The purpose of this report is to provide the Quarter 2 update at 30 September 2018 on the progress of the capital programme 2018/19 and the treasury management position.  A full schedule of the capital programme 2018/19 schemes is attached at Annex A, together with the relevant update on progress of each scheme.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council the net decrease of £133,034 in the capital programme to £14,474,164 and all expenditure movements as detailed in Annex B and also in the capital programme attached at Annex A of the report; the increase of capital expenditure is funded from earmarked reserves at £103,775 where £24,800 is funded from the Computer fund, £20,000 is funded from the Council Tax Payers Reserve, £5,235 is funded from capital receipts and £53,740 is from external grants/contributions; the funding allocation to the capital programme as detailed in paragraph 3.1 and 3.2 of the report; and the treasury management and prudential indicators at Annex E of the report.

The subject of the decision:

This report provided the Quarter 2 update at 30 September 2018 on the progress of the Capital Programme 2018/19 and the Treasury Management position.  A full schedule of the Capital Programme 2018/19 schemes was attached at Annex A of the report, together with the relevant update on progress of each scheme.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

To comply with the requirements of the Local Government Act 2003 and the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Prudential Code and the CIPFA Treasury Management Code of Practice.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)     the net decrease of £133,034 in the capital programme to £14,474,164 and all expenditure movements as detailed in Annex B and also in the capital programme attached at Annex A of the report;

(2)     the increase of capital expenditure is funded from earmarked reserves at £103,775 where £24,800 is funded from the Computer fund, £20,000 is funded from the Council Tax Payers Reserve, £5,235 is funded from capital receipts and £53,740 is from external grants/contributions;

(3)     the funding allocation to the capital programme as detailed in paragraph 3.1 and 3.2 of the report; and

(4)     the treasury management and prudential indicators at Annex E of the report.

This report provides an update on the revenue budget position of the Council and the reserve funds at the end of September 2018.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the budget remains at £8,096,170 as detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report; the allocation from the One-Off fund at paragraph 6.7 of the report of £35,770; and the allocation of £1,500 from the Economic Development Fund at paragraph 6.3 and to note the remaining balance at paragraph 6.4 of the report is £580,199.

The subject of the decision:

This report provided an update on the revenue budget position of the Council and the reserve funds at the end of September 2018.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

To comply with S25 of the Local Government Act 2003 regarding setting a balanced budget and monitoring the financial position throughout the year.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)     the budget remains at £8,096,170 as detailed in paragraph 3.2 of the report;

(2)     the allocation from the One-Off fund at paragraph 6.7 of the report of £35,770; and

(3)     the allocation of £1,500 from the Economic Development Fund at paragraph 6.3 and to note the remaining balance at paragraph 6.4 of the report is £580,199.

This report seeks approval for investment in the installation of Ground source Heap Pumps at the Civic Centre and the Council’s four leisure centres at Bedale, Northallerton, Stokesley and Thirsk during 2019.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the Ground Source Heat Pump Scheme is allocated Capital budget of £2,113,198 for the implementations of installations at the Civic Centre, Northallerton Leisure Centre, Bedale Leisure Centre, Stokesley Leisure Centre and Thirsk Sowerby Leisure Centre; that delegated responsibility is given to the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) to authorise expenditure of the capital allocation on the Ground Source Heat Pump scheme to OFGEM and that further updates be provided as the project develops.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval for investment in the installation of Ground source Heap Pumps at the Civic Centre and the Council’s four leisure centres at Bedale, Northallerton, Stokesley and Thirsk during 2019.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet had previously approved a capital allocation for 2018/19 to assess current energy usage and investigate energy efficiency measures which could be introduced at the Council’s facilities and to its infrastructure, with the aim of reducing energy consumption, using energy more efficiently, reducing the carbon footprint and securing Renewable Heat Incentive funding from the UK Government.  Cabinet was satisfied that this proposal supported the Council’s corporate priorities of caring for the environment and financial sustainability.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)     the Ground Source Heat Pump Scheme is allocated Capital budget of £2,113,198 for the implementations of installations at the Civic Centre, Northallerton Leisure Centre, Bedale Leisure Centre, Stokesley Leisure Centre and Thirsk Sowerby Leisure Centre; and

(2)     that delegated authority is given to the Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), in conjunction with the Deputy Leader, to authorise expenditure of the capital allocation on the Ground Source Heat Pump scheme to OFGEM.

This report introduces the requirements of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 and determines the Authority’s approach to the enforcement of these Regulations.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the Environmental Health service enforces the requirements of the Regulations to ensure that the Council fulfils its statutory duty; that the fund of £25,000 intended for Energy Repayment Loans is also made available for third party funding for energy efficiency improvements; and that penalties for non-compliance with Regulations are imposed on a case by case basis up to the statutory maximum and published in accordance with the Council’s arrangements for its fees and charges.

The subject of the decision:

This report introduced the requirements of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015 and sough determination of the Authority’s approach to the enforcement of these Regulations.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

To comply with the requirements of the Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)     the Environmental Health service enforces the requirements of the Regulations to ensure that the Council fulfils its statutory duty;

(2)     that the fund of £25,000 intended for Energy Repayment Loans is also made available for third party funding for energy efficiency improvements; and

(3)     that penalties for non-compliance with Regulations are imposed on a case by case basis up to the statutory maximum and published in accordance with the Council’s arrangements for its fees and charges.

For each financial year the billing authority must consider whether to revise its Council Tax Reduction scheme or replace it with another.  Any revision or replacement scheme must be made no later than 11 March in the financial year preceding that year for which the revision or replacement scheme is to be effective.  This report seeks approval of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 2019/20.

In accepting the recommendation, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme incorporating any legislation changes effective from April 2019 continues into 2019/20.

The subject of the decision:

For each financial year the billing authority must consider whether to revise its Council Tax Reduction scheme or replace it with another. Any revision or replacement scheme must be made no later than 11 March in the financial year preceding that year for which the revision or replacement scheme is to be effective. This report seeks approval of the Council Tax Reduction Scheme from 2019/20.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

To comply with the requirements of the Local Government Finance Act.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that the current Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme incorporating any legislation changes effective from April 2019 continues into 2019/20.

To confirm the decisions of the meeting held on 6 November 2018 (CA.34 - CA.37), previously circulated.

THE DECISION:

That the decisions of the meeting held on 6 November 2018 (CA.34 – CA.37), previously circulated, be signed as a correct record.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval for investment in the installation of Ground source Heap Pumps at the Civic Centre and the Council’s four leisure centres at Bedale, Northallerton, Stokesley and Thirsk during 2019.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet had previously approved a capital allocation for 2018/19 to assess current energy usage and investigate energy efficiency measures which could be introduced at the Council’s facilities and to its infrastructure, with the aim of reducing energy consumption, using energy more efficiently, reducing the carbon footprint and securing Renewable Heat Incentive funding from the UK Government.  Cabinet was satisfied that this proposal supported the Council’s corporate priorities of caring for the environment and financial sustainability.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves:-

(1)     a waiver of the Council’s Procurement Procedure Rules for the reasons set out in the report;

(2)     the allocation of the sum of £30,000 for the provision of consultancy services as set out in the report; and

(3)     that further reports be provided to Cabinet as the project develops.

This purpose of this report is to seek approval of a greater proportion of the Section 106 funds previously identified for the delivery of a sports hall and artificial pitch at Easingwold Secondary School, is used towards the provision of a 3g pitch, subject to the developer’s agreement.  The Council has previously agreed that both facilities would be funded from the Section 106 funds.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approves the division of the £650,000 Section 106 funds as highlighted within paragraph 1.9 of the report, subject to the developer’s agreement and, subject to recommendation (1) being agreed that approval of a community use agreement for use of the facilities is delegated to the Chief Executive in conjunction with the Leader.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval of a greater proportion of the Section 106 funds previously identified for the delivery of a sports hall and artificial pitch at Easingwold Secondary School, to be used towards the provision of a 3g pitch, subject to the developer’s agreement. The Council had previously agreed that both facilities would be funded from the Section 106 funds.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

The S106 off-site recreational contribution of £650,000 was required, in accordance with the terms of the S106 Agreement, to be used for the provision of a sports hall on the Easingwold Secondary School site.  It was necessary to obtain the developer’s consent to vary the S106 to use part of this um £250,000, for the provision of an artificial pitch on the site.  The S106 Agreement did not refer to the funds being provided for the building of a sports hall at the school and did not make reference to who operated the facility, ie the local education authority or an academy.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet approves:-

(1)     the division of the £650,000 Section 106 funds as highlighted within paragraph 1.9 of the report, subject to the developer’s agreement; and

(2)     subject to recommendation (1) being agreed, that approval of a community use agreement for use of the facilities is delegated to the Chief Executive in conjunction with the Leader.

This report provides Cabinet with details of Government consultation exercises in relation to (1) Permitted development for shale gas exploration and (2) Inclusion of shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime and the response provided by Officers on behalf of the Council.  Both consultation responses were required by 11:45pm on 25 October 2018.

In accepting the recommendation, Cabinet will endorse the Officers’ response to the Government Consultation on (1) Permitted development for shale gas exploration and (2) Inclusion of shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime and the response provided by Officers on behalf of the Council.

The subject of the decision:

This report provided details of Government consultation exercises in relation to the permitted development for shale gas exploration and inclusion of shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime and the response provided by Officers on behalf of the Council.  Both consultation responses were required by 11:45pm on 25 October 2018.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet was satisfied with the responses provided to the Government consultation exercises.

THE DECISION:

That Cabinet endorses the Officers’ response to the Government Consultation on (1) Permitted development for shale gas exploration and (2) Inclusion of shale gas production projects in the Nationally Significant Infrastructure Project (NSIP) regime.