Agenda and minutes

None.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2022 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

For the second time in a week, the local NHS Trust had declared a critical internal incident, with more than a dozen ambulances queuing outside the hospital. The Council would do all it could to support the NHS but they had to be transparent about what was needed and the Borough’s Members of Parliament had to stand up for the Borough’s health services.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Finance & H.R. (Chief Financial Officer).

Despite sound financial management, there had been increased costs in supporting for a number of services, including Adult Social Care and Children’s Safeguarding. The projected outturn position was expected to be over budget by £1.14m at year-end, a deterioration of £0.079m. Covid-19 support funding from the government was a one off and had largely ended. In cases such as the income guarantee scheme, only a portion of the shortfalls faced by the Council, and only for part of the year, had been compensated.

The capital programme totalled £73m for 2021/22; at the time of the reports compilation, the projected spend was 88% of the budget allocation. Some slippage was anticipated as a result.

Cabinet Members and the leaders of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat groups thanked the finance team for their work.

RESOLVED – that Cabinet

(i)         Note the 2021/22 revenue budget position;

(ii)        Note the position in relation to capital spend; and

(iii)       Note the collection rates for NNDR, council tax and sales ledger.

The Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Customer Services presented the report of the Director: Finance & H.R. (Chief Financial Officer).

The report being presented was broadly the same as that presented at the 6 January 2022 meeting with the addition of an updated risk register, details of the Council’s tax reduction policy, pay policy, and efficiency strategy. It was accompanied by previously agreed strategies with updated budgets and schemes of work; these included the capital strategy that set out the long-term context of decision-making, supported by detailed programme reports covering building investment and highway and transport programmes. The final part of the report included a prudential indicator report together.

Members’ attention was drawn to Appendix 17. The document was a variation to the West Mercia Energy Joint Agreement that would provide more equitable distribution of surpluses. This would have a minimal impact on the Council.

Members welcomed the report and thanked staff for their hard work. The Council continued to invest in the Borough and strived to improve the lives of residents at what was a challenging time for many across the country,

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group welcomed the report and stated his Group’s support for the budget. Support was noted in particular for NuPlace and the Borough’s growth fund.

The Leader of the Conservative Group stated concern at the level of the Council’s debt. In response, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Governance and Customer Services stated that there were a number of documents in the report that advised on this matter, such as the prudential indicators report. The Council’s borrowing had been sensible and prudent.

RESOLVED – that Cabinet

Approve the following recommendations for consideration by full Council on 3 March 2022:-

1.         To approve the MTFS for 2022/23 – 2025/26 and the budget framework for 2022/23 set out in this suite of reports.

2.         To approve a 2 year freeze of the general Council Tax level.

3.         To apply the Government’s 1% Adult Social Care Precept in 2022/23.

4.         To approve the investment of a further £5.16m into Adult Social Care in 2022/23 rising to £6.96m in 2023/24.

5.         To approve net investment of £1.31m in to Children’s Safeguarding in 2022/23.

6.         To approve the budget savings listed in Appendix 13 totalling £5.656m in 2022/23 rising to £8.34m (after “leakage”) in 2023/24.

7.         To approve the continuation of work with partner organisations, including Town & Parish Councils and Voluntary Sector and Community Groups to seek to identify ways to mitigate the impact of some of the cuts to services that we can no longer afford and to note the availability of the Invest to Save/Capacity Fund which is available to support partnership working. 

8.         To approve the base budget in Appendix 6.

9.         To approve the use of £0.220m special fund balances for works at Castle Green Cemetery

10.       To approve the use of £250k from the Invest to Save/Capacity   Fund to support the development of “shovel-ready” schemes to maximise the Council’s ability to receive funding  ...  view the full minutes text for item CAB-135

The Cabinet Member for Housing, Enforcement and Transport presented the report of the Director: Housing, Employment & Infrastructure.

The Council was proactive in supporting Neighbourhood Development Plans (NDP) and six had been adopted to date. Following the success of the local referendum on 27 January 2022, the Donnington & Muxton NDP would become the seventh to be adopted.

The Leader of the Conservative Group welcomed the progress towards adoption.

RESOLVED – that Cabinet

(i)        Agree to make the Donnington & Muxton Parish Neighbourhood          Development Plan.

(ii)        Authorise the Director: Housing, Employment & Infrastructure to exercise all of the Council’s relevant powers and duties and undertake all necessary procedural arrangements relating to the making of the Donnington & Muxton Parish Neighbourhood Development Plan.

The Leader of the Council presented the report of the Chief Executive.

The report underpinned the work presented in the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/23 report and set out the Council’s vision for the Borough.

The Council had the lowest tax in the Midlands; it had protected green spaces through the Green Guarantee scheme, and would protect more spaces with the creation of further local nature reserves. The Authority provided outstanding children’s services and it would continue to work to ensure Council services were as good as they could be.

NuPlace properties were home to over 1,000 residents, making it the largest private sector landlord in Telford & Wrekin. NuPlace provided a home for life, ensured tenants could trust their landlord, and increased the standards of private rented accommodation across the Borough. 

A number of other successful projects were noted such as regeneration projects on the Borough’s high streets, the construction of factory units through the Property and Regeneration Fund, and highway maintenance.

Members stated their pride in the work of the Council, their ambition to deliver for residents, and their desire to make Telford and Wrekin a place to be proud of.

The Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group welcomed the plan, stating particular support for the environmental aspects therein.

RESOLVED – that Cabinet approve the refreshed Council Plan 2022/23 to 2025/26.