This report seeks approval for the proposed arrangements and appointment of an interim Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the Council appoints through a recruitment agency an external named interim Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer for a period of up to 12 months commencing in July 2021; and the Council delegates to the Chief Executive the authority to agree the final terms of the appointment.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval for the proposed arrangements and appointment of an interim Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer due to the current post holder leaving the authority in August 2021.  The Council is legally required to appoint three “statutory officers”.  These are the Head of Paid Service (the Council’s Chief Executive), the Monitoring Officer (currently the Director of Law and Governance) and the Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer (the Director of Finance and Commercial).  The Section 151 Officer is responsible, amongst other things, for the proper administration of the Council’s financial affairs and is required to be a suitably qualified and experienced individual holding a recognised professional accountancy qualification.

The Leader, on behalf of the Council, thanked Louise Branford-White, Director of Finance and Commercial (section 151 officer) for her dedication and hard work for the authority, especially during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic ensuring that systems were in place regarding grant funding.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

It is a legal requirement that the Council designates one of its officers as its Section 151/Chief Finance Officer who shall have responsibility for overseeing the proper administration of the Council’s financial affairs (section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972).  That officer need not be an employee of the Council and so the function can be discharged by an external appointee.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(1)      the Council appoints through a recruitment agency an external named interim Section 151 Officer/Chief Finance Officer for a period of up to 12 months commencing in July 2021;

(2)      the Council delegates to the Chief Executive the authority to agree the final terms of the appointment; and

(3)      the Council delegates to the Chief Executive the allocation of management responsibilities currently held by the Director of Finance and Commercial and carry out any consequential amendments as required to give effect to the distribution of those responsibilities.

This report presents the Capital Outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2021 and also provides and update on the annual Treasury Management position.  Capital expenditure is intrinsically linked with Treasury Management as the way that the Capital Programme is funded, directly effects the Treasury Management arrangements of the Council.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council that the 2020/21 capital outturn position of £17,554,253 at paragraph 2.3 and attached at Annex A of the report be noted; the over spend of £150,904 at paragraph 2.6 of the report and under spend of £30,820 be approved; the requests at paragraph 2.9 of the report for re-profiling the capital schemes totalling £8,138,284 from 2020/21 programme to 2021/22 and at paragraph 2.6 of the report for re-profiling £1,039,398 from 2021/22 to 2020/21 be approved; the request at paragraph 2.10 for re-profiling the additional capital schemes totalling £7,547,672 from 2020/21 programme to 2021/22 as attached in Annex B of the report be approved; the increase in capital expenditure £600,000 in 2021/22 for the Treadmills Phase 2 scheme as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report be approved; the treasury management outturn position 2020/21 detailed at paragraph 6.1 of the report and Annex C be noted; the Prudential Indicators attached at Annex D of the report be noted; and the position of the Council’s third-party companies at Annex E of the report be noted.

The subject of the decision:

This report presented the Capital Outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2021 and also update on the Annual Treasury Management position.  Capital expenditure was intrinsically linked with Treasury Management as the way that the Capital Programme was funded, directly effected the Treasury Management arrangements of the Council.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

To ensure that the overall Capital programme remained affordable and sustainable over the 10 year approved capital plan.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that:-

(a)      the 2020/21 capital outturn position of £17,554,253 at paragraph 2.3 and attached at Annex A of the report be noted;

(b)      the over spend of £150,904 at paragraph 2.6 of the report and under spend of £30,820 be approved;

(c)      the requests at paragraph 2.9 for re-profiling the capital schemes totalling £8,138,284 from 2020/21 programme to 2021/22 and at paragraph 2.6 of the report for re-profiling £1,039,398 from 2021/22 to 2020/21 be approved;

(d)      the request at paragraph 2.10 of the report for re-profiling the additional capital schemes totalling £7,547,672 from 2020/21 programme to 2021/22 as attached in Annex B of the report be approved;

(e)      the increase in capital expenditure £600,000 in 2021/22 for the Treadmills Phase 2 scheme as detailed in paragraph 4.1 of the report be approved;

(f)       the treasury management outturn position 2020/21 detailed at paragraph 6.1 of the report and Annex C be noted;

(g)      the Prudential Indicators attached at Annex D of the report be noted; and

(h)      the position of the Council’s third-party companies at Annex E of the report be noted.

This report presents to Cabinet the revenue outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2021, which includes the position on reserves. The Statement of     Accounts, which is the consolidated financial position of the Council for 2020/21, is the responsibility of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee which will meet later in the year to approve the Annual Financial Report – Statement of Accounts.

In accepting the recommendations, Cabinet will approve and recommend to Council the transfer to the Council Tax Payers reserve of £1,978,357, which represents the underspend of £980,305 and funding not required £998,052 as detailed in paragraph 2.7 of the report; the transfer from the Council Tax Payers Reserve of £1,826,012 to support the loss related to COVID-19 as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the report; the final transfer to or from the Council Tax Payers Reserve for the 2020/21 will be at Quarter 1 2021/22 in relation to the change in the estimated business rates position as detailed in paragraph 2.7 of the report; increase in the reserve position of £9,126,629 at paragraph 4.2 and detailed in Annex C of the report; the transfer of £157,830 to the Local Plan Reserve from the One Off Fund as stated in paragraph 4.4 of the report; the increase in the use of the One Off fund at Quarter 4 of £87,600, detailed in paragraph 4.5and attached at Annex B of the report; the return of £50,000 from the Repairs and Renewals reserve to the Council Tax Payers Reserve as stated in paragraph 4.6 of the report; the roll forward of £3,000 COVID-19 Community Response Grants and £34,508 Make a Difference Grants are rolled forward to 2021/22 and an underspend of £3,157 is returned to the One Off Fund as stated in paragraph 4.8 of the report; the transfer to the COVID-19 Business Award Grant Reserve of £1,433,339 as detailed in paragraph 4.10 of the report; the transfer to the COVID-19 Administration Grant Funding Reserve of £931,976 to support ongoing COVID-19 related costs in 2021/22 of £715,817 and specific costs of £216,159 as detailed in paragraph 4.11 of the report; and the transfer to the NNDR (National Non Domestic Rates) Section 31 Deficit Reserve of £4,517,656 as detailed in paragraph 4.12.

The subject of the decision:

This report presented the revenue outturn position for the year ending 31 March 2021, which included the position on reserves.  The Statement of Accounts, which was the consolidated financial position of the Council for 2020/21, was the responsibility of the Audit, Governance and Standards Committee which would meet later in the year to approve the Annual Financial Report – Statement of Accounts.  

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

To comply with the legal requirement under S25 of The Local Government Act 2003 to set a balanced budget and monitor the financial position throughout the year.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council:

(1)      the transfer to the Council Tax Payers reserve of £1,978,357, which represents the underspend of £980,305 and funding not required £998,052 as detailed in paragraph 2.7 of the report;

(2)      the transfer from the Council Tax Payers Reserve of £1,826,012 to support the loss related to COVID-19 as detailed in paragraph 3.3 of the report;

(3)      the final transfer to or from the Council Tax Payers Reserve for the 2020/21 will be at Quarter 1 2021/22 in relation to the change in the estimated business rates position as detailed in paragraph 2.7 of the report;

(4)      increase in the reserve position of £9,126,629 at paragraph 4.2 and detailed in Annex C of the report;

(5)      the transfer of £157,830 to the Local Plan Reserve from the One Off Fund as stated in paragraph 4.4 of the report;

(6)      the increase in the use of the One Off fund at Quarter 4 of £87,600, detailed in paragraph 4.5 and attached at Annex B of the report;

(7)      the return of £50,000 from the Repairs and Renewals reserve to the Council Tax Payers Reserve as stated in paragraph 4.6 of the report;

(8)      the roll forward of £3,000 COVID-19 Community Response Grants and £34,508 Make a Difference Grants are rolled forward to 2021/22 and an underspend of £3,157 is returned to the One Off Fund as stated in paragraph 4.8 of the report;

(9)      the transfer to the COVID-19 Business Award Grant Reserve of £1,433,339 as detailed in paragraph 4.10 of the report;

(10)    the transfer to the COVID-19 Administration Grant Funding Reserve of £931,976 to support ongoing COVID-19 related costs in 2021/22 of £715,817 and specific costs of £216,159 as detailed in paragraph 4.11 of the report; and

(11)    the transfer to the NNDR (National Non Domestic Rates) Section 31 Deficit Reserve of £4,517,656 as detailed in paragraph 4.12 of the report.

This report seeks approval for the revised Council Plan 2019-2023 which demonstrates the Council’s vision, purpose and priorities updated for 2021/22 onwards.

In accepting the recommendation, Cabinet will recommend the revised Council Plan 2019-2023 update for 2021/22 to Council.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval for the revised Council Plan 2019-2023 which demonstrated the Council’s vision, purpose and priorities updated for 2021/22 onwards.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

The Council was statutorily obliged to have an active Council Plan.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council the revised Council Plan 2019-2023 update for 2021/22.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 excluding the press and public from the meeting during consideration of items 9 and 10 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Act.

The Decision:

That under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public were excluded from the meeting during consideration of the items of business at minute nos CA.12 and CA.13 on the grounds that they involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as the Cabinet was satisfied that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

The Chief Executive declared a pecuniary interest as a Board Member of Broadacres and left the room prior to any discussion on the above item.  The Chief Executive returned to the meeting prior to discussion on the following item.

This report asks Cabinet to consider a request regarding the transfer of pension funds.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought consideration of the pension fund transfer of Broadacres Housing Association's Local Government Pension Scheme liabilities in the London Pension Fund Authority to Hambleton District Council, participating in the North Yorkshire Pension Fund.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet was satisfied with the proposals set out in the report regarding the transfer of Broadacres Housing Association's Local Government Pension Scheme liabilities in the London Pension Fund Authority to Hambleton District Council, participating in the North Yorkshire Pension Fund.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council:

(1)      the transfer of Broadacres Housing Association pensioners and deferred pensioners to Hambleton District Council from the London Pension Fund Authority to North Yorkshire Pension Fund subject to a subsumption agreement as described in paragraph 3.1 of the report; and

(2)      the transfer of Broadacres Housing Association pensioners and deferred pensioners to Hambleton District Council from the London Pension Fund Authority to North Yorkshire Pension Fund subject to a legal agreement as described in paragraph 8.2 of the report.

Prior to any discussion or voting on the above item, Councillor P R Wilkinson declared a personal non-pecuniary interest as he is a Claims Director of AON Insurance Brokers.

This report seeks approval for additional funding for the Northallerton Town Square and High Street Improvement scheme.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought approval for additional funding for the Northallerton Town Square and High Street Improvement scheme following a requirement to make changes to the design after contract award.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet was satisfied with the request for additional funding as set out in the report.

The decision:

That Cabinet approves and recommends to Council that the Council makes an additional capital contribution to the scheme as detailed in the report to enable the full scheme to be delivered.

To confirm the decisions of the meeting held on 8 June 2021 (CA.1 - CA.6), previously circulated.

The Decision:

That the decisions of the meeting held on 8 June 2021 (CA.1 - CA.6), previously circulated, be signed as a correct record.

This report seeks the appointment of the representatives that would be authorised to act on behalf of the Council on the Limited Liability Partnership.

In accepting the recommendation, Cabinet will appoint the Chief Executive, the Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Projects and the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, Waste and Recycling as authorised representatives to the Limited Liability Partnership as set out in the report.

The subject of the decision:

This report sought the appointment of the representatives that would be authorised to act on behalf of the Council on the Limited Liability Partnership.

Alternative options considered:

None.

The reason for the decision:

Cabinet was satisfied with the appointments of the representatives that would be authorised to act on behalf of the Council on the Limited Liability Partnership.

The decision:

That Cabinet appoints the Chief Executive, the Portfolio Holder for Transformation and Projects and the Portfolio Holder for Environmental Health, Waste and Recycling as authorised representatives to the Limited Liability Partnership as set out in the report.