Agenda, decisions and minutes

No apologies for absence were received.

(This item was undertaken at the beginning of the informal discussions, to allow Members to consider the issues raised by the non-Cabinet members in relation to Items 4. to 6.  The Open Forum on Items 7. and 8. will be subject to the following rules)

At each Cabinet meeting, up to 15 minutes shall be allocated for questions from and discussions with, non-Cabinet members in Part 1(B).  Members wishing to speak during this session should if possible, give notice in advance.  Who speaks and for how long will be at the complete discretion of the person presiding.

This item had already been considered during the informal discussions in relation to Items 4 to 6 on the agenda (Item 1 above refers.)

No non-Cabinet Members in attendance wished to speak on Items 7 or 8.

(Public speaking on Items 4. to 6. was undertaken at the beginning of the informal discussions, to allow Members to consider the issues raised by the members of the public.  Public speaking on Items 7. and 8. will be subject to the following rules)

Members of the public who live or work in the District are invited to put one question or statement of not more than three minutes duration relating to items to be discussed in Part 1(B) of the agenda only.  If a question is asked and answered within three minutes, the person who asked the question may ask a supplementary question that arises from the reply.

A person who wishes to speak must register at least 15 minutes before the time the meeting is scheduled to start.

There is an overall limit of 15 minutes for public speaking, which may be extended at the Chairman’s discretion.

This item had already been considered during the informal discussions in relation to Items 4 to 6 on the agenda (Item 2 above refers.)

No members of the public were in attendance to speak on Items 7 or 8.

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/071

Cabinet Members: Ian Houlder        Lead Officer: Alex Wilson

(For reference purposes, Forest Heath District Council’s Report Number is CAB/FH/15/056)

RESOLVED:

That the Office Accommodation Plan, as set out in Report No: CAB/SE/15/071, as the basis for future office accommodation projects including the Mildenhall Hub, be approved.

Further to the joint informal discussions held prior to the meeting with Forest Heath District Council’s Cabinet on Report No: CAB/SE/15/071, Office Accommodation Plan, it was proposed, seconded and,

RESOLVED:

That the Office Accommodation Plan, as set out in Report No: CAB/SE/15/071, as the basis for future office accommodation projects including the Mildenhall Hub, be approved.

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/072

Cabinet Member: Alaric Pugh

Lead Officers: Steven Wood and Tom Wright

(For reference purposes, Forest Heath District Council’s Report Number is CAB/FH/15/057)

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (15 December 2015):

That the Gambling Act 2005: West Suffolk Joint Statement of Policy for the period 2016 to 2019, as contained in Appendix 3 to Report No: LIC/SE/15/003, be adopted.

Further to the joint informal discussions held prior to the meeting with Forest Heath District Council’s Cabinet on Report No: CAB/SE/15/072, Recommendation of the Licensing and Regulatory Committee: 29 September 2015: West Suffolk Gambling Act 2005 Statement of Policy 2016 to 2019, it was proposed, seconded and,

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That the Gambling Act 2005: West Suffolk Joint Statement of Policy for the period 2016 to 2019, as contained in Appendix 3 to Report No: LIC/SE/15/003, be adopted.

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/073

Cabinet Member: Sara Mildmay-White       

Lead Officers: Simon Phelan and Andy Newman

(For reference purposes, Forest Heath District Council’s Report Number is CAB/FH/15/058)

RESOLVED:

That the revised West Suffolk Housing Assistance Policy and Application Guidance, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/SE/15/073, be approved.

Further to the joint informal discussions held prior to the meeting with Forest Heath District Council’s Cabinet on Report No: CAB/SE/15/073, Housing Assistance Policy and Application Guidance, it was proposed, seconded and,

RESOLVED:

That the revised West Suffolk Housing Assistance Policy and Application Guidance, as contained in Appendix A to Report No: CAB/SE/15/073, be approved.

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/074

Cabinet Member: Ian Houlder          Lead Officer: Paul Corney

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (15 December 2015):

That no change be made to the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Council Tax Technical changes levels for 2016/2017, as detailed in Sections 5 and 6 of Report No: CAB/SE/15/074.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/15/074, which sought approval for the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme and Technical Changes 2016/2017.

Councillor Ian Houlder, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet, including background to the Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme (LCTRS) which was introduced from 1 April 2013, together with a summary of the second year review (2014/2015) in respect of the behavioural, administrative and financial impacts of the LCTRS and council tax technical changes levels.

The recommended continuation of the current schemes covered in the report, was intended to continue to deliver a ‘cost neutral scheme’ against the original 10% Government grant reduction. This was in order to maintain collection rates and avoid additional administrative costs. The impact of the 2016/2017 24% reduction in Central Government grant was therefore required to be addressed elsewhere and would form part of the Council’s wider Medium Term Financial Strategy review and 2016/2017 budget setting process.

Based on the overall findings of the second year review outlined in Sections 2 and 3 of the report, the Cabinet supported the recommendation to continue the LCTRS in its current form.  In respect of the technical changes, based on the overall findings of the second year review outlined in Sections 2 and 3 of the report, the Cabinet also supported the recommendation to continue with the 2015/2016 levels, as shown below in Table 2 of Section 6 of the report.

Discussion was held on the relatively low demand for Exceptional Hardship payments; and the timings of the collection of payments.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That no change be made to the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme or Council Tax Technical changes levels for 2016/2017, as detailed in Sections 5 and 6 of Report No: CAB/SE/15/074.

Report No:   CAB/SE/15/075

Cabinet Member: Ian Houlder          Lead Officer: Joanne Howlett

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL (15 December 2015):

That:

(1)     the tax base for 2016/2017, for the whole of St Edmundsbury be 35,737.08 equivalent Band ‘D’ dwellings, as detailed in paragraph 1.4 of Report No: CAB/SE/15/075; and

(2)     the tax base for 2016/2017 for the different parts of its area, as defined by parish or special expense area boundaries, be as shown in Appendix 2 to Report No: CAB/SE/15/075.

The Cabinet considered Report No: CAB/SE/15/075, which sought approval for Council Tax Base for Tax Setting Purposes 2016/2017.

Councillor Ian Houlder, Portfolio Holder for Resources and Performance, drew relevant issues to the attention of the Cabinet including that the tax base formed the basis for the formal calculation of Council Tax for 2016/2017.

The CTB1 Tax Base Return form was attached at Appendix 1, which had been updated as at 5 November 2015 to allow for:

(a)     technical changes outlined in Report No: CAB/SE/15/074; and

(b)     potential growth in the property base during 2016/2017 taken from an average of the housing delivery numbers for those sites within the local plan and those that had planning permission, adjusted for an assumed level of discounts/exemptions within that growth of property base.

An allowance was then made for losses on collection, which assumed that overall collection rates would be maintained at approximately 98%. In addition to this collection rate change, an adjustment had been made to allow for the collectability of the Council Tax arising from the Local Council Tax Support scheme, which had been assessed at 90%. The resulting Tax Base for Council Tax collection purposes had been calculated as 35,737.08 which was an increase of 679 on the previous year.

The tax base figures provided within Appendix 2 of the report had been communicated to town and parish councils so they could start to factor these into their budget setting process.

RECOMMENDED TO COUNCIL:

That:

(1)    the tax base for 2016/2017, for the whole of St Edmundsbury be 35,737.08 equivalent Band ‘D’ dwellings, as detailed in paragraph 1.4 of Report No: CAB/SE/15/075; and

(2)    the tax base for 2016/2017 for the different parts of its area, as defined by parish or special expense area boundaries, be as shown in Appendix 2 to Report No: CAB/SE/15/075.