To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting held on 1st March, 2016 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 1st March, 2016 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman.

(1)          Revenue Budget Monitoring and Forecasting 2015/16 – Position at       March, 2016 –

            To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1607 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s anticipated financial position for 2015/16 based on the monitoring exercise carried out in March, 2016.

(2)          Capital Programme Monitoring and Forecasting 2015/16 – Position       at March, 2016 –

            To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1608 (copy attached), which sets out the Council’s position regarding the Capital Programme for 2015/16 based on the monitoring exercise carried out during March, 2016.

(1)       Revenue Budget Monitoring and Forecasting 2015/16 – Position at March, 2016 –

The Cabinet considered the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1607, which set out the anticipated financial position for 2015/16, based on the monitoring exercise carried out during March 2016. The Report explained that, in the monitoring exercise, service managers had identified a net underspend of approximately £218,000 against their non-salary budgets. A staff monitoring exercise had identified a net projected underspend of £350,000 from salary savings. The Report identified that the Business Rate Retention Scheme, uncertainty around central government funding and service demand issues arising from democratic change and welfare reform remained the major risks facing the Council over the medium term.

It was reported that the Service Improvement Fund had continued to be used to support invest-to-save schemes, major corporate projects and service reviews. The latest projections for 2015/16 showed a total of £410,000 of expenditure supported by the Fund. The balance of the Service Improvement and the Stability and Resilience Funds, along with the projected general fund balance, provided a total for working reserves of £5,462,000.

Members considered the Report and expressed satisfaction with both the current revenue budget position and the measures put in place to ensure future financial stability.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)         the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1607 be          noted; and

(ii)       the updated estimates for the use of the Service           improvement             Fund during 2015/16, as set out in the          Report, be approved.

(2)          Capital Programme Monitoring 2015/16 – Position at March, 2016 –

The Cabinet received the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1608, which provided the latest forecast regarding the Council’s Capital Programme for 2015/16. The Report advised that the approved Capital Programme for 2015/16 totalled £9,605,000. The recent monitoring exercise had identified that, due to a number of slippages and underspends, the forecasted outturn was £4,859,000, with a forecasted shortfall of £4,746,000 against the approved Programme. The identified areas of slippage included the purchase of land at Ball Hill and the purchase of a new Council depot site.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the latest Capital Programme monitoring position, as set out in the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1608, be noted.

To consider the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1609 (copy to follow), sets out a draft strategy for the flexible use of capital receipts for 2016/17, for submission to the Council.

The Cabinet received the Head of Financial Services' Report No. FIN1609, which set out information from the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government relating to the treatment of costs as capital expenditure and the updated guidance on the flexible use of capital receipts, that had been published in March 2016.

The Cabinet was informed that, for a three year period from 1st April, 2016, local authorities would be able to spend any revenues generated from selling fixed assets to fund the cost of improvements to services. Under normal rules, capital receipts could only be used to fund capital expenditure, such as the purchase of capital assets or improvements to existing assets. It was reported that the use of capital receipts in this new way would enable the Council to progress essential projects without putting additional pressure on revenue resources. In order to take advantage of these new provisions, it was necessary to have a strategy in place and the Council’s draft Strategy for the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts 2016/17 was attached to the Report. It was anticipated that this would be incorporated into existing plans and strategies, such as the Medium Term Financial Strategy, in future years.

The Cabinet

                                 (i)          RECOMMENDED TO THE COUNCIL that approval be given to the Strategy for the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts 2016/17; and

                                (ii)          RESOLVED that

                                                (a)             the contents of the Head of Financial Services’ Report No. FIN1609 be noted; and

                                                (b)           a variation to the Capital Programme for 2016/17                                  of £500,000 be approved.

To consider the Directors’ Management Board’s Report No. DMB1601 (copy attached), which sets out performance monitoring information for the third quarter in relation to the Council’s Corporate Plan 2015/16.

The Cabinet received the Directors’ Management Board’s Report No. DMB1601, which gave an update on performance management monitoring information against the Corporate Plan for the third quarter of the 2015/16 financial year. 

The Chief Executive gave Members an update on strategic and performance management data relating to many areas, including crime, educational attainment and homelessness.

It was noted that 86.5% of the indicators were on target, 13.5% were in question as to whether they would achieve the action or indicator and none were unable to achieve elements of the target. The Chief Executive gave a summary of key projects that were ongoing and responded to Members’ questions. 

The Cabinet NOTED the Directors’ Management Board Report No. DMB1601 and the performance against the Corporate Plan in the third quarter of the 2015/16 municipal year.

To consider the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1612 (copy attached), which sets out responses to the public consultation exercise and seeks adoption of the revised Rushmoor Biodiversity Action Plan. 

The Cabinet considered the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1612, which set out the draft Rushmoor Biodiversity Action Plan 2016 - 2021 for approval. Members were informed that a key stakeholder meeting had taken place on 20th February, 2015 and a six week public consultation exercise had taken place early in 2016. The draft document had been amended to take account of representations received and the amended version was attached as Annex 1 to the Report.  The Cabinet was now being asked to adopt this document, which continued to provide a framework for initiatives to protect and enhance biodiversity across the Borough.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)               the Rushmoor Biodiversity Action Plan 2016 – 2021, as set out in Annex 1 of the Head of Planning’s Report No. PLN1612, be adopted; and

(ii)             the Head of Planning, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Environment and Service Delivery, be authorised to make any necessary minor amendments to the Action Plan, prior to its publication.

To consider the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1604 (copy attached), which seeks endorsement of the draft combined Food/Health and Safety Service Plan for 2016/17 for consultation with local businesses and business organisations.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Environmental Health and Housing’s Report No. EHH1604, which sought endorsement of the draft Food and Health and Safety Service Plan for 2016/17 for consultation with local businesses and business organisations. The Cabinet was advised that the Licensing and General Purposes Committee had considered and supported the combined service plan at its meeting on 29th March, 2016.

Members discussed various matters, including the provision of advice and training to the business community. The Cabinet was supportive of the service that had been offered. 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the draft combined Food and Health and Safety Service Plan for 2016/17 be approved for consultation with local businesses and business organisations.

To consider resolving:

That, subject to the public interest test, the public be excluded from this meeting during the discussion of the undermentioned items to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraphs of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against such items:

Item                Schedule      Category

Nos.               12A Para.

                        Nos.

8                      3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

RESOLVED: That, taking into account the public interest test, the public be excluded from the meeting during the discussion of the under mentioned items to avoid the disclosure of exempt information within the paragraph of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972 indicated against the items:

Minute           Schedule      Categories

Nos.               12A Para.

                        Nos.

102                 3                      Information relating to financial or business affairs

To consider the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Exempt Report No. COMM1605 (copy attached) in relation to the current contract with Veolia to provide waste, recycling, grounds maintenance and street cleansing services.

The Cabinet considered the Head of Community and Environmental Services’ Exempt Report No. COMM1605, which set out a proposal to extend the current waste, recycling, grounds maintenance and street cleansing contract with Veolia Environmental Services by four months.

The Cabinet was reminded that the existing contract with Veolia was due to end on 31st March, 2017 and it was reported that good progress had been made towards the procurement of a new contract. There were a number of reasons why the proposed extension to the contract would be beneficial to the Council. These included allowing the implications of the Hampshire wide waste processing and partnership review to be clarified before the awarding of the new contract and also to allow sufficient time to provide a functional depot from the start of the new contract. Furthermore, Hampshire County Council was planning to review its agency agreement with local councils relating to verge/hedge cutting and weed control and it was thought that this would be likely to have an impact on the grounds maintenance specification. It was confirmed that Veolia had agreed to the proposed contract extension.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that, subject to written agreement, the current contract with Veolia be extended by four months to 31st July, 2017, in order to secure the best long term deal from the retendering of the services.