Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of members' interests.

The following item was for information only.

To consider a report which informs the Cabinet Member and Opposition Spokespersons of:

·           The forecast revenue expenditure for the year compared with the cash limited budget.

·           The forecast capital expenditure against the revised capital programme for the Resources portfolio.

RECOMMENDED that the contents of the report be noted.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

Sue Page introduced the report which was to inform the Cabinet Member and Opposition Spokespersons of the forecast revenue expenditure for the year compared with the cash limited budget and the forecast capital expenditure against the revised capital programme for the Resources portfolio.  It also provides information to enable an understanding of the reasons for variances and lists the action to be taken to mitigate the effect of forecast overspend.  Sue Page drew the Cabinet Member's attention to a change in how portfolio holders can deal with any surplus funds.  These could now be carried forward but should be applied to certain things first. 

Councillor Mason asked that the report to be brought to the next meeting would include information on how to deal with any underspends in budget.

The Cabinet Member noted the report.

The following item is for information only.

An information item is attached by the Head of Integrated Commissioning Unit (Interim) seeking to update the Cabinet Member for Resources on the revision and the re-launch of the Portsmouth Compact.

(TAKE IN REPORT)

Mandy Lindley introduced the report which was to update the Cabinet Member for Resources on the revision and re-launch of the Portsmouth Compact.  She explained that the compact is the agreement between government and the voluntary and community sector which sets out key principles and establishes a way of working that improves their relationship for mutual advantage.  She said that the recent cutbacks had led to changes which needed to be addressed.  A working group comprising representatives of the voluntary and community sector and Portsmouth City Council have now looked closely at the current compact.  It was agreed by this group that a key action is to raise awareness of the compact and to encourage both voluntary and statutory sectors to use the processes.  Voluntary, community sector organisations will be encouraged to sign up to a revised compact on an individual basis rather than the Community Action in Portsmouth (CAP) signing up on behalf of the whole sector.  It is felt that if organisations sign up individually they will have more ownership and better understanding.  Mandy Lindley explained that consultation events were planned and the intention was to launch the new compact in March 2014.

The Cabinet Member for Resources noted the report.

The purpose of the report is to submit twinning related grant applications received and considered by the Twinning Advisory Group on 27 November 2013 for consideration and decision by the portfolio holder. Details of the 5 applications are to follow.

RECOMMENDED that

(1)  the portfolio holder considers the grant applications received taking into account the views of the Twinning Advisory Group and;

(2)  approves the value of each grant application

Peter Smith-Parkyn advised that the total budget for twinning - £8,000, had almost all been used.  The majority of applications for grants had come from the Caen committee.  He said that the applications being put forward from the Twinning Advisory Group were as follows:

Caen a l'International

The Great South Run 2014

Courants de la Liberte

Westlake Ceremony

School twinning

Councillor Mason said that he had looked at these applications and felt that there would be benefits for the city in granting them.

DECISION:

That the portfolio holder

(1)          Considered the grant applications received taking into account the views of the Twinning Advisory Group and;

(2)          Approved the value of each grant application

i.      to the Caen Committee £1800 for the Caen a l'International weekend

ii.    to the Caen Committee £750 for the Great South Run 2014

iii.   to the Caen Committee £700 for the Courants de la Liberte 2014

iv.   to the Caen Committee £100 for the Westlake Brothers Commemoration

v.    to the Caen Committee £400 for Education/school links

vi.   to the Caen Committee £100 to provide 2014 calendars to Sister City links.