The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Director of Adult Services seeking authority to enter into negotiations and to award a contract for a replacement Adult and Children’s Social Care I.T. system.

            RESOLVED:

That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support to negotiate and agree a contract with the identified preferred Social Care I.T. System provider, within the agreed budget for this system as set out in the Cabinet and Council papers as detailed in the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing presented a report from the Director of Public Health on the procurement of a new contract for 0-25 Public Health Nursing Services encompassing Health Visiting, Family Nurse Partnership and School Nursing Services.

            RESOLVED:

i)             That procurement of a new “0-25 integrated Public Health Nursing Service” be approved as outlined in the report for an initial period of three years commencing 1st October 2017 with the option to extend, exercisable by the Council, for up to four further 12 month periods.

ii)        That delegated authority be granted to the Director of Public Health in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing, to progress the procurement process up to preferred bidder stage, prior to seeking further Cabinet approval to award the contract in June 2017.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Support presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise on the adoption of a Social Value Charter for Shropshire.

            RECOMMENDED:

            That Council adopts the Social Value Charter for Shropshire, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

The Portfolio Holder for Children and Young People presented a report by the Director of Children’s Services on the determination of admission arrangements for 2018/2019.

            RESOLVED:

i)             That the proposal to amend the local authority’s admission arrangements in the following respects be approved:

a)    The merger of the designated catchment area of Hope, Worthen and Westbury Primary Schools;

b)    The rationalisation of the designated secondary school catchment areas for individual properties at Hope Bagot, Hemford and Roughton;

c)    The reduction of the Published Admission Number of St Giles CE Primary School, Shrewsbury.

ii)            That the admission arrangements for 2018/19 be approved without further amendment to those determined in February 2016.

iii)           That the publication of the approved admission arrangements for Shropshire Council for the academic year 2018/19 be agreed in accordance with the School Admissions Code 2014.

The Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture presented a report from the Director of Place and Enterprise outlining the approach being taken by Shropshire Council in the redesign and commissioning of the library service in Church Stretton and the progress made to date.  

            RESOLVED:

i)             That the valid expressions of interest under the Community Right to Challenge legislation in relation to the redesign of Shropshire Council’s library services in Church Stretton be confirmed and accepted; and

ii)            That all future decisions on this area of work be delegated to the Director of Place and Enterprise in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture to ensure the delivery of the recommended approach.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) outlining the treasury management activities of the Council in the last quarter.

            RESOLVED:

            That the position as set out in the report, be accepted.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a consolidated report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) on Revenue and Capital monitoring.

            RESOLVED:

i)          That it be noted that at the end of Quarter 3 (31 December 2016), the full year revenue forecast is a potential underspend of £0.244m;

ii)         That the impact of this on the Council’s General Fund Balance be considered.

iii)        That net budget variations be approved of £6.215m to the 2016/17 capital programme, detailed in Appendix 3/Table 6 and the re-profiled 2016/17 capital budget of £53.951m.

iv)        That re-profiled capital budgets be approved of £66.058m for 2017/18 and £25.800m for 2018/19 and £2.320m for 2019/20 as detailed in Appendix 1/Table 9.

v)         That the capital expenditure to date of £26.972m be accepted, representing 50% of the revised capital budget for 2016/17, with 75% of the year having elapsed.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) on the Council’s estimated Collection Fund outturn for 2016/17.

            RESOLVED:

i)             That the overall Collection Fund estimated surplus of £6.109m be noted for the year ending 31^st March 2017, comprised of an estimated surplus of £2.669m for Council Tax and an estimated surplus of £3.440m for Non-Domestic Rates (NDR).

ii)            That the distribution of the Collection Fund estimated surplus for Council Tax and NDR to the major / relevant precepting authorities and the Secretary of State, be noted.

iii)           That Shropshire Council’s share of the overall estimated deficit of £4.162m, comprised of an estimated surplus of £2.183m for Council Tax and an estimated deficit of £1.979m for NDR, be noted.

iv)           That the inclusion of Shropshire Council’s share of the overall estimated deficit in the 2017/18 budget be noted.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) on the robustness of the estimates made for the purposes of the budget calculations and the adequacy of the reserves.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the recommended level of general balances to support the 2017/18 revenue budget at £13.29m be approved , noting that the projected balance will be above this for 2017/18;

ii)            That the projected recommended level of general reserves be noted for the following two years at £16.80m in 2018/19 and £33.68m in 2019/20.

iii)           That it be noted that the Council’s General Fund Balance and/or Financial Strategy Reserve may be amended as required to facilitate any amendments required to the Financial Strategy following receipt of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement.

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) on the level of fees and charges to be applied in 2017/18.

RECOMMENDED:

i)             That the breakdown of the total income for 2016/17 and 2017/18 be noted and in particular that the proposed 2017/18 charges for discretionary services represent only £33.433m of the £73.466m of income derived from Fees and Charges.

ii)            That the charges for 2017/18 be recommended to Council as detailed in Appendix 3 to be implemented 1 April 2017, recognising that managers have proposed varying policies for 2017/18.

iii)           That as previously agreed, it be noted that 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.

iv)           That, subject to restrictions or exemptions identified in the Welfare Reform and Work Bill, it is recommended to Council that: 

·         Social Housing rents for 2017/18 are reduced by 1% from 3rd April 2017.

·         Affordable rents for 2017/18 are reduced by 1% from 3rd April 2017.

·         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 by the greater of the preceding September Consumer Price Index plus 1% or 1%.

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

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Strategy, Financial Strategy, Budget and Business Plan presented a report by the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer) on the Council’s Financial Strategy 2017/18 to 2019/20.

RECOMMENDED:

              i.        That Council agree the 2017/18 budget of £563.330m including the savings proposals previously approved by Council and the revised proposals to deliver a balanced budget in 2017/18 as outlined in Appendix 3.

            ii.        That the Head of Finance, Governance and Assurance (Section 151 Officer), in consultation with the Leader of the Council, make amendments to the Financial Strategy following receipt of the Final Local Government Financial Settlement. The Council General Fund Balance and/or Financial Strategy Reserve can be used to enable any reduction in resources or increase in costs to be managed through this process. If timing is sufficient, the final position to be approved by Council on 23 February 2017.

           iii.        That the changes required to the 2017/18 budget as a result of the Final Local Government Settlement and revised business rates and collection fund estimates be noted.

           iv.        That the revised funding gap for the years 2018/19 and 2019/20 be noted.

            v.        That the revised Capital Programme, as set out in the report, be agreed and recommended to Council.

           vi.        That the Policy for Flexibility around the use of Capital Receipts, as set out in Appendix 7, be agreed and recommended to Council.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 18 January 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Leader.