Agenda and minutes

Venue: Park Suite, Parkside, Chart Way, Horsham

Contact: Email: CommitteeServices@horsham.gov.uk  Direct Line: 01403 215465

Items
No. Item

CO/43

Minutes pdf icon PDF 73 KB

To approve as correct the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18th October 2017

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 18th October 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Vice-Chairman, in the Chair.

CO/44

Declarations of Members' Interests

To receive any declarations of interest from Members

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

CO/45

Announcements

To receive any announcements from the Chairman of the Council, the Leader, Members of the Cabinet or the Chief Executive

Minutes:

The Vice-Chairman of the Council, in the Chair, asked Council to join him in wishing Councillor Roger Clarke, the Chairman of the Council, a speedy recovery from his recent bout of ill-health and in sending best wishes to Councillors Christine Costin and Leonard Crosbie who were both recuperating after recent operations.

 

The Vice-Chairman also reminded Members that there would be an Extraordinary meeting of Council on 19th December 2017, following Planning Committee (South), to receive the recommendation of the Employment Committee on the appointment of a new Chief Executive.

 

The Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture reassured Members that the statue of Mr Pirie was being stored safely on site whilst the redevelopment of Piries Place was undertaken.  He also updated Members on progress on The Bridge (the new leisure centre at Broadbridge Heath) and advised that the Year of Culture 2019 had its first major sponsor, Leonardslee Gardens.

 

The Cabinet Member for Waste, Recycling and Cleansing advised Members that they were all being provided with a briefing pack on the changes to the waste and recycling service, which were being rolled out from 5th February 2018.

CO/46

Questions from the Public

To receive questions from the public under Rules 4a.2(f) and 4a.8-18

 

Minutes:

No questions relevant to the business of the meeting had been received.

CO/47

Members' Questions on Notice

To receive questions from Members under Rules 4a.20(b)-25

Minutes:

No questions had been received.

CO/48

Recommendations from Cabinet pdf icon PDF 47 KB

To receive the recommendations from the meeting of Cabinet held on 23rd November 2017 on the Medium Term Financial Strategy – report available online at: Cabinet_agenda_23_November_2017

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets reported that Cabinet, at its meeting on 23rd November 2017, had considered a review of the Financial Strategy which, as part of the budget setting process, enabled a balanced budget target to be established with a focus on an affordable level of Council Tax, delivery of the corporate priorities and policies of the Council and the continued enhancement of value for money and satisfaction with services for the residents of the District.

 

The budget for 2017/18 had been approved in February 2017 and a balanced budget projected for 2017/18 through to 2019/20, with a projected deficit in 2020/21. Since then, further work had been undertaken on income generation, continuing the business transformation journey and other efficiency measures to mitigate cost pressures that continued to rise.  Cabinet had considered the proposed strategy for the period 2018/19 to 2021/22, which established the context for the Council’s budget and medium term financial planning scenarios and assumptions.  

 

The report to Cabinet referred to the strategic political, economic and regulatory outlook; budget assumptions based on the implementation of current income and efficiency actions; inflation cost pressures and interest rates; Council Tax; the localisation of Business Rates; New Homes Bonus; the capital programme; reserves and reserve strategy; Future Horsham initiatives; and potential actions to further mitigate the deficit in 2021/22 and beyond.

 

Council was asked to approve the recommendations from Cabinet.

 

            RESOLVED

 

(i)         That the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2018/19 to 2021/22 be approved.

 

(ii)        That New Homes Bonus be used to finance more infrastructure and investment property already in the capital programme as detailed in the report to Cabinet.

 

(iii)       That the projected balanced budgets and budget gap as detailed in report be noted.

 

REASON

 

To enable a balanced budget target to be established.

CO/49

Calendar of Meetings 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 109 KB

To receive the report of the Chief Executive

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chief Executive reported on the proposed programme of Council, Cabinet and Committee meetings, including standing Cabinet Member Policy Development Advisory Groups, for 2018/19.

 

Members and officers had been consulted to ensure that the proposed programme met the requirements for reporting on statutory matters, such as the budget and final accounts, and comments received had been taken into account in the submitted calendar.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the calendar of meetings for 2018/19 be approved as submitted.

 

REASON

 

To fix a programme of Council meetings, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution, and to approve a calendar for Cabinet and Committee meetings, which enables the Council to transact its business in a timely and efficient manner.

CO/50

Urgent Business

To consider matters certified by the Chairman as urgent

Minutes:

There was no urgent business.