Agenda, decisions and minutes

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Contact: Tim Richardson, 01372 732122  Email: trichardson@epsom-ewell.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

20.

Question Time

To take any questions from members of the Public.

 

Please note: Members of the Public are requested to inform the Democratic Services Officer before the meeting begins if they wish to ask a verbal question to the Committee.

Decision:

No questions were asked or had been submitted.

Minutes:

No questions were asked or had been submitted.

21.

Declarations of Interest

Members are asked to declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests in respect of any item of business to be considered at the meeting.

Decision:

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors in items on this agenda.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors in items on this agenda.

22.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 92 KB

The Committee is asked to confirm as a true record the Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held 8 November 2016 (attached) and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.


Decision:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 November 2016 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 8 November 2016 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.

23.

The Hardship Fund pdf icon PDF 95 KB

This report sets out proposals to revise the current Home Improvement Agency Hardship Fund by combining it with the Disabled Facility Grant Hardship Fund.  The fund would provide support to vulnerable residents who are at immediate risk of harm or hospitalisation.

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed that a Home Improvement Agency Hardship Fund be established.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report setting out a proposal to revise the Council’s Home Improvement Agency Fund by combining it with the Disabled Facility Grant Hardship Fund.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed that a Home Improvement Agency Hardship Fund be established.

24.

Corporate Plan: Performance Report Two 2016 to 2017 pdf icon PDF 89 KB

This report provides an update against our Key Priority Performance Targets for 2016 to 2017, under our new Corporate Plan.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Noted the performance reported in Annexe 1 to the report, and did not identify any areas of concern.

(2)          Noted the actions that had been proposed or taken where performance was currently a concern as shown in table 3.1 of the report.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report providing an update against Key Priority performance targets for 2016/17.

The following matters were considered:

a)            Routecall Service. The Head of Operations informed the Committee that customisation of the Flexiroute software by the developer to enable pre-payment for bookings had taken longer than anticipated, but was underway.

Officers had contacted local Care Commissioning Groups regarding the potential to place an information notice board at Drs surgeries within the Borough to promote the service, and had received positive responses to this possibility. Work was currently underway to produce such a notice board.

b)            Empty properties. The Committee enquired what response officers had received following enquiries regarding long term empty properties within the Borough (detailed on page 26 of the agenda). The Chairman would look into this matter and provide an update to Members following the meeting.

c)            Accommodation of households through private sector leasing scheme. Following a question from the Committee, the Director of Finance and Resources informed the meeting that recruitment to the relevant officer post had been undertaken. Officers felt that the target of accommodating at least 5 households through the scheme in the current year was appropriate, but challenging. This would be higher in future years however, as the scheme would already be in place.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Noted the performance reported in Annexe 1 to the report, and did not identify any areas of concern.

(2)          Noted the actions that had been proposed or taken where performance was currently a concern as shown in table 3.1 of the report.

25.

Authorisation for Audio visual Equipment Replacement at Bourne Hall pdf icon PDF 98 KB

This report summarises the significant issues and failings of the current audio visual provision at Bourne Hall and outlines a proposal for improvement.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Supported the improvement work to the audio visual equipment at Bourne Hall and recommended that the Strategy and Resources Committee released £16,687 from the repairs and renewals fund.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report providing a summary of the issues relating to the current audio/visual equipment at Bourne Hall and proposing its replacement. It was noted that the proposed works would be funded through a £16,687 use of the repairs and renewals fund, following an equal underspend on the Bourne Hall Main Hall reinstatement works. The estimated cost of works was £16,900, and the Head of Venues and Facilities informed the Committee that the  variance between this and funds available from the repairs and renewals fund would be met from the revenue budget.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Supported the improvement work to the audio visual equipment at Bourne Hall and recommended that the Strategy and Resources Committee released £16,687 from the repairs and renewals fund.

26.

Capital Programme 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 111 KB

This report proposes the 2017/18 capital programme and a provisional programme for 2018-20.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to submit the Capital Programme for 2017/18 as identified in section 4 and 5 of this report to the Council for approval on 14 February 2017;

(2)          Confirmed that it supported all of the schemes included in the provisional programme for 2018-20 as identified in section 6 of the report;

(3)          Noted that:-

a)            Schemes subject to external funding from section 106 and Government Grants would only proceed when funding had been received;

b)            Schemes for 2018-20 were provisional pending an annual review of funds available for capital investment.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report proposing the 2017/18 capital programme and provisional programme for 2018-20. It was noted that a petition supporting the proposed refurbishment of Alexandra Recreation Ground Tennis Court had been received by the Council. The following matters were considered:

a)            Schemes for 2017/18. The Committee noted that the following three schemes were proposed for 2017/18: Rosebery Park Pond Refurbishment, Alexandra Recreation Ground – Tennis & Basketball Court Refurbishment and Disabled Facilities Grants.

b)            Disabled Facilities Grants. The Committee was informed that if additional officer capacity was required for the delivery of projects under the Disabled Facilities Grants scheme, it was intended to use an element of fund to provide an officer post to undertake these duties.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to submit the Capital Programme for 2017/18 as identified in section 4 and 5 of this report to the Council for approval on 14 February 2017;

(2)          Confirmed that it supported all of the schemes included in the provisional programme for 2018-20 as identified in section 6 of the report;

(3)          Noted that:-

c)            Schemes subject to external funding from section 106 and Government Grants would only proceed when funding had been received;

d)            Schemes for 2018-20 were provisional pending an annual review of funds available for capital investment.

27.

Fees and Charges 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 99 KB

This report recommends fees and charges for which this Committee is responsible, with the new charges being effective from 1 April 2017.

Additional documents:

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed the fees and charges for 2017/18 as set out at Annexe 1 and Annexe 2 to the report, subject to the approval of Council.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report recommending fees and charges for which it was responsible, with the new charges to be effective from 1 April 2017. It was noted that an Annexe 2 to the report had been published as a supplement following the publication of the main agenda pack.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed the fees and charges for 2017/18 as set out at Annexe 1 and Annexe 2 to the report, subject to the approval of Council.

28.

Revenue Budget 2017/18 pdf icon PDF 115 KB

This report sets out the revenue estimates for income and expenditure on services in financial year 2017/18.

Decision:

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to recommend the 2017/18 service estimates for approval at the budget meeting of the Council on 14 February 2017.

Minutes:

The Committee received a report setting out the revenue estimates for income and expenditure on services in the financial year 2017/18. The following matter was considered:

a)            Longmead Centre capacity. It was noted that the income from room hire at the Centre in 2016/17 was anticipated to be below the budgeted level. This was due to a reduction in capacity following an increase in venue membership levels, and use of facilities by members. The Head of Venues and Facilities informed the Committee that the potential to undertake improvements to the capacity of the Longmead Centre were currently being investigated. Improvements to parking arrangements for the Centre would also be considered as a part of this process.

Following consideration, the Committee:

(1)          Agreed to recommend the 2017/18 service estimates for approval at the budget meeting of the Council on 14 February 2017.

29.

Outstanding References pdf icon PDF 58 KB

The references to Officers outstanding as at 24 January 2017.

 


Additional documents:

Decision:

The Committee received and noted the outstanding references to Officers.

Minutes:

The Committee received and noted the outstanding references to Officers.