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ANGUS COUNCIL
MINUTE of MEETING of the FINANCE AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY COMMITTEE held in the Town and County Hall, Forfar on Tuesday 3 December 1996 at 4.10 pm.
Present: Councillors ALEX KING, JOHN C GIBB, GEORGE ALLAN, IAN HUDGHTON, IAN MACKINTOSH, GLENNIS MIDDLETON, WILLIAM MIDDLETON, BRIAN M C MILNE, STEWART M MOWATT, ROB MURRAY, Mrs KATHLEEN M RITCHIE and RICHARD SPEIRS.
Councillor KING, Convener, in the Chair.
1. MINUTE OF PREVIOUS MEETING
The minute of the meeting of this Committee of 22 October 1996 was approved as a correct record and signed by the Convener.
2. ANGUS DISTRICT COUNCIL ANNUAL REPORT 1995/96
There was submitted Report No 904/96 by the Director of Finance, along with the final Report by the External Auditor to members and to the Controller of Audit in respect of the final Annual Report for Angus District Council for 1995/96.
The Committee noted and accepted the Annual Report for 1995/96 for Angus District Council and further noted that the matters raised by the External Auditor had been, or would be, fully acted upon.
3. HOUSING CAPITAL PROGRAMME HRA BLOCK
There was submitted Report No 1022/96 by the Director of Finance on the Housing Capital Programme HRA Block for 1996/97 including the latest estimates for the year and spend figures to the end of October.
The Committee agreed to approve the particular issues as set out in paragraph 3.4 of the Report and as reflected in the Schedule attached as Appendix A thereto, and thereafter approved the estimate and spend figures as presented.
4. CAPITAL MONITORING COMPOSITE CAPITAL PROGRAMME
With reference to Article 5 of the minute of the meeting of Policy and Resources Committee of 7 May 1996, there was submitted Report No 1050/96 by the Director of Finance on the actual capital expenditure incurred for the period 1 April to 31 October 1996 and detailing projected capital expenditure against budgeted provision for the year.
The Committee noted that as at 31 October 1996 capital expenditure was in line with budget estimates and that projections of the year-end position would be reported to the Committee on a regular basis.
5. RENEWAL AND REPAIRS PROPERTY FUND 1996/97 POSITION AS AT 31 OCTOBER 1996
There was submitted Report No 1004/96 by the Director of Finance on the financial position of the Renewal and Repairs Property Fund as at 31 October 1996, which showed an estimated balance available of £368,500, although a future call of £50,000 had been identified.
The Committee noted the contents of the Report.
6. REVENUE MONITORING STATEMENT
There was submitted Report No 1033/96 by the Director of Finance detailing the actual revenue expenditure incurred and income received in respect of the Council’s departments for the period 1 April to 31 October 1996.
The Committee, for its interest, noted the contents of the Report.
7. REVENUE BUDGET OUTTURN 1996/97
There was submitted Report No 1034/96 by the Director of Finance updating the Committee on the Council’s projected financial position to the end of this current financial year.
The Committee, for its interest, noted the contents of the Report.
8. REVENUE BUDGET 1997/98 FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS OF ANTICIPATED GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT
There was submitted Report No 1062/96 by the Director of Finance advising the Committee of the recent Scottish Office correspondence in relation to the 1997/98 local government finance settlement, following the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s budget announcements on 26 November 1996.
Reference was made to the intention to retain Council Tax capping, including speculation of the probable limit and the effects this would have, and the requirement to make savings of approximately £6 million over and above the £9 million savings identified last year. Notwithstanding these, it was still anticipated that a substantial increase in the Council Tax would be needed.
With regard to the changes to the Capital Receipts Rules, Councillor Ellis, Convener of the Housing Committee, explained the implications of the Government’s announcement that authorities would be required to use 75% of their Capital Receipts from Council house sales to repay Housing Revenue Account debt, and the effect this would have on the work currently being carried out to upgrade and maintain the Council’s housing stock.
After a full discussion, the Committee agreed:-
(i) to note the contents of the Report;
(ii) to note that Council Tax capping would remain in place for the 1997/98 financial year;
(iii) to invite Michael Forsyth, Secretary of State for Scotland and Raymond Robertson, the Housing Minister, and representatives from the Building Federation, Trade Unions, Chamber of Commerce and Small Businesses, to an urgent meeting with Angus Council members and officers to highlight the critical implications of the recent unilateral announcement by the Government to divert 75% of Capital Receipts from HRA Account away from reinvestment in Council housing with effect from 1 April 1997;
(iv) to request a further Report to the next Council meeting on the statement being made by the Secretary of State in the week commencing 9 December 1996; and
(v) to note that the non-domestic rate poundage had been set by the Secretary of State at 45.8p for financial year 1997/98.
9. SHERIFF OFFICERS EXTENSION OF CONTRACTS
With reference to Article 2 of the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 8 November 1995 there was submitted Report No 1051/96 by the Director of Finance seeking approval to enter into negotiations with the firms of Sheriff Officers presently employed by the Council with a view to extending their current contracts for one further year from 1 April 1997.
The Committee agreed to authorise the Director of Finance to enter into negotiations as described above.
10. COLLECTION OF COUNCIL TAX AND COMMUNITY CHARGE UPDATE
With reference to Article 4 of the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 11 June 1996 there was submitted Report No 1052/96 by the Director of Finance on the present position with regard to the collection of outstanding Council Tax and Community Charge payments.
The Committee agreed to note the contents of the Report.
11. COASTAL EROSION MONTROSE AND MILTON MILL, MONIFIETH PROPOSED FUNDING ARRANGEMENTS
With reference to Articles 15 and 6 of the minutes of the meetings of the Recreation and Cultural Services and Roads Committees of 21 and 28 November 1996 respectively, there was submitted Report No 1059/96 by the Director of Finance detailing the proposed funding arrangements in respect of coastal erosion problems at Milton Mill, Monifieth and at Montrose Beach.
After hearing Councillor Mrs Ritchie on the situation at Montrose, the Committee agreed:-
(i) to meet the estimated £30,000 costs for emergency works necessary at Milton Mill, Monifieth from the overall 1996/97 Capital Budget provision; and
(ii) to refer consideration of the estimated £50,000 costs for the environmental impact study at Montrose Beach to the meeting of the Council on 19 December, in order to allow discussions to take place with Montrose Links Trust, as the Council’s tenant, to ascertain whether they would be willing to assist by part-funding the study.
12. EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS
The Committee resolved that the public and press should be excluded during consideration of the following item so as to avoid the possible disclosure of exempt information as defined in Part 1 of Schedule 7A to the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973, Paragraphs 6, 8 and 9.
13. GENERAL SERVICES RE-ALLOCATION OF FUNDING WITHIN PROPERTY SERVICES CAPITAL PROGRAMME
With reference to Articles 13 and 17 of the minute of the meeting of this Committee of 3 September 1996, there was submitted Report No 1047/96 by the Director of Property Services detailing proposed additional works to be undertaken within the Bruce House Phase II project and proposing that funds be transferred within the 1996/97 Capital Budget provision.
The Committee agreed:-
(i) to approve the provision of facilities as an extension to the existing contract at an estimated additional cost of £24,000;
(ii) to note the revised estimated total cost of £461,000 (at outturn prices);
(iii) to approve funding of the additional works as follows:-
(a) virement of £22,000 identified against Access/HQ Buildings within the General Services Programme in the 1996/97 Capital Estimates per the Final Revenue and Capital Budgets volume; and
(b) £2,000 from the Education Department Revenue Budget; and
(iv) to note that the additional revenue expenditure arising from this additional work was limited to loan charges which amounted to approximately £2,600 per annum, calculated over 20 years (first full year 1998/99).