Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notices of appointment of substitute Members (if any).

Apologies were received from Cllr Mrs C Collis and Cllr L J Cruwys who was substituted by Cllr S J Clist

To record any interests on agenda matters.

Members were reminded of the need to make declarations where appropriate

To receive any questions relating to items on the agenda from members of the public and replies thereto.

Note:   A maximum of 30 minutes is allowed for this item.

There were no members of the public present.

To consider whether to approve the minutes as a correct record of the meeting held on 27^th September 2022

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 27^th September 2022 were approved as a correct record and SIGNED by the Chairman.

To receive any announcements that the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman had no announcements to make

Discussion with regard to the next items, may require the Policy Development Group to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 12 12.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Policy Development Group would need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Recommended that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

The Chairman indicated that discussion with regard to the next item, may require the Committee to pass the following resolution to exclude the press and public having reflected on Article 12 12.02(d) (a presumption in favour of openness) of the Constitution. This decision may be required because consideration of this matter in public may disclose information falling within one of the descriptions of exempt information in Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. The Committee would need to decide whether, in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption, outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To present to Member’s the updated Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP), previously presented to Cabinet on 1st November 2022, which covers the period 2023/24 to 2027/28 and takes account of the Council’s key strategies (i.e. the Corporate Plan, Business Plans, Treasury Management Plan, Asset Management Plan, Work Force Plan and Capital Strategy) and demonstrates it has the financial resources to deliver the Corporate Plan. This models potential changes in funding levels, new initiatives, unavoidable costs and proposed service savings.

The Group had before it and NOTED, a *report from the Deputy Chief Executive providing the Medium Term Financial Plan.

The Corporate Manager for Finance stated that the report was a slimmed down version which had been presented to the Cabinet on 1^st November 2022. The Council was looking at a budget gap of £2.1m for 2023/2024 and the Cabinet wanted the Community PDG to have discussions on the options available. He explained that the Governments recent allowed increase in Council Tax from 2% to 3% would only generate an additional £60k of income which would not close the budget gap.

The Leader explained that the Cabinet were looking to increase fees and charges in the first instance to close the budget gap rather than reductions in services.

RESOLVED that under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the public be excluded from the next item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 respectively of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, namely information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Members then reviewed the options included within the Part 2 appendices and made recommendations to the Cabinet on the options preferred.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

The meeting then returned to open session and:

The Community PDG RESOLVED that delegated authority be given to the Cabinet Member for Community Wellbeing to set the Leisure Pricing Strategy for the remainder of 2022 and 2023/2024.

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note:

·         *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

·         Cllr R J Dolley requested that his abstention from voting be recorded

To receive the current work plan for the Community PDG.

The Group had before it, and NOTED, the *Community Policy Development Group Work Plan for 2022-2023.

Note: *Work Plan previously circulated and attached to the minutes