Ask for: Nicola Hayden
Ext: 25560
My ref:
Your ref:
POLICY AND RESOURCES CABINET PANEL
15 JANUARY 2009
M I N U T E S
ATTENDANCE
MEMBERS OF THE PANEL
M V Bayes (substituting for D Beatty), C Berry, D E Billing, R S Clements, P V Goggins, D Hewitt, S M Holmes, I H Laidlaw-Dickson, D B Lloyd, D E Lloyd, A Mitchell (Chairman), A Oaten, S Quilty, R M Roberts, H M Saunders, A M R Searing (substituting for R H Smith), D T F Scudder, S Taylor, R A C Thake, C J White
Upon consideration of the agenda for the Policy and Resources Cabinet Panel meeting on 15 January 2009 as circulated, copy annexed, conclusions were reached and are recorded below:
Note: No conflicts of interest were declared by any member of the Panel in relation to the matters on which conclusions were reached at this meeting.
PART 1
/ / ACTION /1. / CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS
Substitutes
M V Bayes had replaced D Beatty and A M R Searing had replaced R H Smith for this meeting only.
Apologies
Apologies were received from D W Cullen for this meeting only.
2. / MINUTES
The minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 11 December 2008 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman. / All to note
3. / PUBLIC PETITIONS
None
4. / CORPORATE SERVICES STANDSTILL BUDGET 2009/10 – 2012/13 and ENVIRONMENT STANDSTILL BUDGET 2009/10 – 2012/13 (ASPECTS RELATING TO CORPORATE STRATEGY & PARTNERSHIPS)
[Officer Contact: Chris Sweeney, Finance, Information & Commercial Services Director
Tel: 01992 555304]
4.1 / The Panel considered the standstill budget position, capital programme bids and strategic compasses for Corporate Services. They also considered those elements of the Environment standstill budget and strategic compasses that fell within their remit (aspects relating to Corporate Strategy & Partnerships).
4.2 / The Finance, Information & Commercial Services Director reminded Members that this was a standstill budget and any items for growth would have to be considered alongside other growth items within the Resource Budget (due to be considered by the Panel at their next meeting).
4.3 / Conclusion
The Panel noted the Corporate Services Standstill Budget 2009/10 – 2012/13 and the Environment Standstill Budget (2009/10 – 2012/13) (aspects relating to Corporate Strategy & Partnerships).
5. / COUNTY COUNCIL STANDSTILL BUDGET 2009/10 – 2012/13: views of Cabinet Panels
5.1 / The Panel received a report that provided them with the recommendations/comments from the other service panels in relation to the County Council Standstill Budget 2009/10 – 2012/13.
5.2 / Conclusion
The Panel noted the views of the service cabinet panels and welcomed the reassurance given by the Executive Member for Performance & Resources that he would give due consideration to the comments from the Education Panel alongside other bids for growth when the County Council Resource Budget for 2009/10 – 2012/13 was discussed.
6. / PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS (PwC) REVIEW OF TREASURY MANAGEMENT PROCEDURES
[Officer Contact: Chris Sweeney, Director of Finance, Information & Commercial Services
Tel: 01992 555303]
6.1 / The Panel received a report that provided them with the outcome of the PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) review of the County Council’s treasury management procedures in light of the increased uncertainty in the deposit markets and the County Council’s exposure to Icelandic banks.
6.2 / Conclusions
The Panel:
1. took assurance from the fact that the report confirmed the findings of the officers with regards to the County Council’s exposure to Icelandic banks;
2. welcomed the confirmation that all recommendations in the PwC Phase 1 report had been implemented;
3. requested that the Phase 2 report be consolidated with the Phase 1 report, and looked forward to receiving that report and possibly a presentation by PwC at a later date;
4. agreed that the report on the Treasury Management Strategy should be taken at their meeting in March, rather than alongside budget considerations in February. / Chris Sweeney
Chris Sweeney
7. / THE CREDIT CRUNCH: THE POTENTIAL IMPACT UPON AND RESPONSE BY THE COUNTY COUNCIL AND ITS PARTNERS
[Officer Contact: Lorraine Allen, Group Manager – Financial Planning & Strategy
Jan Hayes-Griffin, Assistant Director – Strategic Planning & Partnerships
Tel: 01992 555313 / 01992 555203]
7.1 / The Panel received a report that provided them with information on the financial risks and uncertainties demands arising from the economic downturn that will impact on the 2009/10 and future budgets. The report also set out what Hertfordshire County Council and its partners could do to help local businesses and people cope with the economic situation.
7.2 / Officers confirmed that consideration would be given to the ideas contained within a similar report written by the Local Government Association, and that all associated risks would be built into future budget considerations where possible.
7.3 / Members also acknowledged that the Primary School Place Planning Topic Group had asked to consider the impact on school places, based on information collected during the last economic downturn and expressed concern about the impact of the potential failure of external service providers – both within the Children, Schools and Families arena and the Adult Care Services arena. The Panel were also concerned about the potential impact on the elderly and the possibility of more children becoming careers as a result of increased financial pressures.
7.4 / The Executive Member for Resources & Economic Well-Being advised that his portfolio had been re-named and would now include economic well-being in order to allow him more time to focus on this difficult issue, with the performance aspect being dealt with by the Executive Member for Corporate Strategy, Performance & Partnerships (previously the Executive Member for Corporate Strategy & Partnerships).
7.5 / Conclusions
The Panel:
1. noted both the report and welcomed the development of the Pledge as presented in the Appendix;
2. referred the report to service Cabinet Panels for further consideration of the issues that would directly affect their respective services with a report on those aspects covered by Corporate Services coming to the March meeting of the Panel. / Cabinet Panel Chairman
8. / HCC CORPORATE PLAN 2009-12: PROGRESS REPORT
[Officer Contact: Martin South, Head of Corporate Strategy
Tel: 07770 803442]
8.1 / The Panel received a progress report on the development of the Corporate Plan 2009-12.
8.2 / Conclusion
The Panel noted the report and asked for a more detailed update to be circulated following the meeting of the Corporate Plan Working Group on 23 January 2009. / Martin South
9. / PLANNING OBLIGATIONS
[Officer Contact: Jacqueline Nixon, Principal Planning Officer
Tel: 01992 588104]
9.1 / The Panel received a report (from the Director of People & Property, not the Director of Environment) that informed them of the current position in relation to planning obligations secured and processes for proposed expenditure; availability of information to Members; and the future for planning obligations and related work in that area. It was noted that a further report would be received later in the year once more Government guidance was available about the future of S106 agreements.
9.2 / Members expressed concern about unspent monies and requested further information about all S106 monies due to expire in the next twelve months. They also stressed the importance of maximising all contributions and welcomed the recognition by the Executive Member for Resources and Economic Well-Being that issues with the district/borough councils were being dealt with and that consideration needed to be given as to how the monies could be more widely used. / Jacqueline Nixon
9.3 / Conclusion
The Panel noted the report.
10. / DATE OF NEXT MEETING
Thursday 12 February 2009 at 2.00pm in the Council Chamber. / All to note
Andrew Laycock
County Secretary
2
090115 Minutes