Agenda and minutes

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

None.

To receive any declarations of interest.

The following declarations of interest were made in respect of Minute 86 (Proposed Budget 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2026/27):

Councillor Hodges – As a trustee of Worcester Play Council and as a director of Worcester Theatres

Councillor Mrs Hodgson – As a trustee of Malvern Theatre and as a Member of Warndon Parish Council.

Up to a total of fifteen minutes can be allowed, with each speaker being allocated a maximum of five minutes, for members of the public to present a petition, ask a question or comment on any matter on the Agenda or within the remit of the Committee.

None.

Of the meeting held on 14^th December 2021 to be approved and signed.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 14^th December 2021 to be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2021.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th December 2021 be received.

That the Committee consider proposed amendments to the draft budget for the Council for the financial year 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2022-2027.

(Report to follow)

The Committee considered a report on feedback from the Policy Committees on the draft budget including proposed amendments to the draft budget for 2022/23 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2022-2027. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and explained that the proposed amendments were as follows:

It was explained that the proposal for a Finance Adviser for CAB was a late submission to Communities Committee and therefore further information was annexed to the report.

One further proposal had been received, for one-off funding for 2022/23 of £15,000 for a Play Worker to support the work of the Play Council. This would be in the form of a grant to the Play Council for this specific purpose. Details of the proposal were annexed to the report.

The report explained how the proposals identified above could be funded.

Furthermore, In addition to the above revenue proposals, the Policy Committees also considered and recommended a number of proposals to be met from capital funding. These items were above the capital de minimis limit of £10,000 and would have an impact over more than one year. There would be no material impact on revenue budgets in the year that the scheme is implemented but there would be ongoing revenue impacts relating to capital financing where the schemes are funded from borrowing. The Committees would receive further reports on this impact at future meetings once the full business case is developed for each project.

The capital items were as follows:

Officers responded to questions from Committee members on the proposals.

In the ensuing discussion, the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 85.

1.   That the Committee endorses the proposed Budget and Council Tax for 2022/23 and the proposed Medium Term Financial Plan for the next five year period 2022/23 – 2026/27, and recommends them to Full Council on 22 February 2022 including the following resolutions:

a. That the Budget Requirement for Worcester City Council (excluding Parish Precepts) 2022/23 be set at £12.136m;

b. That the Council Tax Requirement for Worcester City Council (excluding Parish Precepts) 2022/23 be set at £6.534m; and

c. That the Band D Council Tax for Worcester City Council (excluding Parish Precepts) be set at £200.88;

2.   That the Committee confirms, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012, that the Council Tax Base calculation for the year 2022/23 will be 32,528.2 for Worcester City Council, including 3,952.9 for Warndon Parish Council and 2,179.4 for St Peter’s Parish Council;

3.   That the Committee approves the Treasury Management Strategy at Appendix 5 including the MRP policy statement and the prudential indicators set out in the Strategy; (to follow)

4.   That the Committee approves the transfer of £558,000 from the Risk reserves to the 2022/23 revenue budget to mitigate the estimated loss of income due to the pandemic; and

5.   That the Committee considers the proposals brought forward by the Policy Committees during January 2022 and includes those approved in the recommendations to Full Council.

The Committee considered a report on the proposed Budget and Council Tax for 2022/23 and the proposed Medium Term Financial Plan for the next five year period 2022/23 – 2026/27. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and highlighted the main points, including Council Tax proposals, Treasury Management Strategy and the Public Works Loan Board rates, and the Government’s financial settlement for 2022/23.

In summary, the draft budget proposed a transfer from earmarked reserves of £558k which will result in a balanced budget for 2022/23. The draft budget would be amended to include the proposals brought forward by the Policy Committees and agreed under the previous agenda item and these would form part of the recommendations to Full Council.

Officers responded to questions from Committee Members on the proposals.

At the conclusion of the debate Committee Members expressed support for the budget proposals including all the proposed amendments from the

Policy Committees.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    endorse the proposed Budget and Council Tax for 2022/23 and the proposed Medium Term Financial Plan for the next five year period 2022/23 – 2026/27, and recommends them to Full Council on 22 February 2022 including the following resolutions:

a.  That the Budget Requirement for Worcester City Council (excluding Parish Precepts) 2022/23 be set at £12.136m;

b.That the Council Tax Requirement for Worcester City Council (excluding Parish Precepts) 2022/23 be set at £6.534m; and

c.  That the Band D Council Tax for Worcester City Council (excluding Parish Precepts) be set at £200.88;

2.          confirm, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Tax Base) Regulations 1992, the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (Amendment) (England) Regulations 2003 and the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012, that the Council Tax Base calculation for the year 2022/23 will be 32,528.2 for Worcester City Council, including 3,952.9 for Warndon Parish Council and 2,179.4 for St Peter’s Parish Council;

3.          approve the Treasury Management Strategy at Appendix 5 including the MRP policy statement and the prudential indicators set out in the Strategy;

4.          approve the transfer of £558,000 from the Risk reserves to the 2022/23 revenue budget to mitigate the estimated loss of income due to the pandemic; and

5.          include the proposals brought forward by the Policy Committees during January 2022 for inclusion in the recommendations to Full Council.

That the Committee receives the report of the review of Fees and Charges for 2021/22 from the Income Generation Sub-Committee and recommends its approval to Full Council on 22 February 2022.

(Report to follow)

That the Committee considered a report on the review of Fees and Charges for 2022/23. These had been considered and agreed to recommend for adoption by the Income Generation Sub-Committee at its meeting on 2^nd February 2022.

Committee Members expressed support for the Fees and Charges as proposed in the report.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to recommend the Fees and Charges for 2022/23 to Full Council on 22^nd February 2022 for approval.

That the Committee:

1.           Notes the contents of this report and provides feedback on the draft Council Size Submission set out in Appendix 1; and

2.           Authorises the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to finalise the Council Size Submission, based on the Committee’s feedback, for referral to a special Council meeting for approval.

The Committee considered a report on the draft Council Size Submission, setting out the Council’s opinion of how many councillors it should have, to be submitted to the Local Government Boundary Commission for England as part of the Commission’s review. The Corporate Director – Planning and Governance presented the report and explained that the draft Submission had been prepared in consultation with Group Leaders.

In the ensuing discussion, Committee Members expressed support for the draft Submission and no amendments were proposed. Members of the Committee expressed the view that the current number of councillors (35) works well for the Council and should be considered the preferred number.

The Corporate Director explained that a final version of the Submission would be prepared for consideration at a special Council meeting on 22^nd February 2022.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    note the contents of this report and provides feedback on the draft Council Size Submission set out in Appendix 1; and

2.    authorise the Corporate Director - Planning and Governance to finalise the Council Size Submission, based on the Committee’s feedback, for referral to a special Council meeting for approval.

That the Committee:

1.   Note the contents of this report;

2.   Approve the allocation of £320,120 from the Risk Reserve in order to fund the revised loss of income claim from Freedom Leisure covering the period of pool closure; and

3.   Recommend to Council the allocation of an additional £141,229 in order to fund the revised capital element of the project.

The Committee considered a report on the floor tile replacement works within the pool hall and wetside changing rooms at Perdiswell Leisure Centre. This Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities presented the report and explained that, since the decision in June 2021 to contract Speller Metcalfe to undertake the works with specialist support from Clarkson Alliance, additional challenges and specialist pieces of work had emerged which the initial investigation work did not foresee.

The key change was the length of the programme, which had been extended to 18 weeks spanning 9^th May 2022 – 11^th September 2022. During this time the two swimming pools would be closed for 12 weeks from 20^th June - 11^th September 2022. This change affected both the capital costs of the project and the loss of income impact.

The Committee were recommended to approve the allocation of £200,120 additional funding from General Reserves in order to meet the revised loss of income claim from Freedom Leisure, which had been confirmed as £320,120. Furthermore, it was recommended that the Committee recommend to Council the allocation of £141,229 additional capital funding in order to meet the revised capital costs, which had been quoted as £323,329.

The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources highlighted an amendment to the financial implications. The report stated that the loss of income claim submitted by Freedom Leisure Income would be drawn from the Business Rates Risk Reserve, on the basis that this represents a loss of business income. It was now proposed that this be drawn from the Income Contingency Reserve.

Officers responded to questions from Committee Members. The Corporate Director – Operations, Homes and Communities stated that Officers will look to promote access to other swimming facilities locally whilst whilst the pool at Perdiswell is unavailable. A revised summer swimming schedule can be circulated to all Members once finalised.

Committee Members expressed support for the proposals.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    note the contents of this report;

2.    approve the allocation of £320,120 from the Income Contingency Reserve in order to fund the revised loss of income claim from Freedom Leisure covering the period of pool closure; and

3.    recommend to Council the allocation of an additional £141,229 in order to fund the revised capital element of the project.

1.   To approve the procurement of a corporate contract for premises security;

2.   To approve the outline award criteria for this contract as set out in the report; and

3.   To delegate approval of the award of the contract to the Corporate Director - Finance and Resources.

The Committee considered a proposal for the procurement of a corporate contract for premises security. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and explained that Comer Park Security have been providing security services since 2015 and it is now appropriate to consolidate the various services provided and put a new contract to tender. The report set out the services to be provided under the contract. The procurement process would commence in February 2022, with a contract to be awarded by mid-June 2022. The proposed budget for 2022/23 had been increased by £31,000 to £51,850 to reflect the current level of provision and additional pressures anticipated from the updated pricing of a new contract.

In response to questions, the Corporate Director stated that provision for paying the real living wage can be reflected in the contract specification.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    approve the procurement of a corporate contract for premises security;

2.    approve the outline award criteria for this contract as set out in the report; and

3.    delegate approval of the award of the contract to the Corporate Director - Finance and Resources.

1.   That the Committee reviews the financial monitoring details including budget variances and performance indicators for the 3rd quarter ended 31 December 2021; and

2.   That the Committee approves the write-offs of Council Tax and Business Rates for the quarter.

The Committee reviewed the financial monitoring details including budget variances and performance indicators for the 3^rd quarter ended 31^st December 2021.

The Head of Finance presented the report and highlighted the main points. He responded to questions from Committee Members.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to:

1.    note the report; and

2.   approve the write-offs of Council Tax and Business Rates for the quarter.

That the Policy and Resources Committee notes the Council’s Quarter 3 performance for 2021/22.

The Committee considered a report on the Quarter 3 performance report for the Policy and Resources Committee. The Corporate Director – Finance and Resources presented the report and commented on those items rated as Red. Officers responded the Members on detailed aspects of the report.

RESOLVED: That the Committee note the Council’s Quarter 3 performance for 2021/22.

That the Committee notes the results of the Annual Survey 2021.

The Committee considered a report on the results of the Annual Survey 2021. The Corporate Director – Finance and resources presented the report and highlighted the key trends . Officers responded to questions from Committee Members on detailed aspects of the report. Feedback on financial issues has been fed into the 2022/23 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan. More detail, including responses to the developing Covid-19 situation, were appended to the report.

In the ensuing discussion, reference was made to the Council website, including getting key messages out and ease of access to services. The Corporate Director highlighted the greater use of webforms to access services. Member comments were noted and will be taken on board.

RESOLVED: That the Committee agree to note the results of the Annual Survey 2021.

Which in the opinion of the Chair is of sufficient urgency as to warrant consideration.

None.

The Committee is invited to pass the following resolution:-

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act.

RESOLVED: That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of information as defined in Schedule 12A of the said Act.

To consider the proposed fees and charges for Building Control and some Licensing charges which are classed as exempt items as they are commercially sensitive.

The Committee considered the proposed fees and charges for Building Control for 2022/23 and some Licensing charges which are classed as exempt items as they are commercially sensitive. The Committee agreed to recommend them to full Council for approval.