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Meeting Details

Council
16 Feb 2017 - 13:00 to 16:00
  • Documents
  • Attendance
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  • Declarations of Interests
  • Webcast

Documents

Agenda

Agenda
Notification
Standard Items
Members of the Press and Public
Members of the press and public wishing to attend the meeting should report to the customer service centre where they will be met and directed to the meeting.
Webcasting of Meeting
This meeting will be filmed for live or subsequent broadcast via the Council’s internet site – at the start of the meeting the Provost will confirm if all or part of the meeting is being filmed. 

The Council is a Data Controller under the Data Protection Act 1998. Personal data collected during this webcast will be handled in accordance with the relevant legislation and the Council’s Data Protection Policy. 

Generally the public seating areas will not be filmed. However, by entering the Council Chamber and using the public seating area, you are consenting to being filmed and to the possible use of those images and sound recordings for webcasting or training purposes. 

If you have any queries regarding this, please contact Committee Services on 0141 618 7112

To find the webcast please navigate to http://renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/meetings.aspx and select the meeting from the calendar.
Further Information
This is a meeting which is open to members of the public. 

A copy of the agenda and reports for this meeting will be available for inspection prior to the meeting at the Customer Service Centre, Renfrewshire House, Cotton Street, Paisley and online at www.renfrewshire.cmis.uk.com/renfrewshire/CouncilandBoards.aspx

For further information, please either email
democratic-services@renfrewshire.gov.uk or telephone 0141 618 7112.

Members’ attention is drawn to the enclosed statement regarding declarations in terms of Section 112 of the Local Government Finance Act, 1992.

Procedures
Copies of the notes of the procedures to be followed in respect of consideration of (i) the Revenue Estimates and Council Tax; and (ii) the Housing Revenue Account Budgets, Rent Levels and Capital Investment Plans are also attached to the relevant reports.
Chair
Provost Hall presided.
In Attendance
S Black, Chief Executive; S MacDougall, Director of Community Resources; M Crearie, Director of Development & Housing Services; A Russell, Director of Finance & Resources; D Leese, Chief Officer and S Lavers, Chief Finance Officer (both Renfrewshire  Health & Social Care Partnership); D Amos, Head of Policy & Commissioning and L Mahon, Head of Marketing (both Chief Executive’s); S Quinn, Assistant Director – Schools and G McKinlay, Head of Schools (both Children’s Services); F Carlin, Head of Planning & Housing (Development & Housing Services); K Graham, Head of Corporate Governance, A MacArthur, Head of Finance, J Lynch, Head of Property, M Conaghan, Legal & Democratic Services Manager; V Howie, Finance Business Manager; L Belshaw, Democratic Services Manager and A McNaughton, Senior Committee Services Officer (all Finance & Resources).
Sederunt
Councillor Lawson entered the meeting during consideration of the following item.
Items Of Business
Apologies
Apologies from members.
Declarations of Interest
Members are asked to declare an interest in any item(s) on the agenda and to provide a brief explanation of the nature of the interest.
There were no declarations of interest intimated prior to the commencement of the meeting.

The Provost drew Members’ attention to the provisions of Section 112 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 which restricted the voting rights of Members on certain issues if they were in arrears with Council Tax payments. 

If at the time of the meeting a Member was two months or more in arrears in payment of the Council Tax, the Member would be restricted in voting on matters which relate to (i) setting or adjusting the rate of Council Tax; and (ii) matters relating to the administration, enforcement and collection of the Council Tax or Council Water Tax.
 
Report by Director of Finance and Resources
1

There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Revenue Budget and Council Tax for 2017/18 together with appendices detailing revenue estimates for 2017/18; estimates of expenditure and income for the year ended 31 March 2018; and the General Fund probable outturn for 2016/17.  The report provided members with an overview of the Council’s projected financial position for the year ahead and set out the information required for the Council to set its budget and Council Tax for 2017/18.  The report also advised that Members consider the medium and longer-term financial context for the Council and the ongoing financial pressures and challenges facing the public sector more generally, as detailed within the report.

The report intimated that the Scottish Government had allocated £300.757 million grant funding to Renfrewshire Council for 2017/18 and set out the associated conditions that made up the allocation, one of which removed the condition associated with a Council Tax freeze and introduced a 3% cap, the maximum increase that could be applied locally by an individual council. The Scottish Government had indicated that should the conditions not be met, the funding allocation would be reduced.  However the scale of any reduction had not been confirmed.

Councillor Holmes tabled a motion on behalf of the Administration.


ADJOURNMENT

The meeting then adjourned at 1.02 pm to allow members to consider the motion.  The meeting reconvened at 1.12 pm.

Councillor Holmes, seconded by Councillor M Macmillan, moved:

“1. That this Administration’s fifth budget will build further on its commitments to invest in economic regeneration, local communities and support the most vulnerable in Renfrewshire.

2.   That as recommended by the Director, these budget proposals take a holistic view of resources available, and include the proposed use of the £1.841 million of available capital resources outlined in Agenda item 2.

3. Further, it is agreed that £2.350 million will be drawn from the Investment Programme Capital Fund detailed in Table 5 of the report to provide additional debt smoothing support as part of delivering these budget proposals for 2017/18.  Further and in line with the recommendations of the Director, that unallocated General Fund balances are budgeted to be maintained at £7.020 million moving into 2017/18 and that on the closure of the 2016/17 accounts, any balances in excess of this amount be transferred to the Investment Programme Capital Fund to provide additional capacity in future years to the ongoing debt smoothing strategy.

4. On Regeneration this budget commits a further £3.477 million, being £1.841 million of capital resources and £1.636 million of revenue resources, to boost investment in the roads infrastructure across Renfrewshire.  This additional investment will be focused on those key routes that keep the Renfrewshire economy moving and lifts planned capital investment in 2017/18 to £6.716 million, the biggest ever single year investment in the roads, cycling and pathway infrastructure across Renfrewshire.

5. To protect services to the most vulnerable in Renfrewshire, agree to recommendation 2.4 to make available £4.406 million of resources to support cost and demand pressures on Adult Social Care Services as outlined in the Director’s report and which will form part of the resources being made available under delegation to Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (RHSCP) on the 1 April 2017.  Further that as part of this delegation process, agree to work in pro-active partnership with RHSCP and social care providers to secure the payment of the £8.45 living wage across all care staff providing services to the Council in addition to those directly employed by the Council.

6. Invest an additional £1.500 million in the Council’s tackling poverty programme lifting the total investment to £7.5 million since its launch, ensuring key projects and services delivered by this highly successful programme are sustained through to the end of 2017/18, including:

Income and employment initiatives;

Managing money – including money and energy advice, tackling the poverty premium and supporting foodbank provision;

Health initiatives – including school counselling, peer education initiatives and extending healthier wealthier children;

Supporting attainment – including literacy programmes, breakfast clubs, Families First and supporting the cost of the school day;

Neighbourhoods – Street Stuff, asset based regeneration and private rented sector enforcement; 

Supporting digital participation across Renfrewshire.

 



7. Double to £1 million, the resources directed to support the artistic community in Renfrewshire by supplementing the CHEF (Culture Heritage and Events Fund) delivered through the Paisley 2021 Partnership Board with a further £0.500 million investment in 2017/18.  The Fund, which was established by the Administration in 2015 with an initial £0.500 million allocation has been an overwhelming success and has already been used to support over 50 community arts and other groups across Renfrewshire.  To further complement this investment, invest £0.150 million to remove music tuition charges within schools and to support participation in music across Renfrewshire’s young people.

8. Invest £0.200 million to support a freeze on charges in 2017/18 across Council services, chargeable non-assessed social care services provided through the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership and all services provided through Renfrewshire Leisure.

9. Invest an additional £1.500 million to boost the budget available to support the St Anthony’s Primary School/Spateston Nursery project in Johnstone.  This additional injection of resources will provide the opportunity to deliver an enhanced and improved project, providing the community, early years and school children with modern and high quality educational facilities which they deserve.

10. Direct an additional £1 million to bring to £4 million, the total programme supporting investment in Community Facilities across Renfrewshire.

11. Invest £0.100 million to provide an additional uplift of £20,000 in 2017/18 to the delegated budgets of each of the Local Area Committees for the purposes of providing grants across Renfrewshire’s communities, uplifting the total grants budget across all the LACs by approximately 18%.

12. To agree the base budget assessment for all services for 2017/18 as recommended by the Director of Finance & Resources, and subject to agreement of item 5 above, agree a 2017/18 base budget of £373.386 million.  Further to note that this provides sufficient resources to meet the grant condition to maintain the pupil teacher ratio in 2017 at 2016 levels as measured as part of the school census exercise carried out each September.

13. To agree to make provision of £5.758 million in 2017/18 for pay inflation, Apprenticeship Levy and Living Wage across all staff groups and make no provision for general non-pay inflation, as recommended by the Director of Finance & Resources.

14. To agree the resource allocations for 2017/18 for all services, as amended by these proposals.

15. To agree the detailed Revenue Estimates for all services be amended to reflect these proposals and the necessary allocation of central support costs, central repairs costs, capital charges, specific grants and loan charges provision with Directors authorised to take any action necessary to implement these decisions.

16. Subject to agreement of the above, to agree that the council tax for 2017/18 be set at £1,164.69 for Band D subjects, representing a freeze on the 2016/17 level, and for all bandings to be set at:



Band Council Tax 2017/18

A  776.46
B  905.87
C          1,035.28
D          1,164.69
E          1,530.27
F          1,892.62
G          2,280.85
H          2,853.49

17. Subject to agreement of points 1 – 16 above, agree that the Council’s budget is underpinned by appropriate decisions and makes appropriate provision to meet the specified commitments in the package of conditions linked to the Council’s grant settlement to ensure the Council accesses its full grant entitlement.”

Councillor K MacLaren tabled an amendment.


ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 1.15 pm to allow members to consider the amendment.  The meeting reconvened at 1.20 pm.


Councillor K MacLaren, seconded by Councillor M MacLaren, moved as an amendment:

“1. That as recommended by the Director, these budget proposals take a holistic view of resources available, and include the proposed use of the £1.841 million of available capital resources outlined in Agenda item 2.

2. In line with the recommendations of the Director, agree that unallocated General Fund balances are budgeted to be maintained at £7.020 million moving into 2017/18 and that on the closure of the 2016/17 accounts, any balances in excess of this amount be transferred to the Investment Programme Capital Fund to provide additional capacity in future years to the ongoing debt smoothing strategy.

3. Agree to a non-recurring investment in a ‘Clean Up Renfrewshire Campaign’.  This will begin to address the environmental impact of years of cuts and neglect by this administration and start the process of restoring the levels of service that people of Renfrewshire expect in their local communities.

4. Agree to a non-recurring investment of £200,000 to support community engagement in the recycling agenda.  In particular, to lifting Renfrewshire’s recycling rate from its current decline and to reduce the council’s landfill tax liability.

5. Agree to invest £200,000 in a one-off pilot scheme to assist in the conservation and protection of listed properties and for the strengthening and protection of our conservation areas.

 


6. Invest £200,000 to freeze charges for 2017/18 at their current rates across Council Services, chargeable non assessed social care services provided through the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership and all services provided through Renfrewshire Leisure.

7. Agree to invest £200,000 in the Retail Improvement Scheme to assist the regeneration of local businesses across Renfrewshire.

8. Utilise existing resources to examine the opportunity afforded by the Community Empowerment Act to introduce a local rates relief scheme to help boost local businesses within Renfrewshire.

9. Agree to invest £2,777,000 of additional resources, being £936,000 of revenue resources and £1,841,000 of capital resources, into the roads capital investment programme to increase the total funding available in 2017/18 to £6,016,000 to boost repairs to roads and footpaths across Renfrewshire.

10. Instruct officers to investigate the costs of leaving the Scottish Local Government Partnership and applying to re-join the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (CoSLA) from 1st April 2017, ensuring that Renfrewshire is not left out in the cold again during the discussions on the allocation of local government finance.

11. To agree the base budget assessment of £373.386 million for all services for 2017/18 as recommended by the Director of Finance & Resources and to recommendation 2.4 in relation to the management of resources made available to Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership.  Further to note that this provides sufficient resources to meet the grant condition to maintain the pupil teacher ratio in 2017 at 2016 levels as measured as part of the school census exercise carried out each September.

12. To agree to make provision of £5.758 million in 2017/18 for pay inflation, Apprenticeship Levy and Living Wage across all staff groups and make no provision for general non-pay inflation, as recommended by the Director of Finance & Resources.

13. To agree the resource allocations for 2017/18 for all services, as amended by these proposals.

14. To agree the detailed Revenue Estimates for all services be amended to reflect these proposals and the necessary allocation of central support costs, central repair costs, capital charges, specific grants and loan charges provision with Directors authorised to take any action necessary to implement these decisions.

15. Subject to agreement of the above, to agree that the council tax for 2017/18 be set at £1,164.69 for Band D subjects, representing a freeze on the 2016/17 level, and for all bandings to be set at:

Band Council Tax 2017/18

A  776.46
B  905.87
C          1,035.28
D          1,164.69
E          1,530.27
F          1,892.62
G          2,280.85
H          2,853.49

17. Subject to agreement of points 1 – 16 above, agree that the Council’s budget is underpinned by appropriate decisions and makes appropriate provision to meet the specified commitments in the package of conditions linked to the Council’s grant settlement to ensure the Council accesses its full grant entitlement.”

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Perrie, McEwan, Paterson, Lawson, Mylet, K MacLaren, M MacLaren, McGurk, Cameron, Andy Doig, Audrey Doig, Noon, M Brown, McQuade and Nicolson. 

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors B Brown, Murrin, M Devine, J Sharkey, M Sharkey, Kelly, Williams, E Devine, Glen, Henry, M Macmillan, Caldwell, Hood, I McMillan, Bibby, Gilmour, Provost Hall, Councillors Holmes, J MacLaren, Harte and Mullin. 

The following members abstained: Councillors Mack and McCartin. 

15 members having voted for the amendment, 21 members having voted for the motion and 2 members having abstained, the motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) That this Administration’s fifth budget will build further on its commitments to invest in economic regeneration, local communities and support the most vulnerable in Renfrewshire.

(b)   That as recommended by the Director, these budget proposals take a holistic view of resources available, and include the proposed use of the £1.841 million of available capital resources outlined in Agenda item 2.

(c) Further, it is agreed that £2.350 million will be drawn from the Investment Programme Capital Fund detailed in Table 5 of the report to provide additional debt smoothing support as part of delivering these budget proposals for 2017/18.  Further and in line with the recommendations of the Director, that unallocated General Fund balances are budgeted to be maintained at £7.020 million moving into 2017/18 and that on the closure of the 2016/17 accounts, any balances in excess of this amount be transferred to the Investment Programme Capital Fund to provide additional capacity in future years to the ongoing debt smoothing strategy.

(d) On Regeneration this budget commits a further £3.477 million, being £1.841 million of capital resources and £1.636 million of revenue resources, to boost investment in the roads infrastructure across Renfrewshire.  This additional investment will be focused on those key routes that keep the Renfrewshire economy moving and lifts planned capital investment in 2017/18 to £6.716 million, the biggest ever single year investment in the roads, cycling and pathway infrastructure across Renfrewshire.

(e) To protect services to the most vulnerable in Renfrewshire, agree to recommendation 2.4 to make available £4.406 million of resources to support cost and demand pressures on Adult Social Care Services as outlined in the Director’s report and which will form part of the resources being made available under delegation to Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership (RHSCP) on the 1 April 2017.  Further that as part of this delegation process, agree to work in pro-active partnership with RHSCP and social care providers to secure the payment of the £8.45 living wage across all care staff providing services to the Council in addition to those directly employed by the Council.

(f) Invest an additional £1.500 million in the Council’s tackling poverty programme lifting the total investment to £7.5 million since its launch, ensuring key projects and services delivered by this highly successful programme are sustained through to the end of 2017/18, including:

Income and employment initiatives;

Managing money – including money and energy advice, tackling the poverty premium and supporting foodbank provision;

Health initiatives – including school counselling, peer education initiatives and extending healthier wealthier children;

Supporting attainment – including literacy programmes, breakfast clubs, Families First and supporting the cost of the school day;

Neighbourhoods – Street Stuff, asset based regeneration and private rented sector enforcement;

Supporting digital participation across Renfrewshire.

(g) Double to £1 million, the resources directed to support the artistic community in Renfrewshire by supplementing the CHEF (Culture Heritage and Events Fund) delivered through the Paisley 2021 Partnership Board with a further £0.500 million investment in 2017/18.  The Fund, which was established by the Administration in 2015 with an initial £0.500 million allocation has been an overwhelming success and has already been used to support over 50 community arts and other groups across Renfrewshire.  To further complement this investment, invest £0.150 million to remove music tuition charges within schools and to support participation in music across Renfrewshire’s young people.

(h) Invest £0.200 million to support a freeze on charges in 2017/18 across Council services, chargeable non-assessed social care services provided through the Renfrewshire Health and Social Care Partnership and all services provided through Renfrewshire Leisure.

(i) Invest an additional £1.500 million to boost the budget available to support the St Anthony’s Primary School/Spateston Nursery project in Johnstone.  This additional injection of resources will provide the opportunity to deliver an enhanced and improved project, providing the community, early years and school children with modern and high quality educational facilities which they deserve.

(j) Direct an additional £1 million to bring to £4 million, the total programme supporting investment in Community Facilities across Renfrewshire.

(k) Invest £0.100 million to provide an additional uplift of £20,000 in 2017/18 to the delegated budgets of each of the Local Area Committees for the purposes of providing grants across Renfrewshire’s communities, uplifting the total grants budget across all the LACs by approximately 18%.

(l) To agree the base budget assessment for all services for 2017/18 as recommended by the Director of Finance & Resources, and agree a 2017/18 base budget of £373.386 million.  Further to note that this provides sufficient resources to meet the grant condition to maintain the pupil teacher ratio in 2017 at 2016 levels as measured as part of the school census exercise carried out each September.

(m) To agree to make provision of £5.758 million in 2017/18 for pay inflation, Apprenticeship Levy and Living Wage across all staff groups and make no provision for general non-pay inflation, as recommended by the Director of Finance & Resources.

(n) To agree the resource allocations for 2017/18 for all services, as amended by these proposals.

(o) To agree the detailed Revenue Estimates for all services be amended to reflect these proposals and the necessary allocation of central support costs, central repairs costs, capital charges, specific grants and loan charges provision with Directors authorised to take any action necessary to implement these decisions.

(p) To agree that the council tax for 2017/18 be set at £1,164.69 for Band D subjects, representing a freeze on the 2016/17 level, and for all bandings to be set at:

Band Council Tax 2017/18

A  776.46
B  905.87
C          1,035.28
D          1,164.69
E          1,530.27
F          1,892.62
G          2,280.85
H          2,853.49

(q) That it be agreed that the Council’s budget was underpinned by appropriate decisions and made appropriate provision to meet the specified commitments in the package of conditions linked to the Council’s grant settlement to ensure the Council accessed its full grant entitlement.

 
Report by Director of Finance and Resources
2
There was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the Council’s Capital Plan for non-housing services for the period 2017/20 in respect of education, social work, leisure, community resources, planning, roads and a range of corporate projects. The report advised that the resources available to support investment included prudential borrowing and capital grants as well as contributions from revenue, partners and external funding bodies.

The report indicated that the Scottish Government had published its draft budget for 2017/18 on 15 December 2016 which was subject to parliamentary approval. At the same time, the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Constitution had announced the provisional local government finance settlement that confirmed the total capital grant for Renfrewshire Council in 2017/18 was £16.946 million, of which £0.239 million was specific grant relating to cycling and walking safer streets.  The Cabinet Secretary had also opted to further defer payment of the £3.231 million of capital grant deferred in 2016/17 to some point in the 2018/20 period.  The Scottish Government had subsequently announced a minor adjustment to the capital grant to £16.942 million, followed by a further announcement revising the capital grant figure to £17.783.

The Autumn Budget Statement on 23 November 2016 had made little change to the capital settlement announced in the 2015 Comprehensive Spending Review for the devolved administrations which indicated that the capital departmental expenditure limit for Scotland would be £3.1 billion in 2017/18, rising to £3.5 billion in 2019/20.  
The report proposed that the Council continue to restrict making any further new capital investment commitments funded by capital grant beyond that level of grant which was known and allocated.  It was noted that the proposed capital plan outlined in the report extended beyond 2017/18 to reflect approved programmes already in place and funded by other arrangements eg prudential borrowing or specific funding related to the City Deal.  It was further noted that this approach did not preclude the Council taking further investment decisions as part of the budget process where separate funding arrangements were established.

Councillor Holmes tabled a motion on behalf of the Administration.

Councillor Holmes, seconded by Councillor M Macmillan, moved:

“1. To agree the investment programme totaling £217.658 million covering the period up to 2019/20, including the recommendations contained in the report for the allocation of resources to support the delivery of lifecycle maintenance programmes over the period.

2. To endorse the decisions taken by Council in consideration of item 1, to direct the £1.841 million of resources available in the Strategic Asset Management Fund to boost investment in roads infrastructure, along with a revenue contribution of £1.636 million, to provide a total of £3.477 million additional investment.  The capital plan outlines an existing investment of £3.239 million, therefore the additional sum allocated takes the total investment in 2017/18 to £6.716 million – the largest ever single year investment in roads and associated infrastructure across Renfrewshire.

3. To delegate to the Head of Property Services and Head of Amenity Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance & Resources, authority to adjust where appropriate resources across individual components of the lifecycle maintenance and roads and structures programmes respectively.

4. Agree to the suite of prudential indicators, treasury management indicators and treasury strategy set out in Appendix 6 of the report, subject to required adjustments arising from decisions outlined in points 1 -3 above and in relation to any other decisions taken by members at this Council meeting.”

Councillor K MacLaren tabled an amendment.

Councillor K MacLaren, seconded by Councillor M MacLaren, moved as an amendment:

“1. To agree the investment programme totaling £217.658 million covering the period up to 2019/20, including the recommendations contained in the report for the allocation of resources to support the delivery of lifecycle maintenance programmes over the period.

2. To direct any unallocated resources available in the Strategic Asset Management Fund to boost investment in roads infrastructure.

3. To reassess the proposals to develop a Regional Sports Facility in Ferguslie with a view to making up to £7.5 million set aside for this project available for other capital projects within Ferguslie and across Paisley and Renfrewshire, with an emphasis on roads and the environment.

4. To delegate to the Head of Property Services and Head of Amenity Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance & Resources, authority to adjust where appropriate resources across individual components of the lifecycle maintenance and roads and structures programmes respectively.

5. Agree to the suite of prudential indicators, treasury management indicators and treasury strategy set out in Appendix 6 of the report, subject to required adjustments arising from decisions outlined in points 1 -3 above and in relation to any other decisions taken by members at this Council meeting.”

On the roll being called, the following members voted for the amendment: Councillors Perrie, McEwan, Paterson, Lawson, Mylet, K MacLaren, M MacLaren, McGurk, Cameron, Andy Doig, Audrey Doig, Noon, M Brown, McQuade and Nicolson. 

The following members voted for the motion: Councillors B Brown, Murrin, M Devine, J Sharkey, M Sharkey, Kelly, Williams, E Devine, Glen, Henry, M Macmillan, Caldwell, Hood, I McMillan, Bibby, Gilmour, Provost Hall, Councillors Holmes,  Harte and Mullin. 

The following members abstained: Councillors Mack, McCartin and J MacLaren.

15 members having voted for the amendment, 20 members having voted for the motion and 3 members having abstained, the motion was accordingly declared carried.

DECIDED:

(a) To agree the investment programme totaling £217.658 million covering the period up to 2019/20, including the recommendations contained in the report for the allocation of resources to support the delivery of lifecycle maintenance programmes over the period.

(b) To endorse the decisions taken by Council in consideration of item 1 of this Minute, to direct the £1.841 million of resources available in the Strategic Asset Management Fund to boost investment in roads infrastructure, along with a revenue contribution of £1.636 million, to provide a total of £3.477 million additional investment.  The capital plan outlined an existing investment of £3.239 million, therefore the additional sum allocated took the total investment in 2017/18 to £6.716 million – the largest ever single year investment in roads and associated infrastructure across Renfrewshire.

(c) To delegate to the Head of Property Services and Head of Amenity Services, in consultation with the Director of Finance & Resources, authority to adjust where appropriate resources across individual components of the lifecycle maintenance and roads and structures programmes respectively.

(d) Agree to the suite of prudential indicators, treasury management indicators and treasury strategy set out in Appendix 6 of the report, subject to required adjustments arising from decisions outlined in points 1 - 3 above and in relation to any other decisions taken by members at this Council meeting.
 
Joint Report by Directors of Finance and Resources and Development and Housing Services
3
There was submitted a joint report by the Directors of Development & Housing Services and Finance & Resources relative to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget for financial year 2017/18 and the Housing Capital Investment Plan 2017/18 to 2019/20.  Appendices to the report set out HRA budget changes for 2017/18 and estimates of expenditure and income for the year ending 31 March 2018.

The report provided an update on consultation with tenants on the annual rent setting process and highlighted an improved financial outlook over the medium term as a result of a slower than expected roll out of welfare reform including universal credit and direct payments together with improved performance in bad debt and rental loss through voids.

The report recommended no rent increase in 2017/18 and detailed the Housing Capital Investment Plan for the three year period 2017/18 to 2019/20.

DECIDED:

(a) That no increase in rents or charges for 2017/18 be agreed;

(b) That the findings of the recent Tenant Consultation exercise be noted;

(c) That the Housing Revenue Account Budget for financial year 2017/18 as detailed in Appendix 2 to the report be approved;

(d) That the Council’s continued commitment to mitigate the impacts of welfare reform on Council tenants through the earmarked HRA resources over the period to 2017/18 to deliver a programme of measures intended to support tenants to manage the negative impacts of welfare reform be noted;

(e) That the Housing Capital Investment Plan 2017/18 to 2019/20 as detailed in Appendix 3 to the report be approved; and

(f) That the continuing requirement to achieve best value and an optimum workflow over the 3 years of the investment plan be noted; and

(g) That the Director of Development & Housing Services be authorised to work in conjunction with the Director of Finance & Resources to re-profile the capital programme and available resources, as necessary, in line with the appropriate limits established under the Council’s capital prudential framework arrangements.
 

Declarations of Interests

Member NameItem Ref.DetailsNature of DeclarationAction
No declarations of interest have been entered for this meeting.

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