Agenda and minutes

1.    Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

2.    Other Interests

Councillor Thrane declared a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in agenda item 9, “Business Rates Relief Policy and Council Tax Discount Policy) (reason: potential 2 year and empty property owner) and withdrew from the meeting during discussion and voting on the council tax element of that report

The Leader announced that agenda items 15, “Disposal of land at Hogshaws” and 16, “Market Street Depot” had been withdrawn from the agenda and would not be considered at this meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2019 be approved as a correct record.

Due to the weather conditions, the representative from HM Courts and Tribunal Service was unable to attend this meeting so the item would be deferred to a future meeting.

The Committee scrutinised the draft Performance Framework and associated targets for 2020/21 and the findings of the recent online consultation which had sought feedback from a range of stakeholders on the council’s new corporate plan priorities for 2019 – 2023. 

A Performance Framework workshop had been held on 3 February to give members an opportunity to scrutinise the Performance Framework in depth, the recommendations of which had been incorporated into the report.

Regarding the Corporate Plan consultation results, disappointment was expressed around the number of responses received, and ways in which the council could improve communication with residents was discussed.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive be recommended to approve the Performance Framework 2020/2021 and the Corporate Plan priorities 2019 – 2023.

The Committee considered the Council’s overall performance and financial position for the period ended 31 December (“Third Quarter 2019/20”).

Reference was made to the underspends recorded for the HRA, Capital Programme and General Fund, and it was requested that further checking be undertaken around the underspends.

The predicted shortfall in the income for the year as a result of the Council’s bottled water licence was queried, and a written explanation would be circulated.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the Third Quarter 2019/20 financial, procurement and performance position detailed in appendices A, B and C and summarised at paragraph 3.3 of the covering report; and

2.         That the update to the Council’s procurement rules as a result of the revised EU procurement thresholds, be noted.

The Committee considered the proposed budget for 2020/21, updated Medium Term Financial Plan 2020/21 – 2023/24. Capital Strategy 2020/21, proposed Fees and Charges for 2020/21 and Procurement Forward Plan 2020/21.

The Executive Councillor introduced the proposed budget proposals and medium term financial plan which had been updated in accordance with the budget setting process.

In terms of fees and charges, and amendment to the proposed car parking charges was circulated in respect of Wye Street Car Park, which proposed that the increase on that car park be restricted to 20p on all bandings in 2020/21. This proposal was made to recognise the importance of sustaining footfall in the town centres..  The additional income that would have been generated had been added back in 2020/21 in the form of efficiency savings.  It was queried whether the proposed charges would be in place for a period of two years.

The difference in the costs of removing bed bugs and ants was queried and a response would be circulated.

Any other comments regarding the proposed fees and charges be conveyed to the Executive Councillor direct.

Reference was made to the work of the Climate Change Working Group, and it was requested that it would be useful if how the process for making changes and budget implications could be presented at the next meeting on 25 February.  The complexities of costing climate change initiatives was acknowledged. The Leader confirmed that the ‘quick wins’ discussed at the last meeting of the group had been included in the budget.

An increase in the amount of funding made available for drain cleaning was discussed, and DCC had been requested to increase the cleaning of drains in some problem areas.

With reference to the support for the completion of the off road route for the Trans Pennine Trail and access to the Monsal and Tissington Trails (para 2.7, page 172), it was clarified that this was to provide access from Buxton to the trails and that the creation of a Buxton – Matlock rail link was supported.

RESOLVED:

That Corporate Select Committee support the following recommendations to Council:

·         Approves the General Fund Budget for 2020/21 as detailed in Appendix A (section 8)

·         Approves the revised Medium Term Financial Plan (2020/21 to 2023/24) as detailed in Appendix A, including the revised Capital Programme (attached at Annex A)

·         Approves the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix B

·         Approves the updated Housing Revenue Account Business Plan Forecast as detailed in Appendix C

·         Approves the proposed Fees and Charges for 2020/21 as detailed in Appendix D, subject to the amendment in respect of the parking charges at Wye Street Car Park;

·         Approves the proposed Procurement Forward Plan for 2020/21, providing the authority to procure based on procurement activity detailed in Appendix E

·         A Band D Council Tax of £195.40 for 2020/21 (an increase of 1.9% from 2019/20)

·         HRA charges as follows:

o   Dwellings rents to increase by an average of 2.7%from £69.40to £71.45 average per week (average rent takes  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20/47

The Committee considered the updated Business Rates Relief Policy and the Council Tax Reductions and Levies Policy. 

The Business Rates Relief Policy had been updated to remove and reliefs that were no longer relevant and to also reflect the changes Government has implemented since 1 April 2020.  An analysis of the total business rates payable, net of reliefs had been undertaken on Buxton, Glossop and New Mills.  The Council Tax reductions and levies policy, in line with the Council’s Empty Property Strategy proposed to increase the empty property levy chargeable on empty property as set out in paragraph 3.6 of the report.

Discussion ensured around holiday homes and holiday lets, the wish to address the number of empty properties and communicating the proposed increase in empty property levies.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive be recommended to approve the updated Business Rates Relief Policy and the Council Tax Reductions and Levies Policy.

A report around Customer Services would be submitted to the next meeting. 

It was requested that the work programmes for all Select Committee be forwarded to Corporate Select Committee in future.

RESOVLED:

That, subject to the above addition, the Select Committee Work Programme be noted.

To resolve that the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as there may be disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972

RESOLVED:

That the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business as there may be disclosure 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 held on 25 November 2019 be approved as a correct record.

The Committee considered the Alliance Environmental Services (AES) – Phase 3 – Transfer of Services – Financial Arrangements and proposed Client Commissioning Team Structure and made recommendations to the Executive.

This item had been withdrawn and was not considered at the meeting.

This item was withdrawn and was not considered at the meeting.