Agenda and decisions

To receive apologies for absence from Cabinet Members who are unable to attend this meeting.

To approve the Minutes of the Meetings of the Cabinet held on 26 July 2022 and 9 August 2022.

RESOLVED - That the Minutes of the Meetings held on 26 July 2022 and 9 August 2022 be approved as a correct record.

Cabinet Members will be asked to advise if there are any items on the Agenda in which they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, which would prevent them from participating in any discussion or participating in a vote upon the item, or any other interests.

Most agenda items will be considered in public session, however, it shall be advised whether Cabinet will consider any matters in private, by virtue of the reports containing information which falls within a category of exempt information as contained at Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

The Cabinet will receive any petitions and hear any deputations from members of the public. A deputation is where up to five people can attend the meeting and make a presentation on some particular issue of concern. A member of the public can also hand in a petition at the meeting but that petition should relate to something on which the body has powers and responsibilities.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10 (2), Members of the Public should provide at least 24 hours’ notice of presenting a deputation.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 11(5), the period allowed for the asking and answering of public questions shall not exceed 15 minutes.

Cabinet will receive any questions from Elected Members.

In accordance with Executive Procedure Rule 2.3 (2.3.1.6) a period of up to 30 minutes will be allocated.

To determine the approach to the annual update of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP).

Wards affected: All

Officer: James Anderson, Head of Accountancy

RESOLVED - That the report be referred to the meeting of Council on 7 September 2022 with a recommendation that;

1)    The funding and spend assumptions informing the updated budget forecasts as set out in the report, including the minimum usable reserve requirement advised by the S151 officer, being £47m (para 2.2.7 refers), and the budget gap figures (para 1.3.9 refers), be noted.

2)    That the current and forecast earmarked reserves and general balances as set out at Appendix A be noted.

3)    That approval be given to the financial planning framework (section 1.3 refers) for the general fund revenue and Housing Revenue Account (section 1.9 refers).

4)    That approval be given to the financial planning framework for general fund and HRA capital (section 1.10 refers).

5)    That the corporate budget timetable, as set out at Appendix D to the report, refers.

6)    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive and Leader of the Council, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Corporate portfolio holder, to consider expression of interest to continue to participate in the Leeds City Region business rate pool for 2023/2024, by the Government deadline of 22 September 2022.

7)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Environment and Climate Change) in consultation with the Cabinet Member (Corporate Services), the Service Director (Finance) and the Service Director (Legal, Governance and Commissioning), to conclude contract negotiations and, on behalf of the Council, enter into a new contractual arrangement in a timely manner for Council electricity supplies either directly or through a preferred broker, from 1 April 2023 onwards. (Delegated authority is requested to (i) re-procure the Council’s electricity supply contract via a call off from a framework from an established central purchasing body and (ii) grant authority to award a contract for the Council’s electricity supply from April 2023).

8)    That authority be delegated to the Strategic Director (Corporate Strategy, Commissioning and Public Health) to agree the approach to budget consultation and relevant timescales in consultation with the Cabinet Member (Corporate Services).