementary Question
Councillor Eburne asked if a business rates pooling briefing for all councillors could be held including the details about both business rates and how the Suffolk Public Sectors Leaders works, she also sought clarification from Councillor Passmore as to when the next meeting of the Suffolk Public Sectors Leaders would be?
Response
Councillor Passmore in response stated that the Group’s TOR had changed over the last couple of year because of the Transformation Challenge Award and the Pooled Business Rates Fund, there was absolutely no reason why the table of grant funding shouldn’t be published and that he agreed it should be much more open and transparent.
Question 3
Councillor Matthissen to Councillor Wilshaw
1. How many private householders have we helped to downsize, and at what cost? 2. Will you respond to the Commons Communities ... view the full minutes text for item 123. |
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MC/17/34 Overview and Scrutiny Committee Report PDF 127 KB Minutes: 124.1 Councillor Eburne introduced her report and informed Council that the Committee had an interesting meeting the week before where the five year land supply and waste services had been scrutinised. She then invited questions from members.
It was Resolved: -
That the report be noted. |
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Recommendations from Cabinet and Committees |
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Joint Treasury Management Strategy 2018/19 (Paper MCa/17/41 - Cabinet - 5 February 2018) PDF 728 KB
At its meeting on 5 February 2018, the Cabinet considered Paper MCa/17/41 and accepted the recommendations as set out in the report.
Recommendations to both Councils (1) That the following be approved: (a) The Treasury Management Strategy for 2018/19, including the Annual Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix A to Paper MCa/17/41. (b) The Treasury Management Policy Statement set out in Appendix B to Paper MCa/17/41. (c) The Treasury Management Indicators set out in Appendix E to Paper MCa/17/41. (d) The Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement set out in Appendices F and G to Paper MCa/17/41. (2) That the key factors and information relating to and affecting treasury management activities set out in Appendices C, D and H to the report be noted. Minutes: 126.1 Councillor Whitehead introduced the report and informed Council that the report had been scrutinised by the Audit and Standards Committee prior to the presentation of the report to Cabinet and then to full Council. He added that he felt that the level of scrutiny undertaken underlined the importance of the report to the Council’s operations and financial wellbeing.
126.2 Councillor Barker seconded the report and reserved the right to speak.
126.3 Councillor Stringer drew attention to page 29 of the report relating to the existing investment and debt portfolio holder position and said given that by the time the Minutes are published for this meeting the government will insist that Council’s publish all borrowing from the Public Loans Board and where it goes including in CIFCO, why has the Council not taken that action already?
126.4 In response Councillor Whitehead stated that the new guidance had been announced very late in both the production of the report and the budget setting process and for this reason and the cost point of view it had not been actioned for this year.
126.4 The Section 151 Officer added that the Council would be examining the guidance in preparing the 19/20 Treasury Management Strategy to ensure the Council was compliant going forward.
126.5 Councillor Stringer then asked with the guidance from the Local Government Association it states that before you set a balance budget you should check all your significant risks, why is the significant risk register not in front of the Council when setting the budget that might need to address some of those risks.
126.6 Councillor Whitehead replied that the Corporate Manager for that area kept them under constant review, however he also said that he understood the thrust of the question and that it would take a long answer in terms of how the Council approached all of its investment strategies and all of the various risks, but in each case professional advice had been taken and every case the risk scenarios had been looked at and mitigations had been put in place.
It was Resolved:-
(i) That the following be approved: (a) The Treasury Management Strategy for 2018/19, including the Annual Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix A of the report (b) The Treasury Management Policy Statement set out in Appendix B of the report. (c) The Treasury Management Indicators set out in Appendix E of the report. (d) The Prudential Indicators and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement set out in Appendices F and G of the report. (ii) That the key factors and information relating to and affecting treasury management activities set out in Appendices C, D and H of the report be noted.
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MC/17/35 Joint Medium Term Financial Strategy and 2018/19 Budget PDF 678 KB In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.3, immediately after any vote is taken at a budget decision meeting of the Council the names of Councillors who cast a vote for the decision or against the decision or who abstained from voting shall be recorded in the Minutes of that meeting.
At its meeting on 5 February 2018, Cabinet considered Paper MCa/17/42. Paper MC/17/35 includes all updated information following the final Local Government Finance Settlement, together with the necessary recommendations, with the exception of one Parish precept notification which remains outstanding. Further details will be reported at the meeting.
Additional documents:
Minutes: 127.1 Councillor Whitehead introduced the report and informed Council that it was now in a position where it had a clear vision of not only next years budget but also a clearer view of how the Council’s finances should look over the four terms of the Joint Medium Term Financial Strategy. He was pleased to report that although the Council faced a number of challenges from changing funding landscapes the Strategy responded to those challenges.
127.2 Continuing further he went on to say that Central Government continued to reduce core funding through the revenue support grant as part of its ongoing deficit reduction strategy. Going forward the Council’s core funding was now predominantly business rates and council tax income and together they covered well over 80% of the Council’s net service cost. Along with other Suffolk councils the Council had been selected to pilot the 100% business rate retention scheme. The Council anticipated receiving a one -off benefit from this of £1m however this had not been included within the figures in the report as it had been placed in an earmarked reserve where the activities from this had still to be agreed.
127.3 Councillor Whitehead informed Council that the future funding of New Homes Bonus remained uncertain. This funding stream had been a major element behind Mid Suffolk’s ability to build up such a robust level of reserves. Since it was introduced in 11/12 the Council has received £11,000,000 in new homes bonus the bulk of which has been transferred to reserves rather than rely on core funding. The graph on page 74 of the papers illustrated that the new homes bonus peaked in 2016/17 and was now in decline. The reduction in amounts given from 6 years, first to 5 and then to 4 along with an imposed 40.4% growth baseline both contribute to this fall in new homes bonus income. Since 2015/16 the Council has had to utilise a part of the new homes bonus to balance the budget. Now in the Joint Medium Term Financial Strategy the Council has looked at 3 scenarios to determine the amount of new homes bonus it receives. The first, the minimum level of new homes bonus. Secondly, one based on a 5-year average of new homes built, and thirdly one based on projected completions. Now intuitively Councillor Whitehead felt that projected completions should prove to be the most realistic assumption to use. And this reflected the Council going into a relatively modest budget deficit position in 2021/22. With earmarked reserves forecast to fall to 10,584,000 by the end of 2018 according to attachment 5 on page 144 of the report.
127.4 Commenting further Councillor Whitehead said this figure was after putting significant money aside from the transformation fund for the Regal Theatre improvement project. That was by far the major driver behind the year on year fall. He also explained to all members that the transformation fund was being renamed to the Growth and Efficiency Fund effective from 01 April ... view the full minutes text for item 127. |
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Appointments Minutes: 128.1 There were no changes to placings.
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