Agenda, decisions and minutes

Cabinet - Thursday, 8th January, 2015 1.00 pm

Venue: Executive Meeting Room - The Guildhall

Contact: Joanne Wildsmith, Democratic Services Tel 9283 4057 Email: joanne.wildsmith@portsmouthcc.gov.uk

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies for Absence Minutes: Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Linda Symes and Frank Jonas.
2.	Declarations of Interests Minutes: There were no declarations of members' interests.
3.	Record of Previous Decision Meeting - 4 December 2014 PDF 73 KB RECOMMENDED that the record of decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on 4 December 2014 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair. Minutes: DECISION: that the record of decisions of the previous Cabinet meeting held on 4 December 2014 were agreed as a correct record to be signed by the Leader.
4.	Forward Plan Omission The Council Tax Base report was omitted from the Forward Plan for January 2015 published on 9 December 2014 but appeared on the re-published Forward Plan of 12 December. The Chair of the City Council's Scrutiny Management Panel has been notified and a public notice published. RECOMMENDED that the omission to the Forward Plan for January 2015 be noted and that the necessary public notice has been published. Minutes: DECISION: that the omission to the Forward Plan for January 2015 be noted and that the necessary public notice has been published.
5.	Calculation of the tax base for 2014/15 and estimation of the Council tax collection fund balance at 31st March 2015 PDF 204 KB View the background to item 5. View the decision for item 5. The purpose of the attached report by the Head of Revenues and Benefits seeks to (i) obtain formal approval of the tax base calculated for the financial year 2015/16 for the City Council. (ii) approve the estimate of the balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund at 31 March 2015. RECOMMENDED (1) That in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Portsmouth City Council as its Council Tax Base for 2015/16 shall be 53,277.2 (2) That in accordance with The Local Authorities (Funds) (England) Regulations 1992 as amended, the amount calculated by Portsmouth City Council as the surplus on its Council Tax Collection Fund at 31 March 2015 shall be £2.19 million. Additional documents: Tax Base 2015 Appendices , item 5. PDF 33 KB Decision: (1) That in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Portsmouth City Council as its Council Tax Base for 2015/16 shall be 53,277.2 (2) That in accordance with The Local Authorities (Funds) (England) Regulations 1992 as amended, the amount calculated by Portsmouth City Council as the surplus on its Council Tax Collection Fund at 31 March 2015 shall be £2.19 million. Minutes: Chris Ward, the Head of Financial Services and Section 151 Officer presented his report, which would link to the setting of the budget in February, estimating the number of council tax payers in Portsmouth. There was reference to the level of police precept that was out to consultation, which did not impact on the Portsmouth City Council part of the council tax. DECISION: (1) That in accordance with The Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by Portsmouth City Council as its Council Tax Base for 2015/16 shall be 53,277.2 (2) That in accordance with The Local Authorities (Funds) (England) Regulations 1992 as amended, the amount calculated by Portsmouth City Council as the surplus on its Council Tax Collection Fund at 31 March 2015 shall be £2.19 million.
6.	Business Rates Discretionary Relief Policy PDF 140 KB View the background to item 6. View the decision for item 6. The purpose of the report by the Head of Revenues and Benefits is for Cabinetto approve a technical change and to delegate authority to the Head of Revenues & Benefits for further Government policy or legislated change. RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet: (1) Approves the Government policy amendment that will increase Retail Relief to a maximum of £1,500 for 2015/16 (2) Grants delegated authority to the Head of Revenues & Benefits to update the policy in the case of any further Government policy or legislated change Additional documents: Portsmouth NDR Disc Relief Policy (appendix) , item 6. PDF 486 KB Decision: The Cabinet: (1) Approved the Government policy amendment that will increase Retail Relief to a maximum of £1,500 for 2015/16 (2) Granted delegated authority to the Head of Revenues & Benefits to update the policy in the case of any further Government policy or legislated change Minutes: Ed Woodhouse, the Head of Revenues and Benefits, presented his report which outlined this government policy and confirmed that the expenditure would be covered by the government grant. DECISIONS The Cabinet: (1) Approved the Government policy amendment that will increase Retail Relief to a maximum of £1,500 for 2015/16 (2) Granted delegated authority to the Head of Revenues & Benefits to update the policy in the case of any further Government policy or legislated change