Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Peter Wilson (Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance). 

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 15 August 2013 (enclosed). 

RESOLVED - The minutes of the meeting of the Executive Cabinet held on 15 August 2013 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Executive Leader.

Members are reminded of their responsibility to declare any pecuniary interest in respect of matters contained in this agenda.

If you have a pecuniary interest you must withdraw from the meeting. Normally you should leave the room before the business starts to be discussed. You do, however, have the same right to speak as a member of the public and may remain in the room to enable you to exercise that right and then leave immediately. In either case you must not seek to improperly influence a decision on the matter.

No Members declared an interest in respect of items on the agenda.

Members of the public who have requested the opportunity to ask a question(s) on an item(s) on the agenda will have three minutes to put their question(s) to the respective Executive Member(s).  Each member of the public will be allowed to ask one short supplementary question. 

The Executive Leader reported that there had been no requests from members of the public to speak on any of the meeting’s agenda items.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive (enclosed). 

1.         Recommendation approved.

2.         Recommendation approved.

The Executive Leader presented a report which updated Members on the progress of the budget investment item to develop a Credit Union.  The report also provided the proposed governance arrangements for ongoing monitoring.

The report set out the monitoring information which would track performance, including the number of members joining from within Chorley, the value of income generated by all loans and the amount of savings generated by members.

145 new members had joined since the opening of the shop on Market Street early August.  This was excellent progress as the target for the year was 315 new members.  The number of smart loans was also exceeding targets.

In response to a query it was noted that an outreach service was planned.  This would be encouraged through volunteering and the SPICE project, which was one of the reasons why the governance arrangements were proposed.

After three years it was projected that the credit union would be self-sufficient.  These figures were based on the experiences of the credit union in Wigan and Leigh.  Partner organisations were being approached to input into the credit union as this kind of organisation could help people before they present requiring assistance.

Decision made

That the governance arrangements set out below are implemented to monitor the progress of Chorley’s Credit Union towards self sustainability.

1.      A committee be set up to monitor the progress of delivery -‘Chorley’s Credit Union Governance Group’ will be established.  The remit of this group will be to monitor progress against the contract and the business development plan.  The representation will be;

a.        Chorley Council, Chief Executive

b.        Chorley Council, Executive Member for Resources, Policy and Performance

c.        Unify Credit Union, General Manager

d.        Unify Credit Union, Board representative

e.        Contour Homes officer representative

f.          Accent officer representative

2.      The representation of this group includes representatives from the two housing providers who have made financial contributions to the set-up of the Credit Union, Contour Homes and Accent at a total contribution of £3000 each over three years. In return for this contribution they will receive preferential benefits for their tenants.

Reason(s) for decision

The recommendation is proposed to enable the Council to monitor the delivery of the £150,000 investment made into Chorley’s Credit Union and to ensure that it is self-sustainable by the end of the three year investment period.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

Not to implement governance arrangements would mean that the Council does not have the ability to clearly manage and monitor progress of the Credit Union.

To receive and consider the report of the Director of Partnerships, Planning and Policy (enclosed). 

Recommendation approved.

The Executive Member (LDF and Planning) presented a report requesting the adoption of an instalments policy associated with the implementation of CIL.

Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) was a new charge on some forms of built development; it allowed a charging authority to levy a charge on owners or developers carrying out built development so that they contribute to the costs of providing the infrastructure needed to support development of the area.

It would fund infrastructure projects such as transport, education, leisure and health which were set out in a published list known as a Regulation 123 list.  The levy would be charged at a rate of pounds per square metre, based upon net additional internal floorspace of any given development for uses identified in the Charging Schedule.

Although CIL would replace Section 106 in terms of ‘off site infrastructure’ associated with new built developments, S106 would still apply particularly in relation to larger schemes to mitigate the impacts of that specific development subject to certain tests.

Decision made

That the Instalments Policy as set out in Appendix 1 of this report be adopted by the authority with CIL charging commencing from 1September 2013.

Reason(s) for decision

The DCLG CIL Regulations 2013 allow a charging authority to set its own payment deadlines and/or offer the option of paying by instalments.  If it wishes to do this it must publish an instalments policy on its website.  The majority of authorities that have adopted CIL have adopted such a policy.  The policy will support developers bringing forward new schemes.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.

To consider the exclusion of the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

Recommendation approved.

RESOLVED – To exclude the press and public for the following items of business on the ground that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972.

To receive and consider the report of the Chief Executive (enclosed). 

Recommendation approved. 

The Executive Member (Resources, Policy and Performance) presented a report which provided an update on the performance of the council’s key partnership arrangements.

The report was produced in accordance with the requirements of the council’s key partnerships framework.  It informed Members of the performance of the council’s key partnerships against targets set for the current year and any emerging issues including whether the contract was on budget or was subject to any overspend or underspend of budget.  It also included an assessment of the key partner’s financial strength and stability.

Overall performance of all of the key partnerships was good and the financial assessments of the partnerships were positive with the financial standing of all key partnerships either remaining the same or improving.

Decision made

That the report be noted.

Reason(s) for decision

To ensure effective monitoring of the councils key partnerships.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

No alternative options considered.