Agenda and minutes

All members were present.

To confirm and sign as a correct record the minutes of the Cabinet (Capital Assets) Committee meeting held on 22 July 2014.

The minutes of the meeting of the Capital Assets Committee held on 22 July 2014 were presented. In response to a question from a member of the public regarding accuracy, Councillor Sturgis stated that he was content that the minutes accurately reflected what was said. The meeting noted that minutes are not a verbatim record but are a summary of the discussion ahead of formal recording of decisions.

Resolved:

To approve as a correct record and sign the minutes of the meeting held

on 22 July 2014.

There were no leaders announcements.

To receive any declarations of disclosable interests or dispensations granted by the Standards Committee.

There were no declarations of interest.

The Council welcomes contributions from members of the public. This meeting is open to the public, who may ask a question or make a statement. Questions can also be asked by members of the Council. Written notice of questions or statements should be given to Will Oulton of Democratic Services by 12.00 noon on Thursday 11 September 2014. Anyone wishing to ask a question or make a statement should contact the officer named above.

The Leader reported receipt of a question from Mr Andrew Hall, of

Martingate Centre Ltd, concerning the disposal of the Corsham

Mansion House and Library at Corsham. A copy of the question and the response, by Councillor Toby Sturgis, were circulated as a supplement to the agenda on the 16 September and available online with the agenda papers.

In supplement to the question, Mr Hall expressed his willingness to support and encourage activity in Corsham and his desire to work to that end. He further added that he hoped that the process to bring the building into use would not take too long.

The Leader, Councillor Jane Scott, responded that the Council wished to see the matter resolved in the interests of the people of Corsham, so that the building could be brought back into use as soon as was practicable.

Michael Hudson, Associate Director - Finance, Revenues & Benefits and Pensions (Section 151 Officer), presented the report, to inform Cabinet on the position of the 2014/2015 Capital Programme as at Period 4 (31 July 2014), including highlighting budget changes. The report also informed the Committee that a budget monitoring report to members would be taken to Members quarterly in September, December, February and June. The report focused on major variations in budget.

Resolved:

1.  To note the general budget additions for grants, revenue contributions and other contributions of £10.824 million as per Appendix B;

2.  To note the Period 4 position of the Capital Programme in Appendix A; and

3.  To note the reprogramming of £13.801 million between 2014/2015 and 2015/2016.

Reason for decision:

To inform Cabinet of the position of the 2014/2015 capital programme as at

Period 4 (31 July 2014), including highlighting of budget changes.

Cllr Dick Tonge presented the report to inform Cabinet on the position of the 2014/2015 Capital Programme as at Period 4 (31 July 2014), including highlighting budget changes. A budget monitoring report to members will now be taken to Members quarterly in September, December, February and June. This report focuses on major variations in budget.

In his presentation, the meetings attention was drawn to the variation of £39M which was due to rescheduling of expenditure through the years. Further reference was made to the breakdown of the amendments to the original budget summarised in the report. to Para 3, range of differing movements.

It was stated that these budget additions largely reflected increases in funding being made available and brought into the programme under the Chief

Financial Officer delegated authority. These largely comprised of additional

grants from Central government, Section 106 contributions, revenue

contributions towards capital expenditure and other contributions used to

finance capital spend within the capital programme.

Resolved:

a)    To note the general budget additions for grants, revenue contributions and other contributions of £10.824 million as per Appendix B and to note the Period 4 position of the Capital Programme in Appendix A; and

b)    To note the reprogramming of £13.801 million between 2014/2015 and 2015/2016

  To receive a report by Janet O’Brien – Head of New Housing. The purpose of the report is to gain delegated approval to deliver a programme of around 240 new council homes across Wiltshire to meet identified need using council owned land and funding from a range of sources including housing revenue account (HRA) reserves and borrowing, right to buy receipts, commuted sum funding and grant funding secured from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Department of Health (DoH) and other funding bodies.

 Cllr Keith Humphries, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Protection Services, Adult Care and Housing, presented the report which sought to gain delegated approval to deliver a programme of around 240 new council homes across Wiltshire to meet identified need using council owned land and funding from a range of sources including housing revenue account (HRA) reserves and borrowing, right to buy receipts, commuted sum funding and grant funding secured from the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), Department of Health (DoH) and other funding bodies.

Attention was drawn to the funding streams are outlined in the report, in particular Housing revenue account (HRA) funding, and the fact that land is restricted to use for affordable homes. It was planned that funding and land could be used to lever in additional resources, such as grant funding, to enable the delivery of approximately 240 new council homes to meet identified need between 2015 and 2020.

The Leader noted that further discussion of the matter would be held in Part II of the meeting, as some of the information was of a commercially sensitive nature, and there being no questions from the public deferred discussion of that item to Part II.

There were no urgent items.

This is to give further notice in accordance with paragraph 5 (4) and 5 (5) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 of the intention to take the following item in private.

To consider passing the following resolution:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the business specified in Item Number 10 because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in  paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Reason for taking item in private:

Paragraph 3 - information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

Resolved:

To agree that in accordance with Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the public from the meeting for the following items of business because it is likely that if members of the public were present there would disclosure to them of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Act and the public interest in withholding the information outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information to the public.

Reason for taking the item in private:

Paragraph 3 – information relating to the financial information or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

No representations have been received as to why this item should not be held in private.

       To consider the attached appendices (exempt from publication) in relation to item 7 above.

 The meeting considered the report, including the appendix exempt from publication.

Resolved:

to delegate authority to the Associate Directors responsible for housing and finance and the Corporate Director responsible for assets in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Public Health, Protection Services, Adult Care and Housing (excluding strategic housing), the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Development Management, Strategic Housing, Property and Waste and the Cabinet Member for Finance, Performance, Risk, Procurement and Welfare Reform to approve:

a)    The use of sites in Appendix 1 for affordable housing with delegated authority to substitute alternative sites of similar value as appropriate.

b)    Any appropriations necessary pursuant to s122 LGA 1972 to ensure that the sites in a) are held by the Council for housing purposes.

c)    Use of funding for affordable housing as detailed in Appendix 1 with delegated authority to substitute different funding streams as required.

d)    Entering contracts for consultants, construction and other elements of the project to enable the delivery of around 240 new homes within the funding parameters identified in Appendix 1.

e)    Entering funding agreements with HCA/CLG/DOH as required to secure the grant funding and borrowing approval required.

Reasons for decision:

There are more than 20,000 households on the council’s housing register of which 11,000 households are assessed as in housing need. There is also a growing older population within Wiltshire and demands on health and social care services are increasing. In line with the council’s business plan, it is a priority to enable people to remain living independently within their communities.

The council has the opportunity to assist with addressing these needs through the delivery of new council housing suitable for use as a home for life in communities across Wiltshire. These homes will add to the affordable homes delivered through planning agreements and with our Housing Association partners