Agenda and minutes

To receive the apologies of any Member who is unable to attend this meeting.

An apology for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Derek Taylor.

To invite Councillors to declare any interests they may have in items on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

1.         To give notice of any items for future meetings or for the Forward Plan, including any scheduled for this meeting, but now carried forward or deleted; and

2          any other relevant announcements.

(Oral report)

The Chair advised that the following items of business, scheduled on the Forward Plan to be dealt with at this meeting, had been re-scheduled to a later meeting of the Committee:

·        Housing Revenue Account – Outcome of Review

·        Street Naming Policy

She also advised that she had accepted the following Item as Urgent Business:

·        Item 10 – Referrals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 24th January 2012.

(Not meeting the publication deadline)

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on the 10th January 2012.

(Minutes attached)

RESOLVED that

the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Committee held on 10th January 2012 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To make recommendations on the Capital and Revenue Budgets and on the Council Tax Level for 2012/13.

(Report attached)

Members considered a report on the Revenue and Capital bids to be included in the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2012/13 – 2014/15 and whether to propose any revisions or additions.

Officers reported that a number of Revenue and Capital bids had been developed for Members consideration.  Only those bids that had been rated as “High” had been included for funding within the Medium Term Financial Plan, as detailed in Appendices A and B of the report.

The Committee received a referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee requesting that consideration be given to increasing the rating to “High” for an Energy Advisor to be employed jointly by Redditch Borough Council and Bromsgrove District Council.

Members agreed to include a further revenue bid, rated as “High” to fund an extension of the Service 61 bus route from the Redditch Bus Station to the Abbey Stadium for one year at a cost of £3,000.  Use of the services would be monitored.  Officers agreed to investigate whether ‘Choose How You Move’ funding could be accessed. 

RESOLVED that

1)                 the Revenue and Capital bids, attached to the report at Appendices A and B be noted;

2)                 the Revenue bid for an Energy Advisor to be employed jointly by  Redditch Borough Council and Bromsgrove District Council, be supported as a “High” priority;

3)                 a Revenue bid to fund an extension to the Service 61 bus route from Redditch Bus Station to the Abbey Stadium at a cost of £3000 for one year, be added as “High” priority; and

4)                 the current position for 2012/13 – 2014/15, as outlined in paragraph 3.6 of the report, be noted.

To consider the proposed fees and charges for 2012/13 for the Council’s chargeable services.

(Report attached)

The Committee received a report seeking approval of the proposed fees and charges for 2012/13 for the Council’s chargeable services.

Members noted amendments to Appendices 1 and 2, previously circulated.

Officers reported a number of minor amendments to Appendix 7 as follows:

(Page 67)

(Page 70)

RESOLVED that

the fees and charges for 2012/13 as amended , attached at
Appendices 1 - 8 of 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.

To consider Intitial Estimates for HRA 2012/13 and the proposed dwelling rents for 2012/13.

(Report attached)

The Committee received a report which sought approval of the Initial Estimates for the Housing Revenue Account for 2012/13 and the proposed dwelling rents for 2012/13.

RECOMMENDED that

1)         the draft 2012/13 Estimates for the Housing Revenue Account, attached to the report at Appendix 1, be approved;

2)         the actual average rent increase for 2012/13 be 7%; and

3)         £2 million be transferred to a reserve as a Revenue Contribution to Capital to fund the future Capital Programme.

To consider approving a new policy on Bribery and a new Code of Conduct

for Officers.

(Report attached)

Members considered a report which sought approval of a Corporate Anti-Bribery Policy and amended Officer Code of Conduct.

Officers reported that in accordance with the Bribery Act 2010 the Council must comply with the requirement to have an anti-bribery policy, which will also demonstrate that the Council has “adequate procedures” in place to prevent bribery by both Members and Officers.  The Act is also required to be incorporated into the Officer Code of Conduct, which has been amended for this purpose and updated generally.

RECOMMENDED that

1)                 the Corporate Anti-Bribery Policy, attached at Appendix 1 of the report, be adopted and added to the Council’s Constitution;

2)                 the amended Officer Code of Conduct, attached at Appendix 2 of the report, be adopted; and

3)                                         the Constitutional pack be updated accordingly.

To receive the minutes of the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on the 10th January 2012.

All recommendations were considered at the meeting of the Executive Committee on 10th January 2012.

(Minutes attached)

The Committee received the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 10th January 2012.

Members were informed that all recommendations had been considered at the meeting of the Executive Committee on 10th January 2012.

RESOLVED that

the minutes be noted.

To receive and consider any outstanding minutes or referrals from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Executive Panels etc. since the last meeting of the Executive Committee, other than as detailed in the items above.

The Committee received a referral from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee regarding a Petition that had been considered at their meeting on 24th January 2012 about provision of Short Stay Parking in the town centre.

RESOLVED that

Officers facilitate a meeting with relevant agencies and stakeholders, including the petitioners, to discuss proposals for short stay car parking in the town centre.

To consider, for monitoring / management purposes, an update on the work of the Executive Committee’s Advisory Panels and similar bodies, which report via the Executive Committee.

The Committee considered the latest Advisory Panels report.

Members noted that there had been further meetings of the Grants Panel since September 2011.

RESOLVED that

the report be noted.

To consider an update on the actions arising from previous meetings of the Committee.

Members considered the Committee’s Action Monitoring report.  It was noted that the Write-Off of Debts and Quarterly Monitoring of the Benefits Service Improvement Plan could be removed from the report.

RESOLVED that

subject to the amendments detailed in the preamble above, the report be noted.