Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the Meeting held on 20^th September 2023 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^th September 2023 were approved as a correct record. 

The Chair advised that 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. 

No declarations were made at this point. 

Report of the Chief Executive. 

The Panel received a report from the Chief Executive that provided an update on the authority’s progress in updating the Strategic Risk Register.  It was reported that appendix A and appendix B to the report had been considered by the Audit Committee on 22 November 2023.  The Committee had resolved that the Strategic Risk Register be reported to Cabinet and Budget and Performance Panel on a quarterly basis. 

The Panel was asked to consider if it wished to view all risks on the Strategic Risk Register going forward, or if it only wished to certain risk categories, such as Financial Risk. 

The main areas discussed and questions raised were in relation to seeing previous actions and completion dates, the possibility of providing in a different format with more detail, action plan dates, cyber security, risks associated with purchase of commercial properties and having sight of the Register on a regular basis.  It was also suggested that a meeting with the Chairs of other committees (Audit and Overview and Scrutiny) be arranged to review what risk information that they wanted to see.  It was also noted that the alignment of the meeting dates was not perfect for the information to flow from one committee to the next in a timely way. 

Resolved:

That the observations made at the meeting and the report be noted. 

Cabinet Report and Appendices to be considered by Cabinet on 5^th December 2023 attached. 

The Panel received a report from the Chief Executive and S151 Officer that provided members with an update on performance, projects, and resources during the first two quarters of 2023/24 (April – September 2023).  No options had been provided for Cabinet as the report was for commenting and noting.

The main areas discussed and questions raised by the Panel were in relation to property assets, the disposal of property and stock condition surveys and collection of Council Tax/benchmarking of collection rates,

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

Cabinet Report and Appendices considered by Cabinet on 24^th October 2023 attached. 

The Panel received a report from the Chief Officer Resources.  A report had been submitted to Cabinet on 24^th October 2023 that had sought Cabinet’s consideration of various matters in connection with the amendments to the Treasury Management Strategy for 2023/24 and the Treasury Management Mid-Year Review 2023/24.  As the Cabinet report was for consideration and progressing to this Panel and Full Council, no alternative options were put forward.

The Chief Officer Resources responded to several questions with regard to what would not be delivered, Burrow Beck Solar Farm and vehicle purchases. 

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

Cabinet Report and Appendices to be considered by Cabinet on 5^th December 2023 attached (published on 01.12.23). 

The Panel received a report from the Chief Finance Officer to provide an update on the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy forecasts for 2023/24 to 2028/29 and outline the approach to balancing the budget.  As the report had been for consideration by Cabinet no alternative options were put forward and it was noted that the Cabinet could make supplementary recommendations regarding any matters. The report reiterated that the current forecasts do not include any interventions by Cabinet, Senior Leadership Team or the outcomes of the Local Government Settlement.  Whilst some savings had been delivered, the forecasts showed that potential annual and cumulative budget deficits remain over the next 5 years and continue to need to be addressed.  In light of this, balancing the budget both in the short and the medium term remains a tough task and all Members must work together and recognise that they will face a number of difficult but key decisions as part of the forthcoming budget and over the coming financial years which will affect the manner in which it delivers its services.  

The Chief Officer Resources responded to several questions with regard to deficits and reserves. 

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

Attached. 

The Panel considered its Work Programme. It was reported that the Panel was responsible for setting its own annual Work Programme within the terms of reference, set out in the Council’s Constitution.  Members were requested to consider the Work Programme attached at Appendix A and also submitted at Appendix B were the Terms of Reference of the Panel. 

The Panel was asked to agree to an additional meeting in January and was reminded of other meetings and briefings:

Resolved:

(1) That the Work Programme, with the updates set out above, be noted.