Decisions

To consider an exempt report on the tenders received for the Planned and Reactive Repairs Managed Service contract.

Cabinet considered a report to approve the reserves policy and to note the restatement of useable reserves as at 1 January 2021.

Cabinet noted that the Council needs to restate the Useable Reserves as at 31 December 2020 to the Useable Reserves as at 1 January 2021 which will reflect and realign the Council’s General Fund reserves with its strategic goals for the next three years.

Resolved to approve the Reserves Policy as part of its Outline Budget Strategy and to note the restatement of reserves as at 1 January 2021.

Reason for decision:

On 21 May 2020, the Council agreed to utilise £2.2 million of the Council’s useable reserves to support taxpayers and businesses in the Borough through the pandemic, this was before any formal Government announcements on financial support.

Having subsequently received additional Government support towards its COVID response the Council is forecasting that it only needs to utilise £0.7 million to support the current financial year and, subject to any further impact on the Council between January and March 2021, the Council will be looking to review its earlier decision and return £1.5 million to an earmarked COVID support reserve. 

Cabinet considered a report on the determination of the 2021/2022 Council Tax Base for tax setting.

Section 67 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 requires the Council to

determine and approve its Council Tax Base for the following financial year before 31 January each year.

Resolved that:

1.    The gross Council Tax Base for 2021/22 is determined at 40,223.0 after taking account of the Council’s agreed Council Tax Support Scheme.

2.    The net Council Tax Base for 2021/22 calculated as Band D equivalents, is determined at 39,016.3 after adjustment by 3% to allow for irrecoverable amounts, appeals and property base changes.

Reason for decision: The Council Tax Base for 2021/22 has been calculated in accordance withthe prescribed guidelines.

Cabinet considered the recommendations contained in the report from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the Lendy Memorial Lion petition.

The Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, Councillor Leighton , informed the Cabinet that Council had asked the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to look into the Lendy Memorial Lion petition in detail after it received a lot of resident support. Councillor Leighton explained that the officers report contained two recommendations, the second regarding a letter of support for two academics to undertake further research, however, she had wanted to discuss each recommendation separately as primarily the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been asked to recommend a course of action regarding the memorial and the Committee felt there should be no delay in addressing this as residents had made it clear that they wished for the memorial to be uncovered. 

Councillor Leighton explained that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee were satisfied that the Council had established the credentials of Mr Doyle, an investigative journalist who had provided the Council with a detailed background to the memorial and the Lendy brothers but that the provenance of the academics had been queried as their credentials had not been validated.

Councillor Leighton concluded that whilst the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had unanimously agreed with recommendation 1, they had been divided on recommendation 2 with seven members voting for, five against and two choosing to abstain.

The Leader allowed Councillor Sider to address the Committee as Armed Forces Champion. Councillor Sider echoed Councillor Leighton adding that he had sought information on the background of the academics and had been concerned that some of the tweets associated with them did not appear to be unbiased. Councillor Sider requested that Cabinet support recommendation 1 but reject recommendation 2.

Resolved that:

i.        The Council supports the views of residents, as expressed in the petition. The statue should immediately be uncovered and left in place.

ii.        The Council provides at the site a plaque containing historical information, with more detailed information available, for example through a QR code.

iii.        The Council works with local informed sources and their wealth of information so other suggestions for ensuring access to detailed background information can be pursued, such as a booklet in the Embroidery Gallery and the involvement of the well-respected local history society.

Reason for decision:

The Council has listened to the views of its residents who have made it clear that they wish the memorial to be uncovered and left in situ for residents and visitors to enjoy.

The Council believes it is important to provide residents and visitors to the borough with access to historical information about the brothers and the  memorials heritage and believes that a wealth of information is already available and thus the Council does not believe it is necessary to write a letter of support for the academics to receive funding for further research.

Cabinet considered a report on the Outline Budget for the period 2021-22 to 2024-25.

Resolved to:

1.    Agree the net budgeted expenditure (before investment and use of reserves) for 2021-22 be set at a maximum level of £22.1m; and

2.    Support the overall strategy set out in the report for addressing efficiencies and achieving medium term financial sustainability.

Reason for Decision:

Cabinet were satisfied that the report set out the parameters in which a detailed balance for 2021-22 could be worked up and put forward an updated Medium Term Financial Strategy designed to respond to the challenges of COVID-19.

On 10 December 2020 Council agreed a Motion that Cabinet

consider a Moratorium on development in Staines-upon-Thames.

Cabinet was asked to make a decision on:

1.    Whether any proposed development of Staines Town Centre by Spelthorne Borough Council should be kept on hold until the Staines Development Framework has been adopted; and

2.    Whether Developers of Major applications proposed in the Staines Town Centre should be requested to defer their applications until the Staines Development Framework is adopted.

Cabinet considered a report which set out the background and reason for the Motion and provided a detailed analysis of the severe implications the moratorium would have if agreed.

Cabinet noted that the Council had no power to direct Developers to defer their applications and that the Council had already written to some and had received negative responses.

Cabinet discussed the report and expressed concern that a Moratorium on development in Staines-upon-Thames would have a severe impact on the Council’s revenue budget and delivery of much needed affordable housing.

Cabinet agreed that it was important that the Council listen to the views of all residents to ensure the right balance was struck between delivering affordable housing and meeting the needs of the wider community. This would be achieved through an Issues and Options consultation exercise.

Cabinet expressed the view that the Council needed to ensure that decisions were made in an open and transparent way with members having oversight of development projects at all key stages, through a cross-party sub-committee of the proposed Policy and Resources Committee as agreed at Extraordinary Council held on 21 January.

Cabinet agreed that they would like the assets team to critically review the viability of all development projects in Staines-upon-Thames to see if there was scope to amend any of the schemes whilst ensuring they remain financially viable.

Alternative options considered and rejected by Cabinet:

• To put on hold proposed Council developments of Staines Town Centre until the Staines Development Framework has been adopted.

• To proceed, without delay, with proposed Council developments of Staines Town Centre.

Resolved: That a Moratorium on Council schemes in Staines-Upon-Thames should take place until such time as three things take place, with the intention that these will be completed prior to the Annual Council meeting in May 2021;

1.    That the Strategic Planning team undertake an Issues and Options consultation exercise for the Staines Development Framework.

2.    That a sub-committee, which was agreed at Extraordinary Council on 21 January 2021, is included in the recommendations of the Committee System Working Group to be reported to Extraordinary Council, currently scheduled for 25 March 2021.

3.    That the viability of all the developments are reviewed by the assets team.

Reasons for Decision:

The Council will have the opportunity to pause, reflect, realign, and listen to residents’ views without the severe consequences a two-year delay would bring.

The Council will reach its decisions with more transparency and accountability and seek to achieve balance between the Borough’s housing need and the wider wishes of the local community.