Agenda and minutes

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 11 December 2018 as a correct record.

The minutes of the Cabinet meeting held on 11 December 2018 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive any disclosures of interest from councillors in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct for members.

There were none.

To receive any announcements from the Leader.

The following are the latest service updates from various Council departments.

Christmas events and initiatives included:

·         A Christmas lunch for carers

·         Gifts for meals on wheels customers

·         Lantern parade in Stanwell

·         Funding provided to help replace the Rotary Club Christmas float

·         Christmas Glow badminton event

Also in December, a Pride of Spelthorne award ceremony was held in recognition of the people who give their time and commitment to a variety of organisations, charities and local Groups.

The Council promoted its environmental contributions in 2018 including adding solar panels to day centres, replacing plastic cups with paper cups for visitors and meetings, and making the Knowle Green building more energy efficient by replacing windows and lighting.

Property investment FAQs have been added to the website and social media accounts to explain the reasons behind the strategy and what is enabling us to achieve.

January 2019

The Council sent comprehensive responses to Surrey County Council’s recent consultations which propose changes to children’s centres, concessionary bus fares, Special Educational needs and disability (SEND), libraries and cultural services, and community recycling centres (CRCs). We realize that the County Council is facing unprecedented financial pressure, however cuts should not be at the expense of the most vulnerable in our communities and the County needs to flesh out their proposals so that residents understand the full implications.

The Council is urging residents to respond to Heathrow’s latest consultation on proposed changes to airspace and future operations. People need to be aware that changes to airspace will have an impact on the whole Borough, not just those towns and villages closest to the airport, and includes proposals to change the existingairport operations regardlessof whether or not the airport gets a third runway. This includes a proposal for an additional 25,000 flights and the areas where flight paths could be positioned.

Spelthorne Borough Council has been working with Runnymede Council and Metropolitan Housing to improve the CCTV coverage in Sunbury with new cameras being installed at Spelthorne Grove and Sunbury Cross roundabout. There are further plans to improve CCTV coverage in other parts of the Borough.

Expected to be completed by early February, Clare Road shopping parade is the latest area to benefit from improvements following completion of works to the shopping parades in Edinburgh Drive and Groveley Road. Works to improve Woodlands Parade, Ashford are expected to start in mid-February.

Councillor H. R. Williams

To consider the Treasury Management Strategy for 2019/20 and recommend it to Council for approval.

Cabinet considered a report on the Treasury Management Strategy Statement 2019/20 which the Council is required to approve before the start of each financial year.

The Council had taken advice from its Treasury advisers, Arlingclose, to ensure a prudent and robust approach in the Strategy, which considers the external financial context and provides information on the local context in terms of current investment and borrowing.

Resolved to recommend that Council approves the proposed Treasury Management Strategy for 2019/20 as set out in this report.

Reason for the decision:

The Treasury Management Strategy is fundamental to developing the financial sustainability of the Council.

To note an urgent action undertaken by the Chief Executive.

On 28 November 2018 the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader, agreed a letting within the Thames Tower, Reading. This is not a Key Decision. The matter was considered as an urgent action because the lease had to be signed before the Cabinet was next due to meet.

Cabinet noted that on 28 November 2018, the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader, agreed a letting within the Thames Tower, Reading. This was not a Key Decision.

The matter was considered as an urgent action because the lease had to be signed before the Cabinet was next due to meet.

To consider any items which the Chairman considers as urgent.

There were none.

To move the exclusion of the Press/Public for the following item, in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006.

Resolved to move the exclusion of the Press and Public for the following item in view of the likely disclosure of exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information)

(Variation) Order 2006.

Councillor I.T.E. Harvey

To receive an update on progress with the acquisition of a property for financial and asset investment purposes.

Reason for exemption

This report contains exempt information within the meaning of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, as amended by the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and by the Local Government (Access to information) (Variation) Order 2006 Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information) and in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information because, disclosure to the public would prejudice the financial position of the authority in the bidding process for the site by allowing other bidders to know the position of the Council.  This in turn prejudices the Council by (i) distorting the bids process and (ii) prejudicing the opportunity for the Council to acquire a site through the Council for the prudent management of its financial affairs and provision of housing.

Paragraph 3 – Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)

Cabinet received an exempt report providing an update on progress with an investment acquisition.

Resolved to note the update on an investment acquisition.