Agenda and decisions

Councillors are requested to declare any interests on items included in this agenda. Please refer to the workflow on the preceding page for guidance.

Declarations received will be reported at the meeting.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Meeting held on 25 May 2022.

To receive any public questions, statements or petitions submitted in accordance with the Constitution. Further information on the requirements for submitting these is available to view at the following link:-

https://democracy.bcpcouncil.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CommitteeID=151&Info=1&bcr=1

The deadline for the submission of public questions is 4 clear working days before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a statement is midday the working day before the meeting.

The deadline for the submission of a petition is 10 working days before the meeting.

To consider recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committees on items not otherwise included on the Cabinet Agenda.

This report provides details of the final financial outturn for the revenue account, capital programme, reserves, and the housing revenue account (HRA) for the financial year 2021/22.  

The general fund revenue outturn is a surplus of £6.8 million for the year, of which £3.3 million has already been allowed for in the budget for 2022/23.  It is proposed that the balance of £3.5 million is transferred to the financial resilience reserve to mitigate the emerging in-yearcost of living inflationary pressures. The position compared with quarter three reflects faster income recovery after Covid and higher expenditure savings, with some efficiencies now recognised from the transformation programme.

This improvement has meant that resources previously earmarked to support net overspending across services can instead be carried forward to support the cost of living crisis and medium term financial plan (MTFP). The statutory requirements are that the council undertakes prudent financial planning as evidenced by   delivery of a highly positive outturn   

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)    approve that the final revenue surplus for the year of £6.8 million is added to financial resilience reserve with the extra £3.5m not assumed in the 2022/23 budget being used to mitigate the emerging inflationary cost of living pressures; and

(b)    approve the capital virement as set out in paragraph 97.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(c)    approves the capital virements to accept new government grants as set out in paragraph 96.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reason

·     To comply with accounting codes of practice and best practice which requires councils to report their end of year financial position compared with the budget of the authority.

·     To comply with the council’s financial regulations regarding budget virements and the acceptance of new grants

This report:

·     Presents the latest medium-term financial plan (MTFP) of the council to reflect government announcements since the February 2022 budget report and updated assumptions.

·      Proposes a financial strategy to support the delivery of a legally balanced budget for 2023/24. 

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

·      Recognises the positive outturn from the 21/22 financial year end, the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, and the improvement in some of the key risk areas as identified in the setting of the 22/23 budget.

RECOMMENDED that Council approve the second homes premium and revisions to empty homes premium subject to their confirmation via the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)     endorsed the updated MTFP position as set out in paragraph 15;

(b)    approved the financial strategy as referenced in paragraph 21;

(c)     acknowledged the cost of living and other operating pressures likely to impact in 2022/23 and future years;

(d)    acknowledged the potential mitigation strategy in respect of cost of living and 2022/23 financial pressures; and

(e)     approved the timeline for key financial reports during 2022/23 as set out in appendix A.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Leader of the Council

Reason

To comply with accounting codes of practice and best practice which require 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 2022/23.

In May 2021 the Council approved the formation of BCP FuturePlaces Ltd, (“FuturePlaces”) a wholly owned Urban Regeneration Company (URC). The fundamental purpose and principles of FuturePlaces is to drive “Place Making”, regeneration and property market transformation both across key sites owned by the Council and the wider area to support the aspirations set out in the Council’s Big Plan.

This report seeks approval for funding changes to the business model due to a revised approach as proposed in the Councils 2022/23 Budget as to how the company will be funded. It also seeks approval for the revised company business plan as Council approval as sole shareholder as such a change is a reserved matter under the Shareholders’ Agreement.

It also seeks approval to streamline the Gateway Approval process outlined in the Commissioning Plan. The changes seek to remove duplication and ensure that each new stage builds on, and complements, its predecessor. There will not be a reduction in the work required to investigate options for delivery of each project and it is still based on HM Treasury Green Book guidance.

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

(a)        approve an increase in the working capital loan facility to £8m (from £400k) to support BCP FuturePlaces Ltd from July 2022; and

(b)        approve the revised BCP FuturePlaces Ltd Business Plan attached to the report and the confidential Appendix 1.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(c)        delegate authority to the Chief Finance Officer (s151) to agree and finalise the terms of the working capital loan; and

(d)        delegate authority to the Chief Executive to amend and finalise the Commissioning Contract to reflect the new gateway process and business plan.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Development, Growth and Regeneration

Reason

To contribute to the Council’s Corporate vision, specifically helping to create dynamic places, investing in the homes our communities need, revitalising and re-inventing our high streets and local centres in line with the vision set out in the Big Plan.

FuturePlaces was formed to ensure BCP Council has the capacity, expertise, and resources to drive investment in regeneration and unlock value from major Council owned sites; it will also enable BCP Council to ensure that we deliver new homes and create well designed, local neighbourhoods.

The new funding model accords with the proposal contained in the 2022/23 Budget approved by Council.

BCP Council is legally required to have a single home to school transport policy. A BCP Council Policy has been drafted to replace the three existing policies. The draft policy has been developed to ensure consistency across the conurbation. It will provide a single point of reference for families and officers regarding eligibility and how it is assessed.

Permission to determine the policy is being sought from cabinet following a public consultation held January-February 2022. The consultation was held in accordance with the requirements of the Department for Education’s statutory guidance. Key stakeholders were targeted during the consultation period.

RESOLVED that Cabinet: -

(a)           agrees to determine the Home to School Transport policy; and

(b)           delegates authority to the Director of Education, Children’s Services to implement the policy for eligibility requests from 2022/23 academic year.

Voting: Nem. Con. (1 Abstention)

Portfolio Holder: Council Priorities and Delivery

Reason

The Council is legally required to have a home to school transport policy. A single policy will provide one point of reference for families and officers when requesting and agreeing transport assistance.

BCP Council are the Burial Authority responsible for the proper management, regulation, and control of all its owned and managed 9 cemeteries across the 3 towns as governed by The Local Authority Cemetery Order (LACO)1977.

Following the formation of BCP Council under Local Government Reorganisation in April 2019, all 9 cemeteries remain governed by 3 separate legacy Rules and Regulations adopted by the then councils of Bournemouth, Christchurch, and Poole.

Each set of these Rules and Regulations have variances in how the cemeteries are managed.  The legacy Rules and Regulations are now out of date with best practice and industry regulation having changed since their adoption by the legacy councils. 

Harmonisation of the Rules and Regulations will lead to a more efficient and effective operation of all cemeteries that are compliant with industry standard best practice and conform to statutory guidance provided in the LACO.

The Chief Executive to report on any decisions taken under urgency provisions in accordance with the Constitution.

To consider the latest version of the Cabinet Forward Plan for approval.