Agenda, decisions and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

No interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last Decision Session held on 5 January 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the minutes of the last Decision Session – Executive Member for City Strategy, held on 5 January 2010 be approved and signed by the Executive Member as a correct record.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report is part of the consultation on the 2010/11 budget process. The report provides details of proposed growth and savings within the City Strategy Directorate. Full details of the budget will be considered by Executive on 16th February 2010 and then Budget Council on 25th February 2010.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member for City Strategy:

i)                    Confirms that the budget proposals are in line with the corporate priorities;

ii)                  Endorses the report and refers it to the Executive for consideration;

iii)                Agrees not to proceed with the reduction in the number of Planning Committees by one (Annex 3 CSTRS05 – Development Control Restructure) at this time.

REASON:                  As part of the consultation for the City Strategy 2010/11 budget.

The Executive Member considered a report, which presented the 2010/11 budget proposals for City Strategy. This included:

·              the revenue budget for 2010/11 (Annex 1) to show the existing budgets

·              the cost of pay and price increases, increments and settlement of pay and grading appeals for the portfolio

·              proposals for budget service pressure costs and savings options for the portfolio area (Annexes 2 and 3)

• fees and charges proposals (detailed in a separate report on the agenda)

In order to facilitate the decision making process the Executive were meeting on 16 February to consider the preferences identified by the individual portfolio Executive Members together with the results of the consultation exercise.

It was reported that the key issues in City Strategy had been the impact of the downturn on planning and parking income as well as pressures on concessionary fares.

The Executive Member noted that savings were being made in the Directorate but confirmed that it was intended to retain sufficient capacity to be able to respond to an upturn in the economy later in the year.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member for City Strategy:

i)                    Confirms that the budget proposals are in line with the corporate priorities;

ii)                  Endorses the report and refers it to the Executive for consideration;

iii)                Agrees not to proceed with the reduction in the number of Planning Committees by one (Annex 3 CSTRS05 – Development Control Restructure) at this time.

REASON:                  As part of the consultation for the City Strategy 2010/11 budget.

This report advises the Executive Member of the proposed fees and charges for the City Strategy portfolio for the financial year 2010/11 and the anticipated increase in income which they will generate.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member for City Strategy endorses the draft fees and charges proposals and agrees that they be referred to the Executive for consideration.

REASON:                  As part of the consultation for the 2010/11 budget setting process.

Consideration was given to the proposed fees and charges for the City Strategy portfolio for the 2010/11 financial year together with details of the anticipated increase in income that would be generated.

The main City Strategy charges related to:

• Residents Parking
• Car Parking and RESPARK
• Transport, Highway and Planning fees and charges

It was reported that the budget for City Strategy was supported by income from fees and charges totalling £9.5m and that this was of major significance in ensure a balance budget but that in most cases it was only proposed to increase charges in line with inflation.

The Executive Member noted that there had been no written representations in relation to the proposed fees and charges, which he felt, suggested widespread support for these proposals.

RESOLVED:             That the Executive Member for City Strategy endorses the draft fees and charges proposals and agrees that they be referred to the Executive for consideration.

REASON:                  As part of the consultation for the 2010/11 budget setting process.