Agenda, decisions and minutes

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2021.

The minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2021 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.

7.  Budget 2021-22 - Revenue and Capital.

  Councillor Alan Pitcher; Other Registrable Interest; Due to his position of Honorary President of the Wigton Baths Trust.

To answer questions from members of the public – submitted in writing or by electronic mail no later than 5.00pm on a working day, allowing two clear working days before the day of the meeting.

None received.

None received.

The subject of the decision

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

Members noted the headline messages at the end of quarter 3 2020/21, being:

  Revenue Budget

(i)  Expenditure from the revenue budget, excluding projects funded from earmarked reserves, was forecast to exceed budget by £369k

(ii)  After taking into account the additional Covid-19 funding received of £1,594k, plus an estimate of the amount to be received under the income gurantee scheme of £1,565k, the projected outturn position would require a contribution of £55k from General Fund reserves to meet the forecast net overspend

  Earmarked Reserves Budget

(iii)  It was anticipated that £80k of the budgeted use of earmarked reserves would now be spent in future financial years and had therefore been reprofiled within the forecast spend of earmarked reserves in 2020-21

(iv)  After accounting for the reprofiling, a saving of £2k was expected

  Capital Budget

(v)  Expenditure from the capital budget was forecast to underspend by £7.945m (before carry forwards); £341k net of anticipated carry forward requests

Treasury Management

(vi)  Treasury Management activities were carried out in accordance with the Councils treasury management and investment strategies and within the limits established by the approved treasury and prudential indicators for 2020-21

(vii)  No new external borrowing was undertaken.

Councillor J Lister moved the recommendation. This was seconded by Councillor A Pitcher. The recommendation was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

None

The reason for the decision

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

The decision

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The subject of the decision

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report which sought to present to Members the draft revenue and capital budget and the formal advice of the chief financial officer on the robustness of the estimates included in the budget and the adequacy of the reserves which supported the Council’s budgetary plans.

The Executive thanked all those involved in setting the balanced budget.

Councillor J Lister moved the recommendations contained within the report. This was seconded by Councillor M Fitzgerald. The recommendations were unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

None

The reason for the decision

The Council’s statutory requirement to approve a balanced budget.

The decision

Recommended

That Council be requested to agree that –

(i)  The total planned revenue expenditure be £16,092,480 including parish precepts of £2,567,162

(ii)  £15,879,831 be approved as the Council’s net budget requirement for 2021-22

(iii)  Allerdale’s share of council tax be increased by £5 on band D Properties, with proportionate increases being applied to properties in other council tax bands

(iv)  No changes be made to the Council’s Council Tax Reduction discount scheme and that the current scheme remains in place for 2021-22

(v)  The revenue estimates as approved be used in the calculation of the basic amount of tax under Section 31 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992

(vi)  The minimum level of non-earmarked general fund balances be set at £2.7m and that no maximum level be set

(vii)  The three-year capital budget (2021-22 to 2023-24) of £44,285,072 (comprising £13,330,379 in 2021-22, £19,109,427 in 2022-23 and £11,845,266 in 2023-24) be approved

(viii)  The proposed three-year capital budget for 2021-22 be financed as follows:

• grants and contributions ……..£42,932,461

• borrowing………………...…….£1,042,026

• capital receipts …………………..£310,585

(ix)  That the revision of the 2020-21 capital budget from £11,628,748 to £11,792,253 is approved.

The subject of the decision

The Chief Officer Assets and S151 Officer submitted a report which asked members to approve the authorities Capital Investment Strategy for 2021-22.

Councillor J Lister moved the recommendation as per the report; this was seconded by Councillor T Markley. The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

Not to agree the Capital Investment Strategy.

The reason for the decision

The Strategy defined at the highest level how the capital programme was to be determined, identified the issues and options that influence capital spending and set out how the resources and capital programme would be managed.

The decision

Recommended

That Council be requested to agree that the Capital Investment Strategy as set out in Appendix A be approved.

The subject of the decision

The Policy Manager (Corporate, Performance and Information) submitted a report to advise Members on the Council’s performance at the end of quarter three 2020/21, covering the period from 1 October to 31 December 2020.

Members considered and noted the progress made against each of the key projects and activities set out in the Corporate Business Plan.

The report contained 39 projects/activities and 40 key performance indicators. Of the projects/activities 1 was marked as complete, 34 were on target and 4 had concerns over their deadlines or outputs being achieved. Of the listed KPIs 24 were reported on the RAG report, 14 were on target, 7 had concerns on their target being achieved and 3 had significant concerns.

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

Alternative options considered

None

The reason for the decision

To advise members of progress on the Corporate Business Plan priorities/activities and KPIs at the end of quarter three 2020/21.

The decision

Resolved

That the report be noted.

The subject of the decision

The Building Surveyor submitted a report which sought to advise members on the progress of the Cumbrian Coastal Strategy and to ensure development of the strategy for the future management of the Allerdale coast.

Doug Coyle and Anthony Lane from Flood & Development Management, Cumbria County Council attended the meeting to provide some background to the work.

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

Alternative options considered

Not to endorse the Strategy.

The reason for the decision

To endorse the Strategy as a plan that sets out how the risks relating to coastal flooding and erosion along the coastline would be managed over the next century. The Strategy would feed in to the Councils Local Plan and area based tactical plans for coastal management.

The decision

Resolved

That the Cumbria Coastal Strategy be endorsed by Allerdale Borough Council.

The subject of the decision

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Performance and Economic Strategy) submitted a report which asked members to approve the Resilient Communities Strategy.

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

Alternative options considered

Not to approve the draft Strategy.

The reason for the decision

A Resilient Communities Strategy had been developed to sit under the Council Strategy, to set out how the Council could support its community’s right across the district, helping them become more adaptable and resilient.

The decision

Resolved

That the draft Resilient Communities Strategy, as presented at Appendix A of the report, be approved.

The subject of the decision

The Assistant Chief Executive (Policy, Strategy and Performance) submitted a report which asked members to consider and adopt the Workington Town Centre Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

The SPD was to provide additional planning guidance to support the delivery and implementation of the policies and site allocations in a Local Plan.

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

Alternative options considered

Not to approve a Supplementary Planning Document.

The reason for the decision

Once adopted by the Council, the SPD would be a material consideration when deciding development proposals in the Workington Town Centre.

The decision

Resolved

That the Workington Town Supplementary Planning Document, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report, be approved.

The subject of the decision

The Senior Licensing and Compliance Officer submitted a report which asked members to approve a review of the fees and charges for Scrap Metal Dealers and to amend the delegated powers in line with legislation.

Councillor J Lister moved the recommendations as per the report; this was seconded by Councillor M Fitzgerald. The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

Not to review the fees and charges.

The reason for the decision

To review the fees and charges that had been in place since 2013.

The decision

Resolved

That –

1.  Fees and charges be set as follows:

2.  The Scheme of Delegation be amended as follows:

a)  delegate power to determine (including the imposition of conditions) all types of applications regarding Site Licences and Collectors Licences (where no objection is made) to either of the following: Head of Governance, Legal and Licensing Manager, Senior Licensing and Compliance Officer and/or the Licensing and Compliance Officer;

b)  delegate power to determine (including imposition of conditions) all types of applications regarding Site Licences and Collectors Licences (where an objection is made) to the Portfolio Holder for Legal and Finance, Head of Governance and/or Legal and Licensing Manager acting together;

c)  delegate power to refuse Site Licences and Collectors Licences to the Portfolio Holder for Legal and Finance, Head of Governance and/or Legal and Licensing Manager acting together;

d)  delegate power to revoke Site Licences and Collectors Licences to either of the following: Head of Governance, Legal and Licensing Manager, Senior Licensing and Compliance Officer and/or Licensing and Compliance Officer  and;

e)  delegate power to institute, defend or participate in any action or legal proceedings in respect of any matter relating to the 2013 Act (including but not limited to the service of any notice or order, the exercise of any power of entry or inspection; the commencement of a prosecution for any offence under the 2013 Act or the defence of any appeal against a decision of the Council made under the 2013 Act) in any case where the Head of Governance considers that such action is necessary to protect or progress the Council’s interest, to the Head of Governance and/or the Legal and Licensing Manager.