Agenda and draft minutes

To receive the notes of the meeting held on 11 May 2020

The notes of the previous meeting held on 11 May were received.

The Group will receive an update on the MTFS from the Head of Finance, before it is considered by Cabinet on 23 July.

The Director of Corporate Resources updated the Group on the draft MTFS that would be presented to Cabinet on 23 July.  Because of the pandemic, the Council had lost a significant amount of income since March, in particular from parking and leisure facilities, and at this point it was impossible to forecast with any accuracy how these income streams would recover. The government had also just announced an arts support package and a compensation scheme for loss of income, although the details were at present unknown.  Any grant funding from these would need to be factored in. There was a possibility of future government grants.

Beyond taking some measured actions now such as a reduced capital programme, the Cabinet Member stated that because the current situation was very uncertain it was advisable to wait until later in the year when income streams had stabilised rather than regret hasty action later. At that stage efficiency savings and other expenditures could be reviewed.

The Cabinet Member agreed that a redrafted MTFS would be brought to the Group before any decisions on how to balance the budgets were considered by Cabinet in November. 

The Group will consider the draft report regarding the Transformation Fund, which will be considered by Cabinet on 23 July.

The Head of Finance reminded the Group that the Transformation Fund had been created to support projects designed to create efficiencies and generate income. 

The proposal to top-up the fund from the 2019/20 surplus would help to accelerate some of the projects, in particular the installation of new planning and regulatory IT systems.  

The Group were supportive of the proposal, which would be considered by Cabinet on 23 July. 

The Head of Property and Facilities will brief the Group on the proposed grant of an option over surplus land in Storrington.

The Head of Property & Facilities gave a presentation on a proposal to sell surplus HDC land at Storrington.  There were three parcels of neighbouring land suitable for development.  These were owned by HDC, the Parochial Church Council and land owned jointly by HDC and the Parish Council.  HDC was working with the other landowners to negotiate a deal to dispose of the land as a single site for development. 

The Group noted the proposed apportionment of proceeds between the three landowners. If developed as a single site there would be capacity for 25 dwellings, five of which could be affordable housing.

The Cabinet Member explained how each party would benefit from working together.  A proposal to approve such a deal would be considered by Cabinet on 23 July.

To note the Forward Plan extract for the Finance and Assets Portfolio

The Forward Plan extract for the Finance & Assets portfolio was noted.