Home > Agenda and decisions

Agenda and decisions

Venue: Council Chamber, Town Hall, Katharine Street, Croydon CR0 1NX

Contact: Democratic Services  Email: democratic.services@croydon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

2.

Disclosure of Interests

Members and co-opted Members of the Council are reminded that, in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct and the statutory provisions of the Localism Act, they are required to consider in advance of each meeting whether they have a disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI), an other registrable interest (ORI) or a non-registrable interest (NRI) in relation to any matter on the agenda. If advice is needed, Members should contact the Monitoring Officer in good time before the meeting.

 

If any Member or co-opted Member of the Council identifies a DPI or ORI which they have not already registered on the Council’s register of interests or which requires updating, they should complete the disclosure form which can be obtained from Democratic Services at any time, copies of which will be available at the meeting for return to the Monitoring Officer.

 

Members and co-opted Members are required to disclose any DPIs and ORIs at the meeting.

-      Where the matter relates to a DPI they may not participate in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not stay in the meeting unless granted a dispensation.

-      Where the matter relates to an ORI they may not vote on the matter unless granted a dispensation.

-      Where a Member or co-opted Member has an NRI which directly relates to their financial interest or wellbeing, or that of a relative or close associate, they must disclose the interest at the meeting, may not take part in any discussion or vote on the matter and must not stay in the meeting unless granted a dispensation. Where a matter affects the NRI of a Member or co-opted Member, section 9 of Appendix B of the Code of Conduct sets out the test which must be applied by the Member to decide whether disclosure is required.

 

The Chair will invite Members to make their disclosure orally at the commencement of Agenda item 2, to be recorded in the minutes.

3.

Minutes of the Previous Meeting pdf icon PDF 180 KB

To approve as a correct record, the minutes of the previous meeting of the Cabinet, held on 25 January 2023.  (To Follow)

Additional documents:

4.

Urgent Business (If any)

To receive notice of any business not on the agenda, which in the opinion of the Chair, by reason of special circumstances, be considered as a matter of urgency.

5.

Scrutiny Stage 2 pdf icon PDF 102 KB

The attached report invites the Cabinet to approve the full response reports arising from the Stage 1 reports presented to the Cabinet meeting held on 7 December 2022, including:

 

-         Action plans for the implementation of agreed recommendations, or

-         Reasons for rejecting the recommendations

 

and that these be reported to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee or relevant Sub-Committees.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

Approve the response and action plans attached to this report at Appendix A and that these be reported to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee or relevant Sub-Committees.

 

 

6.

Period 8 Financial Performance Report pdf icon PDF 575 KB

The attached report provides the Council’s forecast outturn as at Month 8 (November 2022) for the General Fund (GF), Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Capital Programme (CP). The report forms part of the Council’s financial management process for publicly reporting financial performance monthly.

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.         Note the General Fund revenue budget outturn is forecast to be balanced at Month 8. Service directorates are indicating a £16.865m overspend. This is offset by £0.978m corporate underspend, £4m use of earmarked inflation reserves, £5m use of the general contingency budget and the budgeted £6.9m contribution to General Fund Balances being released.

 

1.2.         Note the forecast elimination of the planned contribution to General Fund Reserves of £6.9m for 2022/23.

 

1.3.         Note that a further number of risks and compensating opportunities may materialise which would see the forecast change.

 

1.4.         Note the actions being taken through the Deficit Recovery plan. Further details are in paragraph 2.15

 

1.5.         To approve the progress of the MTFS savings as indicated within Table 4 and detailed in Appendix 3.

 

1.6.         Note the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is projecting an end of year position of a £4.976m overspend, due to inflation, disrepair costs and void rents.

 

1.7.         Note the Capital Programme spend to date for the General Fund of £17.534m (against a budget of £68.160m) with a projected forecast underspend of £15.084m for the end of the year.

 

1.8.         Note the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme spend to date of £12.352m (against a budget of £25.165m), with a projected forecast underspend of £4.145m for the end of the year.

 

1.9.         Note, the above figures are predicated on forecasts from Month 8 to the year end and therefore could be subject to change as forecasts are made based on the best available information at this time.

 

1.10.     Note, the Council continues to operate a Spend Control Panel to ensure that tight financial control and assurance oversight are maintained A new financial management culture is being implemented across the organisation through increased scrutiny, such as the monthly assurance meetings, improved communication and budget manager training from CIPFA.

 

1.11.     To approve the virement details in section 7 of this report.

 

 

7.

Opening the Books - Reports from Worth Technical Accounting Solutions pdf icon PDF 161 KB

The Opening the Books project was launched by the Mayor in July 2022 to improve the Council’s understanding of current financial risks and to work towards a sustainable financial future. The project has had a number of facets including the commissioning of a series of reviews by Worth Technical Accounting Solutions. The resulting reports are presented here to Cabinet with the recommendation that the Audit and Governance Committee be asked to debate them at a future meeting, scheduled for 3 March 2023. The reports are being shared in full under the Mayor’s openness and transparency ethos with nothing hidden. The recommendations made by Worth TAS are accepted in their entirety by the Council and are set out in the action plan in Appendix F. It is recommended that progress against these recommendations is monitored by the Audit and Governance Committee through to completion.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.         To accept and refer the Worth Technical Accounting Solutions reports to the Audit and Governance Committee for debate.

 

1.2.         Request that the Audit and Governance Committee monitor the implementation of the recommendations from the reports.

8.

Revenue Budget and Council Tax Levels 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 316 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.          Consider the responses to the budget engagement with residents and businesses as set out in Section 10 and Appendix I.

 

1.2.          Consider and have due regard to the equalities impact assessment undertaken on the budget proposals as set out in Section 15.

 

1.3.          Approve the responses to the Scrutiny and Overview Committee recommendations (to follow) on the budget proposals as set out in Section 20.

 

1.4.          Approve that Directors be authorised to implement their service plans for 2023/24 in accordance with the recommendations within this report, the Council's Constitution, Financial Regulations, relevant Schemes of Delegation and undertake any further consultation required regarding the Equalities Impact Assessment

 

1.5.          Propose to Full Council for approval an increase in the Croydon element of the 2023/24 council tax charge by 12.99% (Band D £203.95).

 

1.6.          Propose to Full Council for approval a 2% increase (Band D £31.40) in the 2023/24 Adult Social Care precept levy.

 

1.7.          Note, based on the Mayor of London’s draft consolidated budget, a 9.7% (Band D £38.55) increase regarding the Greater London Authority precept.

 

1.8.          Propose to Full Council for approval the calculation of budget requirement and council tax as set out in Appendix G and note that the inclusion of the GLA precept will result in a total increase of 13.93% (Band D £273.91) in the overall Croydon council tax bill.

 

1.9.          Propose to Full Council for approval the setting of the Council’s own total net expenditure budget for 2023/24 at £340.911m.

 

1.10.       Propose to Full Council for approval the detailed programme of revenue savings, income, demand pressures and legacy budget corrections, by directorate, as set out in Appendix C.

 

1.11.       Propose to Full Council the proposed £10m budget in 2023/24 to support delivery of the transformation programme.

 

1.12.       Propose to Full Council for approval that the Corporate Director of Resources be authorised to collect and recover National Non-Domestic Rate and council tax in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1988 (as amended), the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

 

1.13.       Note the revenue budget assumptions detailed in the report and budget projections to 2025/26 made by the Corporate Director of Resources in agreement with the Chief Executive and with the Corporate Management Team.

 

1.14.       Note the Council’s request for a capitalisation direction from the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities [DLUHC] of up to £300.6m (£161.6m in 2022/23 regarding legacy finance issues and £139m regarding 2023/24 to 2025/26, annually £63m, £38m and £38m respectively).

 

1.15.       Note that all Directors will be required to report on their projected financial position compared to their revenue estimates in accordance with the 2023/24 monthly financial performance reporting timetable.

 

1.16.       Note the statement (section 11 of the Report) of the Corporate Director of Resources, under Section 25 of the Local Government Act 2003, regarding the adequacy of reserves and robustness of estimates.

 

1.17.       Note that the provisional Dedicated Schools Grant allocation for 2023/24 will increase by £26.310m to £427.688m (section 12 of the Report).

 

9.

Review of Council Tax Support Scheme 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 200 KB

The purpose of this report is to seek approval to make changes to Croydon’s Council Tax Reduction (Support) Scheme (CTS) which will take effect from 1 April 2023.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.          Recommends to Council the following changes to the Council Tax Support Scheme:

 

1.1.1       Remove the application of the minimum income floor to households where the claimant or partner are disabled

 

1.1.2       Change the rate at which the income bands are increased annually from the level of CPI 10.1% to the amount Council Tax is increased for that year which could be up to 15% cap.

 

1.1.3       Introduce non-dependent deductions (NDD) to disabled not working households, except where the non-dependent is in receipt of Employment Support Allowance or Limited Capability to Work, or in receipt of carers allowance for the claimant or partner.

 

1.2.          To agree The Councils Council Tax Support Scheme is amended as set out above, from 1 April 2023

10.

Fees and Charges pdf icon PDF 127 KB

The attached report requests approval by Cabinet to changes in fees and charges that are made in respect of supplies and services supplied by the Council to the extent that these fall within the authority of the Executive to determine.  Cabinet should be aware that many regulatory functions have statutory fees which are set or are required to be considered by the relevant regulatory committees as they are precluded from being executive functions.

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.          Have due regard to the equalities impact assessment in Appendix 2 in making the decisions set out in these recommendations.

 

1.2.          Approve the fees and charges as set out in Appendix 1 to the extent that they fall within the authority of the Executive to determine.

11.

Capital Programme and Capital Strategy 2022/23 to 2026/27 pdf icon PDF 313 KB

The attached report sets out the updated capital programme for 2023/24-2026/27 for the Council’s General Fund with a forecast of resources available over that period. A specific update of the 2022/23 programme including the forecast and variance as at Period 8 is also provided.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

Recommend the following to Full Council:

 

1.1.          Agree the Council’s 2023/24 to 2026/27 General Fund Capital Programme which includes planned expenditure of £305.67m (including capitalisation directions) across the four years.

 

1.2.          Note that the Council will incur borrowing of £169.53m (including £162m of Capitalisation Direction) in 2022/23, with further borrowing projected of £45.82m in 2023/24 and £28.36m over the three years after 2023/24. The cost of this borrowing is factored into the Council’s Medium Term Financial plan resulting in 2023-24 total interest charge and Minimum Revenue Provision of £61.3m

 

1.3.          Approve the Council 2023/24 Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme with a total investment planned of £32.62m with borrowing of nil.

 

1.4.          Approve the Council’s Capital Strategy, drafted with the support of PwC, as detailed within Appendix A of this report.

12.

Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 958 KB

The attached report seeks the agreement of the Executive Mayor in Cabinet to the Treasury Management Strategy Statement, Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy 2023/24.

 

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

Recommend to Full Council that it approves:

 

1.1.          The Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2023/24 as set out in this report.

 

1.2.          The Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix A of this report.

 

1.3.          The Annual Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement (required by the Local Authorities (Capital Financing and Accounting) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2008SI 2008/414) as set out in Appendix B.

13.

HRA Business Plan and Budget Update Report - January 2023 pdf icon PDF 401 KB

The attached report presents the latest position for the 30 Year Business Plan for the Housing Revenue Account with consideration to both capital and revenue investments required for the management and maintenance of Croydon Council’s housing stock.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.         To approve the HRA budget for 2023-24

 

1.2.         To note the update to the HRA 30 year Business plan based on the HRA budget for 2023-24

 

1.3.         To note the assumptions the business plan is based upon and the risks associated with these assumptions

 

1.4.         To note the commencement of the work on a new asset management strategy and enhanced stock condition survey that will further inform the business plan

 

1.5.          To approve an application to the Secretary of State for a direction permitting the funding by the HRA of Discretionary Housing Payments from an HRA Hardship Fund, and to authorise the Corporate Director, Housing to agree the terms of such a direction with DLUHC.

14.

Information, Advice and Guidance Contract pdf icon PDF 301 KB

The attached report seeks approval to vary and extend an existing contract that is currently in place to provide information, advice & guidance to residents within Croydon for an additional period of up to 12 months from 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024. 

 

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.          Approve an extension and variation to the existing information, advice & guidance contract awarded to Citizens Advice Croydon, as set out within this report in order to maintain continued provision whilst a full and compliant procurement exercise is completed. The proposed extension is for a maximum period of up to 12 months at a cost of £325,000.

15.

Street Lighting Policy pdf icon PDF 192 KB

The attached report describes the street lighting trial completed by the Council and summarises both the environmental and financial benefits that will be realised through energy saving annually by adopting the trial as the standard light levels for the borough.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.          Note the outcome of the pilot studies as set out in section 4.15 of this report.

 

1.2.          Agree to the introduction of the draft ‘Street Lighting Policy’ as summarised in Section 3 and Appendix A of this report.

 

1.3.          To formalise the trial running since 06 January 2022 and adopt the pilot regime of 50% reduction in light levels in residential streets between 7pm – 5am and 50% reduction along main traffic routes from Midnight – 5am.

 

1.4.          To delegate to officers to undertake further pilot studies within the framework of the draft Street Lighting Policy, to reduce energy consumption and C02 emissions from the street lighting infrastructure across the borough and report back to a future cabinet.

16.

Local Planning Authority Service Transformation pdf icon PDF 359 KB

The attached report sets out the draft transformation programme for the LPA with the aim of delivering sustained improvement to performance and customer experience, whilst responding to feedback from residents and applicants and delivering the future spatial development needs of the borough.

 

Additional documents:

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.          Agree the draft Planning Transformation Programme structure, including the programme’s high level workstreams, future governance and next steps.

 

1.2.          To delegate the preparation of the Final Planning Transformation Programme, to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration and Economic Recovery following further consultation with the Cabinet Member of Planning and Regeneration.

17.

Annual Delivering the Croydon Growth Zone Report 2023-24 pdf icon PDF 208 KB

The attached annual report sets out proposals for the Growth Zone budget and programme for 2023/24.  It reflects the Executive Mayor’s Business Plan 2022 – 2026, the need to support the approach to recovery and renewal of Croydon town centre following the devastating socio-economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, challenging macro-economic conditions and the implications for development activity.  The Growth Zone income is ring fenced by the Statutory Instrument and provides an additional funding source.  Therefore, positively contributing the Council’s financial position. 

 

Decision:

RESOLVED: To

 

1.1.          To agree £12,261,000 budget for the ‘Delivering the Growth Zone’ programme 2023/24;

 

1.2.          To note the indicative funding profile for Growth Zone Sub Groups and projects as detailed in Table 1 of this report; and,

 

1.3.          To agree subject to the requirement to comply with the provisions of Part 4G of the Constitution in taking delegated decisions, and the parameters previously approved in the March 2021 Cabinet report ‘Delivering the Growth Zone’ delegate to the Corporate Director of Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery in consultation with the Chief Finance Officer (Section 151) and the Cabinet Member for Planning and Regeneration authority to make necessary changes to the funding assigned to Sub Groups as outlined in Table 1.