Agenda and minutes

None.

None.

Last meeting held on 19 November 2013 (for confirmation) 

The Board confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 19 November 2013 as a correct record and they were signed by the Chair.

Report of the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration

The Chair of the Executive Board has agreed that this report, although not included on the agenda should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100b(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, in view of the special circumstances that the decision needed cannot wait until the next meeting of the Executive Board as it would impact on the implementation of the scheme. This item is a key decision and was included on the published 28 day Notice of Key Decisions and Private Meetings for December 2013.

Although it was not included on the agenda, the Chair of the Board agreed that this report should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100b(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The decision could not wait until the next meeting of Executive Board as to delay it would impact on the implementation of the scheme. This item is a key decision and was included on the published 28 Day Notice of Key Decisions and Private Meetings for December 2013.

The Board considered the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration’s report setting out proposals to revise the local Council Tax Support Scheme (CTSS) for 2014/15, and detailing the findings of the formal four week consultation process that concluded on 6 December 2013.

RESOLVED to

(1)  note the:

(a)  impact of the non-continuation of the Government’s transitional grant on the proposed CTSS for 2014/15;

(b)  findings and outcomes from the CTSS consultation carried out with residents and other stakeholders, as set out in section 1.10 and Appendix A of the report;

(c)  findings on equalities and other impacts arising from the proposed amendments to the CTSS for 2014/14, as set out in Appendix B of the report;

(2)  approve the changes to the CTSS proposed for 2014/15, as outlined in sections 1.15 to 1.19 of the report, including the retention of the key features of the 2013/14 CTSS and the provision of a maximum support of 80% to low income working age households;

(3)  recommend to Full Council the adoption of a CTSS for 2014/15 incorporating these changes.

Reasons for decision

The Government’s transition funding is not available for 2014/15, therefore, the Council has had to look at how much it can help low income working age households with their Council Tax bills for 2014/15.

For 2014/15 the Government has included CTSS to the Government grant (Revenue Support Grant and Redistributed Business Rates), but it takes no account of increases in Council Tax or changes in demand for benefit. The overall percentage reduction in Government grant has been applied to the resources available to fund the CTSS, which creates an estimated £3 million shortfall in 2014/15.

There were concerns expressed during the consultation but the CTSS for 2014/15 seeks, as far as possible, to balance the significant cuts to the Council’s resources for Council Tax support and the wider budget challenges with the need to help the most financially vulnerable members of the community with their Council Tax bills.

Other options considered

A number of options were considered based on modelling of different levels of contribution from all working age households varying from the current 8.5% to 25%. As a result, options to retain the current claimant contribution of 8.5% and raise the contribution to 25% were unaffordable for the Council in the long term.

Maintaining the same level of support for 2014/15 was not possible as it would leave a funding gap of £3 million with an unsustainable financial burden in the future.

Report of Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration

The Chair of the Executive Board has agreed that this report, although not included on the agenda should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100b(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, in view of the special circumstances that the decision needed cannot wait until the next meeting of the Executive Board as it would impact on the public consultation period.

Although it was not included on the agenda, the Chair of the Board agreed that this report should be considered as a matter of urgency in accordance with Section 100b(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972. The decision could not wait until the next meeting of Executive Board as to delay would impact on the public consultation period.

This decision is not subject to call-in as Councillor Brian Parbutt, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, has agreed that the decision is reasonable in all the circumstances and should be treated as a matter of urgency so there is no delay to the commencement of the public consultation period.

The Board considered the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration’s report presenting the proposals for the revenue element of the Council’s draft MTFP for 2014/15 – 2016/17 and seeking authorisation to release them for formal public consultation.

RESOLVED to note, endorse and release the MTFP proposals, as set out in appendices 1 to 5 of the report, for formal public consultation.

Reasons for decisions

To fulfil the legal obligation the Council has to set a balanced budget for 2014/15 in the context of a three year MTFP to fund a wide range of services, many of which are statutory.

To enable the Council to consult citizens on the MTFP proposals.

Other options considered

Not to consult was rejected as this would prevent citizens’ views from informing the budget process.

Throughout the budget process a range of different options are considered including various levels of Council Tax, investment and cost reductions. This is a complex process with many iterations and possibilities. The report presents the overall set of current draft proposals which seek to balance levels of investment, income cost reductions and an appropriate level of Council Tax.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Children's Services 

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services’ report updating Board on the outcomes of the consultation on the proposal to expand Heathfield Primary School, and seeking approval to move to the next stage of consultation.

RESOLVED to note the outcomes of the consultation, outlined in Appendix 1 of the report, and approve the move to the next stage of consultation, the issuing of Statutory Notices.

Reasons for decisions

Following the positive responses to the consultation, moving to the next stage of consultation, issuing Statutory Notices, will enable the expansion of Heathfield Primary School to be completed for 1 September 2015.

Other options considered

No other options were considered as there is a demand for schools places in the area.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Jobs and Growth  

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Jobs and Growth’s report detailing the success of the Nottingham Jobs Fund (NJF) and seeking approval for the extension of the NJF to be funded from reserves and combined with the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Youth Contract funding.

RESOLVED to approve the extension of the NJF to enable a further 200 jobs to be created, to be funded from £1 million reserves set aside for this purpose.

Reason for decisions

To enable the continuation of the NJF to provide sustainable employment opportunities for City residents.

Other options considered

Not providing additional funding for the NJF was rejected as there is a continued need to create job opportunities for local people and help local businesses which would like to expand their workforce, but require financial support to do so.

Continuing the original model of the NJF was rejected as combining the NJF with the Youth Contract offers greater value for money and enables 40 additional jobs to be created by working in partnership with the DWP.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation 

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation’s report setting out the draft City Council response to the HS2 consultation, which detailed the Council’s support of the proposals and informed the Department for Transport that Nottingham City Council wishes to play a role in ensuring the right choices are made on the route alignment and station location within the East Midlands.

RESOLVED to note the draft response in support of the scheme, as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report, and delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Development, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation, to approve the final version of the HS2 consultation response.

Reasons for decisions

HS2 has significant implications for the long term economic prosperity of the City and, as a short section of the route passes through the administrative area, there are also direct implications for some residents and businesses.

To enable the Council, as a Core City and potential major beneficiary of the scheme, to submit a comprehensive response to the HS2 consultation which closes on 31 January 2014.

Other options considered

There is no obligation for the Council to submit a response, but not submitting a response was rejected as it would mean the Council’s view on the proposals would not be heard. It could also potentially adversely impact on the reputation of the Council if it did not respond on such a strategically important matter.

Report of Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration 

The Board considered the Deputy Leader/Portfolio Holder for Resources and Neighbourhood Regeneration’s report which detailed the progress made in reducing the threat levels for each strategic risk.

RESOLVED to note the risks contained in the strategic element of the SRR and the progress made in reducing their threat levels, as detailed in Table 1 and Appendix 1 of the report, for Quarter 2 of 2013/14.

Reasons for decisions:

The Risk Management Framework requires regular review of the strategic element of the

SRR by senior management and Councillors.

The latest refresh of the SRR was considered by the Audit Committee on 29 November 2013 and the report brings the strategic risks being managed by the Corporate Leadership Team, their prevailing threat levels and the progress being made in mitigating the risks to the attention of Executive Councillors.

Other options considered:

No other options were considered as the Risk Management Framework requires regular review of the strategic element of the SRR by senior management and Councillors.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transportation 

The Board considered the minute extract from Area 8 Committee which drew the Board’s attention to the concerns of the Committee regarding connectivity of bus routes from Clifton to the north of the City and asked for a solution to this to be treated as a high priority, and the response to it which explained that the public transport network is focussed on the City Centre where interchange is required to access non-central locations. The Centrelink service is subsidised by the Council to assist with the interchange and bring people from one side of the City Centre to the other, but, due to current financial pressures, it is not possible for the service to run late into the evening or on Sundays. Planned bus priority measures and changes in the tram network in the future may reduce costs and improve connectivity.

RESOLVED to note the response.

Reason for decisions

To respond to the resolutions from the Area Committee.

Other options considered

No other options were considered.

The Board decided to exclude the public from the meeting during consideration of  the remaining agenda item in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the basis that, having regard to all the circumstances, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of Portfolio Holder for Children's Services 

The Board considered the Portfolio Holder for Children’s Services report setting out the School Organisation Capital Programme for 2013-2015.

RESOLVED to approve the recommendations in the report.

Reasons for decisions

As detailed in the report.

Other options considered

As detailed in the report.