To receive any apologies for absence.

There were no apologies from cabinet members.

None.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2016.

A query was raised as to where the detailed information on the constituent elements of each package in the capital programme would be published. Whether it would be in the capital budget monitoring report as stated in the minutes of the cabinet meeting of 1 December 2016 or in the budget papers to be presented to council in February 2017.

The interim director of resources stated that the level of detail requested was available and that he would arrange for it to be included as an appendix to the budget papers to council.

Resolved:       That, noting the above, the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 December be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To agree the draft 2017/18 budget and medium term financial strategy (MTFS) for recommendation to Council on 3 February.

Please note a revised version of Appendix 2 was issued as a supplementary paper.

The leader introduced the item. He thanked all those who had contributed to the proposed budget and noted that it had been considered by both the general overview and scrutiny committee and the health and social care overview and scrutiny committee. He stated that the 2016/17 financial year was expected to be completed in budget and highlighted some of the challenges in continuing to meet the council's duties. The council was balancing the need to raise tax revenues with the fact that average incomes were lower in Herefordshire than elsewhere.

The interim director of resources clarified that the figures in recommendation (d) should read £145.025m and £350.438m in place of £145,025 and £350,438 respectively. Attention was also drawn to a minor typographical error in Appendix 1 resulting in an arithmetic error of £4k in Business rates. These figures would be amended in the report to Council.

The interim director of resources commented that:

·         the response rate to the budget consultation was lower than previous years;

·         a cumulative equality impact assessment had been carried out on the budget proposals and individual assessments would be prepared prior to consultation and delivery of each specific saving initiative;

·         the medium term financial strategy (MTFS) ran to the end of 2019/20 financial year and major changes were expected over that period e.g. the retention of business rates by the council;

·         the proposed increase in council tax of 3.9% was comprised of a 1.9% core increase and a 2% adult social care precept; and

·         the assumptions used in setting the budget had been subject to robust challenge and were considered realistic.

The interim director of resources thanked the scrutiny committees for their work and feedback. He noted that their comments had been taken on board and were reflected in the report presented to the meeting.

The chairman of the general overview and scrutiny committee thanked the members of the scrutiny committees for their work on the budget proposals. He reported that the debates held and questions raised had led to improvements to and clarifications of the budget proposals. Points of particular concern were the future retention of business rates, the transport network and the role of parish councils.

A group leader asked what proportion of the projected income from locally retained business rates was from the enterprise zone and whether recent trends in business rate income had been taken into account. The Marches LEP had reported that rates received from the zone were 36% less than had been anticipated. The interim director of resources responded that he did not have figures to hand on the proportion of business rates income coming from the enterprise zone but he was comfortable that the figures used in setting the budget were based on sound assumptions. The director for economy, communities and corporate confirmed that the previous estimates of the business rate income provided by the original consultants had been shown to be too high. The figures in the MTFS reflected recent trends in business rate income.

A group leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To approve the draft Equality Policy 2017-2019, including the proposed equality objectives.

The cabinet member for economy and corporate services introduced the report. He highlighted that the updated equality policy included new objectives and picked up on topical issues such as the arrival of Syrian refugees and the needs of the gypsy, roma and traveller community.

The equality and compliance manager summarised the report. She highlighted that it was not a statutory requirement for the council to have an equality policy but that it must publish its equality objectives and show how it was meeting the legal requirements of the Equality Act.

The cabinet member for health and wellbeing noted that the community safety partnership had identified domestic violence and abuse as a priority area and asked that the equality policy recognise the lead role of the partnership in this area.

The equality and compliance manager stated that there was no specific objective relating to people with disabilities as they would be picked up in the other objectives. The council was recognised as a disability friendly employer and further actions were to come in this area.

The cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing asked whether having three main priorities for the period of the policy would distract from the other principles not associated with these priorities. The equality and compliance manager stated that all of the principles were expected to be embedded across the authority. The three priority areas related to new or emerging challenges and requirements.

The chair of the general overview and scrutiny committee noted that the committee would be undertaking a piece of work on gypsy, roma and traveller communities. He highlighted the urgent need to identify a transit site and that some existing sites needed to be better maintained.

In response to a query the equality and compliance manager stated that the council would shortly be publishing details of its gender pay gap.

A group leader asked about the purpose of analysing the diversity data of all candidates standing for election. The equality and compliance manager responded that the council wished to ensure that councillors reflected the diverse range of people in the county. Monitoring the diversity of those standing for election would establish a base starting point from which the council could measure the effectiveness of measures to encourage a more diverse range of candidates.

A group leader asked why the development plan document (DPD) on travellers’ sites would not be adopted until December 2018.  The identification of a transit site would take even longer. The lack of available pitches was a pressing issue for the planning committee. The director of economy communities and corporate stated that the process of selecting a transit site had commenced and that a couple of options had already been identified. The DPD would need to go through the same formal process as the local plan which would include an examination by a planning inspector prior to its adoption by the council. The date given allowed for delays which could occur in the process but it was possible that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.