Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Councillor Fred Jackson and County Councillor Michael Green.

Members are asked to consider any pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests they may have to disclose to the meeting in relation to matters under consideration on the agenda.

None received.

RESOLVED: That the Minutes of the meeting held on 29 June 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Committee approved the draft Statement of Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2016 at the June meeting, prior to the audit being carried out by Grant Thornton.  The Statement of Accounts had now been updated to reflect two misstatements and one disclosure change identified during the audit as now presented. 

The Director of Corporate Services advised that the changes requested by Grant Thornton were made to the accounts and the updated version would be presented to the Audit Committee on 29 September 2016 for information, alongside the full Audit Findings Report.

RESOLVED: - That the Committee re-approve the revised Statement of Accounts.

The report set out the current budget position in respect of the 2016/17 revenue and capital budgets and performance against savings targets. 

Revenue Budget

The overall position as at the end of August showed an under spend of £0.933m.  The current underspend was the result of the Authority continuing to monitor variances for emerging savings opportunities which may be reflected in the forthcoming budget setting process.

The Committee was provided with detailed information regarding the position within individual departments, with major variances being summarised below: -

The current business rates retention scheme was introduced in 2013. Within the current scheme 50% of local business rates were retained, in theory providing a strong incentive for local authorities to grow business rates in their area and thereby generate additional funding.

The main points of the current scheme were considered by Members.  It was noted that in 2016/17 our local retained business rates were £4.7m (less than 10% of our total budget) and our top up grant was £9.7m.  A move to 100% retention of business rates would have little impact on the position as we would still be a top up authority requiring specific government grant to maintain funding levels. Furthermore the proposal would still retain a safety net and periodic resets.

It was also noted that within the draft 4 year settlement, business rate income was assumed to grow by 2.0% in 2017/18, 3.0% in 2018/19 and 3.2% in 2019/20, which was significantly higher growth than we had seen within Lancashire over the last 3 years, which averaged just 1.2%.

At the time of the initial consultation in 2012 we argued that Fire Authorities should not be included in the scheme as they had very little, if any, impact on business rates. We did not believe this position had changed significantly and therefore still felt that we should be excluded from this system and should be funded from specific grant similar to the Police.

Furthermore, as business rates in Lancashire had historically grown by less than the national average then removing us from this should in theory provide greater funding in future years, assuming that any grant funding was linked to national indices. It should also improve funding certainty, reducing the risk to future funding should a large business pull out of the area, such as British Aerospace, or should a major business be successful in winning an appeal against their rating value.

Given the consultation had closed on 26 September a response had been agreed with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Resources as now presented.

RESOLVED: - That the Committee note the report and endorse the response to the consultation document as agreed by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of Resources.

The next meeting of the Committee will be held on Wednesday 30 November 2016 at 10:00 hours in the Main Conference Room at Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, Fulwood.

Further meetings are:           scheduled for: 29 March 2017 and 28 June 2017

                                                proposed for: 27 September 2017

The next scheduled meeting of the Committee was agreed for Wednesday 30 November 2016 in the Main Conference Room, Service Headquarters, Fulwood, commencing at 1000 hours.

Further meeting dates were noted for 29 March 2017 and 28 June 2017 and agreed for 27 September 2017.

The Committee is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, they consider that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, indicated at the heading to the item.

RESOLVED: - That the press and members of the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in the appropriate paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, indicated at the heading to the item.

Members considered a report that provided an update on all contracts for one-off purchases valued in excess of £50,000 and high value procurement projects in excess of £100,000 including: new contract awards, progress of ongoing projects and details of new projects with an anticipated value exceeding £100,000.

RESOLVED:  That the Committee note the report.

An item of business may only be considered under this heading where, by reason of special circumstances to be recorded in the Minutes, the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion that the item should be considered as a matter of urgency.  Wherever possible, the Clerk should be given advance warning of any Members’ intention to raise a matter under this heading.

Members considered a report received from the Director of Corporate Services.

RESOLVED: - that the recommendation outlined in the report be approved.

The Director of People and Development advised Members of the current position regarding the recruitment of whole time firefighters.  It was agreed that a report would be presented to the next Resources Committee meeting in November.

RESOLVED: - That the current position be noted.