Agenda and minutes

Venue: De Montfort Suite, Hinckley Hub

Items
No. Item

414.

Apologies and substitutions

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors Bessant, Camamile, Smith and Williams.

415.

Minutes of previous meeting pdf icon PDF 74 KB

Minutes:

It was moved by Councillor Ward, seconded by Councillor Cope and

 

RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 17 December 2018 be confirmed and signed by the chairman.

416.

Declarations of interest

To receive verbally from members any disclosures which they are required to make in accordance with the Council’s code of conduct or in pursuance of Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. This is in addition to the need for such disclosure to be also given when the relevant matter is reached on the agenda.

Minutes:

No interests were declared at this stage.

417.

Review of Key Frontline Services: Health & Safety Enforcement pdf icon PDF 225 KB

To report on the activities of the Environmental Health Service regarding the enforcement of health and safety.

Minutes:

In presenting the Health & Safety Enforcement frontline service review, the number of inspections, notices served and prosecutions was highlighted. Members were informed of the division of responsibility between the Health & Safety Executive and local authorities and the type of cases in which officers were involved.

 

A member expressed concern about the low number of RIDDOR reports and that injuries may be under-reported. In response, officers stated that the number of reports was similar to other authorities and that whilst this may be due to some under-reporting, the requirements on reporting had relaxed slightly.

 

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

418.

Performance and Risk Management Framework 3rd Qtr Summary for 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 441 KB

To provide the 3rd quarter 2018/19 outturn position for performance indicators, service improvement plans and corporate and service area risks.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the performance and risk management framework third quarter summary. It was noted that performance was good across most indicators including a 30% increase in leisure centre footfall compared to the previous year. It was, however, noted that whilst sickness absence rates had improved on the previous year, there was a likelihood that the target would not be achieved.

 

Members were informed of some corrections to the report:

 

·         Page 12, paragraph 3.5.1 – the pie chart should show that three indicators were more than 15% out of target and nine were within 15% out of target

·         Page 14, paragraph 5.3 – the bottom row of the table should read that the actual performance for rent collection and arrears recovery was 97.05% and had therefore not yet reached target.

 

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

419.

Financial Outturn December 2018 pdf icon PDF 168 KB

To present the financial outturn position as at December 2018.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members received the financial outturn report to December 2018. In presenting the report, officers highlighted the interest rates, flexible housing grant, an increase in legal fees, decrease in car parks income and planning income. In relation to the HRA it was noted that there had been a saving due to severance payments which was offset against expenditure on salaries.

 

In relation to the increase in legal fees, it was noted that this was due to a health and safety case that the council had prosecuted recently and, whilst costs had been awarded to the council, these had not yet been paid. This was due to the legal decision in the case which gave an agreement on the timing of the settlement of costs by the golf club, meaning there would be a long-term debtor in the accounts at year end. Members asked for information on the payment agreement as they felt the company should be paying the costs sooner.

 

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

420.

Treasury Management Quarter 3 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 196 KB

To report on the Council’s Treasury Management activity in the third quarter of 2018/19.

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the treasury management activity in the third quarter of 2018/19. The HRA subsidy was discussed, along with the council’s position of being under-borrowed.

 

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

421.

Sundry Debts - Q3 2018/2019 pdf icon PDF 211 KB

To report on the position on sundry debts as at 31 December 2018.

Minutes:

Members were informed of the sundry debts position at 31 December 2018. Homelessness loans and those debtors on instalments plans had been taken out of the figures for a true reflection of outstanding debt. It was noted that debt from other local authorities had also reduced since the previous quarter.

 

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

422.

Business Rates and Pooling Update Quarter 3 - 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 218 KB

To report on business rates performance from 1 April – 31 December 2018 and to provide an update on pooling arrangements for 2018/2019.

Minutes:

Members were informed of business rates performance from 1 April to 31 December 2018 and were updated on pooling arrangements for 2018/19. It was highlighted that the pilot bid had been successful but the district split had not yet been agreed.

 

RESOLVED – the report be noted.

423.

Finance & Performance Scrutiny Work Programme pdf icon PDF 126 KB

Minutes:

The work programme was noted.