Agenda, decisions and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2013 were submitted and approved and the Chairman was authorised to sign them as a correct record.

Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) by members as required under Section 31 of the Localism Act and of other interests as required by the Code of Conduct and regulation 12(2)(d) of the 2012 Access to Information Regulations.  (Please see note at end of agenda).

Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests (DPIs) by members as required under Section 31 of the Localism Act and other interests as required by the Code of Conduct and regulation 12(2)(d) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012:

(a)             Councillor Tutt declared a personal (and non-prejudicial) interest in matters reported in minute 70 (HRA revenue budget and rent setting 2014/15 and HRA capital programme 2013/16) as he was a Council appointed non-executive director of Eastbourne Homes Ltd. and chose to withdraw from the meeting for this item.

(b)             Councillor Tutt declared personal (and non-prejudicial) interest in matters reported in minute 71 (Sustainable service delivery strategy update) as he was a non-executive director of IESE.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive.

Cabinet lead members:  Councillors Troy Tester and Gill Mattock.

[KD] Performance and finance monitoring agreed; virements and transfer to and from reserves approved; and amended capital programme and treasury management performance agreed.

69.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive reviewing the council’s performance against corporate plan priority indicators and action targets; financial performance of general fund revenue expenditure, housing revenue account and capital programme; and treasury management activities for the third quarter of 2013/14.  Throughout the year, performance against these key indicators and milestones was reported to Cabinet on a quarterly basis and to Scrutiny Committee members each month. 

69.2 Resolved (key decision): (1) That the performance against national and local performance indicators and actions from the 2010/15 corporate plan (2013 refresh) be agreed.

(2) That the general fund, housing revenue account and collection fund financial performance for the quarter ended December 2013, as set out in sections 4, 5 and 6 of the report be agreed.

(3) That the virements and transfer to and from reserves as set out in appendix 3 to the report be approved.

(4) That the amended capital programme as set out in appendix 4 to the report be approved.

(5) That the treasury management performance as set out in section 7 of the report be agreed.

Report of Chief Finance Officer.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Gill Mattock.

[BPF] (1) Full Council be recommended to approve a general fund budget for 2013/14 (revised) and 2014/15 (original) as set out in appendix 1 to the report, including growth and savings proposals for 2014/15 as set out in appendix 2 to the report; no increase in the council tax for Eastbourne Borough Council resulting in an unaltered ‘Band D’ charge of £224.19 for 2014/15; and a general fund capital programme and financing 2013/17 as set out in appendix 3 to the report.

(2) Noted that the business rates base for 2014/15 will be reflected in the budget council resolutions to be placed before the Council meeting.

70.1 Councillor Caroline Ansell addressed the Cabinet proposing that the Council consider allocating a total of £1m in 2014/15 from their reserves towards economic regeneration in Eastbourne to support the creation of new business and jobs.  She suggested that the recently established East Sussex Investment Scheme (‘Locate East Sussex’) could provide a ready made vehicle through which the funds could be managed.  Councillor Tutt commented that the Council had already allocated £0.5m to an economic regeneration reserve and he was happy to look further at how best to utilise the Council’s funding in partnership with Locate East Sussex.  He added a reservation in respect of spending reserves in the short term given future funding uncertainties and the need to ensure that resources were available for initiatives in the longer term.  Councillor Tutt committed to liaise with Councillor Elkin, Opposition Leader, and Councillor Ansell on the use of the economic regeneration fund.

70.2 Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer setting out the general fund revenue budget proposals for 2014/15 and a 3-year capital programme 2013/17.  The medium term financial strategy (MTFS) had been revised in July 2013 and the Cabinet had agreed a draft 2014/15 budget proposal last December. The MTFS and resulting draft budget had been subject to extensive consultation and previously reported to Cabinet and the Scrutiny Committee.

70.3 The budget was the product of various plans and strategies as part of an integrated and corporate planning process and was linked principally to:

·         The medium term financial strategy

·         Asset management plans

·         The corporate plan

·         Workforce strategy

·         Treasury management strategy

·         Service plans

·         Housing revenue account business plan

·         DRIVE corporate transformation programme

·         Sustainable service delivery strategy

70.4 The Chief Finance Officer had a legal responsibility to give positive assurances on the robustness of the estimates used in the budget and the level of reserves.  He commented that if the recommendations in his report were agreed then these assurances would prevail.

70.5 The budget proposals included:

·         No increase in the council tax in 2014/15.

·         Overall savings totalling £0.808m (5% of the net budget).

·         Efficiency savings of £0.608 (2.6% of the net budget).

·         Inflation of £0.430m (2.6%).

·         Other recurring service growth of £0.421m.

·         Non recurring service investments of £0.446m.

·         General reserves averaging in excess of £3.8m (against a minimum recommended of £2m).

·         Capital receipts of £0.8m invested in new capital schemes.

Available earmarked reserves in addition to the budget:

·         Strategic change fund £0.7m.

Economic regeneration reserve of £0.5m.

70.6 The budget represented management of financial risks by:

·         Building on a balanced outturn position.

·         Balancing the base budget requirement without needing to use reserves.

·         Identifiable and deliverable savings with accountability and no general unidentified targets.

·         Reserves well above the minimum level.

·         Zero basing of reward grants.

·         Providing the funding required for the DRIVE change programme to deliver the future savings required by the MTFS via the strategic change fund.

70.7 The underlying methods of local government financing were changing significantly from 2013/14 and further revisions for 2014/15 included the wrapping up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

Report of Chief Finance Officer (to follow).

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Gill Mattock.

[BPF] Council, be recommended to approve the treasury management strategy and annual investment strategy ; the methodology for calculating the minimum revenue provision; the prudential and treasury indicators; and the specified and non-specified investment categories all as given in the report to Cabinet.

71.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer seeking approval to the Council’s borrowing and investment strategies in line with legislative and other regulatory requirements as described in the report.  The Council was required to receive and approve, the prudential and treasury indicators and treasury strategy as part of the budget setting process each year. This covered:

·       the capital plans (including prudential indicators);

·       a minimum revenue provision policy (how residual capital expenditure was charged to revenue over time);

·       the treasury management strategy (how the investments and borrowings were to be organised) including treasury indicators; and

·       an investment strategy (the parameters on how investments were to be managed).

*71.2 Resolved (budget and policy framework): That full Council, at their meeting on 19 February 2014, be recommended to approve the following:

(a) The treasury management strategy and annual investment strategy as set out in the report;

(b) the methodology for calculating the minimum revenue provision set out at paragraph 2.3 of the report;

(c) the prudential and treasury indicators as set out in the report; and

(d) the specified and non-specified investment categories listed in appendix 3 to the report.

Report of Senior Head of Community and Chief Finance Officer.

Cabinet lead members:  Councillors Margaret Bannister and Gill Mattock.

[BPF] Council recommended to approve (a) HRA budget 2014/15 and revised 2013/14, ( appendix 1 to the report); (b) rents set in line with the rent convergence target of 2016 set by government resulting in an average increase in rents of 4.68%; (c) void HRA properties due for re-let moved to target rent automatically; (d) service charges for general needs properties increased by 2.75%, slightly below the RPI index; (e) service charges for older persons’ sheltered accommodation currently available for let increased by 4.83%; (f) heating costs set at a level designed to recover the estimated actual cost; (g) water charges set at a level designed to recover the estimated cost of metered consumption; (e) garage rents set to increase by 4.68% in line with the average increase in housing rent; (f) delegated authority granted to Senior Head of Community, in consultation with the lead Cabinet members for community services and finance and the Chief Finance Officer to finalise Eastbourne Homes’ management fee and delivery plan; and (i) HRA capital programme (appendix 2 to the report).

72.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Senior Head of Community and Chief Finance Officer in respect of the rents, service and other charges to be set for all of the council’s housing tenants.  The report outlined the revenue account budget proposals for 2014/15 and housing capital programme 2013/17 and arrangements for agreeing Eastbourne Homes Limited’s (EHL) management fee and delivery plan.

72.2 From the 1 April 2012 the way that council social housing was financed was changed and the HRA became self financing.  This meant that expenditure had to be entirely supported from rental and other income. The main tool for the future financial management of the HRA was the 30 year business plan which had been approved by Cabinet on 8February 2012.  The introduction of HRA self financing did not end the requirement to maintain a statutory ring fenced HRA and the Council was still required to maintain a separate account for the income and expenditure on council housing.  The report reflected the recommendations made by Eastbourne Homes in relation to the increases in rent levels, service and other charges. 

72.3 The HRA revenue budget (appendix 1 to the report) had been produced based on the policies set out in the HRA 30 year business plan and showed an overall surplus of (£307,760) for 2014/15.  This was mainly due to a number of favourable factors including the rent and service charge review, the change in requirement for the provision of bad debts and the savings from treasury management activities on borrowing.

72.4 The rent levels had been prepared in accordance with the Council’s rent convergence policy and the self financing business plan assumptions.  The average increase was 4.68%.  Following the change to self financing in the HRA, void rents were recommended to move to target routinely. Service charges, heating and water charges were fixed weekly amounts set at a level to recover the expected actual cost to be incurred for the respective properties in the forthcoming year.  Garage rents were recommended to increase in line with the average increase in housing rents 4.68%.

72.5 Total budgeted expenditure on the HRA capital programme was planned at £9,771,000 for 2014/15, £4,258,000 for 2015/16 and £4,195,000 for 2016/17. The decent homes work was due to be completed during 2013/14 and the remodelling of the sheltered accommodation by 2014/15.  The major works element of the programme was in line with the asset management plan and the HRA business plan model.

*72.6 Resolved (budget and policy framework): That full Council, at their meeting on 19 February 2014, be recommended to approve the following:

(a) The HRA budget 2014/15 and revised 2013/14, as set out in appendix 1 to the report;

(b) that rents are set in line with the rent convergence target of 2016 set by Government resulting in an average increase in rents of 4.68%;

(c) that void HRA properties which are due for re-let are moved to target rent automatically;

(d) that service charges for general needs properties are increased  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

Report of Deputy Chief Executive.

Cabinet lead members:  Councillors Troy Tester.

[KD] (1) Key activities and progress made against the Future Model Programme Plan (Phase Two) and key programme milestones for February 2014 – May 2014 noted.

(2) Budget of £15,000 approved to investigate the opportunities, costs and issues of developing shared corporate services with Lewes District Council.

73.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive updating members on the progress made in regard to the SSDS programme, with particular reference to the Future Model programme plan (phase two) as at January 2014, this being one of the key projects under the corporate plan sustainable performance theme (project 2 – efficiency).  The Future Model programme aimed to improve service delivery whilst delivering savings estimated at £1.7m to £2m across the organisation. The current phase, phase two, was estimated to save £1.2m - £1.5m.

73.2 In July 2013 Cabinet approved the adoption and implementation of phase two of the programme and delegated authority to the DRIVE programme board to run the programme within the allocated resources.  The scope of phase two included the corporate management team and senior management; housing; revenues; benefits; fraud; strategic performance; democratic/civic services; electoral services and local land charges; community development, involvement and crime reduction; tourism development marketing; seafront services; events; sports and leisure; finance – payments and income; finance – procurement; digital mail room; customer contact activity currently carried out by Capita for revenues and benefits; and asset management. 

73.3 The report provided details of progress to date and outlined key decisions to be made and milestones in the coming months.  A key priority for August and September was mobilising the programme and ensuring that the appropriate contracts were in place.  This was completed successfully and the Council would be working once more with Civica and Ignite as the principal implementation partners.  The phase two project teams were largely in place and working well.  Workshops were underway and staff were engaging well.  The implementation of the new revenues and benefits was the biggest technology project and had therefore been a key area of focus in the first two quarters, and was on target.

73.4 In addition to the current activity under phase two of the Future Model, an opportunity had arisen to explore the development of shared corporate services with Lewes District Council.  It was proposed that iESE were instructed to work with the councils to develop a brief for the piece of work which should provide a view covering options, costs, benefits (financial and non-financial), risks, issues and the likely implementation pathway  with regard to any proposal.  The anticipated cost of this work would be capped at £15,000 to each council.  A further report to Cabinet would outline the findings and recommend a way forward in due course. Lewes District Council had approved both the initiative and the budget for this work at their Cabinet meeting on 6 January 2014.

73.5 Resolved (key decision):  (1) That the key activities and progress made against the Future Model programme plan (phase two) be noted.

(2) That the key programme milestones for February 2014 – May 2014 be noted.

(3) That a budget of £15,000 be approved to investigate the opportunities, costs and issues of developing shared corporate services with Lewes District Council.

Note: See minute 66 above as to disclosure of personal (and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

Report of Senior Head of Development.

Cabinet lead member: Councillor Steve Wallis.

[KD] (1) Planning application 131071 (to be determined by the Council's planning committee) noted and confirmation given that in the event that the application is granted, with or without modifications, the authority delegated to the Senior Head of Development on 6 February 2013 to make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) will continue to apply. 

(2) Senior Head of Development, in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer and Leader of the Council, given delegated authority to exercise the Council’s powers of appropriation and powers under S.237 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, if required.

(3) Revised plan at appendix 1 to the report is the area to be used to make the compulsory purchase order (subject to any further variations).

74.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Senior Head of Development.  Cabinet, on 6 February 2013, had approved the making of a compulsory purchase order (CPO) subject to the completion of an indemnity agreement with Performance Retail Limited Partnership (PRLP) (the owners of the Arndale Centre) to facilitate the redevelopment of the extension to the Centre. Cabinet authorised  officers to negotiate and enter into a CPO indemnity agreement with PRLP (the developer) to indemnify the Council against all costs and compensation awards associated with the Council making a CPO, and also granted delegations to officers to carry out all steps necessary to obtain the CPO.

74.2 PRLP submitted a new application in December 2013 for revised proposals to the Arndale Centre extension which included leisure uses.  This application had yet to be determined by the Council's planning committee.  If approval was forthcoming the revised scheme would become the underlying scheme for the proposed CPO.  Since the last report the boundary of the land needed for the development had been slightly adjusted.  Although the scheme to be implemented would now include the leisure offer there was little change in the land needed for the proposal. However for the avoidance of doubt a revised plan showing the CPO area was attached to the report at appendix 1.

74.3 It was understood that PRLP had sought to separately negotiate with some of the third party landowners in order to secure land required for the Arndale Centre extension, by agreement.  Whilst good progress had been made, there remained a number of interests which had not been secured by private treaty and officers were satisfied that a CPO was required to facilitate land assembly; in the context of the regenerative benefits this would have for the town, there was a compelling case in the public interest to use its CPO powers accordingly.  Albeit PRLP would be encouraged by the Council to continue to negotiate with third parties once the CPO process commenced. 

74.4 Resolved (key decision): (1) That Cabinet note planning application 131071, which is to be determined by the Council's planning committee, and Cabinet confirm that in the event that the application is granted, with or without modifications, the authority delegated to the Senior Head of Development on 6 February 2013 to make a compulsory purchase order (CPO) will continue to apply.  The authorisations previously granted provided that:

Cabinet delegate to the Senior Head of Development, in consultation with The Chief Finance Officer and the Leader, authority to:

(a) take all necessary steps to secure the making,   confirmation and implementation of the CPO including the publication of all notices to give effect thereto;

(b) complete an indemnity agreement with PRLP to provide for the reimbursement of costs incurred by the Borough Council in processing the CPO;

(c) make minor or technical amendments to the boundary of the delineated area, if necessary;

(d) acquire all necessary interests in the delineated area (as may be amended) either by agreement or compulsorily;

(e) negotiate with any landowner  ...  view the full minutes text for item 74.

Report of Senior Head of Development.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Steve Wallis.

[KD] (1) CIL draft charging schedule approved for consultation over a 6 week period. 

(2) Senior Head of Development, in consultation with the lead Cabinet member, given delegated authority to make minor amendments before the commencement of the 6 week representation period.

(3) Senior Head of Development, in consultation with the lead Cabinet member and the Local Planning Steering Group, given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments to the CIL charging schedule following the completion of the consultation before submission to the Government Inspectorate for the public examination.

75.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Senior Head of Development.  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allowed local authorities in England and Wales to raise funds from developers undertaking new building projects.  It effectively replaced much of the existing process of planning obligations commonly known as 'Section 106' agreements.  The primary use of CIL was to gain financial contributions from certain types of viable development to help fund new or improved strategic infrastructure required to support the growth identified in a local authority’s Core Strategy.  CIL placed a charge per square metre on development.  It would not be the sole funding source for all infrastructure delivered, but would supplement other public sector revenue streams.

75.2 Cabinet had approved a preliminary charging schedule at their meeting on 10 July 2013 for the purposes of conducting a targeted consultation.  A summary of the representations received and changes made were outlined in the Consultation and Cooperation Statement which was a background paper to the report. The revised charges were supported by further evidence on development viability.

75.3 It was reported that Planning Committee had received a report on this matter at their meeting on 4 February 2014 and had raised no objections.  They had, however, asked if the Council could revisit and amend the charges in the future.  They were advised that the intention was that they would be reviewed on a yearly basis.

75.4 Resolved (key decision): (1) That the CIL draft charging schedule be approved for consultation over a 6 week period. 

(2) That the Senior Head of Development, in consultation with the lead Cabinet member, be given delegated authority to make minor amendments before the commencement of the 6 week representation period.

(3) That the Senior Head of Development, in consultation with the lead Cabinet member and the Local Planning Steering Group, be given delegated authority to make any necessary adjustments to the CIL charging schedule following the completion of the consultation before submission to the Government Inspectorate for the public examination.

Report of Senior Head of Community.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Margaret Bannister.

Measures taken to support residents affected by Welfare Reform endorsed.

76.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Senior Head of Community.  The coalition government had introduced a series of reforms to the welfare system since coming into power in.  The report set out some of the impacts that the raft of changes had brought about and updated members on the efforts of the Council to support those affected.

76.2 Universal Credit (UC) aimed to simplify the benefits system, by bringing together several state benefits, including housing benefit, and to always make work pay.  The introduction of UC had been beset by problems, mainly due to the complexity of the IT system required to administer it.  The latest timetable would see UC in place for all new claims during 2016, with existing claims migrated to UC by the end of 2017.

76.3 The spare room subsidy aimed to limit the amount of housing benefit for working-age claimants who occupied social sector housing to the number of bedrooms the household needs.  A similar, but not identical system, local housing allowance, had been in place in the private rented sector for several years.  Under the spare room subsidy rules, if a household had one bedroom more than needed their housing benefit was reduced by 14%, and by 25% if they had more than one bedroom too many.  A shortage of one and two bedroom properties meant that many people affected by this, who might want to downsize, found that there were no smaller properties available.  In Eastbourne 407 people had seen a reduction of, on average, £15.55 per week, making an annual loss of £329,100.

76.4 The benefit cap limited the amount of benefit that single people could get to £350 per week and for others to £500 per week.  Certain people were exempt, for example those in receipt of attendance allowance and some benefits were not included in the limits.  53 households were affected with losses ranging from £2.30 per week to £207.19 per week.

76.5 Council tax benefit was replaced by local schemes of support from April 2013.  This change was accompanied by a 10% cut in funding which, for Eastbourne, amounted to c£1m. The Council, in collaboration with the county, police, fire and other districts implemented a scheme which aimed to protect the most vulnerable, incentivise people back into work and to meet the funding gap.  After taking advantage of a transitional grant and flexibilities offered around certain council tax discounts and exemption, the adopted scheme affected only 470 people, who were already paying some Council Tax, with an average loss of only £4.60 per week.  Many councils put in place schemes that required everyone to pay something, normally around 15% to 20% of their liability.  The Council had decided to retain this scheme for 2014/15.

76.6 From April 2013 local authorities assumed responsibility for some elements of what was the social fund.  East Sussex County Council now had responsibility for administering the crisis loans and community care grants,  now known as local welfare support.  The County’s scheme had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Report of Senior Head of Community.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Margaret Bannister.

[KD] Revised Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy agreed and adopted and East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children’s Board Annual Report (2012/13) and Business Plan 2013/15 noted.

77.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Senior Head of Community.  A recent review of the Council’s policy had found that the Council’s approach had major strengths, however minor amendments and improvements were suggested and a revised policy was appended to the report for Cabinet’s approval.  An action plan was being worked on and progress would be reported on within the normal audit and governance cycle.

77.2 Resolved (key decision): (1) That the revised Child and Vulnerable Adult Protection Policy be agreed and adopted.

(2) That the East Sussex Local Safeguarding Children’s Board Annual Report (2012/13) and Business Plan 2013/15 be noted.

Report of Chief Finance Officer.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Gill Mattock.

[KD] Write off of irrecoverable debts detailed in the exempt appendix, totalling £ 141,329.73, approved.

78.1 Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer seeking approval to the write-off of debts in excess of £5,000 as required by financial procedure rule 4.26.  Full details were given in a separately circulated appendix covered under exempt information reason 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person, including the authority holding that information).

78.2 Resolved: That the write off of irrecoverable debts detailed in the exempt appendix, totalling £ 141,329.73, be approved.

The Chief Executive considers that discussion of the following items are likely to disclose exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and may therefore need to take place in private session.  The exempt information reasons are shown beneath the items listed below.  Furthermore, in relation to paragraph 10 of Schedule 12A, it is considered that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information. (The requisite notices having been given under regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.)

(Note: Exempt papers are printed on pink paper).

Resolved:  That the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting as otherwise there was a likelihood of disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.  The relevant paragraphs of schedule 12A and descriptions of the exempt information are shown in minute 76 above and beneath the items below.  (The requisite notices having been given under regulation 5 of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.)

(Note:  The full minutes of the under-mentioned items are set out in the confidential section of these minutes.  The reports remain confidential.)

Report of Senior Head of Community.

Cabinet lead member: Councillor Margaret Bannister.

Exempt information reason 3.  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

[KD] Approved as listed. Full details of the grants would be made public as soon as the applicants had been informed of the awards.

80.1 Cabinet received a report on the small grants element of the community grants programme.  A budget of £64,200 was allocated for small grants in 2013/14.  It was proposed that this budget was maintained in 2014/15 subject to final decisions on the overall budget. Given the financial constraints on the Council at present, the proposed budget continued to protect the voluntary and community sector as a whole from significant reductions in spending on their activities by this Council.

80.2 In addition to the small grants programme, Cabinet had previously agreed major grants for the three years from 2013/14 to 2015/16 as follows:

Citizen’s Advice Bureau                    £115,000

East Sussex Credit Union                 £  15,000

Salvation Army                               £  19,000

Eastbourne & Wealden YMCA            £  40,000

3VA                                                £  14,000

Total                                              £203,000 

80.3 It was reported that the Council also supported voluntary and community organisations in a variety of other ways including:

·         The award of rent support grants to some organisations occupying Council properties to the value of £242,400. 

·         Discretionary rate relief awards to voluntary and community sector occupying premises in the town with a budget in 2013/14 of £35,654.

·         The Council’s proposed housing service’s grant of £76,500 in 2014/15 to Brighton Housing Trust for the provision of services to homeless households and the Family Intervention Project.

·         Allocation of £90,000 each year to the Council’s devolved ward budget scheme, with ward councillors were able spend up to £10,000 on quick fix one-off works or initiatives to improve the lives of local residents. Local residents could make suggestions on how this money should be spent by contacting their local councillor.

80.4 In total the Council’s direct support to voluntary and community organisations amounted to over £711,754.  This level of support had significantly increased at a time when spending in many other areas had been reduced.

80.5 The current community grants policy agreed by Cabinet in 2012 set out the eligibility criteria for applications. These were designed to reflect the limited budget available and the wide demand for funding within the voluntary and community sector.  The aim was to ensure that resources were spent where services were most needed and that robust arrangements were in place for managing any grant.  Applications for large capital items could not be considered.  Similarly applications for services which duplicated existing services and were available and funded elsewhere were ineligible. There must also be a clear financial need for funding and organisations with large unrestricted reserves or which made a significant surplus could not be funded.  The policy also excluded any organisation which itself awards grants to other organisations.

80.6 Details of applications received were given in an exempt report.  Cabinet endorsed the approach taken by the Grants Task Group in assessing the applications against the Council’s approved policy criteria and approved awards within the budget available. Details of the grants awarded would be made public as soon as the grant applicants had been informed of the awards.  This would happen after full Council had agreed the 2014/15 budget on 19 February  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80a

Report of Head of Corporate Development.

Cabinet lead member:  Councillor Troy Tester.

Exempt information reasons 1 and 2.  Information relating to an individual or likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

Update report on position of employees currently subject to the procedure noted.

80.8 Cabinet noted that one employee was currently subject to the procedure at present. They noted the actions taken to manage implications of change for displaced individuals.

Exempt information reasons 1 and 2 – Information relating to an individual or likely to reveal the identity of an individual.

Report of Chief Executive.

Lead Cabinet member:  Councillor Carolyn Heaps

Exempt information reasons 3 and 5.  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.

Cabinet considered a report updating members on progress in resolving outstanding contractual matters in relation to the construction of the Towner.  The Chief Executive was given delegated authority to settle the dispute.

80.9 Cabinet considered a report updating members on progress in resolving outstanding contractual matters in relation to the construction of the Towner.  The Chief Executive was given delegated authority to settle the dispute.

Exempt information reasons 3 and 5.  Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and information in respect of which a claim to legal professional privilege could be maintained in legal proceedings.