Agenda, decisions and minutes

None.

Councillors’ declarations of interest (if any) in relation to any items on the agenda.

None.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2018.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2018 are agreed as a correct record and signed by the Leader, subject to the addition of Councillor David Carter to the list of those present.

Any matters arising from the minutes of the previous meeting.

To receive any questions from members of the public in accordance with Rule 10 of the Council Procedure Rules.

To receive any questions from Councillors in accordance with Rule 11 of the Council Procedure Rules.

To consider any petitions that have been referred to the Cabinet under the Council’s Petition Scheme.

To note the Forward Plan, which lists all upcoming Cabinet decisions and provides notice of key decisions and those expected to be taken in private session.

RESOLVED that the Forward Plan is noted.

There have not been any decisions taken by Portfolio Holders under delegated powers since the last meeting of the Cabinet.

None.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Acknowledged the outturn position set out in section three of Appendix A to this report for the year ending 31 March 2018 (1 April 2017 – 31 March 2018), subject to recommendations in paragraphs 17 to 19, as follows:

i)    An under-spend on controllable service budgets of £807,000 or -1.34 percent of the gross General Fund budget;

ii)  A total general fund underspend of £1,276,000 (-2.12 percent of the gross General Fund Budget) after including the impact of windfall income and non-controllable items; and

iii) A General Fund balance of £4,321,000 after adjustments for the recommended transfers to reserves, carry forward requests and other one off proposals as set out in this report.

B      Recognised the operational performance that has been achieved across all the Council services during 2017/18.

C      Approved:

i)    The carry forward of £137,300 of budgets from 2017/18 to 2018/19 as set out in paragraph 17 of the report;

ii)  The transfer to reserves of £592,811 as set out in paragraph 18 of the report;

iii) The transfer of £500,000 to the Harlow and Gilston Town Funding Reserve;

iv) The utilisation of future receipts from the Ram Gorse development for the purpose of enabling the balance of funding to deliver the new splash parks to be made available; and

v)  The transfer of £26,000 to the Discretionary Services Fund as set out in paragraph 19(c) of this report in support of future Community Wellbeing initiatives.

The Cabinet received a report that summarised the Council’s financial and operational performance as at year-end 2017/18, proposed carryovers into 2017/18 and contributions to reserves.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Ingall (proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Acknowledged the outturn position set out in section three of Appendix A to this report for the year ending 31 March 2018 (1 April 2017 – 31 March 2018), subject to recommendations in paragraphs 17 to 19, as follows:

i)    An under-spend on controllable service budgets of £807,000 or -1.34 percent of the gross General Fund budget;

ii)  A total General Fund underspend of £1,276,000 (-2.12 percent of the gross General Fund Budget) after including the impact of windfall income and non-controllable items; and

iii) A General Fund balance of £4,321,000 after adjustments for the recommended transfers to reserves, carry forward requests and other one off proposals as set out in this report.

B      Recognised the operational performance that has been achieved across all the Council services during 2017/18.

C      Approved:

i)    The carry forward of £137,300 of budgets from 2017/18 to 2018/19 as set out in paragraph 17 of the report;

ii)  The transfer to reserves of £592,811 as set out in paragraph 18 of the report;

iii) The transfer of £500,000 to the Harlow and Gilston Town Funding Reserve;

iv) The utilisation of future receipts from the Ram Gorse development for the purpose of enabling the balance of funding to deliver the new splash parks to be made available; and

v)  The transfer of £26,000 to the Discretionary Services Fund as set out in paragraph 19(c) of this report in support of future Community Wellbeing initiatives.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Acknowledged the HRA outturn for 2017/18 as set out in the report as follows:

i)    A favourable variation against the original budget adjusted for carryovers on operational/controllable budgets of £679,000 representing (-)1.28 percent of the gross Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.

ii)  A total projected underspend of £3,908,000 representing (-)7.38 percent of the gross HRA budget.

B      Noted working balances at 31 March 2018 of £14,104,000 in respect of the Housing Revenue Account and nil in respect of the Major Repairs Reserve.

C      Approved carryovers of £222,000, as detailed in paragraphs 32 and 33 of the report, to meet commitments from 2017/18.

D      Recognised the operational performance that has been achieved across all Council services during 2017/18.

The Cabinet received a report that summarised the year-end 2017/18 position of the Housing Revenue Account and proposed some carryovers into 2018/19.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Wilkinson (seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Acknowledged the HRA outturn for 2017/18 as set out in the report as follows:

i)    A favourable variation against the original budget adjusted for carryovers on operational/controllable budgets of £679,000 representing (-)1.28 percent of the gross Housing Revenue Account (HRA) budget.

ii)  A total projected underspend of £3,908,000 representing (-)7.38 percent of the gross HRA budget.

B      Noted working balances at 31 March 2018 of £14,104,000 in respect of the Housing Revenue Account and nil in respect of the Major Repairs Reserve.

C      Approved carryovers of £222,000, as detailed in paragraphs 32 and 33 of the report, to meet commitments from 2017/18.

D      Recognised the operational performance that has been achieved across all Council services during 2017/18.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Noted the outturn of the Council’s Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes as at 31 March 2018, which is as follows:

i)    Housing Capital Programme expenditure of £13,346,000 against an approved revised budget of £20,777,000.

ii)  Non-Housing Capital Programme expenditure of £8,096,000 against an approved revised budget of £14,784,000.

B      Approved the carryover of Housing Capital programme schemes to 2018/19 of £5,187,000 to meet capital commitments.

C      Approved the carryover of Non Housing Capital Programme schemes to 2018/19 of £1,015,000 to meet statutory and agreed capital commitments in the core programme and £2,981,000 to meet commitments in respect of Prentice Place and the Enterprise Zone.  The core programme carryover includes grant funding to support commitments of £32,000.

D      Approved additional funding with in the 2018/19 Programme for urgent Health and Safety works at the Playhouse. The funding requirement is £80,475 which is in addition to the carryovers pending approval by Cabinet 19 July, (Refer. paragraph 25).

E       Recognised the operational performance which has been achieved across all Council services during 2017/18.

The Cabinet received a report that summarised the year-end 2017/18 position of the Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes and proposed some carryovers into 2018/19.

Proposed by Councillor Mike Danvers (seconded by Councillor Mark Wilkinson) it was:

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

A       Noted the outturn of the Council’s Housing and Non-Housing Capital Programmes as at 31 March 2018, which is as follows:

i)    Housing Capital Programme expenditure of £13,346,000 against an approved revised budget of £20,777,000.

ii)  Non-Housing Capital Programme expenditure of £8,096,000 against an approved revised budget of £14,784,000.

B      Approved the carryover of Housing Capital programme schemes to 2018/19 of £5,187,000 to meet capital commitments.

C      Approved the carryover of Non Housing Capital Programme schemes to 2018/19 of £1,015,000 to meet statutory and agreed capital commitments in the core programme and £2,981,000 to meet commitments in respect of Prentice Place and the Enterprise Zone.  The core programme carryover includes grant funding to support commitments of £32,000.

D      Approved additional funding with in the 2018/19 Programme for urgent Health and Safety works at the Playhouse. The funding requirement is £80,475 which is in addition to the carryovers pending approval by Cabinet 19 July, (Refer. paragraph 25).

E       Recognised the operational performance which has been achieved across all Council services during 2017/18.

RESOLVED that:

A       The Procurement Strategy (attached as Appendix A to the report) be approved as the framework for achieving the Council’s objectives and aspirations in the procurement of goods, works and services.

B      The Head of Governance, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Governance, be authorised to make minor updates and amendments which reflect changes in the law.

The Cabinet received a report which recommended the approval of an updated Procurement Strategy.

Proposed by Councillor Lanie Shears (seconded by Councillor Waida Forman) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A       The Procurement Strategy (attached as Appendix A) be approved as the framework for achieving the Council’s objectives and aspirations in the procurement of goods, works and services.

B      The Head of Governance, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Governance, be authorised to make minor updates and amendments which reflect changes in the law.

RESOLVED that:

A       The most economically advantageous tender submitted by Contractor A be accepted in the sum of £2,325,656.

The Cabinet considered a report which recommended the acceptance of a tender for the 2018/19 Communal Heating Programme.

Proposed by Councillor Mark Wilkinson (seconded by Councillor Mike Danvers) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A       The most economically advantageous tender submitted by Contractor A be accepted in the sum of £2,325,656.

RESOLVED that:

A       Cabinet authorised the undertaking of consultation on the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order within Harlow Town Centre, pursuant to provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

The Cabinet received a report which recommended that consultation was undertaken on the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order within the Town Centre.

Proposed by Councillor Eugenie Harvey (seconded by Councillor Waida Forman) it was:

RESOLVED that:

A       Cabinet authorised the undertaking of consultation on the introduction of a Public Space Protection Order within Harlow Town Centre, pursuant to provisions of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.

None.

None.

To note the following draft minutes of Cabinet appointed bodies. Minutes remain draft until approved by the relevant body.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the following meetings are noted.

To deal with any matters of an urgent nature.

None.