Agenda and minutes

Decision

That the minutes of the Policy and Resources Committee held on 29 November 2021 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

Decision

Policy and Resources Committee:

(i)            Approves the flexible approach to the use of the existing capital budget to ensure that the current array of loan/grants can be utilised more effectively.

(ii)           Approves the increase to the value of the Property Improvement Loan from £7.5K to £15K and Landlord Improvement Grants and Landlord Improvement Loans from £15K to £20K.

(iii)          Approves the increase of the level of the low income threshold from £21K to £30K for the Ryedale Energy Saver Scheme.

Recommendation to Council

It is recommended that the content of the report is noted.

Recommendation to Council

It is recommended that Council agree the updated Financial Strategy and in particular:
 

(i)            To note the Section 25 assurance statement provided by the Chief Finance Officer (s151) regarding the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of the reserves and the risk assessment detailed in Section 10 of the Strategy

(ii)           To approve a revenue budget of Revenue Budget for 2022/23 of £10,506k, after use of Reserves which includes
a. Savings/additional income totalling £82k (Financial Strategy Appendix 4)
b. Removal of £787k one-off funding agreed to support COVID in 2021/22, replaced by a further £221k
c. Council Plan priorities of £313k, as set out in Appendix 3.
d. Other pressures of £1,268k as set out in Appendix 3, which includes £500k for Local Government Reorganisation

(iii)          To approve a council tax charge of £210.53 for a Band D property (note that total Council Tax, Including the County Council, Fire and Police is covered within the separate Council Tax setting report to Full Council)

(iv)         To approve the special expenses amounting to £57,430 (6.20 below)

(v)          To approve the revised Capital Programme (Appendix 6)

(vi)         To note the financial projection for 2022/23 – 2025/26

Recommendation to Council

That Council is recommended to approve:

(i)            Members receive this report;

(ii)           The Operational Borrowing Limit for 2022/23 is set at £7m;
 

(iii)          The Authorised Borrowing Limit for 2022/23 is set at £12.5m;

(iv)         Councillors delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to effect movement within the agreed authorised boundary limits for long-term borrowing for 2022/23 onwards.

(v)          Councillors delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer to effect movement within the agreed operational boundary limits for long-term borrowing for 2022/23 onwards.

(vi)         The treasury management strategy statement 2022/23 be approved.

(vii)        The minimum revenue provision policy statement for 2022/23 be approved.

(viii)       The treasury management investment strategy for 2022/23 be approved.

(ix)         The prudential indicators for 2022/23 which reflect the capital expenditure plans which are affordable, prudent and sustainable be approved.

(x)          The Capital Strategy for 2022/23 be approved

Recommendation to Council

Policy and Resources Committee recommends that:

(i)             The motion is not supported and that decisions affecting the garden waste service are informed by the new legislation expected under the Environment Act 2021. This will be subject to the outcome of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) consultations on the consistency of collections which propose that free garden waste collections are provided by local authorities from 2023/24.

(ii)           There is no change to the current garden waste collection service and the price for the annual licence remains at £38 in 2022/23 (Option 1).

Recommendation to Council

Policy and Resources Committee recommend that the motion is amended as follows:

To delete:

“We call on Council to commit up to £2.5 million of reserves to contribute to partnership funding a permanent pumping solution for Norton to prevent surface water and sewer flooding occurring when water levels in the River Derwent are high.”

And replace with:

“It is recommended that the Council agrees a contribution towards the Yorkshire Water Permanent Scheme for Norton of 20% of the total scheme costs to a maximum of £152,000 (based on total costs of £760,000). This funding will be allocated within the capital budget for 2022/23.”