Agenda and decisions

To note public health guidance in relation to attending meetings.

Any member of the public may submit a written statement, question or petition to this meeting.  The deadline for submission is 24 hours before the meeting.  For this meeting, this means that your submission must be received by 2.00pm on Friday 4 February 2022 at the latest.  Please email submissions to democraticservices@southglos.gov.uk  All written statements submitted to this meeting will be circulated in advance to members and published on the South Gloucestershire website.

If you also wish to address the Cabinet in person you may do so.   However there is limited space available within the Council Chamber.   In order to facilitate this please could you email democraticservices@southglos.gov.uk as soon as possible to register your interest to speak.  The deadline for registering interest to speak is 2pm on Friday 4 February 2022.  Please note that the meeting is webcast live.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2021.

To consider the council’s financial position against the 2021/22 revenue budget at the end of the third quarter and gives the forecast outturn for the year.  It includes income and expenditure to the end of December 2021, where possible and known commitments at that date.

a)    To note the council’s overall projected break-even financial position against the revenue budget and the split between Covid-19 and non-Covid-19 related activities arising.

b)    To note the 2021/22 Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) projected in-year deficit of £8,214k, the projected total DSG deficit of £32,116k and actions being taken to manage the deficit.

c)    To approve the changes to the budgeted use of reserves as outlined in Appendix 7.

d)    To approve a virement of £157k in the CECR department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget for Test & Trace Support grant.

e)    To approve a virement of £127k in the CECR department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget for New Burdens 4 Restart and the Additional Restrictions COVID-19 Grant schemes.

f)     To approve a virement of £439k in the CECR department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget for the Omicron Additional Restrictions Grant scheme.

g)    To approve a virement of £1,872k in the CECR department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget for the Omicron Hospitality & Leisure Grant.

h)   To approve a virement of £215k in the ECS department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget in recognition of Digital Connectivity Infrastructure Accelerator funding.

i)     To approve a virement of £390k in the ECS department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget in relation to WECA funding for feasibility studies for Walking & Cycling improvements.

j)      To approve a virement of £200k in the ECS department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget in relation to WECA funding for Thornbury High Street Public Realm feasibility and development works.

k)    To approve a virement of £488k in the ECS department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget in recognition of funding from WECA for the Commons Connection project.

l)     To approve a virement of £139k in the CAH department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget in recognition of the Department for Levelling UP, Housing & Communities top up to the Homelessness Prevention Grant to help vulnerable households with Covid-19 related rent arrears.

m)  To approve a virement of £1,169k in the CAH department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget in recognition of the Department of Health and Social Care Workforce, Recruitment and Retention Fund, Round 2 grant.

n)   To approve a virement of £234k in the CAH department in 2021/22 to gross up the budget in recognition of the Department of Health and Social Care, Adult Social Care Omicron Support Fund grant.

o)    To agree to commence public engagement and / or a formal public consultation on the draft infrastructure schemes to support development in the North Fringe as required (Appendix 4).

p)    To delegate authority to the Head of Financial Services (S151 Officer) to make arrangements for administering the Energy Bill rebate scheme to council tax payers in Bands A-D based on guidance once provided by government.

To consider the current capital budget position for the 2021/22 financial year and updated ongoing capital programme.

a)         To note the budgeted and forecast Capital Programme expenditure in 2021/22 and its funding as set out Appendix 1;

b)         To approve the new and amended schemes totalling a net increase of £18,137k in Appendix 2.

c)         To approve budget virements detailed in Appendix 2.

d)         To nthe 2021/22 budget virements approved under delegated authority.

To consider the Cabinet of the formal estimated balance on the authority’s Collection Fund as at 31 March 2022. 

a)    To approve the council’s share of the estimated balance on the Collection Fund is a net deficit of £15,741k, and that the council will also receive additional Section 31 grant funding estimated at £20,582k, giving a net surplus of £4,841k or £4,414k after the spreading adjustment.

b)    To agree that officers write to all precepting authorities advising them of their share of the estimated balance on the Collection Fund.

To consider the Schools Budget for 2022-23, including school formula funding rates and the Early Years Single Funding Formula to Council to approve at the February 2022 meeting of Full Council.

a)    To note the outcome of the Schools and Schools Forum consultations relating to options to be considered in setting the Schools Budget,

b)    To note the EqIAA completed regarding the options consulted upon,

d)  To note the ongoing work relating to the DfE’s DSG Safety Valve process,

c)    To recommend to Full Council to approve the Setting of the Schools Budget 2022/23 based on the following:

(i) that the Schools Budget is set on the basis of the Schools Forum’s recommended £2.2m block transfer (subject to the maximum block transfer approved by the Secretary of State for Education’s decision), the corresponding school formula funding rates as set out in the recommended option in Appendix B, the Schools Budget developed as part of the DfE’s Safety Valve process as shown in paragraph 34 and the seven principles agreed with the Schools Forum set out in paragraphs 37-52 of this report.

(ii) to delegate authority to the Director of Children, Adults and Health in consultation with the Cabinet member for Schools, Skills and Employment to update Formula Rates if necessary following the Secretary of State’s decision regarding the block Transfer.

(iii) to approve the Early Years Single Funding Formula rates.

To consider the council’s current budget position, and approve the recommended revenue budget, Special Expenses and a Band D Council Tax for 2022/23 with the planning totals for the following three years. It also sets out the final proposals for the approval of the Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2025/26. 

a.    To note the responses to the budget consultation;

b.    To take into account the Chief Financial Officer’s comments on the                 robustness and sustainability of the budget;

c.    To approve a Revenue Budget of £259,506k for 2022/23, and an increased Band D Council Tax of £1,668.84. Set planning totals for future years of £261,865k, £269,236k and £272,776k for 2023/24 to 2025/26 respectively based on the contents of this report including illustrative increases in Band D Council Tax levels of £1,718.73, £1,770.12 and £1,823.05 respectively;

d.    To approve the continuation of the Community Resilience Fund in 2022/23;

e.    To note the contents of the Medium-Term Financial Plan (Appendix D) and its assumptions for later years, including the potential use of General Fund Balances;

f.     To approve the Financial Strategy at Appendix E:

g.    To approve the Prevention Fund governance and process at Appendix I;

h.    To approve the savings programme at Appendix G;

i.      To note the position on Earmarked Reserves as set out in this report and at Appendix J;

j.      To note the Chief Financial Officer’s recommendation on the appropriate level of General Fund Balances (paragraph 121) and agree to consider replenishing either General Fund Balances or the Financial Risks Reserve should one-off underspends arise;

k.    To approve the total and distribution of Special Expenses, as set out in Appendices L and M;

l.      To approve the 2022/23 Annual Pay Policy Statement as set out in Appendix N;

m.   To approve the capital programme of £140,448k for 2022/23, £56,997k for 2023/24, £35,935k for 2024/25 and £26,225k for 2025/26 and its financing, as set out in Appendices O to R;

n.    To approve a £21m local contribution for the City Regional Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) programme and give delegated authority to the Director of Environment and Community Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Strategic Infrastructure, to implement measures in keeping with the purpose and allocation amount of the council’s £21m programme local contribution and £104.9m City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement grant share.

o.    To agree to undertake public engagement and / or formal public consultation exercises on the capital schemes being developed in the CRSTS Programme in due course and as required.  

p.    To note a review of parking charges at Kings Chase Shopping Centre will be undertaken to consider options and reported back to Cabinet.

q.    To approve the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy at Appendix O;

r.     To approve the Capital Strategy at Appendix T.

s.    To delegate authority to the Head of Financial Services (S151 Officer) to make updates to the report between Cabinet and publication of the final papers for Full Council, in consultation with the Leader of Council.

t.      To approve recommendations a,b and c contained with Appendix V

To consider an update on progress against the Council Plan.

To note the progress on the Council Plan.

To consider an update on the Focused Visit by Ofsted to the ART service within Integrated Children’s Services

To note the outcome of the Focused Visit and the actions taken thereafter.

To note.