Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 6^th July 2022. 

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 6th July 2022 were signed by the Chairman as a correct record. 

There were no items of urgent business. 

To receive declarations by Councillors of interests in respect of items on this Agenda. 

Councillors are reminded that, in accordance with the Localism Act 2011, they are required to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which have not already been declared in the Council’s Register of Interests. (It is a criminal offence not to declare a disclosable pecuniary interest either in the Register or at the meeting). 

Whilst not a legal requirement, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 9 and in the interests of clarity and transparency, Councillors should declare any disclosable pecuniary interests which they have already declared in the Register, at this point in the meeting. 

In accordance with Part B Section 2 of the Code Of Conduct, Councillors are required to declare the existence and nature of any other interests as defined in paragraphs 8(1) or 9(2) of the Code of Conduct. 

There were no declarations of interest made at this point. 

Note:  All Members of Council are invited to attend the meeting for this item. 

All Members of Council had been invited to attend the meeting for this item. 

The Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration provided a presentation on his Directorate.  This included the strategic arm of the Council’s services including Planning and Place, Economic Development and Property Investment and Regeneration.  The presentation covered the following main areas:

Economic Growth and Regeneration - What do we do?

Adding value is What do we do?

How we do it?

2022/2023 Expenditure Budget.

2022/2023 Income Forecast.

Commercial Properties – Income and Expenditure 2021/22.

District Challenges – Location.

Managing Economic Turbulence and Risk.

Cultural Venues.

EGR Reserves Breakdown.

Members then asked questions on the following subjects:-

·       Liability assets/strategic acquisitions.

·       Areas of regeneration.

·       Planning policies.

·       Canal Quarter.

·       Looking at ways reports are produced for the property portfolio and the need to provide an accurate standardised and consistent way of reporting on the same level/meaningful comparisons.

·       Interest rates and capital costs.

·       OBR and options/clear business cases.

·       Management of peoples expectations/opportunities to publicise work being undertaken and learning from the Mainway project regarding consultation.

·       Asset Management Strategy.

·       Cost of energy and green priorities.

·       Issues regarding persistent chronic decline. 

·       Local Plan/SPD processes. 

The Panel also discussed Delivering Our Priorities Quarter 1 and the improvements to the reporting processes. 

At the request of the Panel the Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration advised that he would provide and circulate economic data sets providing information on visitor numbers and how these are calculated. 

The Panel was informed that the purpose of providing presentations on each Directorate of the Council was to provide information to focus on the budget allocation provided to each Directorate.  OBR would be developed with Cabinet, with the Panel able to consider a number of things including the day to day delivery of performance, what was expected, costs and income/targeted income.  This was particularly relevant with the Capital Programme, especially for the Directorate for Economic Growth and Regeneration.  The Panel was also made aware of allocated and unallocated reserves and borrowing.  With regard to asset management it was reported that the Council had a large estate, and that the Panel may want to consider the cost and income generated from the Council’s commercial buildings.  The Panel may also wish to consider, as part of its Work Programme, the areas it may want to scrutinise in the budget process. 

The Chairman, on behalf of the Panel, thanked officers for their attendance, for the presentation and information provided.