Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet - Monday, 6th February, 2023 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber - Council Offices. View directions

Contact: Emma Denny  Email: emma.denny@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

105.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 305 KB

To approve, as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 3rd January 2023.

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 3rd January were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

 

106.

Public Questions and Statements

To receive questions and statements from the public, if any.

Minutes:

None received.

107.

Items of Urgent Business

To determine any other items of business which the Chairman decides should be considered as a matter of urgency pursuant to Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972

108.

Declarations of Interest pdf icon PDF 721 KB

Members are asked at this stage to declare any interests that they may have in any of the following items on the agenda. The Code of Conduct for Members requries that declarations include the nature of the interest and whether it is a disclosable pecuniary interest (see attached guidance and flowchart)

Minutes:

None received.

109.

Members' Questions

To receive oral questions from Members, if any

Minutes:

The Chairman advised members that they could ask questions as matters arose.

110.

Recommendations from Cabinet Working Parties

Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party – 16th January / 30th January 2023

 

Please note that the Working Party meeting was adjourned due to technical issues. The Cabinet member for Planning (and Chairman of the Working Party) will update members verbally at the Cabinet meeting.

 

Local Plan Submission: Proposed Modifications (Site Allocations)

 

Recommendation:

 

  1. To recommend to Cabinet that the appended Schedules of proposed modifications along with the Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan be submitted for independent examination.

 

  1. To delegate minor amendments in the finalisation of the submission version & Schedules and associated documents to the Planning Policy Manager in conjunction with the Planning Policy Team Leader and the Portfolio Holder. 

 

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

Local Plan Submission: Proposed Modifications (Site Allocations)

 

  1. Members of the Planning Policy & Built Heritage Working Party recommend to Cabinet that the appended Schedules of proposed modifications along with the Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan be submitted for independent examination.

 

  1. To delegate minor amendments (with the exception of the North Walsham scheme) in the finalisation of the submission version & Schedules and associated documents to the Planning Policy Manager in conjunction with the Planning Policy Team Leader and the Portfolio Holder. 

 

Minutes:

Cllr A Brown, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Chairman of the Working Party introduced this item. He explained that the focus was on site allocations and there was a robust debate concentrating on the development in North Walsham and although the recommendation was accepted, he said he wished to propose the following amendment (in italics) to Recommendation 2:

 

‘To delegate minor amendments (with the exception of the North Walsham Scheme) in the finalisation of the submission version and schedules and associated documents, to the Planning Policy Manager in conjunction with the Planning Policy Team Leader and the Portfolio Holder’

 

Cllr Brown said that Members did not agree that the North Walsham scheme could be considered to have any minor amendments. It was a flagship scheme for the District and it was imperative that the infrastructure to support it was carefully considered and was not a minor matter. The amendment was seconded by Cllr E Seward.

 

It was proposed by Cllr A Brown, seconded by Cllr E Seward and

 

RESOLVED

 

Local Plan Submission: Proposed Modifications (Site Allocations)

 

  1. To agree that the appended Schedules of proposed modifications along with the Proposed Submission version of the Local Plan be submitted for independent examination.

 

  1. To delegate minor amendments (with the exception of the North Walsham scheme) in the finalisation of the submission version & Schedules and associated documents to the Planning Policy Manager in conjunction with the Planning Policy Team Leader and the Portfolio Holder. 

 

111.

Recommendations from Overview & Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 102 KB

The following recommendations were made to Cabinet by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee at the meeting held on 25th January:

 

 

11. MEDIUM TERM FINANCIAL STRATEGY 2024-27

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    To recommend to Cabinet that financial modelling of inflationary costs of up to 5% for staff and fees be included in the report to identify potential risks.

 

2.    To recommend to Cabinet that, in recognition of the increasing risks of deficits arising, robust savings and income generation contingency plans need to be developed soonest in FY 23/24 to ensure that financial risks can be adequately mitigated for 2024-25 and onwards

 

 

Minutes:

The Chairman invited Cllr N Dixon, Chairman of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee to speak. Cllr Dixon said that the Committee had made two recommendations to Cabinet at the meeting held on 25th January. Both related to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS):

 

1.    To recommend to Cabinet that financial modelling of inflationary costs of up to 5% for staff and fees be included in the report to identify potential risks.

 

2.    To recommend to Cabinet that, in recognition of the increasing risks of deficits arising, robust savings and income generation contingency plans need to be developed soonest in FY 23/24 to ensure that financial risks can be adequately mitigated for 2024-25 and onwards

 

He explained that the Committee had been concerned that the modelling of inflationary costs for staff was too low at 2% and recommended that this should be increased to 5%. Regarding the second recommendation, he said that there had been consensus that the gaps in coming years were concerning and this should be looked at carefully as soon as possible. He added that the Portfolio Holder had already acknowledged his own concerns about this.

 

Cllr Seward replied that the 5% increase for staff costs was now included in the report. He added that the Director for Resources had already agreed to start work early on addressing the deficit in future years.

 

112.

Delegated Decisions - September 2022 onwards pdf icon PDF 124 KB

Summary:

 

 

 

Options considered:

This report details the decisions taken by Senior Officers under delegated powers from September 2022 to January 2023

 

 

Not applicable.

 

 

 

Recommendations:

 

 

 

Reasons for

Recommendations:

 

To receive and note the report and the register of officer decisions taken under delegated powers.

 

 

The Constitution: Chapter 6, Part 5, sections 5.1 and 5.2. details the exercise of any power or function of the Council where waiting until a meeting of Council or a committee would disadvantage the Council. The Constitution requires that any exercise of such powers should be reported to the next meeting of Council, Cabinet or working party (as appropriate)

Section 2.1 sets out the requirements regarding the reporting of conditional delegated decisions,

 

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published elsewhere)

 

 

Delegated decision forms – as completed by the relevant officer

 

 

 

               

Cabinet Member(s)

All

 

Ward(s) affected

All

Contact Officer, telephone number and email:

Emma Denny, Democratic Services Manager, 01263 516010

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Democratic Services Manager explained that this was a statutory report to inform Members of any delegated decisions taken by officers. It would go to the next meeting of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and then go on to the Council’s website. She added that there were fewer decisions to report as emergency powers were no longer being used now that the pandemic had effectively ended.

 

RESOLVED

 

To receive and note the report and the register of officer decisions taken under delegated powers.

 

113.

Capital Strategy 2023 - 2024 pdf icon PDF 258 KB

Summary:

This report sets out the Council’s Capital Strategy for the year 2023-24. It sets out the Council’s approach to the deployment of capital resources in meeting the Council’s overall aims and objectives while providing the strategic framework for the effective management and monitoring of the capital programme.

 

Options Considered:

This report must be prepared to ensure the Council complies with the CIPFA Treasury Management and Prudential Codes.

 

Conclusions:

The Council is required to approve a Capital Strategy to demonstrate compliance with the Codes and establishes the strategic framework for the management of the capital programme.

 

Recommendations:

That Cabinet recommends to Full Council that;

 

(a)  The Capital Strategy and Prudential Indicators for 2023-24 are approved.

 

Reasons for Recommendation:

Approval by Council demonstrates compliance with the Codes and provides a framework within which to consider capital investment decisions.

 

 

 

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information, and which are not published elsewhere)

 

 

 None

 

 

               

Cabinet Member(s)

 

Ward(s) affected: All

Contact Officer and email:

Tracy Stone   

tracy.stone@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

To recommend to Full Council

That the Capital Strategy and Prudential Indicators for 2023 – 2024 are approved

 

Reason for the recommendation:

Approval by Council demonstrates compliance with the Codes and provides a framework within which to consider capital investment decisions.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Assets, Cllr Seward, informed members that this report had been considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

 

It was proposed by Cllr E Seward, seconded by Cllr T Adams and

 

RESOLVED

 

To recommend to Full Council

That the Capital Strategy and Prudential Indicators for 2023 – 2024 are approved

 

Reason for the recommendation:

Approval by Council demonstrates compliance with the Codes and provides a framework within which to consider capital investment decisions.

114.

Investment Strategy 2023 - 2024 pdf icon PDF 165 KB

Summary:

This report sets out details of the Council’s investment activities and presents a strategy for the prudent investment of the Council’s resources.

 

 

Options Considered:

Alternative investment and debt options are continuously appraised by the Council’s treasury advisors, Arlingclose and all appropriate options are included within this Strategy.

 

Conclusions:

The preparation of this Strategy is necessary to comply with the guidance issued by the Department of Levelling Up, Housing & Communities (DLUHC).

 

Recommendations:

To recommend that the Council be asked to RESOLVE that The Investment Strategy is approved.

 

Reasons for Recommendation:

The Strategy provides the Council with a flexible investment strategy enabling it to respond to changing market conditions.

 

 

 

           

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr E Seward

Ward(s) affected: All

Contact Officer, telephone number and email: Tina Stankley, tina.stankley@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

 

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

To recommend to Full Council that the Investment Strategy 2023 – 2024 is approved

 

Reason for the recommendation:

 

The Strategy provides the Council with a flexible investment strategy enabling it to respond to changing market conditions.

 

Minutes:

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Assets, Cllr Seward, informed members that this report had been considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

 

It was proposed by Cllr E Seward, seconded by Cllr T Adams and

 

RESOLVED

 

To recommend to Full Council that the Investment Strategy 2023 – 2024 is approved

 

Reason for the recommendation:

 

The Strategy provides the Council with a flexible investment strategy enabling it to respond to changing market conditions.

 

115.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023 - 2024 pdf icon PDF 628 KB

Summary:

This report sets out details of the Council’s investment activities and presents a strategy for the prudent investment of the Council’s resources. 

Options Considered:

Alternative investment and debt options are continuously appraised by the Council’s treasury advisors, Arlingclose and all appropriate options are included within this Strategy.

Conclusions:

The preparation of this Strategy is necessary to comply with the guidance issued by CIPFA

Recommendations:

To recommend that the Council be asked to RESOLVE that The Treasury Management Strategy is approved.

Reasons for Recommendation:

The Strategy provides the Council with a flexible investment strategy enabling it to respond to changing market conditions, and ensures the Council complies with CIPFA guidance.

 

 

 

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr E Seward

Ward(s) affected: All

Contact Officer, and email: Tina Stankley, Tina.Stankley@north-norfolk.gov.uk

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

To recommend to Full Council that the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023 – 2024 is approved.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

The Strategy provides the Council with a flexible investment strategy enabling it to respond to changing market conditions and ensures the Council complies with CIPFA guidance.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Assets, Cllr Seward, informed members that this report had been considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee. He added that with interest rates rising, there was no intention to engage with any borrowing, including short term borrowing in the next year.

 

RESOLVED

 

To recommend to Full Council that the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023 – 2024 is approved.

 

Reason for the decision:

 

The Strategy provides the Council with a flexible investment strategy enabling it to respond to changing market conditions and ensures the Council complies with CIPFA guidance.

116.

Fees & Charges 2023 - 2024 pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Summary:

 

 

 

Options considered:

This is an updated report that recommends the fees and charges for the financial year 2023-24 that will come into effect from 1st April 2023. This has been updated to reflect additional increases following the savingsreview.

 

Alternatives for the individual service fees and charges now being proposed will have been considered as part of the process in arriving at the fees presented within the report.

Conclusions:

The fees and charges as recommended have been used to inform the income budgets for the 2023/24 budget.

Recommendations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for Recommendations:

That Cabinet agree and recommend to Full Council:

a)  The fees and charges from 1 April 2023 as included in AppendixA.

b)  That Delegated Authority be given to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the PortfolioHolder for Finance and relevant Heads of Service, to agree those fees and charges not included within Appendix A as required, as outlined within the report

 

To approve the fees and charges as set out in the report

that will have been used to support the 2023/24 budget process.

 

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published elsewhere)

Text Box: Current fees and charges

 

 

Cabinet Member(s)

Ward(s) affected: All

Contact Officer, telephone number and email:

James Moore, 01263 516430, James.Moore@north-norfolk.gov.uk

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

To agree and recommend to Full Council:

a.  The fees and charges from 1 April 2023 as included in AppendixA.

b.  That Delegated Authority be given to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the PortfolioHolder for Finance and relevant Heads of Service, to agree those fees and charges not included within Appendix A as required, as outlined within the report

c.  That there be added to Appendix A, a provision to permit the Holt Market to operate with a single Street Market fee at such amount delegated to the Director for Communities until such time as the Street Trading Policy is approved.

 

Reasons for the recommendations

 

To approve the fees and charges as set out in the report that will have been used to support the 2023/24 budget process.

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Assets, Cllr Seward, introduced this item. He explained that this report was coming back to Cabinet, following a decision to withdraw it at the Full Council meeting on 20th December, to allow additional time to explore any possible increases to fees and charges to maximise income. He said that the revised report included an increase to garden bin charges.

 

The Leader then spoke about an amendment to enable the provision of the Holt Market fees to be more in line with the emerging Street Trading Policy. As it currently stood, each individual stall holder had to pay a fee and this was not facilitating the holding of the market in a cost-effective way. He therefore proposed that a temporary change was made to the fees for Holt, until the Street Trading Policy was in place.

Cllr Cushing asked for more detail. The Chairman replied that an appropriate charging framework was not in place yet for specialist local markets such as the one in Holt. It was proposed that there was a single fee for the whole event rather than a charge to individual stall holders.

 

Cllr J Rest referred to Fakenham market, which was run by the Town Council under a charter. The Chairman replied that this was the case and attempts had been made to see if Holt was a charter town but so far no evidence for this had been found. 

It was proposed by Cllr E Seward, seconded by Cllr T Adams and

 

RESOLVED

 

To agree and recommend to Full Council:

a.  The fees and charges from 1 April 2023 as included in AppendixA.

b.  That Delegated Authority be given to the Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the PortfolioHolder for Finance and relevant Heads of Service, to agree those fees and charges not included within Appendix A as required, as outlined within the report

c.  That there be added to Appendix A, a provision to permit the Holt Market to operate with a single Street Market fee at such amount delegated to the Director for Communities until such time as the Street Trading Policy is approved.

 

Reasons for the recommendations

 

To approve the fees and charges as set out in the report that will have been used to support the 2023/24 budget process.

117.

Draft Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023/2024 - 2026/2027 including Base Budget Projections 2023/ 2024 pdf icon PDF 374 KB

Summary:

 

 

 

Options considered:

To provide Members with the opportunity to discuss assumptions around Medium Term Financial Strategy and the impact on NNDC finances.

 

The Council is required by law to set a budget in advance of the financial year. The report to full Council will present options for budget setting with respect to Council Tax and other items.

 

Conclusions:

 

The Council is required to agree a budget in advance of each financial year. This is done is February of each year at full Council, after meetings of Cabinet and Overview and Scrutiny. To aid the Committee, an early draft of the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) is presented here for scrutiny and discussion.

 

Recommendations:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Reasons for

Recommendations:

 

It is recommended that Cabinet agree and where necessary recommend to Full Council:

1)            The 2023/24 revenue budget as outlined at appendix A;

2)            The demand on the Collection Fund for 2023/24, subject to any amendments as a result of final precepts still to be received be:

a.    £6,879,503 for District purposes

b.    £2,800,000 (exact figure not yet available and subject to confirmation of the final precepts) for Parish/Town Precepts;

3)            The statement of and movement on the reserves as detailed at appendix D;

4)            The updated Capital Programme and financing for 2022/23 to 2026/27 as detailed at Appendix C;

5)            The capital bids contained within Appendix C1, with delegated authority given to the Section 151 Officer in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Finance to decide on the most appropriate means of funding;

6)            That Members note the current financial projections for the period to 2026/27 as shown in Appendix A;

7)            That Members note the results of the consultation as shown in Appendix F.

 

To recommend a balanced budget for 2023/24 for approval by Full Council.

 

 

LIST OF BACKGROUND PAPERS AS REQUIRED BY LAW

(Papers relied on to write the report, which do not contain exempt information and which are not published elsewhere)

 

 

Budget Monitoring Reports 2022/23

Outturn Report 2021/22

Medium Term Financial Strategy 2023-26

 

 

 

               

Cabinet Member(s)

Cllr Eric Seward

Ward(s) affected

All

Contact Officer, telephone number and email:

Tina Stankley, Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer, tina.stankley@north-norfolk.gov.uk 01263 516439

 

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

Decision

RESOLVED

 

To agree and where necessary recommend to Full Council:

1)            The 2023/24 revenue budget as outlined at appendix A;

2)            The demand on the Collection Fund for 2023/24, subject to any amendments as a result of final precepts still to be received be:

a.    £6,879,503 for District purposes

b.    £2,800,000 (exact figure not yet available and subject to confirmation of the final precepts) for Parish/Town Precepts;

3)            The statement of and movement on the reserves as detailed at appendix D;

4)            The updated Capital Programme and financing for 2022/23 to 2026/27 as detailed at Appendix C;

5)            The capital bids contained within Appendix C1, with delegated authority given to the Section 151 Officer in conjunction with the Portfolio Holder for Finance to decide on the most appropriate means of funding;

6)            That Members note the current financial projections for the period to 2026/27 as shown in Appendix A;

7)            That Members note the results of the consultation as shown in Appendix F.

 

 

 

Reason for the recommendation:

 

To recommend a balanced budget for 2023/24 for approval by Full Council.

 

Minutes:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance & Assets, Cllr Seward, introduced this item. It had been considered by the Overview & Scrutiny Committee and he thanked them for their comments and recommendations.

 

He went onto say that when he spoke at the Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting, he reminded members of his prediction a year ago about ‘gathering storm clouds’, adding that there had been a huge change in the financial situation between the setting of the Budget last February and now. At the time of setting the Budget last year, inflation was predicted to be between 2-3%. It was currently above 10%. This had led to an increase in capital costs, with most materials now costing more than double than a year ago. Consequently, there was often only one expression of interest when the Council went out to tender for projects.

 

Cllr Seward referred members to section 3.10 of the report which set out in more detail the impact of inflationary pressures on certain areas of expenditure, totalling £2.947m (13.7%)

 

He said that the Council had limited options to raise income. In terms of council tax, any increase was limited to 1.99%. In addition, there had been no increase in the amount of business rates retention and in fact, due to the way that grants had been provided during Covid, the Council was having to take money from reserves in order just to maintain income. Regarding Government support, although the Council welcomed the 3% guarantee for inflation but legacy payments on the New Homes Bonus had been lost, so the result was an overall increase £135k. Consequently, the rate of inflation and the impact on the Council’s costs were not being compensated for. This meant that the Council had to start making some savings and these were set out at sections 3.8 and 3.9 of the report. There was some additional income that could be generated on commercial waste charges and on planning advice fees. There was also anticipated growth in car parking income.

 

Cllr Seward said in spite of all the financial challenges, the Council was able to maintain its services and there were currently no proposed cuts.

 

Regarding any increase to council tax, Cllr Seward made reference to the request made at Full Council in October, to consider a freeze. He said that regardless of the approach taken by NNDC, the County Council was proposing an increase of 4.99% (between £50 and £150 depending in the band) and the Police Authority had already agreed an increase of £14.94 for Band D council tax payers. He explained that the maximum increase that NNDC could make was £5, making it one of the lowest council tax precepts amongst District Councils in the country. Almost 70% of properties in North Norfolk were below Band D, so it would be less than £5.00.

 

Cllr Seward then spoke about the Medium Term Financial Strategy and forecasts for future years. He said that the Council had a balance budget for 2023/2024 and reserves of over £15m  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117.

118.

Exclusion of Press and Public

To pass the following resolution:

“That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs _ of Part I ofSchedule 12A (as amended) to the Act.”

119.

Private Business