Agenda and minutes

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting held on 9^th November, 2009.

Arising from Minute K43 (Independent Safeguarding Authority Vetting and Barring Scheme), it was noted that it was hoped that there would be additional information from the Region that could inform our recommended approach in respect of charging.  A report was to be submitted to the Corporate Management Team and Cabinet early in the New Year.

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9^th November, 2009, be approved as a correct record.

The Director of Central Finance reported that the Communities and Local Government was considering various changes to the prudential Capital Finance system, introduced by the Local Government Act 2003, and were seeking views from local authorities.  The proposals were to:-

-              Revise the CLG Investments Guidance (in light of the recent Select Committee inquiry)

-              Amend the Capital Finance Regulations (mainly to mitigate the impact of new accounting standards)

-              Revise the CLG Minimum Revenue Provision Guidance (to reflect new accounting standards)

The new Investment Guidance would apply with effect from 1^st April, 2010 and supersede the former guidance issued in March, 2004.  The main changes were:-

o             The Guidance made even clearer that the investment priorities should be security and liquidity, rather than yield

o             Investment strategies should still go to the full Council at the start of each year, but authorities were encouraged to consider submitted revised strategies at other times

o             Strategies should be published

o             Authorities should not rely just on credit ratings but consider also other information on credit risk

o             Strategies should comment on the use of treasury management consultants

o             Strategies should comment on the investment of money borrowed in advance of spending needs

The Capital Finance Regulations addressed some of the issues arising from the transition to International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).  Both adverse and positive financial consequences had been identified and it was to be welcomed that the new Regulations should ensure the previously reported financial position would remain the same and authorities, in particular, would not be adversely affected.

The transition to IFRS was still in its early stages and it was possible that further issues may arise which would require further regulations.  The Council would expect the Government to expedite further Regulations as appropriate.

Resolved:-  That the consultation process be noted and the proposed Council response supported.

Further to Minute No. 33 of 12^th October, 2009, Asif Akram, Project Development Officer, submitted an update with regard to the Council’s provision of a budget to cover ‘third party’ funding for Rotherham generated landfill grant applications.

At the start of the 2009/10 financial year the total budget was £45,464.97 including carry forward from 2008/09 of £28,818.97.  During the current financial period, a third party payment of £5,500 had been made to WREN on connection with a grant approval of £50,000 for a new skate park in Rosehill Park.

Current commitments were £7,133 - £5,390 for an update an existing BMX track in Kimberworth and £1,743 for the refurbishment of Thurcroft Welfare Community Hall.

As suggested at the October meeting, costs had been obtained to refurbish prioritised playgrounds within the Borough that had previously received funding through Landfill Tax Credits – Treeton Well Lane, Coronation Park, Maltby and Wath Skate Park (£15,315.40).

The Chairman reiterated that wormeries should not necessarily be funded by the underspend due to the number of Councillors that had already committed their Community Leadership Fund to their local schools for the purchase of such.

Jan Leyland, Neighbourhood Partnership Manager, stated that the Area Assemblies devolved budgets linked to the Community Strategy and priorities identified by the local community in an attempt to have a co-ordinated approach across all Assemblies.  The proposed refurbished playground projects would link into the identified community projects. 

Approximately £9,000 would remain in the budget in case any bids were made.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the budget carry forward of £45,464.97, of which £5,500 had been spent and £7,133.76 had been committed, be noted.

(2)  That the Neighbourhood Partnership Manager inform Area Assemblies of the funding available for local community priorities.

Stuart Booth, Director of Central Finance, presented briefly the submitted report relating to the above.

The report showed that the Financial Services Directorate was forecasting a break-even position against a net revenue budget of £10.5M by the end of March, 2010.

The report set out the summary year to date and projected outturn position for Financial Services as at the end of October, 2009, together with the Agency spend incurred to the end of September.

Resolved:- That the latest revenue forecast outturn position for the Financial Services Directorate for 2009/10 be noted.

Stuart Booth, Director of Central Finance, presented briefly the submitted report relating to the above.

The report showed that the Chief Executive’s Directorate was forecasting currently an overspend of £7,000 against a net revenue budget of £9M by the end of March, 2010.

Areas highlighted in the report covered:-

-                      Transport

-                      Vacancies and secondments

-                      Rotherham News

-                      Statutory Notices

-                      Worksmart

There had been no agency expenditure to report for October although there had been expenditure incurred on Job Evaluation in 2009/10 but funded via a centrally held budget and able to be capitalised.  Details of spend on the use of consultants was currently being compiled and would be included in a future budget monitoring report.

The report set out the summary year to date and projected outturn position for the Chief Executive’s Directorate as at the end of October, 2009.

Resolved:- (1)  That the latest revenue forecast outturn position for the Chief Executive’s Directorate for 2009/10 be noted.

(2)  That information be provided to a future meeting on the reason for the cost of placing Statutory Notices in the local press exceeding current budget.

Mark Gannon, Transformation & Strategic Partnerships Manager, presented the submitted report which summarised RBT’s performance against contractual measures and key service delivery issues for October, 2009, across the areas of Customer Access, Human Resources and Payroll, ICT, Procurement and Revenue and Benefits.

Key points for this period included:-

Customer Access

-              All performance targets achieved

-              Productivity measures had been measured for a second month and positive actions were being taken to increase levels

-              New Legislation came into force on 16^th November, 2009, which meant that registrars must check the General Council Register before registering a death to ensure that the doctor who signed the certificate was licenced to practice at the time of signing.  This would increase the transaction time for dealing with bereavements

-              The Client Team were currently reviewing the proposed Revenues and Benefits business process re-engineering project

Human Resources and Payroll

-              All performance targets achieved

-              Millside Learning and Development Centre officially transferred to RBT management on 1^st October, 2009 with 3 Strategic HR employees transferring on 19^th October, 2009

-              The Orgplus software successfully implemented during October.  The new software would facilitate the automation of establishment changes and also give basic management information in an easy to understand chart format

ICT

-              All performance targets achieved

-              Crinoline House decant ongoing

-              Annual ICT Customer Satisfaction Survey showed a 80% satisfaction rate, 13% neither satisfied or dissatisfied and 7% dissatisfied

Procurement

-              All performance targets achieved

-              Former BVP18 achieved 92.22% in October, 2009, an improvement on 2008.  Average performance to date stood at 94.06%

-              Procurement savings for the period to the end of September, 2009, were £260,000

Revenues and Benefits

-              Council Tax Collection Rate 65.14% at the end of October, 2009, 0.49% lower than the same point in 2008

-              The target for 2009/10 continued to be a Council Tax Collection Rate which placed Rotherham in the upper performance quartile for Metropolitan District Councils with a minimum collection level of 97.0%

-              Average number of days taken to action a Council Tax Change of Circumstance was 15.09 days, above the 14 days target and linked to the current high volumes of work outstanding.  RBT had arranged for staff overtime between now and Christmas

-              As at October, 2009 68.22% people paid their Council Tax by direct debit.  The comparative point in 2008/09 was 67.82%

-              NNDR collection rate was 69.58% at the end of October, 2009, 0.16% down on the same point in 2008

-              This was the collection rate before the £456,764 that had been deferred under the NNDR Deferral Scheme had been deducted; once this was factored into the calculation the collection rate rose to 70.05%

-              More than £0.5M of advance payments had been received at the end of October

-              As at the end of October, 2009, 415 deferral applications had been received; 321 had been granted allowing deferral of £456,764 which businesses would have to repay in the next 2 tax years.  A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

- minutes of meeting held on 7^th September and 11^th November, 2009

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Complaints Forum held on 7th September and 9^th November, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

- minutes of meetings held on 12^th October and 16^th November, 2009

Consideration was given to the minutes of the Website Strategy Group held on 12th October and 16^th November, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.

(information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Council))

Consideration was given and discussion took place on the minutes of the E-Government Board held on 3^rd Sepember, 2009.

Resolved:-  That the contents of the minutes be noted.