Decisions

RESOLVED:

That District Executive recommend that the Chief Executive agrees to:-

a.

note the 2021/22 forecast outturn on the revenue budget.

b.

note that work is currently being undertaken by the S151 Officer, along with finance and the Senior Leadership Team, on reviewing a number of budgets as part of the preparation for producing a refreshed Medium Term Financial Plan. The results of that work could impact on current financial year.

c.

approve the transfer of the COVID-19 LA Support Grant of £837,653 into an earmarked reserve.

d.

approve the budget virement of £150,000 detailed in paragraph 22. 

e.

note the budget virements made under delegated authority as detailed in Appendix A;

f.

note the transfers made to and from reserves outlined in paragraph 24, the Area Reserves as detailed in Appendix B, and the Corporate Reserves as detailed in Appendix C.

Reason:

To provide Members with the current projection of the forecast spending and income (“outturn”) against the Council’s approved Revenue Budget for the financial year, and to explain projected variations against budget.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive recommend that Full Council agrees to:-

a.

an increase to the Council’s revenue budget for the additional financing and public realm costs as given in Table Three of this report;

b.

the use of an additional £2m of the capital receipts earmarked reserve to fund the Programme as proposed by the interim Section 151 Officer and described in paragraph 14;

c.

confirm that SSDC are keen to pursue Phase 2 but recognise that it is not feasible to enter into a Phase 2 programme of work at the current time, until significant external funding opportunities become available;

d.

the inclusion of the gross capital budgets, instead of only the net capital budgets, in the council’s over capital programme for the Regeneration Programme (including the Chard Regeneration Programme), as proposed by the interim S151 Officer in paragraph 20.

Reason:

To consider the financial performance of the overall Chard Regeneration Programme, with particular reference to the changes which have shaped the evolution of the programme.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive recommend that the Chief Executive agrees to:-

a.

note the resilience of the property investment portfolio throughout the Covid-19 pandemic;

b.

note progress made to date in acquiring new commercial property investments and the asset management following acquisition;

c.

note the return being achieved across the portfolio which is in line with the Council’s target of 7%

d.

note progress being made in securing income from our existing assets and the contribution to the revenue budget towards the revised £3.35m target;

e.

note progress being made in disposals and transfers of existing assets, resulting in a reduction of future liabilities associated with these assets;

f.

approve the proposal for the reduction of requirement for reporting to the pre-Covid-19 frequency of every six months, rather than every three months, in light of the more settled economic landscape, with a quarterly dashboard type progress document.

Reason:

To provide Members with a quarterly update on progress with implementing the commercial investment component of the Commercial Strategy agreed by Council.  

RESOLVED:

That District Executive recommend that the Chief Executive agrees to:-

a.

approve the use of the Councils’ local discretionary powers to increase the existing Care Leavers discount from April 2022.

b.

approve that the additional amount to fund the increase in the Care Leavers discount is added to the budget which currently funds Council Tax Discretionary reductions

Reason:

To approve the use of the Council’s local discretionary powers to increase the Care Leavers discount from 1 April 2022, in accordance with the provisions contained in section 13A Local Government Finance Act 1992 and align with the other District Councils in the Somerset area.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive recommend that Full Council agree to:-

a.

delegate authority to the Director of Place and Recovery, in consultation with the Director for Service Delivery, Section 151 Officer and the Portfolio Holder for Economic Development, to allocate the remaining Additional Restrictions Grant funding.  It is anticipated that this may include relevant grant schemes and business support initiatives consistent with the stated aims of the Recovery and Renewal Strategy, Council Plan and the Economic Development Strategy.

Reason:

To note the Additional Restrictions Grant – Discretionary Business Support Scheme and to seek approval on its future spend.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive recommend that the Chief Executive:-

1.

approve the updated Executive Forward Plan for publication as attached at Appendix A, with the following amendments;

• Public Space Protection Order for Yeovil – Oct 2021

2.

note the contents of the Consultation Database as shown at Appendix B.

Reason:

The Forward Plan is a statutory document.