Agenda item

The Cabinet Member will update the Panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions on the update provided.

Councillor Richard Samuel, Cabinet Member for Resources updated the Panel on the following:

·  The Quarter 2 report to Cabinet in November will provide an update on the Council’s position regarding funding from central government. It is expected that this position will have improved since Quarter 1. The report will also provide an update on the income compensation scheme.

·  Regarding the Commercial Estate (Property), the Council is about to employ external advisors to look at how the commercial estate operates.

·  In the next few weeks, the Chief Executive will bring forward proposals for senior management changes across the Council including in the property service.

·  An update on the cricket club Call in – I have signed off responses in relation to the Panel recommendations although a couple of things cannot be signed off until nearer the time.

·  The Chancellor’s announcement last week regarding support for businesses was disappointing, there does not seem to be any specific support for hospitality.

Panel members asked the following questions and made the following points:

Councillor Furse asked the Cabinet Member what the Council is doing as a landlord for tenants under stress. Other landlords are giving rent relief. The Cabinet Member explained that all tenants had been invited to open dialogue with the Council on their rental agreement. The Council cannot give rent free periods as income is already stretched. The Cabinet Member explained that he will be meeting with some landlords to discuss the reinvigoration of the city. He further explained that new tenants are not likely to take on rents at the previous levels, a substantial market correction is taking place. The Cabinet Member explained that, with Governments schemes effectively ending, we are anxious to do what we can but we are limited. In response to a query from Councillor Hughes, the Cabinet Member confirmed that these interventions apply across the whole of BANES.

Councillor Myers asked how the external review of the Property Service would cross over with the senior officer’s review. The Cabinet Member explained that a senior officer had been asked by the Chief Executive to look at how maintenance and management operates in Property Services. The external review will look at what is best in terms of Commercial Practice. The two pieces of work will come together.

The Cabinet Member for Resources and the Director of Finance gave a presentation to the Panel on the Medium Term Financial Plan which covered the following: (A copy of the slides are appended to the minutes)

·  Where are we now?

·  5 year Budget Profile

·  MHCLG and Provisional settlement

·  Budget Planning Assumptions

·  New 2021/22 Budget Pressures

·  How to manage the MTFS?

·  Strategic Financial Planning Themes

(Stabilise – short term/Transition – Medium Term/Change – Long Term)

·  Financial Planning Assumptions

·  Budget Growth vs. Funding Graph

The Cabinet Member explained the information – the substantial impact of Covid is shown in 2021/22 but the effect is shown as lessening over the 5-year period. The Council needs to radically change its structure over the next few years.

Panel members asked the following questions and made the following points:

Councillor Myers stated that he would like to have some notice in future of such large items being presented which were not on the workplan.

Councillor MacFie asked if the increase in returns in Property shown were due to converting to residential. The Cabinet Member explained that most of the stock is in Bath and some is under utilized or not utilized at all. The aim is to produce the highest net return though several approaches. Councillor MacFie stated that it is important from a planning point of view to know how many residences were coming on stream. The Cabinet Member explained that it is complex – some prime retail shop frontages are impossible to convert to residential.

Councillor Hodge stated that there seemed to be profound changes to the way we all work, she stated the need for step by step consultation on this. She stated that she found out about the plans for Lewis House in the press. The Cabinet Member explained that staff had been surveyed 6 weeks ago on working during lockdown and the majority have embraced home working. Those who have not we will work with.