Decisions

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report asking committee to agree a revised revenue budget for 2023/24 for this committee.

Members were reminded that at this time of year the estimates were revised for the current financial year in order to predict the likely outturn.  In essence the revised estimate was the Council’s latest forecast for the outturn on the current financial year’s budget.  This also assisted the Council in preparing the original estimates for the coming financial year.

The original budget for 2023/24 included the provision for pay increase at 5% and price increase at 7.5% as it was anticipated inflation would fall during the year.

The pay award for 2023/24 had now been settled at £1,925 per full time employee. Overall the cost of the pay award was 6.5% which was around £170k above the 5% that had been allowed for.

The report noted that significant levels of inflation had been experienced and the revised estimate took into account the levels of inflation experienced so far. A comparison between the revised and original estimates, and detailed analysis of the variances, were included in the report.

The difference between the revised and original estimate was a decrease in net expenditure of £13,770.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree the revenue revised estimate for 2023/24.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider the membership of the Working Group under the remit of this Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2023/24.

Committee had approved the appointment of Members to the Climate Change Working Group for 2023/24 on 15 June 2023. Committee then agreed to amend the membership and add two further Members on 28 September 2023. Following political group changes, the revised membership of the Economic Development Committee based on the new political balance had been confirmed at the meeting of the Full Council 12 December 2023.

There was no longer a Liberal Democrat representative on the Working Group. Members requested that all political groups were represented, and Committee therefore agreed to add Councillor G Hibbert as the Liberal Democrat representative, bringing the Membership of the group to eight Members.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Appoint Councillor G Hibbert to the Climate Change Working Group, with the revised membership as follows:

Climate Change – Councillors S Atkinson, L Edge, J Alcock, S Fletcher, A Wilkins-Odudu, D Birtwhistle, G McCrum, and G Hibbert.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report asking Committee to agree the draft revenue budget for 2024/25 for this Committee for consideration at the Special Policy and Finance Committee.

The forecast in September predicted a budget gap of £877k in 2024/25, £2.261m in 2025/26, and £2.740m in 2026/27.  Since the forecast was prepared the Government’s Policy Statement on Local Government Finance had been published on 5 December 2023, announcing that all local Councils would receive an increase in Core Spending Power the following year of 3% by continuation of the One-Off Funding Guarantee. Since the forecast was prepared, the Council had seen further cost increases particularly due to inflation and energy costs.

The Policy Statement also announced that:

·       New Homes Bonus Allocations would continue for 2024/25

·       Rural Services Delivery Grant would continue for 2024/25

·       Revenue Support Grant (RSG) would increase in line with CPI with no negative RSG

·       Business rates would not be reset and Business Rate Pooling would continue, and

·       A Council tax referendum principle of up to 3% or £5 for district councils

The total movement from the original estimate 2023/24 to the original estimate 2024/25 was a reduction in net expenditure of £35,920. Detailed information on the individual budget areas under the Committee were included in the report, along with the movements from the 2023/24 Original Estimate to the draft Original Estimate for 2024/25, with comments on the main variances.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the revenue Original Estimate for 2024/25 and submit this to the Special Policy and Finance Committee.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Committee’s approval of the revised estimate for this Committee’s capital programme for the current financial year.

One capital scheme totalling £54,750 had been approved by Special Policy and Finance Committee and Full Council in February and March 2023 respectively. The approved scheme had been moved from the 2022/23 capital programme to the 2023/24 capital programme. There had been no spend on the Economic Development initiatives scheme to date, and it was proposed that the scheme budget of £54,750 be left within the 2023/24 revised capital programme should any opportunities arise before the end of the financial year.

For this Committee there were no previously approved capital schemes for 2024/25 and 2027/28 and no new bids have been submitted for 2028/29.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the 2023/24 revised estimate of £54,750 for this Committee’s capital programme.

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking Committee to determine whether there should be consultation on variation of the Council’s Licensing Policy in respect of Hackney Carriages, Private Hire vehicles, drivers and operators in respect of provision of wheelchair accessible vehicles and vehicles with ELAP seats.

It was noted that, at the annual taxi meeting, some Hackney Carriage proprietors had requested discontinuance of the requirement for ELAP seats.  Members were advised that the Council’s view thus far was that if an ELAP seat was to be withdrawn from a vehicle, it should be replaced with a fully wheelchair accessible vehicle.

The issue of disability awareness training for drivers was also highlighted and whether this should be extended to existing drivers and whether it should be renewed periodically.

Councillor O’Rourke outlined his concerns both with ELAP seats and back-loading wheelchair accessible vehicles and explained the difficulties that they can cause.  He expressed a preference for side opening wheelchair accessible vehicles.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to consult with the trade and with all interested or affected parties on any proposed amendment to the policy, and to report back to Committee.

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking Committee to determine whether the Council’s Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle licence conditions should be amended to withdraw the requirement for vehicles over 7 years old to be tested and licensed every 4 months.

Prior to the annual taxi meeting, several drivers had requested this amendment and felt that all vehicles over 3 years old should be licensed for 6 months.  The Council had given consideration to this, which included carrying out research on the position of neighbouring local authorities.  It was noted that where less frequent licensing of older vehicles was required, other restrictions applied including, in some cases, a maximum age limit for vehicles. On balance, the Council’s view was that the current system seemed to be working satisfactorily.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the retention of four month licences and make no amendment to Hackney Carriage and Private Hire vehicle licences.

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Committee’s approval to a consultation on whether the current restrictions on the number of Hackney Carriages licensed by the Council should be maintained.

It was noted that Ribble Valley Borough Council is one of a minority of Councils which impose a maximum restriction on the number of Hackney Carriage licences issued.  Best Practice recently issued was that such restrictions should not be imposed.  However, if they are imposed then they need to be reviewed regularly and there should be wide-ranging consultation.  If challenged, the Council would need to demonstrate that there was no significant unmet demand. This would normally be done by way of an extensive survey, for which there would be cost implications.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to consult all interested parties on whether the current restriction on the number of Hackney Carriage licences issued by the Council should be maintained, and to obtain costings for a survey of unmet demand.

The Chief Executive submitted a report asking Committee to determine whether there should be any variation in the fees charged for a private hire operator’s licence.

It was noted that, at the annual taxi meeting, an operator had requested that the Council review operators’ fees, as he considered they were too high and made reference to their role as merely a booking agent. 

Officers had carried out a review, which included consideration of operators’ responsibilities and a comparison of the Council’s current fees against those set by other local authorities (taking into account the particular circumstances particular to the Ribble Valley) and they were felt to be reasonable. 

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve that the fees set for the issue of operators’ licences, as set on 31October 2023, be maintained.

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Committee’s views about whether Hackney Carriage fares should be reviewed.

It was noted that at the annual taxi meeting, Hackney Carriage representatives reported that customers had questioned the level of night-time rates, as they considered that £6.75 for the first mile and £1.05 for each 1/5 mile thereafter was too high.  They asked for consideration to be given to a reduction of the night-time uplift.

Committee were advised in general terms of the fare tariffs implemented by other local authorities.

The consensus was that there should be a reduction in the uplift and discussion took place as to what level the night-time fare should be set at.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.    Approve the reduction in the night-time tariff for Hackney Carriages.  For the hiring begun between 12 midnight and 6am and between 7pm and 12 midnight on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve, the fare will be £5.50 for up to one mile, then the standard rate/fare of £0.70 for each 1/5^th mile thereafter.

2.    Authorise the Head of Legal and Democratic Services to advertise the proposed table of fares as required by legislation.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report requesting Committee’s approval of the details of the Affordable Warmth grant scheme in Ribble Valley.

The Lancashire County Council grant offer for Ribble Valley is £46,488 for addressing affordable warmth in the borough in 2023/24.

The proposal was noted to have three elements:

·                 To offer servicing, repairs, and replacement boilers for eligible households.

·                 To purchase oil filled heaters and dehumidifiers in the event of any emergency weather conditions or on a needs basis.  These will be loaned to households.

·                 To partner with the Home Improvement Agency to be able to offer home energy assessments to vulnerable households that have been identified as living in a cold home and to provide advice and measures to improve the energy efficiency of the home up to a maximum of £2000 per property.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Endorse the details of the Affordable Warmth Scheme for Ribble Valley 2023/24 as set out in the report.

2.     Delegate authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning to apply to LCC for the affordable warmth funds to finance grants under the Ribble Valley Affordable Warmth Scheme 2023/24.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report asking Committee to consider the future capital programme for this Committee, covering the period 2024/25 to 2028/29.

For this Committee there were originally nine schemes approved for the financial years 2024/25 to 2027/28, totalling £1,842,500. No changes to the existing capital programme 2024/25 to 2027/28 were proposed.

It was noted that the Disabled Facilities Grants scheme was fully funded by Central Government each year. The 2024/25 and 2027/28 Disabled Facilities Grants budgets have been set at indicative amounts which are equal to the current year’s funding from Central Government. Should the Central Government funding in any year be higher or lower than budgeted for, then the scheme budget will be adjusted accordingly.

New capital bids had been put forward for 2028/29 for Committee to consider. For this Committee there had been four new bids totalling £893,000. £393,000 of this total is expected to be funded by Central Government.  As such, the total additional funding needed to support these new bids would be £500,000.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the future capital programme for this Committee’s services for onward recommendation to Policy and Finance Committee for the period 2024/25 to 2028/29, based on the proposals included in the report.

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking for Committee to review and agree the new ‘Ribble Valley Borough Council – Food Sampling Policy’.  The Council is required to prepare and publish such a policy and to make it available to businesses and consumers in accordance with the Food Standards Agency Food Law Code of Practice and Food Law Practice Guidance. 

Local Authorities have a duty to ensure food meets legally prescribed standards and sampling is a means of monitoring compliance.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the Ribble Valley Borough Council Food Sampling Policy.

The Chief Executive submitted a report seeking for Committee to review and agree the new points based system used for selecting traders/businesses for market cabins when they become vacant.

It had previously been agreed at a meeting of this Committee on 23 March 2023 that the market cabin waiting list would be retired and that Council officers would manage the vacant cabins as they saw fit, with the suggestion of a points-based system for future applications.

The Head of Environmental Health advised that a points-based system had been designed which takes into account the following:

·       Whether the trader/business is a like for like replacement

·       The uniqueness of the business/trade

·       The locality of the business/trader

·       Whether the infrastructure is essential to the business operation

·       Employment of local residents

·       Whether the trader/business has operated on the market for over one year.

He then updated Members on the successful use of the system to select a trader for a cabin that had become vacant in October 2023.

Some concerns were raised as to the length of time taken for traders to take occupation of a vacant cabin and it was agreed that time limits should be imposed, unless there was a valid reason given for a delay.

There was further discussion regarding the justification for awarding more points to a business that was like for like with the previous vacated cabin business.  Ultimately it was felt that there should remain a level of discretion for Council officers.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the points-based system used for selecting traders for market cabins, which is to include the following:

·       The Council will retain an element of discretion in terms of awarding points for an applicant’s business type.

·       From the time of a cabin being offered to a trader, there will be a time limit of 2 weeks, unless a good reason is provided, for them to take occupation of the stall.

The Chief Executive submitted a report for Committee to consider the membership of the Working Groups under the remit of this Committee for the remainder of the municipal year 2023/24.

Committee had approved the appointment of Members to the Strategic Housing Working Group and Health & Wellbeing Partnership for 2023/24 on 8 June 2023.

Following political group changes, the revised membership of the Health & Housing Committee based on the new political balance had been confirmed at the meeting of the Full Council 12 December 2023. The Strategic Housing Working Group had not been affected and the membership therefore remained unchanged. Members appointed Councillor J Alcock as a replacement member to the Health & Wellbeing Partnership as Councillor R Elms was no longer a member of the Committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Note that the membership of the Strategic Housing Working Group remains unchanged as follows:

Strategic Housing Working Group - Councillors S Hirst, S Atkinson, M Robinson, R Ray and J Atherton

2.     Appoint Councillor J Alcock to the Health and Wellbeing Partnership Working Group, with the revised membership as follows:

Health and Wellbeing Partnership Working Group – Councillors S Hirst, J Alcock, M Robinson, R Ray and I Brown.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report seeking Committee’s approval for Ribble Valley Borough Council’s inclusion in the Lancashire Forced Migration Strategy and to commit to supporting the objectives and the approach contained therein.

It was noted that refugee integration is co-ordinated by Lancashire County Council on behalf of 12 district authorities and two unitary authorities.  All 15 Councils work in partnership to deliver 10 active migration schemes in total.

The Chief Executive advised that the Strategy had been raised at the Lancashire Leaders meeting prior to Christmas 2023.  Consultation with Housing Officers had not taken place at that time and so the relevant Local Authorities were going to take time to consider the strategy further. It was also noted that originally the strategy had provided for each district agreeing to accommodate three households but this had been changed to include a ‘minimum’ of three households.  Concerns were raised with this terminology.

The Housing Strategy Officer gave clarification as to the proposal and confirmed that LCC is seeking to lease properties and Ribble Valley Borough Council are being asked to inspect and approve the properties as being suitable.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Confirm agreement for Ribble Valley to be part of the Lancashire wide approach to Forced Migration Strategy including the following, subject to a suitable agreement with LCC:

a.     5% of the Council’s 2022/23 Asylum Dispersal money to be provided as part of the County wide pooled fund.

b.     Accommodate three households in Ribble Valley. The level of demand will be kept under review and reported to Committee.

2.     Delegate authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning to approve suitable properties to be used to house refugee and asylum seeker in Ribble Valley.

The Director of Economic Development and Planning submitted a report seeking approval to the suggested amendments to the Council’s Affordable Housing Allocation Policy (Allocation Policy) and to consider suggestions made by the Strategic Housing Working Group in respect of moving to a Choice Base Letting (CBL) System for the allocation of available properties to people on the waiting list. 

The Housing Strategy Officer outlined the importance of the allocation policy from both a strategic and operational level and summarised the proposed changes with reference to the following key issues:

-        To include a requirement to evidence housing need

-        To add further clarity to the local connection definition

-        An update to the eligibility criteria to include immigration advice and armed forces connections

-        Amendment to the medical points to ensure that they are awarded to reflect where housing is impacting on health.

-        To update the number of points given for those who are homeless

It was noted that in the proposed Allocation Policy, where there is ‘racial or homophobic harassment’, this would constitute a case which would require allocation outside of the Council’s normal policy and procedure.  It was felt that this was somewhat limited in scope and should be widened to include just the term ‘harassment’. 

It was proposed that the Council would write to all those currently on the housing waiting list outlining the proposed changes, and there will be a six-week consultation process.

Consideration was also given to exploring whether to introduce a Choice Based Lettings Scheme (CBL).  The Housing Strategy Officer gave an overview of how it would work in practice and outlined the advantages and costs implications of the system.  Members were in favour of Officers giving further consideration to the CBL Scheme.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the proposed changes to the Allocation Policy for a 6-week consultation as set out in the report and its appendix.

2.     Delegate authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning to make any other minor editorial amendments to the document prior to publishing the document for consultation.

3.     Delegate authority to the Director of Economic Development and Planning to explore options for a Ribble Valley CBL system including engagement with partners with a full detailed report brought back to this Committee.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report seeking approval for the 2023/24 revised estimate for this Committee’s capital programme.

Seven capital schemes for this Committee’s original estimate budget, totalling £2,860,440 were approved by the Policy and Finance Committee and Full Council at their meetings in February 2023 and March 2023 respectively.  Furthermore, an additional budget of £34,290 was approved for an existing scheme due to additional government funding being received (Disabled Facility Grants).

Seven capital schemes had not been completed by 21 March 2023. The total unspent budget of £1,006,190 for these schemes, known as slippage, was moved into the 2023/24 capital programme budget, after approval by this Committee on 8 June 2023. 

The proposed revised estimate for this Committee’s 2023/24 capital programme was £1,243,830, which was a £2,657,090 reduction from the previously approved capital budget.  It was recommended that budgets totalling £2,652,580 on five schemes be moved to the 2024/25 financial year.

It was further noted that at the end of December 2023, £533,787 had been spent or committed. This was 42.9% of the revised capital programme for this Committee.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

1.     Approve the 2023/24 revised estimate of £1,243,830 for this Committee’s capital programme, as set out in Annex 1 of the report.

2.     Approve the move of the following capital scheme budgets from 2023/24 to 2024/25:

·       Affordable Housing – Longridge, £1,625,950

·       Disabled Facilities Grants, £517,430

·       Assisted Purchase Scheme, £297,130

·       Landlord/Tenant Grants, £112,490

·       Temporary Housing Scheme, £99,580

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report seeking for Members to agree the draft revenue budget for 2024/25, for consideration at Special Policy and Finance Committee.

Members were reminded that a budget forecast was presented to the Policy and Finance Committee in September 2023.  This forecast predicted budget gaps of £877k in 2024/25, £2.261m in 2025/26 and £2.740m in 2026/27, after allowing for the use of general fund balances. The biggest factors affecting our forecast then were:

- Threat of losing New Homes Bonus.

- Assumption that the ‘One-off Funding Guarantee’ was indeed a one-off for 2023/24. - What level interest rates and inflation would be over the life of the forecast.

The key updates to the September 2023 forecast were summarised as follows:

- The continuation of the ‘One-off Funding Guarantee’ where required

- The New Homes Bonus and the Rural Delivery Grant will both continue for 2024/25 - The Revenue Support Grant will increase in line with CPI with no negative RSG

- Business rates will not be reset and Business Rate Pooling will continue

- A council tax referendum principle of up to 3% or £5 for district councils

- Ribble Valley’s Core Spending Power is set to increase by 4.7%

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive highlighted some of the main variations to net expenditure for this Committee.

The total movement from the Original Estimate in 2023/34 to the Original Estimate 2024/25 was a decrease of £37,850, or and increase of £31,350 after movements to and from earmarked reserves.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Approve the revenue original estimate for 2024/25 and submit this to the Special Policy and Finance Committee.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report seeking Members agreement to a revised revenue budget for 2023/24 for this Committee.

Members were reminded that the original estimate for the current financial year was set in March 2023 but there could be numerous variations to the budget as the year progressed, particularly through the budget monitoring process. At this time of year, the Council revise the estimates for the current financial year to predict the likely outturn.

It was noted that 5% had been originally allowed for pay increases and 7.5% for price increases. The pay award for 2023/24 had now been settled and the overall cost for the Council was 6.5%, which was approximately £170,000 above what had been allowed for. The changes to the level in inflation had also been taken into account.

The Director of Resources and Deputy Chief Executive summarised some of the substantial movements for members’ information. She also highlighted an error at paragraph 5.1 of the report and confirmed that it should have read that there was a net decrease in support services recharges amounting to £74,940.

Members were advised that the difference between the Original Estimate and the Revised Estimate was a decrease in expenditure of £453,440, or £246,100 after allowing for transfers to and from earmarked reserves.

RESOLVED THAT COMMITTEE:

Agree the revenue revised estimate for 2023/24.