Agenda a Chofnodion

Derbyn datganiadau o fuddiannau personol gan Aelodau, yn unol â gofynion y Cod Ymddygiad.

Nodwch:

1.    Mae gofyn i Aelodau ddatgan rhif a phwnc yr agendwm mae eu buddiant yn ymwneud ag ef a mynegi natur y buddiant personol hwnnw; a

2.   Lle bo Aelodau'n ymneilltuo o'r cyfarfod o ganlyniad i ddatgelu buddiant sy'n rhagfarnu, mae rhaid iddyn nhw roi gwybod i'r Cadeirydd pan fyddan nhw'n gadael.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, there were no declarations made pertaining to the agenda.

Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors A. Fox, A. Davies- Jones, S. Bradwick, T. Williams, R. Yeo, G. Thomas, S. Rees- Owen and M. Diamond.

Derbyn cofnodion o gyfarfod blaenorol y Pwyllgor Craffu – Cyllid a Chyflawniad a gafodd ei gynnal ar 23 Gorffennaf 2019.

It was RESOLVED to approve the minutes of the 23^rd July as an accurate reflection of the meeting.

Derbyn trosolwg a dealltwriaeth o swyddogaethau Rheoli'r Trysorlys. Bydd hyn yn gael ei ddarparu gan Arlingclose. Nod hyn yw cynorthwyo'r Aelodau i gyflawni eu swyddogaethau.

Airlingclose Ltd provided Members with training in respect of treasury management.

Members were provided with a summary of the Council’s Loans as at 31/8/2019 and were reminded that the role of Elected Members is to set parameters in respect of the Council’s borrowing strategy and to set limits on the Council’s activities. Members were told that, as the long term interest rates come down, the Council will usually take the opportunity to borrow money from external sources. Airlingclose reminded Members that some of the Council’s debt is legacy debt; however, this creates a good blend of fixed rate debt.

Councillor Cullwick raised a query in respect of the Council’s total debt and sought clarification as to the total amount outstanding. Airlingclose confirmed that, as at the 31/08/19, the Council’s total debt was £359, 322, 166. Members were reminded that whilst debt is a burden that has to be repaid, it also provides a lot of opportunity such as the building of new schools and play areas. It was emphasised that it is reasonable for a Local Authority to borrow money; however, the debt has to be affordable. Discussions continued and Councillor Caple queried whether there is a ceiling on the debt allowed by a Local Authority. Airlingclose emphasised that Members set the ceiling and that Officers will give Members a guide as to what is affordable.

Discussions continued in respect of RCT investments. Members were informed that RCT total internal investments amount to £17, 040, 000. Airlingclose advised the Committee that instead of borrowing and having reserves invested, the Council decided to decrease the amount of borrowing. It was emphasised that it is the responsibility of Elected Member to set the parameters around Council investments. Members were told that some Local Authorities are becoming more commercial; however, this borrowing is seen as high risk.

Airlingclose continued by advising Members in respect of the regulatory framework and the role of the Elected Member. Discussions began in respect of the daily use of treasury management. Members were reminded that treasury management is used by everyone on a daily basis and includes activities such as paying household bills. In respect of public bodies, every Local Authority should create and maintain a capital strategy, a treasury management policy statement, Treasury Strategy Statement, Treasury Management Practices, Non-Treasury Investment Practices and set Treasury Management Indicators (TMIs) for treasury risks. Every full Council should receive a Treasury Management Strategy and TMIs for the coming financial year as well as mid-year and end year reports. The Cabinet and Finance & Resources Committee decide the implementation of the policy, whilst the Chief Finance Officer carries out the execution of decisions. Scrutiny plays a key role by carrying out the checks and balances and this is done at the Audit Committee as well as the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee.  

Members were reminded that capital expenditure plans should be prudent, affordable and sustainable. Members were told that investments at a Local Authority level should consider security i.e. the minimum risk  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 14.

Trafod Adolygiad Blynyddol Rheoli'r Trysorlys 2018/19

The Head of Finance: Education & Financial Reporting presented the report of

The Director of Finance and Digital Services in respect of the Annual Treasury

Management Review, which had been presented to Council on the 31^st July

2019 (attached to the report at Appendix 1).

Following the observations made by the Head of Finance – Education &

Financial Reporting, Committee raised a number of questions in respect of the

report.

Councillor J. Williams commented that the training provided by Airlingclose had

been really useful to have prior to receiving the annual Treasury Management

Report. Discussions continued and Councillor Cullwick queried the increasing

percentages in respect of the Council’s debt. The Head of Finance: Education

& Financial Reporting advised Members that the debt in the portfolio was taken

a while ago and reassured Members that the Council continuously monitors it’s

maturity portfolio.

A further query was raised by the Chair in respect of a fall in unemployment

figures and an increase in wages. The Chair questioned whether these figures

were misleading as they were not providing any real benefit to the economy.

The Head of Finance: Education & Financial Reporting advised Members that

unemployment is decreasing each year and that the figures are provided

reassure Members that the economy is moving in the right direction.

Discussions continued and the Chair referenced that borrowing requirements

decreased to £45.1m during the year largely due to the re profiling of the 21^st

Century Schools schemes. The Chair asked whether Members could get

access to the Capital Programme to see the impact of the 21^st Century schools

scheme. The Head of Finance: Education & Financial Reporting advised

Members that the Capital Programme updates are going to Cabinet in February

and will be going to Scrutiny in March.

Following consideration of the report, Members RESOLVED to acknowledge

the information contained within the report.

Rhoi diweddariad i Aelodau'r Pwyllgor mewn perthynas â Gweithgor y Gofrestr Fwyd.

The Chair of the Food Register Working Group, Councillor J. Williams, presented the report to Members, which provided Members of the Finance and Performance Committee with the findings and recommendations of the Food Register Working Group.

The Director of Communications & Democratic Services reminded Members that subject to their agreement, the report will be presented to the Cabinet and subsequently back to full Council.

Following discussion, Members RESOLVED to acknowledge the recommendations of the Scrutiny Working Group.  

Derbyn adroddiad y Cyfarwyddwr Gwasanaeth – Gwasanaethau Democrataidd a Chyfathrebu. 

The Director of Democratic Services & Communications presented the report to Committee in respect of the approach to resident engagement and consultation of the 2020/21 budget and updated Corporate Plan 2020-2025.

Members were informed that the approach taken over the last few years has led to increased engagement in the budget setting process through a more interactive and varied approach.

The proposed approach for the 2020/21 budget consultation seeks to continue the positive approach, by ensuring that all residents and service users have every opportunity to provide feedback on these important issues including the updated Corporate Plan via a wide range of methods.

The Director of Democratic Services & Communications advised Members that the consultation would be presented to senior officers and Cabinet Members early in the New Year for their deliberations.

Members were then provided with the opportunity to ask questions. Councillor J. Williams began by referencing last year’s consultation in respect of the budget and emphasised that the questions last year were ambiguous and lacked clarity.  The Director of Democratic Services & Communications advised Members that lessons had been learnt from last year’s consultation and noted that they will need to take a more specific approach in respect of pre-scrutiny of the 1920/21 budget consultation.

Discussions continued and the Chair queried whether the Council engages with secondary schools in respect of the budget. The Director of Democratic Services & Communications confirmed that the Council does engage with schools and emphasised that a variety of methods are used during the consultation process.

Following discussion, Members RESOLVED:-

1.    To acknowledge the proposed approach in respect of resident engagement and consultation of the 2020/21 budget and updated Corporate Plan 2020-21;

2.    To support that the Council’s statutory requirements regarding consultation on the Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Council Tax levels will be met via the proposed new approach; and,

3.    To agree that the Service Director Democratic Services & Communications reports the comments and observations of the Committee to the Cabinet when agreeing the budget strategy for 2020/21.

Trafod Adroddiad Monitro Blynyddol yr Ardoll Seilwaith Cymunedol (CIL)

The Director of Prosperity and Development presented his report to Members to seek Committee’s comments to be forwarded onto Cabinet in respect of the contents of the CIL Annual Monitoring Report.

In accordance with the Community Infrastructure Levy Regulations 2010 (as amended), the Director attached to his report at Appendix A the CIL Annual Monitoring Report detailing the CIL income and expenditure.

Members were informed that CIL receipts have been relatively low over the past four years of its implementation. This is partly as a result of development being undertaken in the first few years of implementation of the Council’s charging schedule being granted planning permission prior to CIL being implemented.

Members noted that for those significant sites in CIL residential Charging zones 2 and 3 that are not already built or already benefiting from planning permission there are a few strategic sites that should be forthcoming in the near future. The Director advised Members that there are also a small number of sites that are unlikely to come forward in the near future due to significant deliverability and viability concerns. The Director proposed to undertake a full review of the operation of CIL as part of the forthcoming review of the Council’s Local Development Plan.

Whilst some amendments are needed to the Council’s updated Regulation 123 List, the broad thrust of the List remains the same in that it proposes highway and education projects that support and mitigate the growth anticipated through the Council’s Local Development Plan. It was emphasised that the minor changes are considered appropriate to assist in funding schemes that support growth in the County Borough.

The Director of Prosperity and Development advised Members that it is recommended that an additional CIL policy be introduced from 1 January 2020 whereby the Council will not apply CIL to any domestic extension.  A CIL liable extension application involves checking the CIL form is completed correctly, measuring floor plans, updating back office systems, issuing notices and responding to queries, together with monitoring the CIL liable extensions for commencement of work, which is undertaken on a quarterly basis. Given that since the implementation of CIL in RCT, no CIL has been received to date from residential extensions this is not an effective use of officer time and does not represent best value for money for Council Tax payers. In addition, to the cost placed on the Council the requirement places a burden on applicants, as they are required to complete an additional form at the time of submitting their planning application and apply for CIL exemption prior to commencing work on site just for a house extension that in most cases places no additional burden on strategic infrastructure. It was emphasised that the officer time saved will outweigh any potential CIL Levy received.

Members were subsequently provided with the opportunity to ask questions. Councillor Cullwick queried whether CIL is likely to increase in the next year. The Director of Prosperity and Development confirmed that there have been more residential  ...  view the full Cofnodion text for item 18.

D.S. Mae modd dod o hyd i Adroddiadau Er Gwybodaeth ar ein tudalen we Craffu trwy glicio ar y ddolen yma.

·         Diweithdra a Chymorth Cyflogaeth yn y Gymuned

(Mae hyn fel bod modd i'r Aelodau gydnabod yr wybodaeth sydd wedi'i chynnwys yn yr adroddiad, ond dylid anfon unrhyw ymholiadau sy'n ymwneud â'r eitem at Craffu@rctcbc.gov.uk)

The Chair referenced the information reports (as listed below), which were available through the ‘RCT Scrutiny’ website.

Ø  Worklessness and Community Based Employment Support.