Agenda and minutes

None.

RESOLVED- that the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

None.

To receive the latest financial monitoring information for the year.

The Cabinet Member: Finance, Governance & Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Finance & Human Resources. The report outlined the latest financial monitoring position relating to the revenue budget, capital programme and income collection.

The report highlighted the current pressures faced nationally due to soaring inflation rates and the cost of living crisis. The ongoing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic continued to be felt. Before application of contingencies, the projected outturn position was expected to be over budget by £4.627m by the year end, however, by using contingencies, the overall position would be brought back into balance.

The report outlined a number of variations from the approved budget, which mostly related to increased costs due to inflationary pressures.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The 2022/23 revenue budget position be noted;

b)   The position in relation to capital spend be noted;

c)    The collection rates for NNDR, council tax and sales ledger be noted.

To receive the final recommendations in respect of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy.

The Cabinet Member: Finance, Governance & Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Finance & Human Resources. The report detailed the Revenue Budget, medium term Capital Strategy and Programme, the Investment and Treasury Management Strategies and Prudential Indicators.  The report sought approval of the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy for the four years 2023/24-2026/27.

On 3 March 2022 the Council approved the current Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the four year period up to 2025/26. Since the Strategy had been set, there had been a significant increase in demand for key services and higher costs relating to these services, particularly around adult social care and energy costs.

There were significant financial challenges nationally; the continuing impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, the war in Ukraine and the cost of living crisis.

In view of this significant uncertainty over the future of local government finance and what resources may be available to the Council beyond the following year, and the uncertainties caused by these issues and the local elections in May 2023, a detailed budget for 2023/24 within the context of the four year MTFS was proposed.

The report identified key strategies including:-

·                   No increase in the general Council Tax precept, however, the Government’s 2% Adult Social Care precept would be applied, which would raise £1.588m towards the additional investment required in Adult Social Care services.

·                   Extra net investment of £7.26m into Adult Social Care Services and an additional £2.5m into Children’s Safeguarding.

·                   A programme of capital investments totalling more than £364m as set out in the Capital Strategy and Capital Programme reports which included:-

·                   £70m investment into NuPlace and Telford & Wrekin Homes

·                   £70m to support further Growth Fund initiatives which would bring new employment opportunities into the Borough

·                   £40m for education capital projects, including investment in school expansion projects to increase pupil places

·                   £40m for transport and highways schemes

·                   £8.7m for a swimming pool in the Dawley area

·                   £1.8m into the Stronger Communities project

The Council continued to provide a comprehensive package of support for residents to help with the cost of living.

Since 2009/10, the Council had delivered savings of £141m per annum. The report put forward additional proposals to deliver further savings and generate additional income.

Attached to the report were a number of appendices, including a robustness statement from the CFO, analysis of base budget movements, and details of Reserves and Balances.

The Capital Strategy report was a requirement of the Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities. The aim of the strategy was to give an overview of the long-term context in which capital expenditure and investment decisions were made and to highlight the consideration given to risks and rewards as well as the achievement of Council priorities.

Recommendations by Cabinet would be considered at Full Council on 2 March 2023 as Full Council was responsible for setting the overall revenue and capital budget framework.  At that meeting the Council Tax for 2023/34 would also be set.

The Chair of the Business & Finance Scrutiny Committee presented the  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB-213

To receive the draft Ageing Well Strategy and consider public consultation on the same.

The Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care & Health, Integration and Transformation presented the report of the Director: Adult Social Care. The report outlined the development of the place based Ageing Well Strategy and sought approval to go to public consultation.

People were living longer and the number of older people, both locally and nationally, were increasing. In 2021, there were around 3,600 adults aged over 85 in Telford and Wrekin, by 2032 there were projected to be 5,600.  The strategy had been developed in partnership with various organisations such as Age UK and the NHS.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group welcomed the report and noted the valuable contribution that older people played within their community.

In response to a question from the Leader of the Conservative Group, it was confirmed that work was ongoing for rural areas and that Town and Parish Councils and ward members would continue to have an important role.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The public consultation on the draft Ageing Well Strategy be approved;

b)   The consultation in the community and with all partners be supported and championed;

c)    Authority be Delegated to the Director: Adult Social Care, in consultation with the Cabinet Member: Adult Social Care and the Telford and Wrekin Ageing Well Partnership Board to amend and approve the strategy and associated action plan, following consultation.

To receive and consider the refreshed Telford & Wrekin Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023-2025.

The Cabinet Member: Leisure, Public Health and Well-Being, Equalities & Partnerships presented the report of the Director: Health & Wellbeing. The report provided an update on the refreshed strategy which had been developed by the new Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board.

The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (DA Act) had provided new context, duties and responsibilities on Local Authorities and partner organisations. A Telford & Wrekin Domestic Abuse Local Partnership Board had been established, in conjunction with eh national Domestic Abuse Charity, SafeLives. The report outlined the key elements of the new service.

Cabinet Members welcomed the report and discussed the new framework around managing perpetrators of abuse. Cabinet Members welcomed the commitment to dealing with child to parent abuse.

The Leader of the Conservative Group raised a question regarding pursuing orders where possible should be changed to where necessary, the Leader of the Council advised that the Council would discuss this with the police, as they held the necessary powers.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The Telford & Wrekin Domestic Abuse Strategy 2023/2025 be approved;

b)   The Council sign up to the Child to Parent Abuse Covenant.

To receive the report on the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Policy and the annual update.

The Cabinet Member: Finance, Governance & Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Policy & Governance. The report sought approval of the revised Regulation of Investigatory Powers (RIPA) policy which would govern how and in what circumstances these investigatory powers would be used.

The policy set out the types of surveillance which could be used and the circumstances in which it would be appropriate to make use of these powers.

The report set out the number of times the Council had used its RIPA powers in the preceeding two years.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the revised RIPA policy be considered and approved;

b)   the Council’s use and compliance with RIPA for the years 2021 and 2022 be noted;

c)    Authority be delegated to the Director: Policy & Governance to make any necessary amendments to the Council’s RIPA Policy as a result of legislative changes or for administrative convenience.

To receive the update on the Enforcement Policy relating to letting agencies.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member: Housing, Enforcement & Transport presented the report of the Director: Neighbourhood & Enforcement Services. The report sought approval of the new Enforcement Policy relating to letting agencies.

The report outlined how the Council would enforce the letting agencies legislation and the determination of financial penalties where there was non-compliance. The policy would support the Council is delivering a consistent approach to housing enforcement.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the Enforcement Policy relating to Letting Agencies (Appendix A of the report) which outlines the Council’s approach to enforcement and determination of financial penalties where non-compliance occurs be approved;

b)   Authority be Delegated to the Director: Neighbourhood & Enforcement Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member: Housing Enforcement & Transport to undertake and publish future amendments to the Enforcement Policy relating to Letting Agencies and associated financial penalties.

To receive an update on the Long Term Empty Property Strategy 2021-2026.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member: Housing, Enforcement & Transport presented the report of the Director: Housing, Employment & Infrastructure.  The report provided an update on the steps the Council had taken to bring long term empty properties back into use.

The strategy outlined a target to return a minimum of 375 long term empty properties back to residential use. The report outlined the various approaches that had been used to return properties to use. There were a further 128 empty properties identified by the Council, including 4 which had been empty for over 20 years.

Cabinet Members welcomed the report and noted that empty properties attracted fly tipping and anti-social behaviour. Empty properties were a wasted housing opportunity.

RESOLVED that:

a)    The actions undertaken in respect of the Long-Term Empty Property Strategy be noted;

b)   The use of compulsory purchase powers and enforced sale powers to deliver the aims of the strategy be endorsed and that Authority be Delegated to the Director: Policy & Governance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member: Housing, Enforcement & Transport, to approve any policy or procedure relating to enforced sale and to take all necessary steps to secure the making, confirmation and implementation of any CPO powers in furtherance of the Long-Term Empty Property Strategy.

To receive the report, for information, regarding the Strong Leader Decision taken in relation to Fly Tipping Fixed Penalty Notices.

The Leader advised the Cabinet about the recent exercise of his Strong Leader powers as set out in the report. The decision had been made to reduce the discount afforded for the early payment of fixed penalty notices for fly tipping from £200 to £50. Market research had shown that it was often cheaper to pay the fine for fly tipping than it was to appropriately dispose of waste, for example via a skip.

Members were advised that the maximum possible fines for Fixed Penalty Notices was capped at £400 via the Environmental Protection Act 1990. The Leader stated that this should be a decision that was made locally and would be writing to the Minister to this effect.

Cabinet Members noted the report.