Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cllrs. Clucas and Jeffries sent apologies.

There were none.

Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th November.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10^th November were unanimously approved and signed as a correct record.

These must be received no later than 12 noon on Wednesday 25^th November.

There were none.

Report of the Cabinet Member Finance

The Cabinet Member Finance presented the report, noting that it would also go to the upcoming Council meeting on 7^th December. She reported that the council had been required since 2013 to help working age people on low incomes pay their council tax. This scheme replaced the national council tax benefit scheme, and each year the council must decide whether to make changes for the forthcoming financial year. She noted that the 2019/20 scheme was based on five income bands, with the highest band offering 100% support to the most vulnerable people, with the lower bands offering 80%, then 60%, and so on. Some minor revisions were made to the 2020/21 scheme to ensure that the most vulnerable residents were protected.

She acknowledged that the present situation had unsurprisingly led to an increase in the number of Cheltenham residents needing support. 4,805 residents were in need of support, nearly 20% more than last year’s figure of 3,984. She pointed members towards Appendix 4, where the results of the local consultation demonstrated a wide and diverse range of circumstances. In particular, she noted that there was a clear need for support for people who were of working age and on low incomes, and was glad that the council would be able to help them.

The Leader of the Council added that he was always happy to see the council doing the maximum it could to support vulnerable people, and that it was important to maintain schemes like this despite government changes.

The Leader moved to a vote, where it was unanimously:

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The outcome of the consultation on the Local Council Tax Support scheme in Appendix 4 be noted;
2. The council tax support scheme for working age customers in Appendix 2 and summarised in Appendix 3 be approved as the preferred option for 2021/22;
3. Council be recommended to approve the proposed Local Council Tax Support Scheme for working age customers for 2021/21;
4. Council be recommended to give authority to the Executive Director for Finance and Assets in consultation with the Cabinet Member Finance to uprate income levels in line with any uprating of Welfare Benefits by 31 January 2021, if required.

Report of the Cabinet Member Economy and Development

The Cabinet Member Economy and Development presented the report, thanking officers for their help in putting it together. She noted that the 2020 Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) required the publication of a list of all types of infrastructure projects which the authority intended to fund either partly or wholly through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). The list did not dictate how funds must be spent, but rather set out the council’s intentions and provided clarity and transparency for communities and developers.

She reported that both CBC and its partners in the Joint Core Strategy began charging CIL on planning permissions granted from 1^st January 2019, with the first payments made on 28^th June 2019. CIL receipts for the reporting year were £73,982, from which £3,699 was deducted for administrative expenses, £3,283 was distributed to parish councils and £7,814 to the neighbourhood fund, leaving a balance of £59,186 in infrastructure fund to deliver planned development held by the council. The CIL report also provided details on the £329k demand notices issued during the year, which would be received over the next two years. She stressed the importance of prioritising infrastructure projects, and targeting CIL receipts towards those which needed it most.

The Leader moved to a vote, where it was unanimously:

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The publication of the Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS) for 2020 be approved;
2. It be noted that the Annual Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Rates Summary Statement will be published alongside the IFS.

Report of the Cabinet Member Cyber and Safety

The Cabinet Member Cyber and Safety presented the report, noting that the Licensing Act 2003 requires a five-yearly review of policy statement, and was last reviewed in 2015. The current policy had been reviewed by licensing officers, and the policy statement itself was attached at Appendix 2, while the responses from Licensing Committee and officer responses to this were published in Appendix 4. He explained that there were no significant changes due to a lack of significant changes in legislation during that time. The report was due to go to Council on 7^th December for approval there too.

The Leader moved to a vote, where it was unanimously:

RESOLVED THAT:

1. The consultation feedback and officer comments be noted;
2. The revised licensing policy statement at Appendix 2 be approved;
3. Council be recommended to adopt of the revised licensing policy statement.

The Cabinet Member Economy and Development reported that she had been focusing on skills provision and working closely with education providers, and was looking forward to developing this program into something more substantial in 2021.

The Cabinet Member Finance reported that the National Local Restrictions Grant Scheme had gone live, with 635 applications received so far and around £779k paid out. She noted that up to 900 businesses might be eligible, though not all of them may have been closed. The discretionary scheme also went live on the 25^th November and would be available until 9^th December, though only 45 applications had been received so far. The scheme was now being more widely promoted, and the council were approaching businesses who received funding from the previous scheme. She acknowledged that the move to Tier 2 restrictions on 2^nd December would continue to impact businesses, and the council’s support would be needed. Another discretionary scheme with a particular focus on hospitality, hotels, B&B and leisure businesses was expected, but the amount of funding to be received was not yet clear.

The Cabinet Member Climate and Communities reported that he had sent a letter to all Cheltenham schools urging them to apply for grants to plant trees, and had been pleased by the response so far. He added that the Cheltenham Carbon Neutral Partnership would meet in the new year, and thanked local parish councils for their invitation to the C5 climate change meeting, and the Twinning Association for their invitation to their AGM.

The Leader of the Council noted that it was his last Cabinet meeting as Leader before stepping down, and placed on record his best wishes to Cllr. Hay in her new role as Leader, and to Cllr. Jeffries in his continuing role as Deputy Leader. He thanked partners, officers and Cabinet colleagues for their hard work over the years, and hoped that together, they had got more decisions right than wrong.

Decisions of Cabinet Members

The Cabinet Member Finance reported that she had taken a decision on 20th November to consent to Gloucestershire County Council adopting a section of path across the Cheltenham Borough Council green space between Jasmin Way and Farmfield Road, Up Hatherley.