Agenda and decisions

The Cabinet:

1.1     Noted the report and issues raised within and that Leadership Team with Cabinet Members will continue to closely monitor and manage the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2017-22.

1.2     Formally accepted the offer of £905,939 by the Better Care Fund Partnership Board to support expenditure on Disabled Facilities Grants in 2018/19.

1.3     Approved an update to the Capital Programme expenditure budget of £154,000 (from £774,000 to £928,000) for Disabled Facilities Grants in 2018/19, funded by £22,000 of council resources, and £906,000 of Better Care Fund (BCF).

1.4     Noted the award of a new contract to Axis Security Services Ltd for a 3 year period and the resulting increase in budget required for the CCTV Contract over the period of £58,860 (£19,620 in 2018/19).

1.5     Noted the three consultations currently taking place regarding Local Government Finance.

1.6     Approved the Council being part of the Staffordshire Business Rates Pilot for 2019/20 and to delegate authority to the Leader, Chief Executive and Head of Finance and Procurement to agree the application.

1.7     Approved an investment of up to £2m in the CCLA Diversified Income Fund with income received in excess of 2.5% transferred to an earmarked reserve to manage volatility risk.

1.8     Delegated the decision on the exact level and timing of the investment in the CCLA Diversified Income Fund to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Democracy and the Head of Finance and Procurement.

The Cabinet:

1.1       Noted the 2017/18 end of year performance as detailed in the 2017/2018 Corporate Annual Action Plan.

1.2       Noted the new Performance Development Framework and adopted the new Delivery Plan 2018-2020 and draft Corporate Indicators.

1.1     The Cabinet agreed to dispose of land at Leyfields, Lichfield and Netherstowe, Lichfield to Bromford Housing Association for the provision of affordable housing on the terms recommended by the District Valuation Officer.

          The Cabinet:

1.1     Acknowledged the report and the current work being done to improve procurement practices and outcomes.

1.2     Approved the entry in to a service level agreement with Wolverhampton City Council to deliver procurement support for a period of four and a half years (until 2022/23) at total cost of £260,085 (not including any inflation or software cost increases).

1.3     Recommend to Council the approval of changes to the Medium Term Financial Strategy detailed in the financial implications section of the report.

1.1       The Cabinet agreed that Full Council be recommended to maintain the delegated authority granted to the Cabinet Member for Economic Growth, Environment & Development Services and the Director of Place and Community to determine applications for the designation of a neighbourhood area.

The Appendices to the report are confidential since they contain commercially sensitive information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

          The Cabinet:

1.1      Agreed the appointment of two posts within the newly created estates team.

1.2      Recommended to Council the use of general reserves to provide contingency funding for any shortfall within the budget and amend the Medium Term Financial Strategy for the necessary changes to Property Management Budgets as detailed in the financial implications section of the report.

1.3      Recommended that Council amend the Approved Investment Strategy to approve a loan of up to £900,000 to the local authority company for a period of 5 years.

1.4      Recognised the creation of a new officer group to provide cross-organisation focus to asset management.

1.5      Recognised the need to create a local authority company to deliver the Council’s development and housing ambitions.

1.6      Recommended to Council the delegation of the next steps to the Leader and Chief Executive particularly:

•               A change in the constitution to replace the Asset Strategy Group with a new member consultative group.

•               A change in the constitution to delegate property acquisitions of up to £2m to the leader and chief executive, with oversight by the s151 officer and monitoring officer.

•               The creation of a company including the setting up of a board, shareholder committee, memorandum and articles of association, shareholder agreement and loan terms.

•               Amendment of the constitution to incorporate the company.

RESOLVED: “That as publicity would be prejudicial to the

public interest by reason of the confidential nature of the

business to be transacted, the public and press be excluded

from the meeting for the following items of business, which

would involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as

defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the

            Local Government Act 1972”

This report is to be considered in private since it contains exempt information (as defined by Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to the financial interests of the council and the business affairs of a tenant/company.

The Minutes of the Asset Strategy Group are to be considered in private since they contain exempt information (as defined by Paragraph 3, Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to the financial interests of the council and the business affairs of other organisations.