A maximum of 15 minutes will be allocated to public questions submitted in writing to Democratic Services (democratic.services@trafford.gov.uk) by 4 p.m. on the working day prior to the meeting. Questions must be relevant to items appearing on the agenda and will be submitted in the order in which they were received.

It was reported that no questions had been received prior to the current meeting.

Members to give notice of any interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

No declarations were made by Executive Members.

To consider decisions / recommendations to Budget Council, as follows:

The Executive Member for Finance and Corporate Director, Finance and Systems presented a number of reports, as set out in the following minutes, seeking the Executive’s approval for recommendations to be made to the immediately following Council Meeting, in connection with the Budget for 2019/20.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director Finance and Systems.

That it be recommended that Council approve the following:-

a)    The 2019/20 net Revenue Budget of £169.94 million.

b)    The 2020/21 to 2021/22 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) including the income and savings proposals.

c)    The calculation of the Council Tax Requirement as summarised in Section 9.1 and set out in the Formal Council Tax Resolution in Annex I to the report;

d)    To increase Council Tax by 3.99% in 2019/20:

o   2.99% general increase in the ‘relevant basic amount’ in 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22, and

o   1% for the ‘Adult Social Care’ precept in 2019/20.

e)    The Fees and Charges for 2019/20 and those relating to Registration of Births, Death & Marriages also shown for 2020/21, as set out in the Fees & Charges booklet.

f)     That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20 in the event of any change in VAT rate, as appropriate.

g)    That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20 under delegated powers where the economics of the charge levels have changed (e.g. costs have risen unexpectedly), or for commercial reasons.

h)    That the minimum level of General Reserve for 2019/20 be increased to £7.0 million, an increase of £1m from 2018/19 (Section 7.2 of the report).

i)      The Capital Strategy, Prudential and Local Indicators and overall level of the Capital Programme and Asset Investment Fund of £212.28 million (as detailed in the Capital Strategy, Capital Programme & Prudential Indicators 2019/22) of which £167.93 million relates to 2019/20; this includes £106.91million of new prudential borrowing.

j)      The Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 to 2021/22, including the debt strategy (Section 3), the investment strategy (Section 5) and the Prudential Indicators, including the Authorised Limit (as required by Section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003, Operational Boundary, Minimum Revenue Provision and investment criteria as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.

k)    The distribution of Dedicated Schools Grant as recommended by the School Funding Forum and Executive as summarised in Section 8 and detailed in Annex H.

and in recommending approval of the above, has taken into consideration :

a)    The objective assessment by the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems of the robustness of budget estimates and adequacy of the financial reserves (Section 7 and Annex G).

b)    The Executive’s response to the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations to the budget proposals as included in a separate report on the agenda.

c)    The Council’s Public Sector Equality duty.

d)    The results of the consultation on the budget proposals.

In addition, that it be recommended that Council notes the following:

a)    The approval on 23 January 2019 under delegated powers by the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems of the Council Tax Base for 2019/20 at 76,999 Band D equivalents.

b)    Along with the calculation of the estimated Council Tax surplus, sufficient to release £(1.324)million to support the  ...  view the full decision text for item 95.

The Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systemssubmitted a report which set out the Executive’s updated 3 year budget strategy proposals, detailed revenue budget proposals for 2019/20 and Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for the period 2020/21-2021/22.

RESOLVED - That it be recommended that Council approve the following:-

a)    The 2019/20 net Revenue Budget of £169.94 million.

b)    The 2020/21 to 2021/22 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) including the income and savings proposals.

c)    The calculation of the Council Tax Requirement as summarised in Section 9.1 and set out in the Formal Council Tax Resolution in Annex I to the report;

d)    To increase Council Tax by 3.99% in 2019/20:

o   2.99% general increase in the ‘relevant basic amount’ in 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22, and

o   1% for the ‘Adult Social Care’ precept in 2019/20.

e)    The Fees and Charges for 2019/20 and those relating to Registration of Births, Death & Marriages also shown for 2020/21, as set out in the Fees & Charges booklet.

f)     That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20 in the event of any change in VAT rate, as appropriate.

g)    That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20 under delegated powers where the economics of the charge levels have changed (e.g. costs have risen unexpectedly), or for commercial reasons.

h)   That the minimum level of General Reserve for 2019/20 be increased to £7.0 million, an increase of £1m from 2018/19 (Section 7.2 of the report).

i)     The Capital Strategy, Prudential and Local Indicators and overall level of the Capital Programme and Asset Investment Fund of £212.28 million (as detailed in the Capital Strategy, Capital Programme & Prudential Indicators 2019/22) of which £167.93 million relates to 2019/20; this includes £106.91million of new prudential borrowing.

j)      The Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 to 2021/22, including the debt strategy (Section 3), the investment strategy (Section 5) and the Prudential Indicators, including the Authorised Limit (as required by Section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003, Operational Boundary, Minimum Revenue Provision and investment criteria as set out in Appendix 3 of the report.

k)    The distribution of Dedicated Schools Grant as recommended by the School Funding Forum and Executive as summarised in Section 8 and detailed in Annex H.

and in recommending approval of the above, has taken into consideration:

a)    The objective assessment by the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems of the robustness of budget estimates and adequacy of the financial reserves (Section 7 and Annex G).

b)    The Executive’s response to the Scrutiny Committee’s recommendations to the budget proposals as included in a separate report on the agenda.

c)    The Council’s Public Sector Equality duty.

d)    The results of the consultation on the budget proposals.

In addition, that it be recommended that Council notes the following:

a)    The approval on 23  ...  view the full minutes text for item 95.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director Finance and Systems.

1. That the Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

2. That approval be given to the Schemes to be undertaken from the “block” budget allocations reported in paragraph 21 and detailed Appendix 4 to the report.

3. That it be recommended that Council approve:

a) The Capital Strategy included in Appendix 1 to the report;

b) the overall Capital Programme in the sum of £212.28m for the period 2019/22, comprising £112.28m in respect of the General Programme and £100m for the Asset Investment Fund;

c) additional prudential borrowing of £6.91m to support revenue generating investment opportunities as detailed in Paragraph 13 and a further £100m which will be added to the Asset Investment Fund as detailed in Paragraph 33 of the report;

d) the Prudential and Local Indicators as set out at Appendix 3 of the report.

The Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systemssubmitted a report which set out the Council’s investment plans for the next three years taking into account the estimated resources to be made available from Government as well as the Council’s own resources.

            RESOLVED -

(1)       That the Capital Programme as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report be approved.

(2)       That approval be given to the Schemes to be undertaken from the “block” budget allocations reported in paragraph 21 and detailed Appendix 4 to the report.

(3)       That it be recommended that Council approve:

a) The Capital Strategy included in Appendix 1 to the report;

b) the overall Capital Programme in the sum of £212.28m for the period 2019/22, comprising £112.28m in respect of the General Programme and £100m for the Asset Investment Fund;

c) additional prudential borrowing of £6.91m to support revenue generating investment opportunities as detailed in Paragraph 13 and a further £100m which will be added to the Asset Investment Fund as detailed in Paragraph 33 of the report;

d) the Prudential and Local Indicators as set out at Appendix 3 of the report.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director Finance and Systems.

That the Executive note the report and recommend that Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 – 2021/22 including the:

·           policy on debt strategy as set out in section 3;

·           investment strategy as set out in section 5;

·           Prudential Indicators and limits including the Authorised Limit (as required by section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003), Operational Boundary, Minimum Revenue Provision Statement and Investment criteria as detailed in Appendix 3.

The Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systemssubmitted a report which set out the strategy to be implemented during the period for investments and borrowing, and other related issues.

RESOLVED - That the Executive note the report and recommend that Council approves the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 – 2021/22 including the:

·           policy on debt strategy as set out in section 3;

·           investment strategy as set out in section 5;

·           Prudential Indicators and limits including the Authorised Limit (as required by section 3(1) of the Local Government Act 2003), Operational Boundary, Minimum Revenue Provision Statement and Investment criteria as detailed in Appendix 3.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director Finance and Systems.

NOTE: The full Fees and Charges Book will not be circulated with the agenda, but will be made available on the Council’s website.

That it be recommended that Council approve the following:

·         The Fees and Charges for 2019/20 and those relating to Registration of Births, Death & Marriages also shown for 2020/21, as set out in the booklet available on the Council’s web site;

·         That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20 in the event of any change in the rate of VAT, as appropriate;

·         That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20  under delegated powers where the economics of the charge levels have changed (e.g. costs have risen unexpectedly), or for commercial reasons.

The Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systemssubmitted a report which set out the salient features of the annual review and pricing of the Council’s main fees and charges. Members were advised that the booklet which detailed individual fees and charges had been published on the Council’s website.

RESOLVED - That it be recommended that Council approve the following:

·         The Fees and Charges for 2019/20 and those relating to Registration of Births, Death & Marriages also shown for 2020/21, as set out in the booklet available on the Council’s web site;

·         That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20 in the event of any change in the rate of VAT, as appropriate;

·         That approval be delegated jointly to each Corporate Director with the Corporate Director of Finance and Systems to amend fees and charges during 2019/20  under delegated powers where the economics of the charge levels have changed (e.g. costs have risen unexpectedly), or for commercial reasons.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director Finance and Systems.

That the Executive’s response to Scrutiny be approved.

The Executive Member for Finance and the Corporate Director of Finance and Systemssubmitted a report which set out the detailed response to each of the points raised by the Scrutiny Committee in its report on the Executive’s draft budget proposals for 2019/20 presented to the Executive at its meeting on 28 January 2019. The Executive Member for Finance advised that he was proposing to provide ongoing updates to Scrutiny during the course of the year; and the Leader indicated that he would liaise with Councillor Coggins in respect of the request for funding to support the Scrutiny task and finish group review of climate change. 

            RESOLVED - That the Executive’s response to Scrutiny be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Adult Social Care.

That an inflationary uplift be approved for Residential and Nursing Home beds of 3.96% for 2019/20.

The Executive Member for Social Care submitted a report which set out the process which had been followed by the Council in proposing its “bed rate” paid to be paid to providers of residential and nursing care for the financial year 2019/20. The Executive Member advised that, as with the following agenda item, the current position represented an interim stage in an ongoing process; and, in response to a question, acknowledged an aspiration to do more and an intention to work with providers to promote a more sustainable care provision market in the locality.

RESOLVED - That an inflationary uplift be approved for Residential and Nursing Home beds of 3.96% for 2019/20.

To consider a report of the Executive Member for Adult Social Care.

That approval be given to the inflationary uplift of 4.27% to the hourly rate for homecare: an increase from £14.63 per hour to £15.25 per hour.

The Executive Member for Social Care submitted a report which set out, following a consultation exercise, proposals regarding the annual uplift to the hourly rate paid to providers to deliver homecare in Trafford in 2019/20. The Executive Member advised that, as with the previous agenda item, the current position represented an interim stage in an ongoing process; and, in response to a question, acknowledged an aspiration to do more and an intention to work with providers to promote a more sustainable care provision market in the locality.

RESOLVED – That approval be given to the inflationary uplift of 4.27% to the hourly rate for homecare: an increase from £14.63 per hour to £15.25 per hour.

On behalf of the Executive and the Council more widely, the Leader of the Council expressed his wish to record appreciation to Mr. Jim Taylor for his work on behalf of Trafford during his time as interim Chief Executive, and to wish him well for the future.