Agenda and minutes

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance setting out the General Fund Revenue Budget proposals for Consultation for 2017/18 to 2020/2, attached.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 16/17 17562)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance, and having considered representations from the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  To note the revised Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017/18 to 2020/21 (attached as Appendix 2 - Summary and Appendix 4 – Full ) is based on the best estimate at this time and will need to be kept under review.

(ii)  To note the aims and objectives of the Medium Term Financial Strategy which will be presented to Council for approval in February 2017.

(iii)  To note that the report contains draft proposals for reducing cost and generating income that amount to £21.3M in 2017/18 increasing to £31.6M in 2018/19.

(iv)  To note that formal budget consultation will begin on 16 November 2016 for many proposals but that other proposals may be subject to different timescales when details are finalised.  The proposals and methodology of this consultation are detailed in Appendix 6.

(v)  To note that the Executive’s initial budget proposals will impact on staffing and that consultation will be undertaken in line with legislation and the Councils agreed processes before proposals are implemented.

(vi)  To note that the Executive’s budget proposals for consultation are based on the assumptions detailed within the MTFS and that this includes a Council Tax increase of 3.99 %, 1.99% under general powers to increase Council Tax without a referendum and 2.00% Social Care Precept.

(vii)  To delegate authority to the Service Director – Finance & Commercialisation (S151 Officer), following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance, to do anything necessary to give effect to the proposals contained in this report.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance notifying any major changes in the overall General Fund Capital Programme for the period 2016/17 to 2020/21, attached.

NOTE:  In accordance with Regulation 6 of the Local Authorities (meetings and access to information) Regulations 2012 confidential appendix 6 is submitted for consideration with the consent of the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee that the information contained within the appendix is urgent, cannot be deferred and must be considered in private session.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 16/17 17564)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  Approve the revised General Fund Capital Programme, which totals £151.74M (as detailed in paragraph 4) and the associated use of resources.

(ii)  Notes that £0.37M has been added to the General Fund overall programme, with approval to spend in 2016/17, under delegated powers. These additions are detailed in paragraph 6 and Appendix 2.

(iii)  Approve the addition of a total of £5.98M to the General Fund programme and approval to spend £5.98M as detailed in paragraphs 10 - 18, Appendices 1, 2 and 3. Approval to spend is requested subject to any variations from the spend detailed in the report being reviewed and approved by the Council Capital Board and not exceeding the amounts identified within this programme.

(iv)  Notes that £0.04M has been removed from the overall General Fund programme, as detailed in paragraph 6 and Appendix 2.

(v)  Notes that £0.04M has been re-phased from 2017/18 to 2016/17 within the Transport portfolio, as detailed in paragraph 19 and Appendix 3.

(vi)  Notes that the revised General Fund Capital Programme is based on prudent assumptions of future Government Grants to be received.

(vii)  Notes the changes to the General Fund programme, as summarised in Appendix 2 and described in detail in Appendix 3.

(viii)  Approve the slippage and re-phasing as set out in paragraph 20 and as described in detail in Appendix 3.

(ix)  Notes that the General Fund forecast position at Quarter 2 is £153.39M, resulting in a potential overspend of £1.65M, as detailed in paragraph 22, Appendix 5 and confidential Appendix 6.

(x)  Notes the position on the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as detailed in paragraphs 39 to 42 and in appendices 7 and 8.

Report of Cabinet Member for Transformation Projects seeking approval of the Southampton City Council Clean Air Strategy 2016-2025, attached.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 16/17 18051)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Transformation Projects, and having considered representations from Clean Air Southampton, Cabinet agreed to approve the Southampton City Council Clean Air Strategy 2016 -2025 (Appendix 1).

Report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance detailing the presentments accepted at Court Leet, actions taken to date and Cabinet Members or officers identified to lead on the response and any further action, attached.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 16/17 17891)

On consideration of the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance, and having considered representations from Common Sense/Highfield Residents Association and Clean Air Southampton, Cabinet agreed the following:

(i)  that the initial officer responses to the Presentments approved by the Court Leet Jury, as set out in Appendix 1, be noted; and

(ii)  that individual Cabinet Members ensure responses are made to Presenters regarding presentments within their portfolios as appropriate and as soon as practically possible.

Report of the Cabinet Member for Finance summarising the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue financial position for the Authority for the 3 months to the end of September 2016, and highlighting the key issues by portfolio which need to be brought to the attention of Cabinet, attached.

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance, Cabinet agreed the following:

General Fund

i)  Note the current General Fund revenue position for 2016/17 as at Quarter 2, which is a forecast over spend at year end of £3.48M against the working budget, as outlined in paragraph 4 and Appendix 1. 

ii)  Note that the forecast over spend for portfolios is £6.88M as outlined in paragraph 5.

iii)  Note the actions and assumptions being put in place to address the overspend position as described in paragraph 7.

iv)  Note the performance to date with regard to the delivery of the agreed savings proposals approved for 2016/17 as detailed in Appendix 3.

v)  Note the performance against the financial health indicators detailed in Appendix 4.

vi)  Note the performance outlined in the Quarterly Treasury Management Report attached as Appendix 5.

vii)  Note the performance outlined in the Quarterly Collection Fund Statement attached as Appendix 7.

Housing Revenue Account

viii)  Note the current HRA budget monitoring position for 2016/17, as at Quarter 2. There is a forecast overspend at year end of £0.73M against the working budget as outlined in paragraphs 18 and 19 and in Appendix 6.