Agenda and minutes

Councillor Connolly declared a personal interest in any matters relating to the fact that his partner is employed by Persona Care and Support Ltd (Local Authority Trading Company).

A period of thirty minutes was allocated for any members of the public present at the meeting to ask questions about the work or performance of the Council or Council services.  

Topic: Proposed Leisure Complex – Radcliffe

Question: Can Cabinet Members promise today that you will have the total funding to meet the cost of the new proposed Leisure Complex with civic facilities and if so, where will the money be coming from?

Response: The Council has capital funding available for a new build facility. What will be critical to the proposal is the outcome of the public consultation to determine what facilities the complex could provide and the amount the Council will need to borrow, the costs of repayments and the revenue that can be generated. This will be set out in the business plan as the proposal is developed.

Topic: Borough Civic Venues

Question: It has been reported that the financial loss of all of the Borough’s Civic Venues is £300,000. How much of that sum of money has been incurred by Radcliffe Civic Hall alone?

Response: The subsidy for Radcliffe Civic Hall is £128,000, however the Council has not just considered this factor in isolation and has looked at the future of the Civic Hall as a sustainable Council asset.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2015.

Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 November 2015 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing submitted a report informing Members of the Council’s financial position for the period April to September 2015 and projections for the estimated outturn at the end of 2015/16. The report also provided Prudential Indicators in accordance with CIPFA’s Prudential Code.

Delegated decision:

1.   That the financial position of the Council as at 30 September 2015 be noted.

2.   That approval the s151 officer’s assessment of the minimum level of balances.

Reason for the decision:

The report has been prepared in accordance with the Council’s Financial Regulations relating to budget monitoring.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendations.

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing submitted a report seeking approval to amend the current grants-only policy for awards made from the Homeless Rescue Fund (HRF).

The change, which does not alter eligibility or the type of support provided, will enable the Council to ‘loan’ money to qualifying households as well as continue to award grants depending on the applicant’s financial prospects and ability to pay.

Delegated decisions:

That approval be given to the minor change to the way the Homeless Rescue Fund is operated as detailed in the report submitted. 

Reasons for the decision:

The HRF is a useful tool in this respect as it enables households to overcome the small problems that lead to homelessness. The changes to the policy allow the recovery of payments in certain circumstances, which is a positive move. Recycling money makes the HRF more sustainable and enables more households to be assisted – in keeping with the Council’s Vision, Purpose and Values of supporting vulnerable people.

Other option considered and rejected:

Retain the existing policy – which will result in the Fund running out of money sooner.

To consider the minutes of meetings of the AGMA Executive Board and Greater Manchester Combined Authority held on 30 October 2015

Delegated decision:

That the minutes of the meetings of the Association of Greater Manchester Authorities and Greater Manchester Combined Authority held on 30 October 2015 be noted.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing submitted a report providing a Mid-Year review of Treasury Management.

The report has been prepared in compliance with CIPFA’s Code of Practice, and covered the following:

·         An economic update for the 2015/16 financial year to 30 September 2015;

·         A review of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy;

·         The Council’s capital expenditure (prudential indicators);

·         A review of the Council’s investment portfolio for 2015/16;

·         A review of the Council’s borrowing strategy for 2015/16;

·         A review of any debt rescheduling undertaken during 2015/16;

·         A review of compliance with Treasury and Prudential Limits for 2015/16;

·         A review of the Council’s MRP (Minimum Revenue Provision) Policy.

Delegated decision:

That the report be noted.

Recommendation to Council:

That approval be given to amend the 2015/16 Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement to enable the Council to provide for Minimum Revenue Provision on previously supported General Fund borrowing at 2% in equal annual instalments over a 50 year period commencing 1 April 2015, subject to confirmation with the Council’s External Auditors.

Reason for the decision:

The review has been produced in accordance with the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice.

Other option considered and rejected:

To reject the recommendations.

               (The Chair agreed to the consideration of the item under urgent business for the reason that a decision was required before the date of the next meeting of Cabinet)

Delegated decision:

That in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972,      the press and public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as detailed in the condition of category 9.

The Cabinet Member for Children, Families and Culture and the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance and Housing submitted a report seeking approval to making a self-funding capital contribution to the refurbishment costs of The Met.

Bury Metropolitan Arts Association (BMAA) is the Council’s longstanding tenant of The Met Arts Centre, Market Street, Bury.

BMAA have developed ambitious plans for the comprehensive refurbishment of The Met that combines the upgrading of the fabric and decoration of the building with the creation of new facilities. This is designed to make The Met more self-sustainable in the future. It is expected that the balance of the scheme costs will be met by a significant grant from the Arts Council and external contributions.

Delegated decisions:

1.  That approval be given the making of a capital contribution to the refurbishment costs, the monies to be ring fenced to those items which will improve the value of this Council owned building.

2.  That approval be given to the granting of a new 30 year lease of The Met and the Edwin Street recording studio to the Bury Metropolitan Arts Association and that delegated authority be given to the Chief Executive and Head of Property Services, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, to agree the detailed terms.

Reasons for the decision:

The proposed refurbishment will significantly improve the Council’s building, making it more sustainable in the future and will reduce the running costs.  It will also lever in significant external funding. The refurbishment will significantly increase audience capacity and the overall attractiveness of The Met as a key asset to Bury Town Centre. 

Other options considered and rejected:

1.  To make a smaller capital contribution, although this would require the refurbishment scheme to be scaled back.

2.  Not to make any capital contribution.