Agenda and minutes

Cllr Haynes and the panel wanted to record their congratulations and best wishes to Cllr Angus following the birth of his son.

Apologies were received from the following member(s) of the panel:

Cllr Ian Angus

Cllr Keith Inston

Cllr Lynne Moran

Cllr Phillip Bateman declared a non-pecuniary interest in agenda item 5 Budget Review Draft Budget 2016/17

[To approve the minutes of the previous meeting as a correct record]

That the minutes of the meeting held on 1.10.15 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

[To consider any matter arising from the minutes]

There were no matters arising from the minutes.

[Mark Taylor, Assistant Director Finance, to present report on savings, redesign and income generation proposals in 2016/17]

City Assets

Cllr Peter Bilson, Cabinet Member for City Assets, gave a brief introduction to the report and invited panel members to comment on the proposals related to his portfolio summarised in Appendix A, B and C.

The panel discussions about the proposals were recorded as follows:

Transfer non HRA tenanted garages from HRA to General Fund

No panel comments on the proposal

Rationalise all catering across the Council

Cabinet Member for City Assets commented that he was confident that the savings could be achieved.

No panel comments on the proposal

Review Public Conveniences Provision

Cabinet Member for City Assets outlined the proposals and explained that the change would not affect the toilet facilities at Bob Jones Community Hub.

The panel queried the proposed increase in the charge to use toilet facilities.  Chris East, Head of Facilities, explained that the proposal is to recommend an increase in the charge from 10p to 20p. The plans involve the closure of toilet facilities at Ashmore Park due to low levels of number using the facility compared to other sites. The panel commented that in response to complaints about vandalism that access to the facility was managed by a shop owner on the site, which may explain the low numbers recorded. The panel commented that the facility is an important community asset and is helping the shops to attract people.

Cabinet Member for City Assets agreed to reconsider the proposal to close the toilet facility at Ashmore Park in response the comments of the panel.

Highways Maintenance – Reduction in Borrowing following successful grant bid

Cabinet Member for City Assets outlined the proposal.

No panel comments on the proposal

Acceleration of Savings in Facilities Management

Cabinet Member for City Assets outlined the proposal.

No panel comments on the proposal.

Reprofile of School Meals Income Targets

Cabinet Member for City Assets outlined the proposal and explained that the charge would be a charge direct to schools and not on pupils. Cabinet Member explained that this change would represent a small increase in the current charge.

No panel comments on the proposal.

The panel thanked Cllr Bilson for attending the meeting.

Cllr Steve Evans, Cabinet Member for City Environment, gave a brief introduction to the report and invited panel members to comment on the proposals related to his portfolio summarised in Appendix A, B and C.

The panel discussions about the proposals were recorded as follows:

Highways Management

Cabinet Member for City Environment explained that this change is the next phase in a programme of work following the transfer of responsibility from the police to the local authority. The panel were advised that the scheme went live on 30.11.15. Cabinet Member for City Environment explained the circumstances were a fixed penalty notice would apply for people using bus lane which had been recorded by the camera. To date there had no successful appeals against the penalty notice due to the use of video recording evidence.

Cabinet Member for City Environment explained that bus lane cameras  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.