Decisions

Decision:

(1)        To note the emerging position against the 2022/23 budget and the impact on the Council’s finances in future years.

(2)        To approve the high-level action plan set out in the report and to identify any further measures that should be taken.

(3)        To instruct officers to undertake a comprehensive mid-year review of the 2022/23 budget and to present this, and a revised Medium Term Financial Plan, to Council at its meeting on 6 December 2022.

Reason(s):

To ensure councillors are aware of the emerging  budget pressures.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

The intention of the report was to collate and track progress of all recommendations made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to the Executive throughout the year, and to log the Executive decisions on the submitted matters.

The Executive noted the report and that there had been no updates since the previous meeting.

The minutes of the meeting held 25 August 2022 were confirmed as a correct record. The Chairman signed the minutes.

Decision:

That the Executive recommends to Council (11 October 2022):

(1)        That the Council agrees to establish jointly with Waverley Borough Council a Joint Independent Remuneration Panel to conduct a review and make recommendations to each council on their respective scheme of allowances for councillors in 2023.

(2)        That the draft terms of reference of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel, attached as Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive, be approved.

(3)        That, subject to confirmation of their continued eligibility for appointment, Vivienne Cameron, Dennis Frost, and Gordon Manickam be appointed to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel for a period of up to four years commencing with the 2023-24 municipal year.

(4)        That the Joint Executive Head of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to advertise for candidates from the general public and a wide range of organisations, including the local business community and voluntary organisations, for the appointment of up to two other members of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel to serve for a period of up to four years commencing with the 2023-24 municipal year, and together with the Leaders and Deputy Leaders of both councils to shortlist, interview, and recommend for selection up to two nominees for appointment to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel.

(5)        That the nominees for appointment to the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel referred to in paragraph (4) above be subject to formal approval by the Council at its full council meeting in February 2023.

(6)       That the honorarium to be paid to each Panel member be set at £1,500, the cost of which shall be divided equally between the two councils.

(7)        That the proposed timetable for appointment of the Joint Independent Remuneration Panel and review of Guildford’s allowances set out in paragraph 4.13 of the report, be approved.

(8)       That provision be made in the 2023-24 revenue budget of £6,200 for the review of councillors’ allowances.

(9)       That the Joint Monitoring Officer be authorised to make all arrangements for the establishment and appointment of future independent remuneration panels, including approval of terms of reference, honoraria for panel members, and timetables for appointment and reviews of allowances.

Reason:

To comply with the requirements of The Local Authorities (Members’ Allowances) (England) Regulations 2003.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

That the Executive recommends to Council (11 October 2022):

That the proposed timetable of Council and Committee meetings for the 2023-24 municipal year, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive, be adopted.

Reason:

To assist with the preparation of individual committee work programmes.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

None

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

That the revised Regulatory Enforcement Policy, as set out in Appendix 1 to the report submitted to the Executive, be adopted.

Reason(s):

The policy provides a clear framework for the way the Council undertakes its regulatory functions and is in line with The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 which advocates that enforcement should be carried out in a transparent, accountable, proportionate and consistent manner that is targeted only where action is needed

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

·         To amend the revised policy

·         To reject the revised policy; and retain the policy agreed in 2018.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

(1)        To endorse the Stage 2 Shaping Guildford’s Future report and approve proceeding to Stage 3.

(2)        To approve the transfer of £3.070 million from the provisional to the approved capital programme to enable the Council to deliver Stage 3 of the programme.

(3)        To authorise the Joint Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, to finalise Heads of Terms, Memorandums of Understanding, Terms of Reference, negotiate, sign and complete legal agreements relating to the Shaping Guildford’s Future programme.

(4)        To authorise the Joint Strategic Director of Place, in Consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, to enter into contracts and legal agreements connected with the Shaping Guildford’s Future project as may be necessary at reasonable costs within the approved budget.

(5)        To authorise the Joint Strategic Director of Place, in consultation with the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, to review all governance arrangements in relation to the Shaping Guildford’s Future programme.

Reason(s):

·       To support the delivery of the Council’s Corporate Plan (2021-2025) priorities, by delivering a proactive strategy to address the economic and physical constraints facing the town.

·       To ensure that governance arrangements around the Shaping Guildford’s Future programme remain fit for purpose

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

OPTION 1: To not endorse the programme and cease work, thereby delaying the delivery of a strategy to support the economic regeneration of Guildford town centre which requires flooding remediation currently blighting major sites. However, it is likely that without such a strategy, sites will remain undeveloped, or development will come forward in an uncoordinated manner and fail to address the substantial existing constraints; and deliver the overarching objectives and greater benefits achievable through a masterplan approach. If the project is abandoned, there would be £2.1m “sunk costs” to be written off.

OPTION 2: To commit the secured SCC grant funding to progress with the Environment Agency Flood Alleviation Scheme feasibility work only. However, without the progression of the wider masterplan work, sites will remain undeveloped, and it would be challenging for the Council to apply for additional grant funding to complement EA funding to support the delivery of the FAS. The broader development potential associated with the flood alleviation work would also not be realised.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

Decision:

(1)      To endorse the Experience Guildford BID Business Plan 2023-28, as set out in Appendix 2 to the report submitted to the Executive .

(2)      To use the Council’s 27 votes to vote in favour of the proposal to renew the experience Guildford Business Improvement District (BID) for Guildford town centre for 2023-2028.

(3)      To delegate the decision to vote in the BID ballot to the Leader of the Council.

(4)      To note the Council’s business rates levy of £38,289 per annum for 2023-28, to be accommodated within the existing overall budget.

Reason(s):

To secure the long-term economic prosperity of the Town Centre and to continue the effective management partnership developed over the previous 10 years.

Other options considered and rejected by the Executive:

To vote against the renewal of the BID.

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

The minutes of the meeting held 23 June 2022 were approved as a correct record. The Chairman signed the minutes.

Decision:

To delegate authority to the Joint Strategic Director of Transformation and Governance in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Leader of the Council the power to take all steps necessary to implement the winding-up of Guildford Borough Council Holdings Limited and to enter all agreements necessary to enable this matter to be completed.

Reason:

To fulfil the Council’s corporate governance duties in respect of its subsidiary company.

Other options considered and rejected by the Committee:

To not approve the proposed winding up of GBCH

Details of any conflict of interest declared by the Leader or lead councillors and any dispensation granted:

None.

To approve the transfer of the land and buildings known as East Horsley Bowls Club, St Martins Close, East Horsley, KT24 6SU to the Council Housing Revenue Account (HRA), following the tenants surrendering their lease and the property being declared surplus.

The property was originally residential housing before being converted to a community building. It is to be sold to the HRA, by way of internal transfer, for the purposes of being returned to residential use.

The bowls green will be retained and landscaped for the benefit of local residents.

The building has been independently valued at £340,000

In accordance with the Council’s General Disposal Consent powers, this transaction provides the ‘best consideration reasonably obtainable’.

If you have any queries, then please contact Damien Cannell who will be happy to provide further information.  This issue was first published on the Forward Plan: Issue details - Transfer of General Fund Property to the Housing Revenue Account - Guildford Borough Council