Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the above meeting, having been circulated, be approved as a correct record.

None.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Viv McCrossen.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Finance.

The Service Manager Financial Services introduced the report, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, presenting the Council’s Prudential Code Indicators and Treasury Strategy for 2020/21.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve the Prudential and Treasury Indicators and Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2020/21, which includes the key elements below, and refer it to Council on 5 March 2020 for approval as required by the Regulations:

a)    The Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement (paragraph 2.2);

b)    The Borrowing Strategy (paragraph 2.3.4);

c)    The Annual Investment Strategy (paragraph 2.3.8);

d)    Capital Affordability Prudential Indicators for 2020/21 to 2022/23 (Appendix 1);

e)    Treasury Indicators including affordability limits to borrowing for 2020/21 to 2022/23 (Appendix 1); and

2)    Note the indicative Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2023/24 and 2024/25 (Appendix 1).

Report of the Senior Leadership Team on behalf of the Leader of the Council.

The Service Manager Financial Services introduced the Capital programme for the next financial year as well as an indicative capital spending strategy for the next five years.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Note the estimated capital financing available for 2020/21 to 2024/25;

2)    Approve the Capital Investment Strategy 2020/21 to 2024/25 detailed at Appendix 1 to the report and refer it to Council for approval on 5 March 2020;

3)    Approve the Capital Programme for 2019/20 to 2021/22 detailed at Appendix 2 to the report and refer it to Council for approval on 5 March 2020; and

4)    Note the indicative Capital Programme for 2023/24 to 2024/25.

Report of the Senior Leadership Team on behalf of the Leader of the Council.

The Service Manager Financial Services introduced the proposed 2020/21 general fund budget.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Approve a 3% discretionary income inflation increase for the individual portfolios as shown in the table at paragraph 2.5.6 of the report; and

2)    To recommend to Council on 5 March 2020:

a)    that the financial threshold above which decisions will be regarded as Key Decisions be set at £0.5m for 2020/21;

b)    a Council Tax increase of 3.07% (£5.00) which balances the financing of a Net Council Tax Requirement of £6,283,600 in 2020/21;

c)    that the detailed budget for 2020/21, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report is approved.

Report of the Senior Leadership Team on behalf of the Leader of the Council.

The Director of Organisational Development and Democratic Services gave an overview of the Gedling Plan for 2020-23 and summarised a number of key points.

RESOLVED to:

Approve the Gedling Plan 2020-23 and refer to Council for approval on 5 March 2020 subject to the Director of Organisational Development and Democratic Services making any minor amendments to correct typographical, grammatical or presentational errors prior to the document’s publication

Report of the Service Manager Planning Policy.

The Service Manager Planning Policy introduced a report, which had been circulated prior to the meeting, to consider the Willow Farm Development Brief as a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).

Cllr Hollingsworth started by thanking everybody who took part in the consultation. She said that on reflection, it was felt that she could not support the recommendation to adopt the Development Brief as a Supplementary Planning Document but instead proposed the second alternative option at paragraph 3.2 of the report which meant that although not adopted, the document could be used as informal guidance if and when required. She said that this was partly due to the strength of views from local residents, particularly the Willow Farm Action Group. In seconding the revised recommendation, Councillor Payne also requested that Cabinet formally thanked the public, in particular Willow Farm Action Group for their involvement and input into the consultation. He also requested Cabinet formally thanked officers in the Planning Policy team for their work in preparation of the Development Brief. Councillor Payne stated that, on balance, it would not be appropriate for Cabinet to make a decision to formally approve and endorse the development brief as a Supplementary Planning Document, particularly given shared concerns with residents about issues contained within the Development Brief, and that any planning application put forward by developers would be determined by the Planning Committee.

The Service Manager Development Services clarified that should Cabinet not adopt the document as an SPD, the document will still be material to any decision made at planning committee, albeit with less weight attached to it.

RESOLVED to:

1)    Not adopt the Development Brief as a Supplementary Planning Document but agree that the document should be used as informal planning guidance in support of the development plan; 

2)    Thank the public, particularly members of the Willow Farm Action Group, for their input into the consultation; and

3)    Thank officers in the Planning Policy team for their considered professional advice and hard work in preparation of the brief.

REASON for decision:

The use of the design brief document as informal planning guidance promotes high standards of design and it is important that the engagement with local residents is not lost. The Planning Committee will give detailed consideration to the development of the site.

None.