There were no apologies for absence.

Councillors Plant & A Wright declared a personal interest in item 6 as they were members of the St. Georges Trust Liaison Board.

Councillor Flaxman-Taylor declared a personal interest in item 13 as she was an appointed governor of the JPUH.

However, in accordance with the Council's Constitution, they were allowed to both speak and vote on the matters.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2021 were confirmed by assent.

Councillor Wainwright asked for an update regarding the position of the Communities Champion Programme. The Strategic Director reported that a report would be presented to Housing & Neighbourhoods Committee in March 2021.

The Committee received and considered the Forward Plan.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee note the Forward Plan.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Senior Performance & Data Protection Officer.

The Senior Performance & Data Protection Officer gave an update of the salient areas of current performance for the third quarter of 2020/21 (October to December) where progress was assessed against targets which were set at the start of the financial year.

The report also provided an update on the position of key projects which were linked to the corporate priorities from "The Plan 2020-20025". A summary of progress for the suite of key projects and individual highlight reports for each of the key projects were presented in appendix 1. The performance measures were detailed in appendix 2 and gave a comprehensive overview of how the authority was performing and included the majority of Council functions.

Councillor Wainwright referred to PR15 on page 41 of the report and asked if a line could be added to the narrative to show what the arrears were quarterly and cumulatively. The Senior Performance & Data Protection Officer reported that he would would look into this matter.

Councillor Williamson referred to page 27 of the report and asked if Brexit had caused any risk to the Go Trade initiative. The Head of Internal Investment reported that the Go Trade initiative did not involve the transportation of goods across the Channel but she would ask the accountable body for reassurance on this matter and report back to Councillor Williamson.

RESOLVED:-

(i) That the Committee agree all measures to be monitored during the next quarter; and

(ii) That all key projects would continue to be monitored over the next quarter with the aim of maintaining a green status and where possible, attaining a green status for those key projects which were currently amber.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Head of Inward Investment.

The Head of Inward Investment reported that on the 10th January 2019, the Policy and Resources Committee resolved to support St Georges Trust programming and business plan deliverables for the remainder of that year to be funded from the special projects reserve. In addition, Members resolved to provide an additional £25,000 per annum for years 19/20 and 20/21 and that a formal grant agreement be prepared and agreed. It was also agreed to create a Member Liaison Board where reports were provided for sign off and funding draw-down agreed.

This report provided an update to the Policy and Resources Committee as to the delivery of the Trust over the past two years and sought approval for an extension of the Funding Agreement to the Trust for another year with a £25,000 grant to be made available to the Trust for the next financial year (2021/22), with draw-down of funds being subject to Liaison Board approval.

Councillor A Wright reported that he was pleased with the outcome of the KPI's which had highlighted that St. Georges had worked hard to successfully deliver their targets during the pandemic. As a result of Seachange Arts working with St. Georges, good work had being carried out in the local community. Councillor Plant echoed the comments made by Councillor A Wright.

REOLVED:-

That the Committee:

(i) Note the progress of the Trust over the past two years; and

(ii) Agree £25,000 grant funding (for 2021/22) to cover the Trust’s programming against a
business plan for the next financial year, and that the existing Funding Agreement is
extended on that basis.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Housing Strategy, Policy and Performance Officer.

The Housing Strategy, Policy & Performance Officer asked the Committee to approve the updated use of Retained Right to Buy Receipts Policy to reflect operational changes and requirements as set out in the report.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee approve the updated Use of Retained Right to Buy Receipts Policy and recommend the adoption of the policy to the Policy & Resources Committee.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Finance Director.

The Finance Director reported the salient areas of the report to the Committee. The proposed fees and charges for 2021/22 have been calculated based on the current fees and charges policy and where there were opportunities to deliver additional income to help reduce the future financial gap that the Council was facing. The proposals had been factored into detailed budget for 2021/22.

Councillor Wainwright reported that his party members would abstain from discussions regarding this report and the General Fund Budget report and would only discuss them at Full Council. The Finance Director reported that the Fees & Charges report would not go to Full Council but would be approved by the Policy & Resources Committee this evening.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee agree the schedule of fees and charges for 2021/22 as detailed in appendix A of the report.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Finance Director.

The Finance Director asked the Committee to consider the report and to recommend to Full Council the 2021/22 Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy.

RSOLVED:-

That the Committee agree and recommend to Council:

(i) The Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22

(ii) The Annual Investment Strategy; and

(iii) The Operational Boundary & Authorised Limits.

The Committee received and considered the report from the Finance Director.

The Finance Director reported that the report requested approval the general fund revenue and capital budget for 2021/22.

The Chairman thanked the Finance Director and her team for producing a balanced budget in difficult times.

Councillor Plant asked for clarification regarding parish precepts. The Finance Director reported that these would be included in the Council Tax Setting report which would be presented to Full Council in February.

Councillors Plant & Wainwright also thanked the Finance Director and her team for producing a balanced budget during the pandemic.

RESOLVED:-

That the Committee consider and recommend the following to Council:

(i) The general fund revenue budget as detailed at Appendix A,

(ii) The Council Tax for 2021/22 for the Borough Council tax be £171.48 (for an average Band D),

(iii) That the demand on the Collection Fund for 2021/22 be:
a. £4,865,925 for the Borough Council purposes; and
b. £519,506 for Parish Precepts,

(iv) The statement of and movement on the reserves as detailed at Appendix D and within section 8 of the report,

(v) The Policy framework for reserves as detailed at Appendix E,

(vi)  The updated Capital Programme and financing for 2020/21 to 2021/22 as detailed at
Appendix F; and

(vii) New capital bid proposals at Appendix G and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement at
Appendix H.

The Chairman reported that there was no other business being of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration at the meeting.

RESOLVED:-

That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 1 of Part I of Schedule 12(A) of the said Act.