Agenda and minutes

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

There were no apologies or substitute Members.

Cllr Mrs C Collis attended via ZOOM.

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 22^nd November 2022

The Minutes of the Meeting held on 22^nd November 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

Section 13A (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 requires the Council as the billing authority to make a localised Council Tax Reduction Scheme in accordance with Section 1A of the act.

The Council is looking to amend the current scheme in order to expand the assistance for our customers.

The Group had before it a *report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) providing a review into the Council Tax Reduction Scheme & Exceptional Hardship Policy.

The Operations Manager for Revenues and Benefits explained that there were changes to the policy required and that officers were looking to review and amend the current scheme in order to expand the assistance for our customers from 85% to 100% relief.

A customer survey had been conducted with over 1000 responses in favour of amending the scheme.

Consideration was given to:

·         MDDC would only bear 11% of the costs circa £56K

·         The cost to DCC would be circa £356K

·         Pensioners were protected by schemes set by Government

·         North and East Devon had proposed similar schemes

It was therefore RESOLVED to recommend to the Cabinet:

1) TO INCREASE THE MAXIMUM REDUCTION FROM 85% TO 100%

2) TO DISREGARD THE HOUSING ELEMENT OF UNIVERSAL CREDIT IN THE CALCUATION

3) TO INCREASE THE INCOME BANDS BY INFLATION EACH YEAR

4) THAT ANY INCOME FROM WELFARE PROVSION TO BE DISREGARDED

5) THAT THIS POLICY IS ADOPTED

(Proposed by the Chairman)

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

The Local Government Finance Act 1992 places a legal requirement on the Council to approve a balanced budget. The first draft of the General Fund budget for 2023/24 indicated a deficit of £960k. This report updates that deficit to the current position of £905k and proposes options to consider to achieve the statutorily required neutrality.

The Group had before it a *report from the Deputy Chief Executive (S151) providing the Medium Term Financial Plan.

The Corporate Manager for Finance explained the current position by way of a presentation and advised Members that he was looking for a steer on which service areas should be consider high priority and therefore protected as far as possible and those services the committee considered to be a lower priority and would accept savings being made.

Consideration was given to:

·         The largest driver was inflation specifically pay awards, energy costs and fuel

·         Service pressures included pension contributions, climate change commitments, infrastructure and less reliance on New Homes Bonus

·         Options included vacancy management in lower priority services

After discussion the PDG AGREED that officers should consider the following:

·         Planned maintenance within Leisure services being reduced, as long as this does not impact on health and safety.

(Proposed by Cllr S Pugh and seconded by Cllr W Burke)

·         A vacancy factor be set for Leisure services, as long as this does not impact on health and safety or income generation.

(Proposed by Cllr S Pugh and seconded by Cllr Mrs E Slade)

In addition the PDG AGREED that officers should not consider the following:

·         Savings within Community Safety as this should be considered a high priority service area which should be protected.

(Proposed by Cllr S Pugh and seconded by Cllr W Burke)

·         Savings within Public Health as this should be considered a high priority service area which should be protected.

(Proposed by Cllr Mrs E Slade and seconded by Cllr Mrs M E Squires)

Note: *report previously circulated and attached to the minutes

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