1.

MINUTES - To confirm the decisions of the meeting held on 12 June 2012 (CA.1 - CA.9), previously circulated.

2.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE.

Overview and Scrutiny

3.

POLICY REVIEW - MARKETS

This report presents the final report from Scrutiny Committee 1 on the Policy Review on Markets for consideration.

Relevant Ward(s): All Wards

4.

POLICY REVIEW - PARTNERSHIPS

This report presents the final report from the Scrutiny Committee 2 on Partnerships for consideration.

Resources Management

5.

FINAL ACCOUNTS 2011/12 - OUTTURN POSITION

This report present the outturn position on the revenue, capital and reserve fund accounts for the year ending 31 March 2012.  Approval of the Statement of Accounts is the responsibility of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee which will meet on 26 September 2012 for this purpose.

In accepting the recommendations, Council will be recommended to transfer the under spend of ?560,413 on the 2011/12 revenue budget to the Service Improvement Reserve and approve the adjustments to Capital and Reserve programmes in Annexes B and C of the report.

Relevant Ward(s): All Wards

6.

GRANTS

Between June 2010 and February 2011 the Prosperity and Places Overview and Scrutiny Committee undertook a review of Hambleton District Council Grant Funding.  This report will determine the way forward so that the recommendations from the Scrutiny committee can be implemented.

In accepting the recommendations the single pot guidance/application form and process will be adopted; the Council will contact all organisations in receipt of grants and advise them of the revised process; grants will be solely funded from the Revenue Grants Reserve from April 2013 using a single process for all organisations; the core grants within service budgets will be reviewed as part of the annual budget process and the revenue grants reserve will be reviewed during 2014/15 to determine an appropriate level of investment.

Relevant Ward(s): All Wards

7.

WELFARE REFORM APRIL 2012

This report informs Members of the impact on the Council's Budget, the Council's Collection Rates of Council Tax & Benefit Claimants following the introduction of changes to Welfare Reform from 1 April 2013.

In accepting the recommendations, Council will be asked that, subject to a full and comprehensive period of consultation, the following are to be included in the Local Council Tax Discount Scheme:

1.     A cap on the maximum eligible benefit payable to claimants to 80% of the liability.

2.     A full removal of all 2^nd Adult Rebate Calculations.

3.     A limit on the amount of benefit payable to that equivalent to a Band 'D' property.

4.     Inclusion of Child Benefit as income in the assessment of entitlement.

5.     Inclusion of maintenance as income in the assessment of entitlement.

6.     Altering the non-dependant bands and charges to ?10.00 for claimants in work and ?5.00 for claimants out of work.

7.     All War-Widows continue to be fully protected from the above.

In addition to those mentioned above, Council will also be asked to implement the following changes in respect of Council Tax liability:

1.   The removal of a 10% discount from a 2^nd home. 

2.  Empty Properties are to be awarded 50% discount for 6 months from the date the property meets the criteria (unoccupied & substantially unfurnished).

3.   A Local Discount is created under Section 13a of The Local Government Finance Act 1992 at 50% for 1 month from the date the property meets the criteria (unoccupied & substantially unfurnished) and the financing of any local discount is shared with the   precepting authorities in proportion to the Council Tax charged.

Policy Implementation

8.

ELECTORAL ARRANGEMENTS

Relevant Ward(s): All Wards

9.

FORWARD PLAN

The report presents a forward plan of items to be considered by Cabinet for the period August - November 2012.

Relevant Ward(s): All Wards