Agenda and minutes

To consider the report of the Leader of the Council, Clean Growth and Development outlining the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority consultation on the proposed creation of a new Combined Fire Authority for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 18/19 21583)

On consideration of the report of the Leader, Clean Growth and Development and having received representations from Neil Odin, Chief Officer, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton, Cabinet agreed the following:-

(i)  To consider the Consultation Information Pack included in Appendix 1.

(ii)  To delegate power to the Interim Chief Executive of the Council, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, Clean Growth and Development to respond to the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority Consultation on the proposed creation of a new Combined Fire Authority for Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Schools and Lifelong Learning, recommending acceptance of a grant of £1million from the European Social Fund to develop and deliver an Apprenticeship Hub.  The Hub aims to increase quantity and quality of apprenticeship training across the Solent area to meet the skills needs of local employers and upskill the local workforce. 

DECISION MADE: (CAB 18/19 21424)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Schools and Lifelong Learning, Cabinet agreed the following:-

(i)  To accept a grant of £0.96M from the European Social Fund via the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) for the Solent Apprenticeship Hub and approve, in accordance with Financial Procedure Rules, revenue expenditure for the delivery of the programme until December 2021;

(ii)  To approve the contribution of £0.29M from Southampton City Council, as part of a total match funding of £0.96M, towards the project from existing staff time.  Individual organisations contributions are detailed in paragraph 10 of the report;

(iii)  To approve the Council to act as Lead Accountable Body for the administration of the grant funding for the Solent Apprenticeship Hub which totals £1.91M across the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) area; and

(iv)  To delegate authority to the Director of Growth, following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Aspiration, Schools and Life Long Learning, to undertake such actions necessary to enable the successful delivery of the Solent Apprenticeship programme, including procurement of services.

To consider the report of Cabinet Member for Finance and Customer Experience detailing the current MTFS assumptions, seeking approval for consultation on budget proposals and the necessary delegations to enable the proposals to take effect.

NOTE:  This report is submitted for consideration as a general exception under paragraph 15 of the Access to Information procedure Rules in Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution, notice having been given to the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee and the public.

The matter requires a decision in order to enable full consultation, where relevant, of the proposals set out in this report to ensure that the Council Tax and Budget Setting Process for 2019/20 is concluded within the statutory deadlines.

DECISION MADE: (CAB 18/19 21537)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Customer Experience, having received representations from Unison and Unite and a Member of the Council and having complied with paragraph 15 of the Council’s Access to Information Procedure Rules, Cabinet agreed the following:- 

i)  To note the high level forecast for the General Fund for 2018/19 onwards contained in paragraph 9.

ii)  To note and ratify that a Solent Business Rates Retention Pilot bid was submitted to the MHCLG as detailed in paragraph 19.

iii)  To note the pressures which have been included in the forecast which are set out in paragraphs 24 to 42.

iv)  To note the Executive’s initial savings proposals put forward for consultation in Appendices 2 to 6 which amount to £10.45M by 2021/22.

v)  To note that the Executive’s budget proposals for consultation are based on the assumption that they will recommend a Council Tax increase of 2.99% to Full Council as per paragraph 77.

vi)  To note the implications of the savings proposals on the Capital Programme and to approve the additions to the capital programme as detailed in paragraph 88 and give approval to spend.

vii)  To note that the Executive’s initial savings set out in Appendices 2 to 6 propose the deletion of 123.04 Full Time Equivalent (FTE) posts, of which 18.33 FTE are vacant, leaving 104.71 FTE at risk of redundancy or TUPE transfer.

viii)  To note the consultation on the Executive’s draft budget proposals will commence on 24th October 2018 and note the consultation proposals and methodology set out in paragraph 108.

ix)  To note the additional specific consultations on: revising the Adult Social Care Charging policy, closure of two council owned residential care homes, and revising service charges for tenants (Housing Revenue account). These will be carried out under their respective statutory consultation and representation regimes and will commence on 24th October 2018 and run in parallel with the main budget consultation.

x)  To delegate authority to the Chief Financial Officer (CFO), following consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Customer Experience, to do anything necessary to give effect to the proposals contained in this report.