MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE HELD AT COUNTY HALL, NEWPORT, ISLE OF WIGHT ON WEDNESDAY, 21 AUGUST 2002 COMMENCING AT 9.30 AM


Present :

 

Mr G S Kendall (Chairman), Mr M J Cunningham, Mr J F Howe (deputising for Mr G P Price), Mr P D Joyce, Mrs M J Lloyd, Mrs M J Miller, Mr V J Morey, Mr M  O Morgan Huws, Mr I R Stephens, Mr R A Sutton, Mr D T Yates


Apologies :

 

Mr G P Price


Also Present (Non Voting) :

 

Mr R C Richards, Mrs S A Smart



 

 21.      MINUTES


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Minutes of the meeting held on the 18 July 2002 be confirmed.

 

22.      REPORTS OF THE STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND INFORMATION AND COUNTY TREASURER

 

           (a)       Budget Monitoring Report as at end of July 2002

 

The Select Committee received the budget monitoring report as at the end of July 2002. Members were advised that there were no significant variances to report. Members indicated that the report would be of greater use if it included financial and performance management.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be noted.

 

           (b)       Service Plan - Financial and Business Services

 

The Strategic Director of Finance and Information presented the Service Plan for Financial and Business Services. The Service Plan set out proposed delivery service improvements and performance against the units previous targets.

 

Members noted that the average days for a new benefit claim had not reached its current target. However the Select Committee were advised that the figures reflected the fact that vulnerable claimants were given additional time to provide information relating to their claims which increased the overall time taken to deal with new claims.

 

With regard to website development it was clarified that the Unit was looking at new software to develop the financial elements of the Council’s website and enable financial reports to be published.

 

RESOLVED :

 

THAT the report be noted.

 

23.      SCRUTINY SESSION ON COUNCIL TAX ON SECOND HOMES


The Select Committee received the report of the Strategic Director of Finance and Information and County Treasurer which detailed the current arrangements of council tax on second homes and empty dwellings. Members were advised that the reduction in income from exempt dwellings was £1,131,122 and from Second Homes £1,968,540. Although due to grant arrangements the cost was borne at a national level.


Members were advised Central Government had carried out consultation with Local Authorities to seek opinion on whether current legislation should be changed to allow authorities to charge the full council tax on second homes.


In debate, it was generally agreed that a large number of young families were unable to achieve home ownership, it was believed this was largely connected with second homes. Members considered that second homes increased the house price in some areas making it increasingly difficult for first time buyers and also contributing to the homelessness situation.


RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO EXECUTIVE :

 

THAT the Select Committee recommend that in the event of legislation being changed to allow authorities to charge full council tax on second homes, that any additional income go towards funding social housing.

 

24.      REPORTS OF THE HEAD OF PAID SERVICE

 

           (a)       I.W. Citizens’ Advice Bureau Service Level Agreement 2003/2006

 

The Select Committee gave consideration to the report of the Head of Paid Service which set out arrangements for the renewal of a Service Level Agreement between the Council and the Citizens’ Advice Bureau.

 

The current three year SLA between the Council and CAB was due to expire at the end of the financial year and therefore a new agreement had been drafted to run from April 2003 to 2006 on a similar basis. Members considered two funding options. Firstly to remain with current funding provided and secondly to include additional funding of £18,600.

 

In discussion Members highlighted the connection between help centres and the CAB. Members were advised there was only a small overlap in the service both bodies provided, and the staff employed by the CAB were trained to a higher level. It was noted that pension contributions had been included as part of the additional funding option within the Service Level Agreement, this had not been a feature of the previous agreement. The Select Committee were advised that this was a common feature of other authorities’ SLA’s involving CAB.

 

RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO EXECUTIVE :

 

                                   THAT the Select Committee recommend that the SLA be renewed and include the NACAB Partnership Agreement for additional funding of £18,600.

 

           (b)       Establishing an External Funding Service

 

Members received the report of the Head of Paid Service which set out proposals to establish a fund finding post within the Council. The Committee had already approved the proposal in principle at its meeting in June 2002.

 

The Select Committee supported the need to maximise the levels of external funding from both UK and EU sources. Members also supported that all Council grants should be checked when they come to an end.

 

RESOLVED :

 

                      (i)        THAT the Select Committee recommend to the Executive the approval of the proposal to establish an External Funding Co-ordinator post within the Corporate Policy and Communications Unit.

 

                      (ii)       THAT the Select Committee recommend to the Executive that the post’s continuation after the first year be made dependent upon a pre-defined assessment of the level of self-funding being achieved by the postholder.

 

                      (iii)       THAT the Select Committee ask the Grants Task Group to devise a protocol for dealing with grants in the future.

 

25.      RESOURCES SELECT COMMITTEE WORKPLAN


Members considered the workplan drafted by the Head of Select Committee Support based on the issues generated by the Select Committee’s workshop held on 11 June 2002.


The Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support advised Members that at a meeting of the Liaison Committee held on 20 August 2002, it had been agreed that a working party would be established to examine all cross cutting items. In view of this Members agreed that a Ecological Footprint Working Party would be established, with Joint membership of the Resources and Environment and Transport Select Committees. The Working Party would consider greening the authority matters.


RESOLVED :

 

           (i)        THAT the Select Committee Workplan be approved

 

           (ii)       THAT the Terms of Reference and remit for the Ecological Footprint Working Party be brought to the next meeting of the Select Committee.

 

26.      FORWARD PLAN


RESOLVED :

 

THAT the Forward Plan be noted

 

 

 

 

CHAIRMAN