Agenda and minutes

To consider the report of Leader of the Council seeking approval to the Public Space Protection Orders at Mount Pleasant and Northumberland Road.

Decision Made: (CAB 24/25 45450)

On consideration of the report of the Leader of the Council and having received representations from Ms Emma Kerrigan-Draper of Mount Pleasant Schools Federation, Cabinet approved the following:

(i)  Following consultation and consideration of the representations made, to proceed with the implementation of the proposed Public Spaces Protection order for the Mount Pleasant footpath (between Mount Pleasant Road and Imperial Road - S014 0EB - Unique Street Reference Number: (USRN) 37012003)

(ii)  Following consultation and consideration of the representations made, to not proceed with the implementation of the proposed Public Space Protection order for Northumberland Road footpath and the Veny play-area (land at Northumberland Road, side of Maytree Infant and Nursery School, Northam - SO14 0EL - Northumberland Road footpath. Unique Street Ref No: 37011868)

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services providing a summary of the financial position of the Council for 2024/25 as at the end of July 2024 (month 4). The month 3 (June 2024) position has also been included for completeness. 

Decision Made: (CAB 24/25 45707)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, Cabinet approved the following:

(i)  Agree the £6.13M adjustments to be made to directorate budgets to reflect sustained favourable variances reported in the first four months of 2024/25 due to transformation and other measures, to be transferred to centrally held contingency to reduce the reliance on Exceptional Financial Support (EFS), as set out in paragraph 6.

(ii)  Within the £6.13M, recommend Council approve the budget adjustment for the sustained favourable variance of £3.75M for Community Wellbeing to be transferred to centrally held contingency, as this element requires Council approval.

(iii)  Agree the progress being made to deliver on the Deficit Recovery Plans that have been developed to mitigate forecast overspends in a number of specified budget areas, as set out in paragraph 7.

(iv)  Recommend Council approve the virement of £20M income and expenditure within the Schools Budget to recognise increased funding, as set out in paragraph 22.

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services providing information on any major changes in the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) capital programme.

Decision Made: (CAB 24/25 45709)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, Cabinet approved the following:

(i)  To note the revised General Fund Capital Programme, which totals £206.06M as detailed in paragraph 3.

(ii)  To note the HRA Capital Programme is £240.53M as detailed in paragraph 3.

(iii)  To approve slippage of £6.24M within the General Fund programme, as detailed in paragraphs 7 to 9 and Appendix 3.

(iv)  To note that the overall forecast position for 2024/25 at quarter 1 is £170.82M, resulting in a potential underspend of £1.01M, as detailed in paragraphs 10 to 12 and Appendix 2.

(v)  To note that the capital programme remains fully funded up to 2028/29 based on the latest forecast of available resources although the forecast can be subject to change; most notably regarding the value and timing of anticipated capital receipts and the use of prudent assumptions of future government grants to be received.

To consider the report of the Leader summarising budget matters relating to the appointment of an interim transformation partner to support the successful implementation of the Council’s “adapt | grow | thrive” organisational transformation programme.

Decision Made: (CAB 24/25 45427)

On consideration of the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance and Corporate Services, Cabinet approved the following:

(i)  To approve the release of transformation funding as detailed in Appendix 1 from reserves or the Exceptional Financial Support (EFS) facility.

(ii)  To approve the appointment of Newton Europe Ltd (“Newton Europe”) as an interim transformation partner to commence the implementation of “adapt | grow | thrive” transformation savings proposals.

(iii)  To delegate authority to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader of the Council, to take all necessary actions, including finalising contractual and commercial arrangements, in order to complete the appointment of the interim transformation partner.