Decisions

In accordance with Part 3, Section 11 of the Constitution, the holder of this appointment may not come from the largest political group in Cabinet.  In view of there being no Member present from the other political groups it was decided that this item be deferred for consideration at the next meeting of the Panel.

Resolved:

That the appointment of a Vice-Chairman be deferred to the next meeting of the Panel. 

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Warriner)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Health & Housing) to update Cabinet members on the project activity for the Transformation Challenge Award (TCA) and seek endorsement for the revised project activity as agreed by the Partnership (i.e. Lancaster City Council and Lancashire County Council).

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The officer preferred option was option 2. Considerable effort has gone into building a consensus with partners. There is broad agreement on the main priorities for improving health and wellbeing in the district and the best approach for this. The agreed project activity addresses a number of the underlying problems with innovative, sustainable approaches that are asset based and designed to build resilience in the community.  The outcomes will be the same as the original bid - reduction in repeat demand for services, smarter ways of working with focussed populations, improving community safety and wellbeing and empowering the community to build on its own strengths.

  Councillor Warriner proposed, seconded by Councillor Hanson:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved and that updates on the Transformation Challenge Award Project be reported to the Housing Regeneration Cabinet Liaison Group.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That Cabinet notes the proposed changes to the Transformational Challenge Award project delivery approach.

(2)          That the General Fund Revenue Budget be updated to reflect the proposed project budget delivery changes, split across relevant financial years as appropriate, subject to there being no additional cost implications for the City Council. 

(3)          That updates on the Transformation Challenge Award Project be reported to the Housing Regeneration Cabinet Liaison Group.

Officers responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Health & Housing)

Chief Officer (Resources)

Reasons for making the decision:

The proposed project activity will still meet the outcomes as expected in the original bid but now has the benefit of addressing some of the specific issues that have arisen from community feedback and from the involvement of the Health and Wellbeing partnership. Clarity around the project activity should now enable delivery at a pace within the next 12 months to ensure tangible improvements to the lives of some of the most vulnerable in our district.   Healthy and Happy Communities is one of the ambitions in the proposed new Council Plan.  The revised project activity will directly contribute to some of the outcomes under this ambition.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Resources) to consider proposed allocations from the Budget Support Reserve to enable the progress of related matters.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

Approve the allocation as proposed:

Senior Management - Essentially the proposal is to help ensure that the Council has adequate senior management capacity for the relevant periods, to progress various initiatives and to protect its interests. Should the allocation be supported, it is advised that some flexibility be built in, to manage the corporate turnover savings position.

Environmental Services restructuring - The proposal provides the one off funding required to produce the ongoing savings agreed by the Council in 2016. It will not impact negatively on service delivery.

Amend the proposed allocations

Should Cabinet consider this option, the rationale and implications of any proposed amendment would need to be considered and addressed.

Do not approve the allocation

Should this option be chosen, regarding the HR proposal, as there are no other obvious sources of financing available at this point, then as a consequence the Council would need to readjust its work priorities, and put in place other arrangements to ensure that meets its legal obligations.  There is no guarantee that these could be met from within existing budgets, and so alternative reserve allocations may arise in due course.

Regarding the Environmental Services proposal, the restructuring could not go forward and the budgetary savings and operational efficiencies would not be realised.  Alternative ways of achieving savings would need to be identified, but any such options are likely to involve other up-front costs in any event.

The relevant Officer preferred options are as set out in the attachments. In respect of the interim capacity proposal, some flexibility regarding the corporate turnover position is advised; this is reflected in the Member recommendations of this report.

Councillor Whitehead proposed, seconded by Councillor Burns:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That Cabinet approves a total allocation estimated at £145,000 from the Budget Support Reserve to cover:

-     the continued engagement of the interim Head of Legal and Democratic Services to 31 October 2018, and the interim Human Resources Manager to 31 July 2018, with any further extension being subject to decisions regarding the management restructure; and

-     the one off costs arising from a minor structural reorganisation resulting from Council’s decision to reorganise the management and administration of Environmental Services.

(2)          That the allocation regarding interim capacity be subject to the use of turnover savings to help finance the engagement and should any adjustment be required to the allocation, it be addressed through quarterly financial monitoring reporting (through which the corporate turnover position will be monitored).

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Resources)

Reasons for making the decision:

As reflected within its Medium Term Financial Strategy and related Provisions and Reserves Policy, the Council holds a Budget Support Reserve.  Its purpose is to provide resources to help finance capacity, feasibility/review and other development work in support of the Council’s corporate planning and budgeting arrangements.  Allocations from the reserve above the key decision threshold are a matter for Cabinet.

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Officer (Resources) which provided summary information regarding the provisional outturn for 2017/18, including treasury management.  It also set out information regarding the carry forward of capital slippage.

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

The City Council has a legal requirement to ensure that its expenditure is fully funded and to produce accounts in accordance with proper accounting practice.  In addition, the Prudential Indicators are a statutory requirement linked to the budgetary framework.  For these aspects, therefore, there are no alternative options for Cabinet to consider.  Members are being asked to endorse certain actions taken by the Chief Officer (Resources), and Cabinet should consider whether it has sufficient information to do so or whether it requires any further justification.

The report requests Cabinet to consider a number of revenue overspending, capital slippage and other budget adjustment matters.  The framework for considering these is set out in the report but basically Cabinet may:

-                    Endorse any number of the items / requests, in full or part.

-                    Refuse various requests and if commitments have already been incurred, require alternative funding options to be identified.  Cabinet should note, however, that this may impact on other areas of service delivery.

-                    Request further information regarding them, if appropriate.

The Officer preferred options are as set out in the recommendations, on the assumption that Members continue to support their previously approved spending plans.

Although the General Fund budget and associated Government funding reduced again in 2017/18, the Council continued to manage the financial pressures well and it has again improved the Fund’s overall financial standing as at 31 March 2018.  Similarly, the HRA’s standing is currently sound.  Although various actions have been outlined in the report, there are no wholly new matters arising that have not previously been reported or highlighted in some form, and this should give some comfort with regard to the adequacy of the Council’s financial planning and monitoring arrangements. 

Councillor Whitehead proposed, seconded by Councillor Pattison:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)          That the provisional outturn for 2017/18 be endorsed, including the transfers and amendments to Provisions, Reserves and Balances actioned by the Chief Officer (Resources), and the position regarding overspendings.

(2)          That Cabinet approves the requests to carry forward underspent revenue budgets as set out in section 5.2 of the report.

(3)          That the requests for capital slippage and the adjustments to reflect accelerated capital spending on projects as set out at Appendix H to the report be endorsed, with the Capital Programme being updated accordingly.

(4)          That the Annual Treasury Management report and Prudential Indicators as set out at Appendix J to the report be noted and referred on to Council for information.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Officer (Resources)

Reasons for making the decision:

The Outturn and Statement of Accounts report on all the financial resources generated and/or used by the Council in providing services or undertaking other activities under the Policy Framework.