Agenda and minutes

Councillor Greenhalgh declared an other interest – Item 5 (2021/22 Budget & Medium Term Financial Plan 2021/22 to 2024/25) – employer receives grant from the Borough Council.

Councillor Todd declared an other interest – Item 7 (Buxton Neighbourhood Plan Designation) member of Neighbourhood Forum and 11 (Renewal of Licence for Buxton Market) member of Buxton Market.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 December 2020 be approved as a correct record. 

The purpose of the report was to inform members of the Council’s overall performance and financial position for the period ended 31st December (“Third Quarter 2020/21”). The report was considered by the Corporate Select Committee on 8 February 2021.  The position was summarised as follows:

Options considered:

Detailed Analysis is contained within the appendices

RESOLVED:

That the Third Quarter 2020/21 financial, procurement and performance position detailed in Appendices A, B and C and summarised at 3.3 of the covering report be noted.

The purpose of the report was to present the proposed Budget for 2021/22, updated Medium-Term Financial Plan 2021/22 – 2024/25, Capital Strategy 2021/22, proposed Fees and Charges for 2021/22 and Procurement Forward Plan 2021/22. The report was considered by the Corporate Select Committee on 8 February which raised matters relating to the Future High Street Fund (FHST) bid, Efficiency Strategy, Business Rate exemptions, pensions, member schemes and car parking income. 

It was reported that car parking fees would not be raised in the term of the current administration, the impact on pensions due to Covid-19 would be considered in due course and that any further savings or income generated opportunities would be factored into future iterations of the Medium Term Financial Plan.  Following the submission of the FHST bid at the end of February, should the Council receive Government approval, there would be a full review to update the Medium Term Financial Plan taking into account further financial implications.

Options considered:

There are no options to consider at this stage.

RECOMMENDED:

That the Council approves the following recommendations:

1.     Approves the General Fund Budget for 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix A (section 9)

2.     Approves the revised Medium-Term Financial Plan (2021/22 to 2024/25) as detailed in Appendix A, including the revised Capital Programme (attached at Annex A)

3.     Approves the Capital Strategy 2021/22 as set out in Appendix B

4.     Approves the updated Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Forecast as detailed in Appendix A (Annex F)

5.     Approves the proposed Fees and Charges for 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix C

6.     Approves the proposed Procurement Forward Plan for 2021/22, providing the authority to procure based on procurement activity detailed in Appendix D

7.     A Band D Council Tax of £200.40 for 2021/22 (an increase of 2.56% or £5 from 2020/21)

8.     HRA charges as follows:

·       Dwellings rents to increase by an average of 1.66% from £71.45 to £72.64 average per week (average rent takes into account new tenancies where formula rent is charged)

·       Garage rents to be increased by 5% from £7.13 to £7.49 average per week

·       Other Charges including service charges to increase by a maximum of 5%

·       Fuel charges at individual blocks have been reviewed and the 2021/22 charge is based on the 2020/21 estimated costs and 2019/20 actual fuel usage/prices, charged on an individual scheme basis.

9.     Notes the Chief Finance Officer's view that the level of reserves are adequate for the Council based on this budget and the circumstances in place at the time of preparing it (Appendix A - Annex D)

The report updated members on Visitor Economy Strategy (VES) project work and recommended changes for future working.  The report was considered by the Economy and Growth Select Committee on 4 February 2021 which raised queries regarding milestones given the impact of Covid-19 and the affect on the opening of the Crescent.  It was reported that the  Council’s Regeneration Service was having weekly conversations with Peak District Derbyshire Destination Management Partnership to make progress on the action plan with retail and leisure areas being most adversely affected by current conditions.

Options considered:

Option 1: Do not adopt VES Strategy and continue project working under same governance.  The external funding for the project would be fully spent with the completion of the branding roll-out but the action plan remains a live document that adapts to changing circumstances. A revised governance for delivery of externally funded large projects was required to ensure sufficient financial oversight and leadership. NOT recommended

Option 2: Approve recommendations. This would acknowledge completion of works undertaken by stakeholders and put in place suitable governance for larger projects and future working.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the Buxton Visitor Economy Strategy and action plan be adopted.

2.     That works to develop ‘Buxton branding’ and proposed roll-out in 2021/2022 be noted.

3.     That changes to future working with stakeholders following completion of VES project be noted.

4.     That the Governance and Terms of Reference for the management of the Buxton Heritage Action Zone (HAZ) as set out in Appendix 2 of the report and subject to approval from Historic England be approved.

The Executive considered a report that provided responses to the consultation on the applications to designate a neighbourhood area and neighbourhood forum for Buxton and to note the findings. The report was considered by the Economy and Growth Select Committee on 4 February 2021.

Options considered:

As detailed in the report.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the responses to the consultation and the contents of the report be noted.

2.     That the following recommendations within the report be supported and approved:

2.1   That the Council designates the Buxton Neighbourhood Area.

2.2       That the Council informs Buxton Neighbourhood Forum that any forthcoming neighbourhood plan policies for the Health and Safety Executive site and the Industrial Estate at Harpur Hill should take into account that the neighbourhood area boundary cuts through these sites.

2.3   That the Council designates the Buxton Neighbourhood Forum CIC as the Neighbourhood Forum for Buxton.

2.4   That the Council recommends that the Forum considers applications for new members as set out in the forum’s constitution to draw from different places and sections of the community.

2.5   That the Council provides the Buxton Neighbourhood Forum with the responses to the consultation so that:

·       Specific information and advice provided by statutory and other consultees can be taken into consideration by the forum and inform the development of  the neighbourhood plan/order;

·       Respondents that have requested to be kept informed can be added to the Neighbourhood Forum’s consultation list; and

·       Issues and themes raised in the individual responses can be considered by the Forum.

The report notified Councillors of the draft Water in Buxton Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) and plans for public consultation. Feedback on the document and plans for consultation was also sought. The report was considered by the Economy and Growth Select Committee on 4 February 2021.

Options considered:

There were no alternative options to consider.

RESOLVED:

1.     That the purpose and content of the draft SPD and approve its publication for consultation purposes be noted.

2.     That the findings of the Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Screening Report be noted.

RESOLVED:

That the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items because there may be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

RESOLVED:

That the exempt minutes of the meeting of the Executive held on 3 December 2020 be approved as a correct record.

The Executive approved a request for a renewal of the contract to operate High Buxton Market for a further five- year period.

The Executive approved an update of progress on two Homes England funded programmes within the Council’s Accelerated Housing Delivery Programme: (1) the Local Authority Accelerated Construction (LAAC) programme delivering new homes at Granby Road B, Buxton; and (2) the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) programme delivering the Fairfield roundabout.

The Executive approved a report that provided details of three bids received for Council owned land known as Granby Road B, Fairfield Buxton and sought authority for the Executive Director (Place) to continue negotiations with one of the bidders to obtain a best and final offer.