Issue - meetings

To receive the minutes and consider the recommendations and/or referrals from the following meetings of the Executive Committee:

11^th February 2014

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration will include:

·        Housing Revenue Account Initial Estimates / Rent Setting 2014/15;

·        Fees and Charges (Appendices under separate cover);

·        Independent Remuneration Panel for Worcestershire District Councils – Annual Report and Recommendations for 2014/15;

·        Redditch Borough Council Response to Birmingham Development Plan Pre-Submission Consultation; and

• Policy for Securing Repayment of Disabled Facilities Grants and Lifetime Loans.

24^th February 2014

Matters requiring the Council’s consideration will include:

·        Medium Term Financial Plan 2014/15 – 2016/17

(Minutes and reports from the meeting on 11^th February 2014 attached; report for 24^th February 2014 to be included with the agenda papers for that Executive Committee meeting)

The Council considered the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 11^th February 2014 and the recommendations of the Executive Committee meeting immediately preceding this meeting of the Council.

During the discussion on the proposed Fees and Charges for 2014/15, there was some disquiet at the recommended increase in charges for Junior Swimming Lessons. The proposed rise in charges was contrasted with the continued provision of Free Swimming for under-16s and the Portfolio Holder was requested to reconsider this recommendation. The recommended charges for several other service areas, such as Environmental Services, were also noted as being very substantial compared to the charges levied in the previous year. The Leader advised that the overall increase in the levels of Fees and Charges was 3%, meaning that in some areas charges had increased by a greater amount whereas in others proposed charges were the same or lower than in previous years. In respect of Junior Swimming charges, it was noted that the charges proposed by Redditch Borough would still compare very favourably with the charges in neighbouring authorities. Members voted on an amendment recommending a review of the proposed increase in Junior Swimming charges but the amendment was lost.

In respect of the Report and Recommendations from the Independent Remuneration Panel, Members repeated a long-standing concern that they were placed in an invidious position in having to take a decision on their own remuneration. To that end, it was further recommended that their views be reported to central Government through the local Member of Parliament.

There was considerable Member interest in the Medium Term Financial Plan and robust discussion of a number of matters included within the proposed expenditure and savings and included amongst the unavoidable pressures highlighted within the report. The surrender of the lease on Threadneedle House by Barclays Bank and the subsequent decision to declare the property surplus and place it on the market was the subject of further debate. In the course of the debate, the issue of the money received from Barclays Bank in respect of dilapidations and the possibility of this money being clawed back by the Bank was raised. Officers stated their confidence that no such claw back would occur but undertook to verify this fact.

11^th February 2014

RESOLVED that

Housing Revenue Account Initial Estimates  / Rent Setting 2014/15

1)         the draft 2014/2015 Estimates for the Housing Revenue Account attached to the report at Appendix A, be approved;

2)         the actual average rent increase for 2014/2015 be 5.13% (3.2% RPI plus 1.93% due to rent restructuring);

3)        £3.5m be transferred to a reserve as a Revenue Contribution to Capital to fund the future Capital Programme and repay borrowing;

Fees and Charges 2014/15

4)        the fees and charges for 2014/15 as set out in Appendix 1- 9 to the report be approved; other than in cases where:-

a)         fees or charges are statutory,

b)    fees and charges are set externally, or

c)    other Council- approved circumstances apply.;

5)        the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87