| Number | Item |
| | Agenda Front Page  |
| | Agenda Papers |
| | Minutes for this Meeting |
| 1. | Apologies |
| 2. | Declarations of Interest |
| 3. | Minutes – To approve the Minutes of the Meeting of the Cabinet held on the 10th November 2016 |
| 4. | To receive any Petitions |
| 5. | Leader’s Announcements |
| 6. | Exempt Appendix 4 |
| 6. | Part I – Matters Referred to the Cabinet - None for this Meeting |
| | Part II – Consideration of Reports from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee - None for this Meeting |
| | Part III – Ordinary Decision Items - Key Decisions Annotated* |
| | The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan submitted to members in November last year identified that the 1% reduction in social rents announced in the July 2015 Budget would result in an anticipated loss of income of £10million (across four years from April 2016). Members agreed to implement a significant cost reduction programme including salary savings in order to recover the HRA’s financial position.A comprehensive review of the HRA services has been conducted and this paper sets out the recommendations and impacts for staff arising from the review including improved working practices an organisational restructure and a reduction in headcount from April 2017 (and in the 2017/18 budget) of 9.12 FTE posts. |
| | Review of Housing Staff Structure |
| 7. | This report provides an annual update to Members on the financial projections associated with the HRA Business Plan.Work has been undertaken to review the cost base of the HRA and model for the life of the business plan. The Plan has been updated to allow for the latest planned maintenance schedule newly approved capital schemes and the outcome of the Housing Services Review.Overall the plan remains affordable and there are no significant revisions from the version prepared in 2015 (Cabinet November 2015). |
| | Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Business Plan 2016 - 2046 |
| 8. | This paper presents the draft budget for 2017/18 for the General Fund and the Housing Revenue Account.The MTFP was presented at the October Cabinet meeting at which time approval to accept the four year funding settlement and are included in the draft budget.The Autumn statement was presented to Parliament on 23 November 2016; as expected the statement showed lower levels of growth and higher levels of borrowing and inflation. It included announcements to support growth in housing numbers and the investment in key infrastructure projects. The announcement included a further rural business rate relief which is explained in the business rate section.The draft budget outlined in this report will form the basis of budget scrutiny and budget consultation processes. Overall the General Fund draft budget has a variance deficit of £31000 against the Medium Term Financial Plan to be funded from general fund reserves.The report also includes the draft Housing Revenue Account budget which incorporates the Housing review proposals and the 30 year business plan assumptions both reports are elsewhere on the agenda. |
| | *Draft Budget 2017/18 |
| 9. | Following Cabinet’s agreement in May to a draft council tax support scheme and a 12 week period of public consultation this report brings forward final recommendations for the scheme that will operate from 1st April.Once agreed the scheme will then be subject to extensive communication with current council tax benefit claimants to inform them about the implications from next year. The consultation period generated a disappointing response rate however the findings are reported within the various appendices to this report. The task Group has considered the consultation and as a result of the feedback has influenced the proposals for a revised scheme that are detailed in this report. |
| | *Local Council Tax Reduction Scheme – Recommended Scheme post public consultation |
| 10. | This Council is required to approve the tax base used to calculate the level of Council Tax for 2017/18. It is calculated with regard to the number of domestic properties (including a forecast of new properties) which are then converted to Band D equivalents.The tax base has been calculated at 44671.7 band D properties an increase of 922 (or 2.11%) on the current year. |
| | *Council Tax Base 2017/18 |
| 11. | Part IV – Information/Monitoring Items |
| | Trading and Enterprise Board – Minutes of the Meeting held on the 7th November 2016 |
| 12. | Local Plan and Planning Policy Task Group – Notes of the Meeting held on the 6th November 2016 |
| 13. | Economic Regeneration and Investment Board – Notes of the Meetings held on the 27th July 26th October and 23rd November 2016 |
| 14. | To set out the latest Schedule of Key Decisions to be taken by the Cabinet of Ashford Borough Council. |
| | Schedule of Key Decisions |
| 15. | Items for Future Meetings |
| 16. | Part V – Cabinet Member Reports - None for this Meeting |
| | Part VI – Ordinary Decision Items - None for this Meeting |