The Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure presented the report of the Director of Place providing an update on Future Swimming Provision in Shrewsbury. 

RESOLVED:

1. To acknowledge and approve the findings of the recent review that the most suitable location for any town centre facility is the existing Quarry site.

2. To authorise Council officers to commence initial discussions with the operator, Shropshire Community Leisure Trust, and their managing agent, Serco Leisure Ltd., to investigate the potential to develop a new facility on the existing Quarry site.

3. To authorise officers to explore options at Sundorne Sports Village to ensure continuity of public swimming within Shrewsbury whilst works to the Quarry Pool site takes place.

4. To agree a revenue budget of £500,000 to undertake the full feasibility assessments, due diligence, site investigations and progress to full design of the recommended options above.  This will be funded from rescheduled projects within earmarked reserves.

5. To agree that the detailed implementation of all aspects of the recommendations made within this report are delegated to the Executive Director of Place in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Culture and Leisure.
   
   

The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Highways presented the report of the Interim Head of Infrastructure and Communities on Managing Highway Risk. 

resolved:

A.   That Cabinet approve the revised skidding resistance policy, attached at appendix A.

B.   That Cabinet approve the updated highway safety inspection manual, attached at appendix B

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People presented a report from the Director of Children’s Services on the change to the Council’s admission arrangements for the 2020/2021 academic year.

RESOLVED:

A   That Cabinet approve the proposal to amend Shropshire Council’s admission arrangements, namely:

B   That Cabinet approves the admission arrangements for 2020/21 without further amendment to those determined in February 2018.

C   That Cabinet, by agreeing to the above, determines the school admission arrangements for Shropshire Council for the academic year 2020/21 and to the required publication of the arrangements in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2014.

D   That officers notify the Secretary of State by 28 February 2019 that Shropshire Council has determined its school admissions arrangements for the 2020/21 academic year.

The Leader presented a report from the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance, outlining the Treasury Management activities of the Council during the last quarter.

RESOLVED:

To accept the position as set out in the report.

The Leader introduced a report from the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance, proposing the Treasury Strategy for 2019//20 and recommending Prudential and Treasury Indicators for 2019/20 to 2021/22. 

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet recommends that Council:-

a)    Approve, with any comments, the Treasury Strategy for 2019/20.

b)    Approve, with any comments, the Prudential Indicators, set out in Appendix 1, in accordance with the Local Government Act 2003.

c)     Approve, with any comments, the Investment Strategy, set out in Appendix 2 in accordance with the CLG Guidance on Local Government Investments.

d)    Approve, with any comments, the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy Statement, set out in Appendix 3.

e)    Authorise the Section 151 Officer to exercise the borrowing powers contained in Section 3 of the Local Government Act 2003 and to manage the Council’s debt portfolio in accordance with the Treasury Strategy.

f)      Authorise the Section 151 Officer to use other Foreign Banks which meet Link’s creditworthiness policy as required. 

The Leader introduced the report of the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance detailing the estimated Collection Fund surpluses/deficits for 2018/19, calculated as at 15 January 2019 for Council Tax and as at 31 January 2019 for Non-Domestic Rates, for the year ending 31 March 2019. 

RESOLVED:

A       To note the overall Collection Fund estimated surplus of £3.106m for the year ending 31^st March 2019, comprised of an estimated surplus of £3.666m for Council Tax and an estimated deficit of £0.560m for Non-Domestic Rates (NDR).

B       To note the distribution of the Collection Fund estimated surplus for Council Tax and deficit for NDR to the major / relevant precepting authorities and the Secretary of State.

C       To note Shropshire Council’s share of the overall estimated surplus of £3.367m, comprised of an estimated surplus of £3.031m for Council Tax and an estimated surplus of £0.336m for NDR.

D       To note the inclusion of Shropshire Council’s share of the overall estimated surplus in the 2019/20 budget.

The Leader introduced a report from the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance on the level of fees and charges to be applied in 2019/2020.

RESOLVED:

1.1      To note the breakdown of the total income for 2018/19 and 2019/20 and in particular that the proposed 2019/20 charges for discretionary services represent only £39.319m of the £78.860m of income derived from fees and charges.

1.2      To approve the charges for 2019/20 as detailed in Appendix 3 to be implemented 1 April 2019, recognising that managers have proposed varying policies for 2019/20.

1.3      To note that as previously agreed, any changes to fees and charges proposed by Shropshire Community Leisure Trust Ltd. in relation to the outsourced leisure facilities will only be referred to Cabinet and Council for approval if the proposed increases exceed consumer price index (CPI) for the preceding November.

1.4      To agree that subject to restrictions or exemptions identified in the welfare reform and work bill it is recommended to council that  

                     I.  social housing rents for 2019/20 are reduced by 1% from 1^st April 2019.

                    II.  affordable rents for 2019/20 are reduced by 1% from 1st April 2019.

                  III.  Shared Ownership rents continue to be set at 2.75% of the outstanding capital value of the home at the time of sale and thereafter increased each April in accordance with the terms specified in the lease agreements.

                  IV.  Service charges continue to be set on the basis of actual cost.

The Leader introduced a report from the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance, on the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the budget calculations and the adequacy of the proposed reserves.

RESOLVED:

A         To approve the recommended level of general balances to support the 2019/20 revenue budget at £20.400m, noting that the projected balance will be below this for 2019/20;

B         To note the projected recommended level of general reserves for the following four years at £26.017m in 2020/21, £32.604m in 2021/22, £34.312m in 2022/23 and £34.700m in 2023/24.

C         To note that further consideration will be made of the implications of figures contained within this report and should there be any material change required, this will be reported to Council on 28 February 2019.

The Leader introduced a report of the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance, on the Capital Strategy 2019/20 – 2023/24. 

RESOLVED:

A.   To agree and recommend to Council the adoption of the Capital Strategy 2019/20 - 2023/24 attached as Appendix 1.

B.   To agree and recommend to Council the revised Capital Programme as set out in the report and detailed at Section 7 and Appendix Bto the Capital Strategy

The Leader introduced a report from the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance setting out the Council’s Financial Strategy over the next five years.

RESOLVED:

A.   To agree and recommend to Council the 2019/20 budget of £592.696m outlined in the Budget Book at Appendix 7, including the savings proposals outlined at Appendix 4.

B.   To note the changes required to the 2019/20 budget as a result of the Provisional and Final Local Government Settlement and revised business rates and collection fund estimates.

C.   To note the revised funding gap for the years 2020/21 to 2023/34.

D.   To note the continued use of the Policy for Flexibility around the use of Capital Receipts.

The Leader asked the Director of Finance, Governance and Assurance to present the Financial Monitoring Report for Quarter 3 2018/19. 

RESOLVED:

A.           That it be noted that at the end of Quarter 3 (31^st December 2018), the full year revenue forecast is a potential overspend of £0.072m;

B.           To consider the impact of this on the Council’s General Fund balance.

C.           To approve net budget variations of £6.866m to the 2018/19 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 3/Table 6, and the re-profiled 2018/19 capital budget of £65.856m.

D.           To accept the capital expenditure to date of £28.961m, representing 44% of the revised capital budget for 2018/19, with 75% of the year having elapsed.

E.           To approve that Shropshire Council act as accountable body on behalf of the Shropshire & Telford & Wrekin One Public Estate programme.

The Chair of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee presented a report on behalf of the Committee on Changes to Public Health Budgets, particularly Smoking Cessation Services. 

The Chair of the Performance Management Scrutiny Committee, presented a report on behalf of the Committee presenting the work and recommendations of the Financial Strategy and Innovation and Income Task and Finish Group.

RESOLVED: 

A.   That the recommendation of the Health and Adult Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee be supported as follows: 

That Cabinet considers and ensure that all alternative means of delivering smoking cessation services are explored

B.   That the recommendations of the Financial Strategy Task and Finish Group be supported as follows:

That Cabinet consider the issues and observations set out within the report.

That a Financial Strategy Task and Finish Group should be in place for 2019/20 for the development of the Financial Strategy 2020-2023.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 16 January 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader