Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillors, Hollick, Sheppard-Bools and Webber-Jones.

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July 2022.

It was moved by Councillor P Williams, seconded by Councillor Morrell and

                        RESOLVED – the minutes of the meeting held on 25 July be

                        confirmed and signed by the chairman.

No additional interests were declared at this meeting.

To update members on the performance of the planning service

Members were provided with an update on the performance of the planning service which had gone through a restructure and moved over to the Community Services Department. The report included the work areas development management, planning enforcement, regeneration/economic development, conservation/heritage and planning policy and the key activities carried out by the service and how they were performing against defined indicators and the current budget position. 

Councillor Collett joined the meeting at 18.35.

A question was asked regarding the speed of determining planning applications and how close the team were to government intervention.  It was confirmed that the speed measure was monitored on a quarterly basis for a rolling two year period from October 2020 to September 2022 so this period had now ended.

Members thanked the officers that were in post for their hard work as although performance dropped from January 2021 and continued to drop until March of this year, the indicators now appeared to be moving in the right direction.

After a question from members regarding the rising legal costs and the overspend indicated in the report, it was confirmed that the vast majority of the overspend was appeals costs and the number of public enquiries that incurred significant legal costs.

Members thanked the team for a comprehensive report.

Members noted the report.

To present to members the financial outturn position as at June 2022

Members were updated on the financial outturn position as at June 2022.

It was highlighted that the financial reports attached to this report were based on the original budget taken to Council in February 2022 and had taken into account the budget movements for the first three months.

Members noted the unprecedented pressures on the budget and the significant rise in utility costs.

Members noted the report.

To inform members of the Council’s treasury management activity in the second quarter of 2022/23.

Council approved the Treasury Management policy at its meeting on 22 February 2022 and delegated the execution of the policy to this committee.

Members were therefore updated on the treasury management activity in the second quarter of 2022/23 to show that activity was in line with the limits set out in the policy.

Members noted the report.

To inform members of the position on sundry debts as at 30 September 2022

Members were informed of the position on sundry debts as at 30 September 2022.

Members noted the current aged debt position for sundry debts and that a report would follow at the next meeting on the action being taken on recovery of estates debt.

Members noted the report.

To update members on the work programme

Members noted the work programme and all items listed for December 2022 would now be reported to the next meeting being held on 16 January 2023.