Issue - meetings

The Cabinet at the meeting held on 26 July 2023 resolved as recommendation (e) to “delegate to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance the assets to be put forward to Council for disposal from the list endorsed by the cross-party strategic asset disposal working party, and as set out in exempt Appendix D”.

In accordance with that resolution, recommendation (e) below incorporates the list of those assets recommended for disposal by the Director of Finance following consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance. Appended to this agenda at Appendix E, is a series of schedules for each of these assets which includes exempt information. Should the Council wish to discuss the detail of Appendices D or E, it will be necessary to exclude the press and public and move into exempt session. If applicable, the following resolution should be moved:

"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 they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 in Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act and that the public interest in withholding the information outweighs such interest in disclosing the information."

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(e)           approves the following list of assets for disposal:-

·        St Ambrose Cottage

·        27 High Street, Christchurch

·        Public Conveniences in Adastral Square, Canford Heath, Poole

·        Waitrose Car Park, Christchurch but only to Christchurch Town Council

(f)            approves a reduction in the working capital loan facility to BCP FuturePlaces Ltd. The value and timing of the reduction to be delegated to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Note – resolutions (a), (b), (c) and (d) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox presented the report on the Medium The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Councillor Mike Cox presented the report on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Update and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

In relation to this Councillor Cox advised council that due to his declaration in respect of this item he would be seeking an alternative proposer in respect of recommendation (e) bullet point 4 would therefore leave the room.

Comprehensive discussion took place on the disposal of the individual assets and the following points were raised:

Waitrose car park:

·       The sale of the asset would secure the asset for the people of Christchurch

·       Control of the car park is kept with the Town Council

·       Car park income will provide for the Town

·        Concern was expressed with the lack of consultation and scrutiny.

·        The assets had been discussed at the Cross-Party Asset Disposal Working Group.

Public Conveniences in Adastral Square, Canford Heath Poole

·       Members raised the importance of an impact assessment.

• Council was advised that the toilets had been closed for over 10 years and that there were alternative facilities available.

RESOLVED that Council: -

(e)            approved the following list of assets for disposal: -

(i)               St Ambrose Cottage

(ii)             27 High Street, Christchurch

(iii)           Public Conveniences in Adastral Square, Canford Heath, Poole

(iv)           Waitrose Car Park, Christchurch but only to Christchurch Town Council

(f)              approves a reduction in the working capital loan facility to BCP FuturePlaces Ltd. The value and timing of the reduction to be delegated to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Voting: (e) (i), (ii) and (iii) Nem.Con (e)(iv) 48:10 (1 Abstention)

(f)  Nem.Con

Note – resolutions (a), (b), (c) and (d) were resolved matters by the Cabinet.

Councillors M Cox, P Hilliard, S McCormack and M Tarling declared interests in resolution (e)(iv) and left the room for the discussion and voting on this part of the resolution thereon.

This report:

·     Presents the latest medium-term financial plan (MTFP) of the council. 

·     Proposes a financial strategy to support the delivery of a legally balanced budget for 2024/25. 

·     Proposes a budget planning process and timeline for key financial reports.

·     Recognises the positive outturn from the 2022/23 financial year end and the impact on some of the key risk areas as identified in the setting of the 2023/24 budget.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)             Approves the budget timetable and process as set out in Appendix A;

(b)            Approves the financial strategy to support the balancing of the 2024/25 Budget and MTFP as set out in Appendix B;

(c)             Endorses the updated MTFP position which only includes approved and identified savings & efficiency proposals;

(d)            Endorses Audit & Governance Committee being asked to consider recommending to Council a reduction in the Debt Threshold to £755m (from £1.334bn)

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(e)             Delegates to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance the assets to be put forward to Council for disposal from the list endorsed by the cross-party strategic asset disposal working party, and as set out in confidential Appendix D; and

(f)              Approves a reduction in the working capital loan facility to BCP FuturePlaces Ltd. The value and timing of the reduction to be delegated to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reasons

To comply with accounting codes of practice and best practice

which requires councils to have a rolling multi-year medium term financial plan.

To provide Cabinet with the latest high-level overview of the medium-term financial plan.

To present a proposed financial strategy to support the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024/25.

To ensure a prudent approach to financial management based on traditional approaches to local government financial management.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that the report: -

·     Presented the latest medium-term financial plan (MTFP) of the council; 

·     Proposed a financial strategy to support the delivery of a legally balanced budget for 2024/25; 

·     Proposed a budget planning process and timeline for key financial reports, and;

·     Recognised the positive outturn from the 2022/23 financial year end and the impact on some of the key risk areas as identified in the setting of the 2023/24 budget.

In proposing the report the Portfolio Holder for Finance proposed amendments to recommendations (e) and (f) as set out on the agenda these became the substantive recommendations as set out below.

Councillor Broadhead addressed the Cabinet in respect of the transformation project and FuturePlaces.

Cabinet expressed concern with regards to the lack of identifiable savings relating to the transformation project and in addition in respect of FuturePlaces stressing the importance of focusing on specific projects.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)             Approves the budget timetable and process as set out in Appendix A;

(b)            Approves the financial strategy to support the balancing of the 2024/25 Budget and MTFP as set out in Appendix B;

(c)             Endorses the updated MTFP position which only includes approved and identified savings & efficiency proposals;

(d)            Endorses Audit & Governance Committee being asked to consider recommending to Council a reduction in the Debt Threshold to £755m (from £1.334bn)

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(e)             Delegates to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance the assets to be put forward to Council for disposal from the list endorsed by the cross-party strategic asset disposal working party, and as set out in confidential Appendix D; and

(f)              Approves a reduction in the working capital loan facility to BCP FuturePlaces Ltd. The value and timing of the reduction to be delegated to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Finance

Reasons

To comply with accounting codes of practice and best practice which requires councils to have a rolling multi-year medium term financial plan.

To provide Cabinet with the latest high-level overview of the medium-term financial plan.

To present a proposed financial strategy to support the delivery of a balanced budget for 2024/25.

To ensure a prudent approach to financial management based on traditional approaches to local government financial management.