Decisions

The Chief Executive informed committee that following a meeting of the last Budget Working Group it was felt that more time was required to consider the upcoming budget and it would be helpful if the date of Special Policy and Finance committee could be put back.

The meeting of Policy and Finance Committee held on 18 January had therefore agreed to change the special meeting from 8 February 2022 to 15 February 2022. 

However, since that meeting it was realised this new date coincided with half term holidays and it was still felt more time was needed to consider the budget.  With a meeting date of 22 February 2022, it would be necessary to put back the meeting of Full Council scheduled for 1 March 2022 to 8 March 2022.  This would have a knock-on effect on the date of Community Services committee for which it was proposed moving by one day to 9 March 2022. Members were in favour of the new dates suggested

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree to alter the following meeting dates to allow time for further consideration of the future budget

·         Special Policy and Finance committee to 22 February 2022

·         Council to 8 March 2022

·         Community Services committee to 9 March 2022

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to consider the future capital programme for this committee following a review of the existing capital programme with proposed amendments and the submission of a new scheme bid.

For this committee, no capital schemes were previously approved for the financial years 2022/23 to 2024/25, so no scheme reviews had been required.

New capital bids had been requested to be put forward for 2025/26 and 2026/27. For this committee there was one new bid for 2025/26 for £55,000 for the Clitheroe Townscape scheme which had been deleted from the capital programme in February 2018.  If the bid was supported by committee, it would be considered alongside bids from all other committee by the Budget Working Group and Policy and Finance committee.

The Chairman informed committee that a request for additional match funding on this scheme may be made by Lancashire County Council, and suggested that should the detail be received in time for the budget process, it also be considered.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the new capital bid for 2025/26 for the Clitheroe Townscape scheme and forward it to Policy and Finance committee to be considered alongside the bids from all committees as part of the Overall Capital Programme.

2.    Consider a further request for additional match funding on this scheme when details are received from LCC.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to approve the 2021/22 revised estimate for this committee’s capital programme.

One capital scheme totalling £66,750 had been approved by Special Policy and Finance committee and full Council in February and March 2021 respectively. The scheme had been moved from the 2020/21 capital programme to the 2021/22 capital programme.

During the year there had been budget changes resulting in a capital programme of two schemes totalling £101,750. These had now been revised to reflect their progress and estimated full year expenditure for 2021/22 which resulted in a proposed revised estimate of £50,000, a reduction of £51,750 from the total approved budget. The reasons were highlighted for committee’s information.

Progress was reported on the two schemes. Lancashire County Council has informed us that the gateway signs would be installed over the next 4 – 6 weeks.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the 2021/22 revised estimate of £50,000 for this committee’s capital programme as set out, and

2.    Approve the transfer of £51,750 of the Economic Development Initiatives capital budget from 2021/22 to 2022/23.

The Director of Resources submitted a report outlining the draft revenue budget for approval by committee and then consideration at Special Policy and Finance committee.

The Council’s three-year budget forecast had been presented to Policy and Finance committee in September 2021 when it predicted that there would be the following budget gaps: £82k in 2022/23, £139k in 2023/24 and £230k in 2024/25, after allowing for use of general fund balances.

Since that time there had been a number of significant changes affecting the budget. These included significant rises in inflation, an increase in national insurance contributions and implementation of a new pay line. Therefore, the budget gap for 2022/23 was estimated to increase to around £497k.

The provisional local government finance settlement announced in December 2021 was for just one year, with a national increase of 6.9% in Council’s core spending power in cash terms between 2021/22 and next year. This is the fourth one-year settlement in a row.

Headlines for Ribble Valley include:

·         Core spending power set to increase by only 0.2% (£11,000) next year from £6.849m to £6.860m.

·         Business Rate Baseline funding level is £1.354m which is the same as the current year, however £111k compensation will be received due to the loss of income received by freezing the business rate multiplier.

·         An allocation of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) of £215 despite RSG increasing nationally by 3.1% for inflation.

·         Rural Services Delivery Grant of £113,250 – same as the current year.

·         Lower Tier Services Grant of £60,754 up from £57,696.

·         A new one off 2022/23 Services Grant has been announced worth £822m in recognition of services and includes costs of the increase in NI contributions. Ribble Valley will receive £93,368.

·         New Homes Bonus (NHB) – the Government have allowed a new round of NHB allocations for 2022/23 which will not attract any legacy payments. They have also allowed the one remaining legacy payment of £464k which has been allowed for. Next year there will be a payment of £741k for 2022/23 along with the legacy payment of £464k = £1.2m.

·         The Lancashire Business Rate Pool has received designation to continue.

·         The Council Tax can be increased by £5.

Taking these things into account reduces the budget gap from £487k to £233k.

Members were reminded that the fees and charges for this committee had been approved at their last meeting, and the consequential impact had been incorporated into the service budgets.

Once all committees had approved their detailed estimates, the overall position would be considered by the Budget Working Group and recommendations in order to produce a balanced budget would be made to Special Policy and Finance committee, before being presented to Full Council, at which point the Council Tax for 2022/23 would also be approved.

The draft proposed budget for 2022/23 was set out for each service area, starting with the original estimate for the current year and the predicted changes including inflation, movements in expenditure, income, support services and capital charges.

The net expenditure for this committee has increased by £43,840. The main reasons were summarised for committee’s information.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the revenue original estimate for 2022/23 for submission to Special Policy and Finance committee.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to agree a revised revenue budget for 2021/22 for this committee.

Committee were reminded that at this time of year the estimates are revised for the current financial year in order to predict the likely outturn on the budget. The budget this year had been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whilst committee income and expenditure may increase or decrease at the revised estimate, items such as budgeted core government funding and council tax precept remain fixed. As a result, any compensating movement is within earmarked reserves and general fund balances. Decisions and actions required as a result of committee meetings have been incorporated into the budget setting process.

Committee were informed that the difference between the revised and original estimate was a decrease in net expenditure of £20,330, or £33,150 after allowing for movements on earmarked reserves. A summary of the reasons for the movements was provided for members’ information.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree the revenue revised estimate for 2021/22.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report for information on the general progress on tourism activity, with particular reference to measures taken to support the visitor economy during the pandemic, as well as the priorities as we continue through recovery.

Members requested officers to look at installing electric charging points on Council rural car parks and Longridge, and to consider extending our promotional offering to include cycling and golf.

The Director of Resources submitted a report updating committee on the Covid 19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) that was announced by the Chancellor on 21 December 2021.

She explained that liability for business rates is based upon the rateable value of a property set by the Valuation Office Agency (VOA) which are updated at revaluations. The next revaluation is planned for 1 April 2023 with a valuation date of 1 April 2021.

In between revaluations, rateable values can only be changed to reflect ‘material changes of circumstances’. Since the start of the pandemic the VOA had received many checks arguing that interventions concerning the use of property were a material change, which if successful, would have a major impact on the level of rateable values. The Government therefore introduced primary legislation with retrospective effect clarifying that coronavirus was not an appropriate use of the material change of circumstances provision. The Rating (Coronavirus) and Directors Disqualification (Dissolved Companies) Bill received Royal assent on 15 December 2021.

In March 2021 the Government had announced a new Covid 19 Additional Relief Fund (CARF) of £1.5 billion intended to support businesses affected by the pandemic that are ineligible for the existing support linked to business rates. Guidance had been issued to local authorities detailing how the scheme should operate. Ribble Valley Borough Council had been allocated £1,239,191.

The Director of Resources informed committee that the guidance stated that billing authorities were responsible for designing a discretionary relief scheme in their area that would be granted using powers contained in Section 47(8A) of the Local Government Finance Act 1988. The scheme must not award relief to ratepayers who have received Expanded Retail Discount or Nursery Discount. It was also for local authorities to determine how much relief should be awarded to each eligible business subject to subsidy control rules detailed in the guidance.

She informed members that a meeting of the Lancashire Revenues Managers had taken place on 11 January 2022 to discuss the issues regarding the scheme share ideas.

As it was difficult to estimate the level of demand, it was suggested that applications from businesses that meet the eligibility criteria be invited for a set period up to 28 February 2022, and then determine the level of relief to award each category of property based on the applications received. 

Councillor Mirfin was given permission to speak on this item.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Endorse the suggested approach and invite applications from businesses who meet the eligibility criteria as set out in the guidance, with a view to another report coming to the next meeting to determine the level of relief to be awarded.

The Director of Resources submitted a report updating committee on the consultation exercise that had been conducted regarding changes proposed to the Local Council Tax Support (LCTS) scheme and asking them to consider next steps regarding potential changes to the scheme in time for the 2022/23 financial year.

She reminded committee that the LCTS scheme had replaced Council Tax Benefit in 2013/14 and was now paid as a discount against an individual’s council tax bill rather than a benefit. The Government had replaced the subsidy with a grant payable to Councils for the cost of LCTS, however they had reduced the amount from 100% to 90% and councils had either to absorb the reduction or meet it from reductions in council tax or elsewhere from within the council tax system.

Councils had been required to design their own LCTS system and consult with their residents and major preceptors regarding their proposals. At the start of the scheme we proposed to use £120k of council tax income raised on second homes to partially offset the shortfall and proposed the balance would be met by reducing the discount on second homes and applying a 12% reduction to working age claimants. However, the Government offered a one off transition grant if councils capped their reduction at 8.5% which we did for the first year in 2013/24 and thereafter raised it to 12%.

The Director of Resources informed committee that currently across Lancashire there were many varying levels of reductions with two local authorities currently having no reduction in support at all.

At the March 2021 Full Council meeting as part of the budget deliberations, it was considered that a piece of work should be carried out to explore the possibility of removing the 12% reduction in support for working age claimants,  The Budget working group had considered this  and recommended to this committee that the Council launch a  consultation exercise to remove the 12% reduction thereby increasing support to these claimants.

The consultation exercise had run from 25 October to 5 December 2021 as an online survey with paper copies available.

All major preceptors had raised concerns about the proposed change and the impact it would have on the income they received. However, 91% of the 58 responses received to the online survey agreed that the 12% reduction should be removed.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree to alter that LCTS scheme for 2022/23 and remove the 12% reduction applied to working age claimants to bring them into line with pensioner age claimants.

(Councillor S Hirst left the meeting)

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to agree a new updated Corporate Debt Policy.

She explained that having a Corporate Debt Policy was good practice and ensures that all people involved in the collection of money owed to the Council have a consistent approach and understanding of procedures. The Policy was circulated for members to consider.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the Corporate Debt Policy attached to the report.

The Director of Resources submitted a report updating members on the existing Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG) scheme, the recent announcement made by the Chancellor on 21 December 2021 in response to the Omicron variant regarding further business support and asking them to consider a new strand to the ARG scheme for the Omicron variant.

She reminded members that the Council currently had three live ARG grant schemes which were agreed by this committee in November 2021 – travel agents, business recovery and business growth. Since the last meeting there had been 66 applications received of which 17 had been approved and 5 rejected. The approvals totalled £120k and unallocated funds were currently £426k.

On 21 December 2021 the Chancellor had announced two further funding streams for businesses severely affected by the Omicron variant

·         Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant (OHLG): businesses in the hospitality and leisure sectors in England will be eligible for one-off grants of up to £6,000 per premises.

·         A third top up to local authorities ARG funding to support businesses who had been severely impacted by the Omicron variant including those outside the business rate system.

The Government had issued guidance for local authorities to administer the OHLG scheme on their behalf, with the allocation to Ribble Valley being £1,056,078. Any eligible grants paid out that exceed this will be reimbursed by the Government. The Director of Resources outlined who would be eligible, the value of the grant, exclusions to the grant, and closure date for applications. An on-line application form had been designed.

Regarding the ARG top-up, it had been made clear that it should only be allocated directly to businesses that had been severely impacted by the Omicron variant and should not fund wider business support measures.

The allocation to Ribble Valley was £146,048 and it was suggested that grants should be £1000 for businesses with a rateable value and £500 for those not registered for business rates.

Councillor G Mirfin was given permission to speak on this item.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Note the progress with the existing ARG scheme;

2.    Note and welcome the new OHLG scheme; and

3.    Agree the grant amounts of £1,000 for businesses with a rateable value and £500 for those not registered for business rates for the new Omicron ARG scheme, and delegate the creation of a detailed scheme to the Director of Resources in consultation with the ARG task and finish group.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to consider the future capital programme for this committee following a review of the existing capital programme and the submission of new scheme bids.

For this committee there had originally been eight schemes approved for the financial years 2022/23 to 2024/25, totalling £432,880. Following a review of these schemes there were no proposed amendments identified.

New capital bids had been put forward for 2025/26 and 2026/27. For this committee there had been six new bids totalling £415,100 including a joint bid from the Legal, Planning and Environmental Health departments for a software upgrade for regulatory services. Any bids going forward would be considered alongside all other committee bids by the Budget Working Group and Policy and Finance committee.

Members expressed some concern about bids for 2025/26 that appeared urgent and may need completing before then.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Confirm the schemes in the currently approved capital programme, and

2.    Approve all the new capital bids for 2025/26 and 2026/27 to Special Policy and Finance committee to be considered alongside the bids from all committees as part of the Overall Capital Programme.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to approve the 2021/22 revised estimate for this committee’s capital programme.

Four schemes totalling £105,510 had been approved by Special Policy and Finance committee and full Council in February and March 2021 respectively. All four schemes had been moved from the 2020/21 capital programme to the 2021/22 capital programme.

During the year there had been several budget changes resulting in a capital programme of eight schemes totalling £179,790. These had been revised to reflect their progress and estimated full year expenditure for 2021/22 which resulted in a proposed revised estimate of £70,910 for five schemes, a reduction of £108,880 from the total approved budget. The reasons were highlighted for committee’s information.

Of the five schemes in the proposed revised capital programme:

·         One was complete,

·         Two were currently expected to be completed in-year, and

·         It was unclear whether the other two schemes would be completed in-year.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the 2021/22 revised estimate of £70,910 for this committee’s capital programme as set out in the report, and

2.    Approve the transfer of the following capital budgets from 2021/22 to 2022/23

·         Dewhurst Road, Langho – Resurfacing works - £62,850

·         Network Infrastructure - £30,000

·         Committee Administration IT System - £7,600

·         Financial system upgrade - £8,430

3.    Agree to move the Special Policy and Finance committee to 15 February 2022 to allow officers and budget working group time to manage the budget process.

The Director of Resources submitted a report outlining the draft revenue budget for approval by committee and then consideration at Special Policy and Finance committee.

The Council’s three-year budget forecast had been presented to Policy and Finance committee in September 2021 when it predicted that there would be the following budget gaps: £82k in 2022/23, £139k in 2023/24 and £230k in 2024/25, after allowing for use of general fund balances.

Since that time there had been a number of significant changes affecting the budget. These included significant rises in inflation, an increase in national insurance contributions and implementation of a new pay line. Therefore, the budget gap for 2022/23 was estimated to increase to around £497k.

The provisional local government finance settlement announced in December 2021 was for just one year, with a national increase of 6.9% in Council’s core spending power in cash terms between 2021/22 and next year. This is the fourth one-year settlement in a row.

Headlines for Ribble Valley include

·         Core spending power set to increase by only 0.2% (£11,000) next year from £6.849m to £6.860m;

·         Business Rate Baseline funding level is £1.354m which is the same as the current year, however £111k compensation will be received due to the loss of income received by freezing the business rate multiplier;

·         An allocation of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) of £215 despite RSG increasing nationally by 3.1% for inflation;

·         Rural Services Delivery Grant of £113,250 – same as the current year;

·         Lower Tier Services Grant of £60,754 up from £57,696;

·         A new one off 2022/23 Services Grant has been announced worth £822m in recognition of services and includes costs of the increase in NI contributions. Ribble Valley will receive £93,368;

·         New Homes Bonus (NHB) – the Government have allowed a new round of NHB allocations for 2022/23 which will not attract any legacy payments. They have also allowed the one remaining legacy payment of £464k which has been allowed for. Next year there will be a payment of £741k for 2022/23 along with the legacy payment of £464k = £1.2m;

·         The Lancashire Business Rate Pool has received designation to continue; and,

·         The Council Tax can be increased by £5

Taking these things into account reduces the budget gap from £497k to £233k.

The Director of Resources reminded members that the fees and charges for this committee had been approved at their last meeting, and the consequential impact had been incorporated into the service budgets.

Once all committees had approved their detailed estimates, the overall position would be considered by the Budget Working Group and recommendations in order to produce a balanced budget would be made to Special Policy and Finance committee, before being presented to Full Council, at which point the Council Tax for 2022/23 would also be approved.

The draft proposed budget for 2022/23 was set out for each service area, built up over a number of stages including inflation, movements in expenditure, income, support services and capital, culminating in a draft original estimate.

In the original estimate for 2021/22 it was planned that this committee add £24,100 to earmarked reserves to support its expenditure in future years. It was now proposed to add £23,220 in 2022/23. The reasons for this were outlined.

The net expenditure for this committee has increased by £157,970 after allowing for associated movements on earmarked reserves. The main reasons were summarised for committee’s information.

There had also been 10 requests for growth items totalling £205,440. Committee were asked which they felt they supported to be put forward for further consideration by Special Policy and Finance committee.

Members discussed the proposed additions/changes to staff posts in some detail and asked that their views be taken into account by the Budget working group when they were considering the budget prior to Special Policy and Finance committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the revenue original estimate for 2022/23 and submit it to Special Policy and Finance committee, and

2.    Approve the requests submitted for growth items for consideration by Special Policy and Finance committee taking into account the views of committee.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to agree a revised revenue budget for 2021/22 for this committee.

She reminded committee that at this time of year the estimates are revised for the current financial year in order to predict the likely outturn on the budget. The budget this year had again been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whilst committee income and expenditure may increase or decrease at the revised estimate, items such as budgeted core government funding and council tax precept remain fixed. As a result, any compensating movement is within earmarked reserves and general fund balances. Decisions and actions required as a result of committee meetings have been incorporated into the budget setting process.

Within this committee there were budget movements across two areas. Those within original estimate budgets that have been established to support service activities and those resulting from the coronavirus pandemic response for which there is no original base budget estimate for 2021/22. A detailed breakdown was provided.

She informed committee that the total difference between the revised and original estimate was a decrease in net expenditure of £81,290, or an increase in net expenditure of £55,890 after allowing for movements on earmarked reserves. The balance on coronavirus specific budgets was nil after movements in reserves. A detailed summary of the reasons for movements were summarised for members’ information.

For this committee there were a number of large variations.  The largest was as a result of vacant posts within the Chief Executives Department.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree the revenue revised estimate for 2021/22.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for information updating members on the progress with the selection of appropriate projects to commemorate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Note the progress being made, and

2.    Agree to delegate to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Platinum Jubilee working group to progress the purchase of a piece of land for a woodland. 

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to consider the future capital programme for this committee following a review of the existing capital programme with proposed amendments and the submission of new scheme bids.

For this committee there had originally been three schemes approved for the financial years 2022/23 to 2024/25, totalling £1,259,700. Following a review of these schemes an amendment was proposed to the Disabled Facilities Grants, totalling £138,000 over three years. This on-going grant scheme is included as an indicative value on the understanding that the actual scheme budget for each year would be set to match the actual Central Government grant funding received in that year. This equates to a £46,000 increase each year for 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 respectively.

New capital bids had been requested to be put forward for 2025/26 and 2026/27. For this committee there had been six new bids including one for 2022/23, totalling £2,170,740.  Any bids supported by committee would be considered alongside bids from all other committee by the Budget Working Group and Policy and Finance committee.

Members were reminded of the additional revenue impact that new capital schemes would commit the council to, in particular the Alternative System for Dog Waste/Litter Bins Emptying scheme, which had recurring annual revenue costs of £258,190.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Confirm the schemes in the previously approved capital programme;

2.    Request £138,000 of additional budget from Policy and Finance committee for the changed estimates on the Disabled Facilities Grants scheme between 2022/23 and 2024/25. This proposed increased budget is on the basis that it is fully financed by Central Government Disabled Facilities Grants finding each year; and

3.    Approve all the new capital bids and consequential additional revenue cost for 2022/23, 2025/26 and 2026/27 to be forwarded to Policy and Finance committee to be considered as part of the Overall Capital Programme.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report providing committee with a general update and overview on all the various grant awards available to the housing needs service. Endorsement was also sought for the continuation of a joint management approach of the Longridge unit of temporary accommodation at 23 Wellbrow Drive through a Licence Agreement.

The Agreement ensures all maintenance issues are still the responsibility of Onward but all rent is paid direct from Ribble Valley Borough Council and therefore any void costs must be covered by the homeless service budget. The unit is essential for addressing temporary accommodation demand in Longridge and demands are such that voids are minimal.

The report outlined the various sources of grant funding available to the Council to address homelessness issues. These included:

·         Homeless Prevention Grant Winter Exceptional Top Up Allocation 21/22

·         Accommodation for Offenders – MHCLG Grant

·         Homeless Prevention Grant 20/21

·         Rough Sleeping Initiative 20/21

·         Protect and Vaccinate 2021/22 allocations

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the continued use of 23 Wellbrow Drive, Longridge under a Licence Agreement;

2.    Agree a total budget for the property as per Appendix 1 to recommend to next Policy and Finance committee; and

3.      Note the various grant schemes available along with their limitations in terms of usage.

The Director of Resources submitted a report outlining the draft revenue budget for approval by committee and then consideration at Special Policy and Finance committee.

The Council’s three-year budget forecast had been presented to Policy and Finance committee in September 2021 when it predicted that there would be the following budget gaps: £82k in 2022/23, £139k in 2023/24 and £230k in 2024/25, after allowing for use of general fund balances.

Since that time there had been a number of significant changes affecting the budget. These included significant rises in inflation, an increase in national insurance contributions and implementation of a new pay line. Therefore, the budget gap for 2022/23 was estimated to increase to around £497k.

The provisional local government finance settlement announced in December 2021 was for just one year, with a national increase of 6.9% in Council’s core spending power in cash terms between 2021/22 and next year. This is the fourth one-year settlement in a row.

Headlines for Ribble Valley include:

·         Core spending power set to increase by only 0.2% (£11,000) next year from £6.849m to £6.860m.

·         Business Rate Baseline funding level is £1.354m which is the same as the current year, however £111k compensation will be received due to the loss of income received by freezing the business rate multiplier.

·         An allocation of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) of £215 despite RSG increasing nationally by 3.1% for inflation.

·         Rural Services Delivery Grant of £113,250 – same as the current year.

·         Lower Tier Services Grant of £60,754 up from £57,696.

·         A new one off 2022/23 Services Grant has been announced worth £822m in recognition of services and includes costs of the increase in NI contributions. Ribble Valley will receive £93,368.

·         New Homes Bonus (NHB) – the Government have allowed a new round of NHB allocations for 2022/23 which will not attract any legacy payments. They have also allowed the one remaining legacy payment of £464k which has been allowed for. Next year there will be a payment of £741k for 2022/23 along with the legacy payment of £464k = £1.2m.

·         The Lancashire Business Rate Pool has received designation to continue.

·         The Council Tax can be increased by £5.

Taking these things into account reduces the budget gap from £497k to £233k.

Members were reminded that the fees and charges for this committee had been approved at their last meeting, and the consequential impact had been incorporated into the service budgets.

Once all committees had approved their detailed estimates, the overall position would be considered by the Budget Working Group and recommendations in order to produce a balanced budget would be made to Special Policy and Finance committee, before being presented to Full Council, at which point the Council Tax for 2022/23 would also be approved.

The draft proposed budget for 2022/23 was set out for each service area, built up over a number of stages including inflation, movements in expenditure, income, support services and capital, culminating in a draft original estimate.

In the original estimate for 2021/22 it was planned that this committee add £42,320 to earmarked reserves to support its expenditure in future years. It was now proposed to take £500 in 2022/23. The reason for this was outlined.

The net expenditure for this committee has increased from £1,095,450 by £50,230 to £1,145,680 after allowing for associated movements on earmarked reserves. The main reasons were summarised for committee’s information.

There had also been two requests for growth items totalling £273,190. Committee were asked which they supported to be put forward for further consideration by Policy and Finance committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the revenue original estimate for 2022/23 as set out in the report to be submitted to Special Policy and Finance committee, and

2.    Support the following growth items

·         Alternative System for Dog Waste/Litter Bin Emptying – staff costs, fuel costs and vehicle maintenance costs - £258,190.

·         Joiners Arms Standard Fittings for Hostel Flats – furniture and fitting costs and lost rent income - £15,000.

The Chief Executive submitted a report advising committee of the transfer of health protection roles and responsibilities from Public Health England to the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) with effect from 1 October 2021.

He also asked for committee’s approval of an amendment of the scheme of delegation with regard to the appointment of ‘proper officers’ for the purpose of the Health Protection (Notification) Regulations 2010 (“the Regulations”).

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the authorisation of Consultants in Health Protection/Consultants in Communicable Disease Control employed by the UKHSA North West for the duties stated in the report to act on behalf of Ribble Valley Borough Council.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to agree a revised revenue budget for 2021/22 for this committee.

Committee were reminded that at this time of year the estimates are revised for the current financial year in order to predict the likely outturn on the budget. The budget this year had been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whilst committee income and expenditure may increase or decrease at the revised estimate, items such as budgeted core government funding and council tax precept remain fixed. As a result, any compensating movement is within earmarked reserves and general fund balances. Decisions and actions required as a result of committee meetings have been incorporated into the budget setting process.

Committee were informed that the difference between the revised and original estimate was a decrease in net expenditure of £342,530, or £356,470 after allowing for movements on earmarked reserves. A detailed summary of the reasons for the movements was provided for members’ information.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the revenue revised estimate for 2021/22 as set out in the report.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to approve the 2021/22 revised estimate for this committee’s capital programme.

Five capital schemes totalling £639,640 had been approved by Special Policy and Finance committee and full Council in February and March 2021 respectively. This included four new schemes and two that had been moved from the 2020/21 capital programme to the 2021/22 capital programme.

During the year there had been several budget changes resulting in a capital programme of eight schemes totalling £1,336,560. These had now been revised to reflect their progress and estimated full year expenditure for 2021/22 which resulted in a proposed revised estimate of £1,049,100, a reduction of £287,460 from the total approved budget. The reasons were highlighted for committee’s information.

Of the four schemes in the proposed revised capital programme:

·         Two were currently expected to be completed in-year (although one must wait for the completion of the other before work can commence), and

·         The other two were ongoing grants schemes.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.   Approve the 2021/22 revised estimate of £1,049,100 for this committee’s capital programme;

2.   Approve the transfer of the following capital budgets from 202/22 to 2022/23:

·         Landlord/tenant grants - £186,740

·         Clitheroe Market Improvements - £78,600

·         Replacement of Pest Control Van PK13 FJP - £13,800

·         Replacement of Dog Warden Van PE64 EYC - £13,500

·         Joiners Arms Roof Renewal - £42,200

3.   Recommend to Policy and Finance committee the approval of additional budgets on the following capital schemes in 2022/23, subject to additional funding being identified:

·         Replacement of Pest Control Van PK13 FJP - £2,200

·         Replacement of Dog Warden Van PE64 EYC - £2,500

In accordance with the Localism Act 2011, the Director of Resources submitted a report reviewing the Council’s Pay Policy Statement.

Members were reminded that to ensure transparency as to how pay and remuneration was set by the Council, it was a legal requirement for public sector organisations to publish their Pay Policy Statement on an annual basis.

The Pay Policy Statement sets out the existing approach to the remuneration of all posts within the Council. It specifies certain mandatory requirements that must be detailed within the policy. Members were informed that minor corrections would be made to the Statement before it is submitted for approval at the Council meeting on 1 March 2022.

*** RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE

1.    Received the Report.

2.    Authorised the Chief Executive to submit the Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23 to the Full Council at its meeting on 1 March 2022 for approval.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report providing members with an update on recycling performance.

Performance on recycling of paper and cardboard had decreased particularly in the months either side of the Covid lockdown. Reasons for this were suggested. It was felt by officers that a new promotion of the paper collection would help reinstate the levels before Covid.

Members discussed the decline in paper recycling and how it might be increased again.

Councillor Berryman was given permission to speak on this item and commented upon the excellent recycling performance of green waste which had increased to 40% for the first half of 2021/22.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Ask officers to implement a strategy to promote the collection of paper to the levels before Covid and discourage the disposal of contaminants in the recycling stream, and

2.    Ask officers to implement within the current financial year.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report updating members on current car parking issues and electric charging.

He reminded members that the Car Park working group had received a study outlining the position with capacity on short stay car parks in Clitheroe Town Centre, which was close to capacity at peak times.

Possible options had been discussed and a feasibility study carried out on the provision of a deck on Chester Avenue car park. This had since been discarded as a suitable site, and another site was now being considered and a feasibility report prepared.

Regarding electric charging points, 14 had been installed on council car parks and officers were in the process of investigating the introduction of charging points at the council offices and depot.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Ask officers to continue to investigate how additional parking can be delivered for Clitheroe, and ask Policy and Finance committee to retain provision in the capital programme for new parking facilities (although not on the Chester Avenue site), and

2.    Support officers in pursuing the introduction of more charging points in the council car parks.

The Director of Community Services submitted a report asking committee to consider a scheme of delegation for the delivery of the project and commissioning of services from Together an Active Future (TaAF) funding to facilitate development of the work.

He reminded committee of the background to the TaAF funding and the approach to it and purpose of it. The objective of the pilots being to change thinking and develop new ways of working, with sustainability being a requirement.

For Ribble Valley, the themes are Mental Well-being, Rural Impact on Physical Activity, Schools and how they can help Physical Activity and Creating Connection Between Partners.

There is a requirement from Sport England that each area has a mechanism by which funding decisions can be made. It was suggested that the Health and Wellbeing Partnership, chaired by Cllr Hindle would be a suitable vehicle to provide the governance for the project. This group would consider the schemes for commissioning that arise from the consultation work in the Pathfinder and Accelerator phases of TaAF, with the approval of these decisions being delegated to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Community Services committee and reported retrospectively to committee.

Councillor Berryman was given permission to speak on this item.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the delegation for project commissioning to the Director of Community Services in consultation with the Chair and Vice Chair of Community Services as outlined.

The director of Community Services submitted a report seeking a recommendation from committee for the control of activities on and above the Council’s open space areas. This included the use of drones, metal detecting and personal trainers running their own exercise classes on Council land.

Where formal permission is sought for an activity on Council owned land a contract is issued, with insurance cover and agreement to conditions of use. This is not usually the case with the activities mentioned, and no provision is made, therefore, to mitigate or eliminate any impact on other users of the open space, and upon the Council’s insurance liability.

Officers therefore proposed the limited circumstances when these activities would be acceptable and what would be required for them to be allowed.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the proposals set out in the report with regard to use of drones, metal detecting and fitness classes on Council owned land; and

2.    Delegate authority to the Director of Community Services to prepare and carry out the relevant consultation upon the above policies.

The Chief Executive submitted a report reminding members that a petition had been received at Full Council on 12 October 2021 on behalf of the Clitheroe Town Wells group where it had been requested that three steps be taken, namely

1.    To refer the petition to Community Services committee at the next available opportunity;

2.    Consider two possible legal bases for making valid the ownership of the Heald and St Mary’s wells; and

3.    Consider the economic, community, heritage and tourism benefits of adopting the three wells.

The Head of Legal and Democratic Services informed committee that Council had resolved to refer the petition to this meeting of Community Services committee for further consideration as requested.

However, the Council had since been contacted by representatives of the Wells group who had confirmed that they had compiled further significant historical information that they would wish to be considered before any decision was made. They had therefore requested that the matter be deferred to the Community Services committee in March 2022 to allow sufficient time for consideration and legal advice sought upon any implications the additional information might have in terms of ownership of the wells.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Defer consideration of the petition presented by Clitheroe Town Wells Group to Full Council on 12 October 2021 until the next meeting of the Community Services committee.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to consider the future capital programme for this committee following a review of the existing capital programme with proposed amendments and the submission of new scheme bids.

For this committee there had originally been 23 schemes approved for the financial years 2022/23 to 2024/25, totalling £1,833,900. Following a review of these schemes proposed amendments to 9 had been identified, totalling £77,000. These were outlined for information.

New capital bids had been put forward for 2025/26 and 2026/27. For this committee there had been 32 new bids including one for 2022/23, totalling £10,580,950. Any bids going forward would be considered alongside all other committee bids by the Budget Working Group and Policy and Finance committee.

External funding would be sought wherever possible.

Councillor Berryman was given permission to speak on this item and encouraged committee to support the provision of decent facilities.

Members particularly supported the bid for the replacement of Ribblesdale Pool, and acknowledged that officers would be prudent when it came to replacing vehicles.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Confirm the schemes in the existing capital programme;

2.    Request £77,000 of additional funding from Policy and Finance committee for those schemes where estimates have changed; and

3.    Approve all the new capital bids as outlined in the report to be forwarded to Policy and Finance committee to be considered as part of the Overall Capital Programme.

The Director of Resources submitted a report outlining the draft revenue budget for approval by committee and then consideration at Special Policy and Finance committee.

The Council’s three-year budget forecast had been presented to Policy and Finance committee in September 2021 when it predicted that there would be the following budget gaps: £82k in 2022/23, £139k in 2023/24 and £230k in 2024/25, after allowing for use of general fund balances.

Since that time there had been a number of significant changes affecting the budget. These included significant rises in inflation, an increase in national insurance contributions and implementation of a new pay line. Therefore, the budget gap for 2022/23 was estimated to increase to around £497k.

The provisional local government finance settlement announced in December 2021 was for just one year, with a national increase of 6.9% in Council’s core spending power in cash terms between 2021/22 and next year. This is the fourth one-year settlement in a row.

Headlines for Ribble Valley include

·         Core spending power set to increase by only 0.2% (£11,000) next year from £6.849m to £6.860m;

·         Business Rate Baseline funding level is £1.354m which is the same as the current year, however £111k compensation will be received due to the loss of income received by freezing the business rate multiplier;

·         An allocation of Revenue Support Grant (RSG) of £215 despite RSG increasing nationally by 3.1% for inflation;

·         Rural Services Delivery Grant of £113,250 – same as the current year;

·         Lower Tier Services Grant of £60,754 up from £57,696;

·         A new one off 2022/23 Services Grant has been announced worth £822m in recognition of services and includes costs of the increase in NI contributions. Ribble Valley will receive £93,368;

·         New Homes Bonus (NHB) – the Government have allowed a new round of NHB allocations for 2022/23 which will not attract any legacy payments. They have also allowed the one remaining legacy payment of £464k which has been allowed for. Next year there will be a payment of £741k for 2022/23 along with the legacy payment of £464k = £1.2m;

·         The Lancashire Business Rate Pool has received designation to continue; and,

·         The Council Tax can be increased by £5

Taking these things into account reduces the budget gap from £497k to £233k.

The Director of Resources reminded members that the fees and charges for this committee had been approved at their last meeting, and the consequential impact had been incorporated into the service budgets.

Once all committees had approved their detailed estimates, the overall position would be considered by the Budget Working Group and recommendations in order to produce a balanced budget would be made to Special Policy and Finance committee, before being presented to Full Council, at which point the Council Tax for 2022/23 would also be approved.

The draft proposed budget for 2022/23 was set out for each service area, built up over a number of stages including inflation, movements in expenditure, income, support services and capital, culminating in a draft original estimate.

In the original estimate for 2021/22 it was planned that this committee take £32,430 from earmarked reserves to support its expenditure in future years. It was now proposed to take £55,330 in 2022/23. The reasons for this were outlined.

The net expenditure for this committee has increased from £4,134,740 by £371,750 to £4,506,490 after allowing for associated movements on earmarked reserves. The main reasons were summarised for committee’s information.

There had also been 14 requests for growth items totalling £104,640. Committee were asked which they felt they supported to be put forward for further consideration by Policy and Finance committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the revenue original estimate for 2022/23 and submit this to the Special Policy and Finance committee, and

2.    Support the growth items as set out in the report with the addition of Apprentice Mechanic at the Depot.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to agree a revised revenue budget for 2021/22 for this committee.

She reminded committee that at this time of year the estimates are revised for the current financial year in order to predict the likely outturn on the budget. The budget this year had been particularly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Whilst committee income and expenditure may increase or decrease at the revised estimate, items such as budgeted core government funding and council tax precept remain fixed. As a result, any compensating movement is within earmarked reserves and general fund balances. Decisions and actions required as a result of committee meetings have been incorporated into the budget setting process.

She informed committee that the difference between the revised and original estimate was an increase in net expenditure of £138,750, or £140,590 after allowing for movements on earmarked reserves. A number of substantial movements were summarised for members’ information.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the revenue revised estimate for 2021/22.

The Director of Resources submitted a report asking committee to approve the 2021/22 revised estimate for this committee’s capital programme.

Five schemes totalling £1,555,000 had been approved by Special Policy and Finance committee and full Council in February and March 2021 respectively. This included three new schemes and two that had been moved from the 2020/21 capital programme to the 2021/22 capital programme.

During the year there had been several budget changes resulting in a capital programme of twelve schemes totalling £1,808,900. These had been revised to reflect their progress and estimated full year expenditure for 2021/22 which resulted in a proposed revised estimate of £591,360 for twelve schemes, a reduction of £1,217,540 from the total approved budget. The reasons were highlighted for committee’s information with the main one being the Installation of a Second Parking Deck on Chester Avenue Car Park scheme (£1,215,000) being moved to the 2022/23 financial year.

Of the twelve schemes in the proposed revised capital programme:

·         Two were complete,

·         Nine were currently expected to be completed in-year (with four being weather dependent), and

·         It was unclear whether one scheme would be completed in-year.

Members discussed the Installation of a Second Parking Deck on Chester Avenue Car Park scheme in detail and agreed the scheme should be renamed Clitheroe Town Centre Car Park scheme.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the 2021/22 revised estimate of £591,360 for this committee’s capital programme as set out, and

2.    Approve the transfer of £1,215,000 budget from 2021/22 to 2022/23 for the Clitheroe Town Centre Car Park scheme.