Apologies were received from Councillor Tobin Byers; and the Chief Executive.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 July 2017 are agreed as an accurate record.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the governance and allocation arrangements for the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund, as set out in Appendices A and B to the report, be approved.

2.    That the changes to the carbon offset collection process be noted; and the governance and allocation arrangements for the Carbon Offset Fund, as set out in the Appendix to the report, be approved.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Housing presented the report which set out governance and allocation arrangements for both the Community Infrastructure Levy Neighbourhood Fund and the Carbon Offset Fund.  In presenting the report, he highlighted that since 2014 the Council had collected £777,000.  He drew Members attention to the timetable for allocation set out in the report; the results of the consultation; and the proposed governance arrangements.  It was proposed that there should be an equitable allocation across the Borough, to address the areas of most need and contribute to the Community Plan priority to bridge the gap.  He stressed the key role which Councillors play in working with neighbourhoods to make improvements which are inline with residents’ priorities.

It was noted that the proposals related to the neighbourhood proportion of Merton CIL income, which was approximately 15% of the total income.  Under the CIL regulations, the Neighbourhood Fund, must be spent on local projects to support the demands of the area; and that ‘area’ was defined as the whole Borough.  In addition, the guidance stated that administrative cost of the governance arrangements should be proportionate to the level of receipts.

In considering the report, Cabinet Members sought clarification from officers on a number of issues.  It was noted that the amount of contributions to the Carbon Offset Fund not yet received related to development work not yet started.  Development must start within 3 years of planning approval, and the Carbon Offset Fund normally only applied to building refurbishments where it was not possible to achieve compliance with energy and carbon emission standards.  It was also noted that the proposals contained in the report did not fetter the Council’s discretion to allocate funding to the areas of most need.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the governance and allocation arrangements for the Neighbourhood Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Fund, as set out in Appendices A and B to the report, be approved.

2.    That the changes to the carbon offset collection process be noted; and the governance and allocation arrangements for the Carbon Offset Fund, as set out in the Appendix to the report, be approved.

RESOLVED:

1.    That chapter 9: basement and subterranean development planning  guidance and chapter 8: Shop fronts of the Design Supplementary Planning document (SPD); and the Canons Management Plan Supplementary Planning Document be adopted.

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration, Environment and Housing presented the report which set out two chapters of the Design Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) relating to basements and shopfronts; and the Canons Conservation Area Management Plan.

Cabinet welcomed the partnership working which had taken place with businesses in Colliers Wood in relation to improving their shopfronts; and the conservation work carried out in the Canons, Mitcham working in partnership with local organisations for the benefit of local residents.

RESOLVED:

1.    That chapter 9: basement and subterranean development planning  guidance and chapter 8: Shop fronts of the Design Supplementary Planning document (SPD); and the Canons Management Plan Supplementary Planning Document be adopted.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the rolled forward MTFS for 2018-22 be noted.

2.    That the latest position with regards to savings already in the MTFS be confirmed.

3.    The approach to setting a balanced budget using weighted controllable expenditure for each department as the basis for the setting of targets be agreed.

4.    That the proposed corporate and departmental targets be agreed.

5.    That the timetable for the Business Plan 2018-22 including the revenue budget 2018/19, the MTFS 2018-22 and the Capital Programme for 2018-22 be agreed.

6.    That the process for the Service Plan 2018-22 and the progress made so far be noted.

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report which set out the initial review of the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the approach for setting a balanced budget for 2018-22. 

Cabinet noted that, following publication of the report, advice had been received from the National Employers that an initial pay offer would now be made following the Governments Autumn Budget in November, and not September as originally anticipated.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the rolled forward MTFS for 2018-22 be noted.

2.    That the latest position with regards to savings already in the MTFS be confirmed.

3.    The approach to setting a balanced budget using weighted controllable expenditure for each department as the basis for the setting of targets be agreed.

4.    That the proposed corporate and departmental targets be agreed.

5.    That the timetable for the Business Plan 2018-22 including the revenue budget 2018/19, the MTFS 2018-22 and the Capital Programme for 2018-22 be agreed.

6.    That the process for the Service Plan 2018-22 and the progress made so far be noted.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the financial reporting data relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net overspend at year end of £1.8million, 0.3% of the gross budget be noted.

2.            That the adjustments to the Capital Programme contained in Appendix 5b to the report be noted.

3.            That the following adjustments to the Capital Programme be approved:

The Chair advised that Items 7 and 8 would be considered together, however for the purposes of the minutes, the decisions are recorded separately.

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the reports, which set out the financial monitoring data for periods 3 and 4 relating to income and expenditure, an update on the Capital Programme and progress on delivery of the 2017/18 revenue savings.  It was noted that both reports had also been considered by the Financial Monitoring Task Group.

RESOLVED:

1.            That the financial reporting data relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net overspend at year end of £1.8million, 0.3% of the gross budget be noted.

2.            That the adjustments to the Capital Programme contained in Appendix 5b to the report be noted.

3.            That the following adjustments to the Capital Programme be approved:

RESOLVED:

1.    That the financial reporting data relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net overspend at year end of £1.4million, 0.3% of the gross budget be noted.

2.    That the adjustments to the Capital Programme contained in Appendix 5b be approved.

3.    That the following adjustments to the Capital Programme be approved:

The Chair advised that Items 7 and 8 would be considered together, however for the purposes of the minutes, the decisions are recorded separately.

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the reports, which set out the financial monitoring data for periods 3 and 4 relating to income and expenditure, an update on the Capital Programme and progress on delivery of the 2017/18 revenue savings.  It was noted that both reports had also been considered by the Financial Monitoring Task Group.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the financial reporting data relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net overspend at year end of £1.4million, 0.3% of the gross budget be noted.

2.    That the adjustments to the Capital Programme contained in Appendix 5b be approved.

3.    That the following adjustments to the Capital Programme be approved: