Agenda item

a)         Question asked by Councillor MR Lay and addressed to the Executive Member for Finance

            “What progress has been made in awarding the lowest paid staff at HBBC (those earning below £21k) a cost of living increase as sanctioned by the government? I raised this issue last year at a Finance and Audit Committee meeting following a report to the committee indicating a large revenue underspend. No report back has been given. Thank you”

            Response from Councillor KWP Lynch

“Whilst central government recommended a payment of £250 for those earning under £21,000 the National Joint Council (NJC), who represents local authorities and is the employers negotiating body, had not agreed this as part of the pay deal. However the NJC in preparation for the pay negotiations for 2012/13 has consulted employers and a discussion has again taken place to consider paying £250 to those staff whose earnings are below £21,000. We are still waiting to here from NJC. 

Outside of this, and following Cllr Lay raising this at Finance and Audit Services Select Committee, the Council implemented a local arrangement whereby all staff who earned under £21,000 were paid a one off amount for 2011/12 of £125 in December 2011. 245 employees received this payment with the total cost being £37,883 (including on costs).”

In response to a supplementary question, Councillor Lynch confirmed that should a similar revenue underspend be repeated the same action would be taken.

b)         Question asked by Councillor MR Lay and addressed to the Executive Member for Finance

“From 2001 to 2010 HBBC received significant sums of additional finance to support capital projects from the government and regional development bodies. Could he indicate all the projects with grants of over £50,000 that the Council were awarded during this period and the projects the money was assigned to”

Response from Councillor KWP Lynch

“The total amount of capital funding received between 2001 and 2010 by this Council is £13,899,469 as follows:

The breakdown is :-

In his supplementary question, Councillor Lay asked if similar grants were anticipated in future. In response it was stated that this was extremely unlikely.

c)         Questions asked by Councillor S Sprason and addressed to the Leader of Council

“With the changes in the Welfare Reform Bill that devolves funding to this authority. Will the leader resist putting this funding into the general fund and agree that:

a)    The Community Care Grant will be ring fenced to support vulnerable people as intended

b)    That pensioners continue to receive the same level of assistance that they currently receive under Council Tax benefit

c)    That the extra £35,600 Disabled Facilities Grant will be used to reduce the DFG waiting list?”

            Response from Councillor KWP Lynch

“I thank Cllr Mrs Sprason for her question sent to the Leader of the Council. I am however uncertain as to which parts of the Welfare Bill she is referring to. The second part of her question regarding Council Tax benefit support for pensioners is part of the Finance Bill on the Localisation of Council Tax Support and the third part of her question regarding the extra Disability Facilities Grant has nothing to do with any Bill as this is simply a further allocation to the ring fenced grant already received by this Council in the current financial year. I will however answer Cllr Mrs Sprason’s specific questions as follows:

a)& b)  The Council will administer Community Care Grants and Council Tax Benefit for low income pensioners as required by legislation and treat any resulting grant or reimbursement in the way required or intended. The proposal contained in the Finance Bill regarding localising support for Council Tax benefit protects pensioners.

c)    Yes the additional DFG will be used to reduce the waiting list.”

Councillor Sprason, by way of supplementary question, asked whether a line could be included in the budget so it could be monitored. Councillor Lynch provided a response then later corrected himself, stating that this was already included.

d)         Question asked by Councillor K Morrell and addressed to the Executive Member for Rural Affairs

“Could the Executive Member for Rural Affairs please inform me how much the Parish & Community Initiative Fund spends on plaques for successful bids?”

Response from Councillor WJ Crooks

“The plaques now cost £25 each. The total cost of the provision of plaques for successful applications for 2011/12, therefore, will be £525 for the 21 grants, compared with the total of grants awarded of £104,130. Whilst costs could be reduced by issuing laminated paper certificates, these would not have the longevity of the metal plaques and have limited value in promoting the fund or in recognising the support the Borough Council offers to rural areas.”

In a supplementary question, Councillor Morrell asked whether consideration could be given to ceasing provision of plaques and putting that money back into the scheme. In response Councillor Crooks expressed his view that HBBC should get recognition for the provision of the grants, and he explained that the costs had reduced since moving from metal to plastic plaques. However he did commit to asking the Executive to re-consider the matter.