Agenda, decisions and minutes

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2020.

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 September 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

Councillors/Staff to give notice of any disclosable pecuniary interest, other registrable interest or any other interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

None declared.

To answer questions from members of the public – submitted in writing or by electronic mail no later than 5.00pm, 2 working days before the meeting.

None received.

None received.

The subject of the decision

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report which sought to inform Members on the Council’s financial performance against budget for the period April to July 2020 along with the forecast position to 31 March 2021.

Members noted the headline messages at the end of quarter one 2020/21, being:

  Revenue Budget

·  Expenditure from the revenue budget, excluding projects funded from earmarked reserves, was forecast to exceed budget by £3,151k

·  After taking in to account the additional Covid-19 funding received of £1,148k, plus an estimate of the amount to be received under the income guarantee scheme of £1,471k, the projected outturn position would require a contribution of £532k from General balances to meet the forecast net overspend

  Earmarked Reserves Budget

·  Following publication of the 2019-20 outturn position, the budgeted use of Reserves in 2020-21 increased to reflect the re-profiling of expenditure across financial years

·  There was a favourable variance projected against this updated budget of £1k

  Capital Budget

·  Expenditure from the capital budget was forecast to overspend by £181k

Treasury Management

·  Treasury management activities during the period were carried out in accordance with the Council’s treasury management and investment strategies and within the limits established by the approved treasury and prudential indicators for 2019-20

·  No new external borrowing was undertaken during the four months ending 31 July 2020.

Councillor J Lister moved that the report be noted; this was seconded by Councillor M Fitzgerald. The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

None

The reason for the decision

To inform Members on the Council’s financial performance against budget for the period April to July 2020 along with the forecast position to 31 March 2021.

The decision

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The subject of the decision

The Programme Director, Workington submitted a report which sought members to approve the discontinuation of the Reedlands Business Park project.

Councillor M Johnson moved the recommendation; this was seconded by Councillor T Markley. The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

To continue with the project and approve the additional budget requirement;

To discontinue the project and not proceed with the construction phase.

Reason for the decision

Following subsequent ground investigation works which had identified underlying mine workings, buried obstructions and extremely poor ground conditions on site, forecast project costs had increased significantly.

The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) had confirmed that no additional ERDF funding was available.

The decision

Resolved

That the discontinuation of the project be approved with further discussions to be held with MHCLG around the grant clawback position.

The subject of the decision

The Programme Director, Workington submitted a report which asked members to consider and approve the draft Town Investment Plan for Workington.

Councillor M Johnson moved the recommendations in the report; this was seconded by Councillor A Pitcher. The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

Not to submit a Town Investment Plan

Reason for the decision

To consider the draft Town Investment Plan for Workington which set out the proposals for a number of key projects for which funding was sought as part of the Governments Town Deal announced by the Prime Minister in July 2019.

The decision

Resolved

That –

1.  The draft Town Investment Plan for Workington be approved in principle;

2.  The final approval and submission of the Town Investment Plan be delegated to the Chief Executive and Deputy Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Chair of the Workington Town Deal Board.

The subject of the decision

The Head of Strategy, Policy and Performance submitted a report which sought members to consider and approve publishing the draft Workington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document for consultation.

Councillor M Fitzgerald moved the recommendation; this was seconded by Councillor J Cook. The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

Not to produce a supplementary planning document

Reason for the decision

To consider publishing the draft Workington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document for consultation

The decision

Resolved

That the draft Workington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be published for consultation for a period of six weeks.

The subject of the decision

The Legal Officer submitted a report which sought member’s approval of a Public Spaces Protection Order for the regulation and power for the Council to issue fixed penalty notices for those who fail to clean up after their dog.

Councillor T Markley moved the recommendation in the report; this was seconded by Councillor M Fitzgerald. The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

Not to make an order and/or to embark on another consultation exercise however, the existing order will lapse and the power to take enforcement action would not be available until an order was made at a later date.

Reason for the decision

The existing order for the regulation and power for the Council to issue fixed penalty notices for those who fail to clean up after their dog was to expire on 20 October 2020.

The decision

Resolved

That the making of the Order, as set out in Appendix 4 of the report, be approved.