Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal interests, not included on the Register of Interests, or any prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they may have in respect of business on the agenda. No additional interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting held on 16 July 2013.

RESOLVED:       That the minutes of the last Cabinet meeting held on 16 July 2013 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered to speak can do so.  The deadline for registering is 5.00pm on Monday 2 September 2013.  Members of the public can speak on agenda items or matters within the remit of the committee.

To register to speak please contact the Democracy Officer for the meeting, on the details at the foot of the agenda.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme, however two Members of Council had requested to speak on items, details of which are set out below:

4. Forward Plan (Minute 36 refers)

In relation to the forward planning of items for the Cabinet agenda, Cllr Warters questioned the date on which Cabinet would review the policy on Houses in Multiple Occupation (HMO). As the HMO database did not appear to have been updated since 2011 he asked that Officers should not determine any further HMO applications, pending this update.  

In reply to Cllr Warters comments, Cabinet Members confirmed that Department for Communities and Local Government guidance advocated the delegation of 90% of planning applications. There was therefore a need to meet these targets to ensure that applications were dealt with in a timely manner.

7. Closer Working with Leeds Bradford International Airport (Minute 39 refers)

Cllr Cuthbertson pointed out that the business case for the funding of a proposed promotional campaign at Leeds Bradford Airport provided limited evidence for subsequent objective analysis. Disappointment was also expressed that the report did not include an update on the transport link between the airport and the city.

Members received and noted details of those items listed on the Forward Plan for the next two Cabinet meetings, at the time the agenda was published.

This report provides details of the headline financial performance for 2013-14, covering the period 1 April 2013 to 30 June 2013.  The report assesses performance against budgets, progress of the council’s savings programme, the council’s revenue reserves and provides Members with an update on localisation of business rates.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree to:

(i)           Note the current projected pressures of £3,722k and note that strategies are being prepared to mitigate this position;

(ii)          Approve the virement of £100k between directorates as set out in paragraph 25 of the report.

Reason:     In order to ensure expenditure is kept within budget.

Consideration was given to a report which provided details of the headline financial performance issues for 2013/14, covering the period 1 April 2013 to 30 June 2013. The report also assessed performance against budgets, progress of the Council’s savings programme and revenue reserves and gave an update on the localisation of business rates.

Early financial pressures totalling £3,722k had been identified across all budgets although extensive work was being carried out to ensure that these were mitigated by the end of the financial year.

An overview of the forecast by Directorate had been set out at Table 1 of the report with key pressures in the areas of Highways, Waste and Fleet, Communities and Neighbourhoods, children under the care of the council and adult social care were set out in detail in paragraphs 5 to 8.

It was confirmed that, if the mitigation strategies did not deliver the required improvements, the Director of Customer and Business Support Services would report to Cabinet outside of the normal reporting schedule.

The Cabinet Member detailed the key pressures and proposed mitigating actions, highlighting the city’s competitive economy. 

Following further discussion it was

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree to:

(i)           Note the current projected pressures of £3,722k and note that strategies are being prepared to mitigate this position;

(ii)          Approve the virement of £100k between directorates as set out in paragraph 25 of the report. ^1.

Reason:     In order to ensure expenditure is kept within budget.

This report sets out the projected capital programme outturn position for 2013/14 including any under/over spends and adjustments, along with requests to re-profile budgets to/from current and future years.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree to:

·                    Note the 2013/14 revised budget of £77.184m as set out in paragraph 6 and at Table 1 of the report;

·                    Note the restated capital programme for 2013/14 – 2017/18 as set out in paragraph 28, Table 2 and detailed in Annex A of the report.

Reason:     To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.

[See also Part B minute]

Members considered a report which set out the projected capital programme outturn position for 2013/14, including any under or overspends and adjustments, together with requests to re-profile budget between years, set out in full at Annex A of the report.

The approved 2013/14 capital programme, updated in July, of £75.7m had been increased in this monitor by £1.4m resulting in a revised capital programme of £77.1m. The variances by Directorate were set out at Table 1 of the report, with a summary of the key exceptions and implications for the capital programme set out at paragraphs 8 to 24.

As a result of the changes, the revised 5 year capital programme was set out at Table 2 with details of the financing of the programme at Table 3.

Resolved:  That Cabinet agree to:

·                    Note the 2013/14 revised budget of £77.184m as set out in paragraph 6 and at Table 1 of the report;

·                    Note the restated capital programme for 2013/14 – 2017/18 as set out in paragraph 28, Table 2 and detailed in Annex A of the report.

Reason:     To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.

This report proposes promotional activity to be undertaken at the Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) as part of the city’s efforts to maximise access to international markets.

Resolved:           That Cabinet agree the Economic Infrastructure bid of £85K for the promotional activity with Leeds Bradford International Airport, as detailed in the report.

Reason:              To maximize access to international markets and meet the city’s ambitions of being a top 5 UK city and top 10 European city by 2015.

Consideration was given to a report which set out details of promotional activity to be undertaken at Leeds Bradford International Airport (LBIA) as part of the city’s efforts to maximize access to international markets. A business case at Annex A to the report set out further details of the proposals together with proposed outcomes and outputs.

The promotion would initially involve the provision of £10k funding from the Economic Infrastructure Fund (EIF) for the development of a campaign to promote the City of York as a destination to visit, do business and study. This would be followed by a further £75k per annum over 4 years to roll out the campaign, depending on the results of monitoring and evaluation. Contributions would also be sought from partner organisations across the city.

The Cabinet Leader made reference to the earlier speaker’s comments, in relation to the transport links between the city and the airport, referring to previous operational issues. He confirmed  that work was ongoing with other authorities to reinstate this link; this would however be in the medium to longer term.

Resolved:           That Cabinet agree the Economic Infrastructure bid of £85K for the promotional activity with Leeds Bradford International Airport, as detailed in the report. ^1.

Reason:              To maximize access to international markets and meet the city’s ambitions of being a top 5 UK city and top 10 European city by 2015.

Recommended:      That Cabinet agree to recommend to Council:

·      The adjustments in the Capital programme of an increase of £1.473m in 2013/14 as detailed in the report and contained in Annex A.

·      Approval the following Housing & Public Protection schemes:

(i)    The allocation of £385k of external grants  for Housing Grants & Associated investments programme;

(ii)   The use of £255k of housing balances to fund the HRA Property Buy Back scheme;

(iii)   Note the removal of £153k of grant

resulting in a reduction of the Disabled Facilities Grant programme of works.

Reason:                        To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.

[See also Part A minute]

Members considered a report which set out the projected capital programme outturn position for 2013/14, including any under or overspends and adjustments, together with requests to re-profile budget between years, set out in full at Annex A of the report.

The approved 2013/14 capital programme, updated in July, of £75.7m had been increased in this monitor by £1.4m resulting in a revised capital programme of £77.1m. The variances by Directorate were set out at Table 1 of the report, with a summary of the key exceptions and implications for the capital programme set out at paragraphs 8 to 24.

As a result of the changes, the revised 5 year capital programme was set out at Table 2 with details of the financing of the programme at Table 3.

Recommended:      That Cabinet agree to recommend to Council:

·      The adjustments in the Capital programme of an increase of £1.473m in 2013/14 as detailed in the report and contained in Annex A.

·      Approval the following Housing & Public Protection schemes:

(i)    The allocation of £385k of external grants  for Housing Grants & Associated investments programme;

(ii)   The use of £255k of housing balances to fund the HRA Property Buy Back scheme;

(iii)   Note the removal of £153k of grant

resulting in a reduction of the Disabled Facilities Grant programme of works. ^1.

Reason:                        To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.