Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Resources, Cllr Graham Arthur, addressed the Committee highlighting achievements within the Portfolio in 2017, and looking at the challenges facing the Portfolio in 2018.
Achievements in 2017
· Substantial savings had been achieved through a combination of efficiency and innovation.
· The Council had remained debt free.
· Officers were working with Cushman and Wakefield to investigate opportunities to shrink the Council’s estate and better manage the remaining estate. A list of potential properties and pockets of land had been identified for disposal. Items would be coming forward at future meetings. Local Ward Members would be fully involved and the views of local Ward Members, who had knowledge and expertise of the local area, would be sought. The Portfolio Holder noted that any issues that arose with smaller properties would need to be handled with sensitivity.
· The Mears scheme had proven to be successful and Phase 1 would complete and come to fruition in 2018.
· The contracts with both BT and Amey were well embedded.
· The Departmental Representatives (Dep Rep) Forum appeared to be working well and staff representatives on the Forum were positive and dynamic about the operation of the Forum..
· The Council’s Pensions Team had gained the highest Award in their class and their achievement was nationally recognised.
· Since the implementation of local terms and conditions, just over £1m in Special Merit Payments had been distributed to staff.
Challenges in 2018:
· In terms of the budget, the financial challenges facing the Council in three years’ time needed to be recognised and clearly understood. The focus had to be on sustainability.
· Partnerships were key to managing financial pressures and the Council had to continue its practice of lobbying to ensure that it received the funding that it was due.
· Work had to continue to ensure that the best was made out of new opportunities such as Business Rate Retention.
· The introduction of the Community infrastructure Levy (CIL) would bring with it a potential income of approximately £3.5m in 2019. CIL could be used to determine the shape of the Borough going forward.
· The impact of Universal Credit would have to be monitored. Issues were arising from the pilots that had been undertaken and the Portfolio Holder and Officers were closely watching outcomes.
· The cost of special educational needs would continue to pose a challenge and work was ongoing to address this and investigate opportunities for provision within the Borough.
· Work would need to continue to identify alternative investment opportunities and there would continue to be a need to be creative and innovative with treasury management.
· Members and Officers would need to continue to work to ensure that contracts represented value for money.
The Portfolio Holder concluded his presentation to the Committee by highlighting that across the Council there was an excellent team of hardworking, dedicated professionals who were performing at the highest level and it was important that the contribution made by staff was recognised.
In response to questions from Members, the Portfolio Holder made the following points:
· By the end of Quarter 1 discussions, debate and evaluation of the business case for phase 2 of the Mears scheme could begin. The Portfolio Holder reminded Members that there was likely to be increased competition for schemes in the future.
· Selling of smaller bits and parcels of land across the Borough would also reduce some of the maintenance costs for which the Council was liable.
· Some land could be sold with planning permission to enable the Local Authority to influence types of development in certain areas and ensure that development was in keeping with the local area.
· Initiatives from staff interested in running service would be welcomed.
The Committee further noted the update from the Leader of the Council that the letter received from the GLA concerning a tracker for rogue landlords would be referred to the relevant PDS Committee for review.
The Chairman of the Environment PDS Committee confirmed that, in light of recent national headlines concerning potential future challenges in relation to the recycling of waste resulting from some global trade decisions, the Committee would be reviewing the issue of recycling in the Borough and the contingency plans that the Council had in place in relation to the future recycling of waste.