No apologies for absence were received.

There were no announcements from the Chairman or Head of Paid Service.

In accordance with the Regulations, Members are required to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have and the nature of those interests in respect of items on this Agenda and/or indicate if Section 106 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 applies to them.

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm the Minutes and Decisions made at the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11^th January 2024.

Consideration was given to the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024.

RESOLVED

a)    That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 January 2024 be APPROVED.

To receive items raised by members of scrutiny which have been submitted to the Leader and Chief Executive.

A report had been received from the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee, the report set out comments and views on the Integrated Budget Plan and Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

Cabinet members responded to each comment which was presented by the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee, these were on SEND provision, Adult Social Care and Section 19 Inspections.

It was moved by Councillor G Waller and seconded that the recommendations of the report be noted. Upon being put to the vote, with six votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

a)    NOTED the comments/views from the Strategic Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To receive Report No.17/2024 from the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health.

Report No.17/2024 was introduced by Councillor D Ellison, Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health.

The report sets out the process and proposed award criteria for the procurement of a Home Improvement agency service contract along with recommendations for approval and delegation of final award.

The provision of the HIA contract played a key role in supporting vulnerable people to remain in their own homes and to prevent and delay hospital and residential care admissions.

Members felt it was a very clear and good report, having an effective HIA which would reduce hospital admissions was greatly appreciated by Cabinet.

Members were also pleased with the figures within the report on the improved quality of life aspect of this service. The help individuals received to help them remain at home rather than an admission to a hospital or a care home was a huge benefit.

It was moved by Councillor D Ellison and seconded that the recommendations of the Report No.17/2024 be approved. Upon being put to the vote, with six votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

a)    RECOMMENDED that a procurement was undertaken to award the HIA contract for Rutland County Council to one provider for a five-year period, commencing on 1^st October 2024.

b)    APPROVED the procurement model and over-arching award criteria, which had been carefully considered to ensure that the successful provider can meet the requirements and can deliver appropriate quality services in Rutland.

c)    DELEGATED approval of the final award criteria to the Director for Adult Services and Health in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Adult Services and Health.

d)    APPROVED the award of contract is delegated to the Director for Adult Services and Health in consultation with the Portfolio Holder. Decisions will only be taken in line with Cabinet approved award criteria.

To receive Report No.19/2024 from the Portfolio Holder for Adults and Health.

Report No.19/2024 was introduced by Councillor D Ellison, Portfolio Holder for Adult Care and Health.

The report shared the Rutland results of the LLR joint Living Well Dementia Strategy 2024-2028.

The current Strategy covered the period 2019-2022. Due to the unprecedented circumstances caused by the COVID pandemic, the joint LLR Dementia Programme Board decided to extend the existing Strategy by an additional year to 2023.

The proposed Strategy was developed in partnership between LLR local authorities and the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

The refreshed Strategy would be implemented from January 2024. It was proposed that the strategy would remain live for a period of 5 years until late 2028. Due to the extended life of the Strategy, was planned that the progress of the Strategy action plan would continue to be monitored by the LLR DPB.

It was moved by Councillor D Ellison and seconded that the recommendations of the Report No.19/2024 be approved. Upon being put to the vote, with six votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

a)    APPROVED the Leicestershire, Leicester City and Rutland (LLR) joint Dementia Strategy 2024-2028.

b)    APPROVED the Rutland Council Delivery Plan.

To receive Report No.18/2024 from the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Resources.

Report No.18/2024 was introduced by Councillor A Johnson, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Resources.

The report updated Cabinet and all members of the forecasted outturn position for 2023/24 and highlighted the key financial risks being managed within directorates.  The position was favourable and showed a reduction in use of reserves to support day to day expenditure, which was in line with the overall Financial Sustainability Strategy.

The report set out the forecasted outturn as at 31 December 2023 for 2023/24.  The report compared the forecasted outturn position to the revised budget and forecasted variance.

The Chair thanked the Directors for their hard work in keeping the Council on the straight and narrow financially which Members appreciated the level of difficulty of the work involved.

It was moved by Councillor A Johnson and seconded that the recommendations of the Report No.18/2024 be approved. Upon being put to the vote, with six votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

a)      NOTED the forecast year end position as at the end of December (third quarter) for:

a.      Revenue Position (Section 3) 

b.      Capital Position (Section 4) 

c.      Dedicated Schools Grant (Section 5) 

b)      NOTED the update on the achievement of the 2023/24 savings proposals (Section 6), and overview of the principles followed to deliver the Financial Sustainability Strategy (Section 7)  

c)      NOTED performance against the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators is in line or better with the strategy set (Appendix B)

To receive Report No.04/2024 from the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Resources for recommendation to Council for approval.

Report No.04/2024 was introduced by Councillor A Johnson, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Resources.

The report came to Cabinet as part of the Council’s formal budget setting process as set out within the constitution and as per legislative requirements to set a balanced and sustainable budget for 2024/25 - 2027/28.

Cabinet agreed proposals for consultation on 11 January 2024.  This report included 215 responses that had been received at 31 January 2024. The closing date for the consultation was 2 February 2024, therefore a supplementary paper had been issued prior to Cabinet so that all responses would be considered. 

It was moved by Councillor A Johnson and seconded that the recommendations of the Report No.04/2024 be approved. Upon being put to the vote, with six votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet APPROVED and RECOMMENDED to Council:

a)    The budget including a Council Tax increase of 4.99% (2.99% general Council Tax and 2.0% Adult Social Care precept), as outlined in section 5.1.2 and Appendix F.

b)    The updated budget assumptions, to be incorporated in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) 2024/25 – 2027/28.  These are outlined in sections 5 and 6.

c)    The grant funding receipts estimated across the MTFS as contained in Appendix D.

d)    The Fees and Charges Strategy that details the approach to be adopted by directorates when setting and updating fees and charges as provided in Appendix E.

e)    The revised capital programme and schemes outlined in section 6.5 and referencing Appendix K and M.

f)      The funding of the capital programme as detailed in the treasury management and capital strategies in Appendices L and M.

g)    The updated Reserves Strategy and forecast reserve commitments to fund the cost of transformational investment and previously identified departmental commitments as outlined in section 7.4, and Appendices B, C and I. 

h)    The Education budget as outlined in section 6.6 and Appendix N.

i)      The budget virement limits as outlined in section 9.

j)      The Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2024/25 – 2027/28 as set out in the body of the report and following appendices:

-   Appendix A – 2024/25 – 2027/28 MTFS detailed budget position

-   Appendix B – Budget proposals tables (pressures / savings / investments)

-   Appendix C – Directorates Overview, Service Ambitions and BudgetVariation Statements

-   Appendix D – Grant Register

-   Appendix E – Fees & Charges Strategy / Policy & Schedule

-   Appendix F – Funding strategy

-   Appendix G – Financial Health Indicators

-   Appendix H – Financial Risk Register

-   Appendix I – Reserve Strategy

-   Appendix J – Consultation document & responses as at 31 January 2024

-   Appendix K – Capital Programme Schemes 2024/25 – 2027/28

-   Appendix L – Treasury Management Strategy & Annual Investment Strategy

-   Appendix M – Capital Strategy

-   Appendix N – Dedicated Schools Grant and the Schools budget

-   Appendix O – Carbon Impact Assessment

-   Appendix P – Reconciliation of budget adjustments since Cabinet 11 January 2024

-       Appendix Q –  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

Cabinet is recommended to determine whether the public and press be excluded from the meeting in accordance with Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, as amended, and in accordance with the Access to Information provisions of Procedure Rule 239, as the following item of business is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

Paragraph 3: Information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The Chair moved the meeting to a private session to discuss the exempt report. This was seconded and upon being put to the vote the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

     a)   That the meeting be moved to a private session.

To receive Report No.01/2024 from the Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Resources.

Report No.01/2024 was introduced by Councillor A Johnson, Deputy Leader and Portfolio Holder for Governance and Resources.

The report requested approval to write off debts, over the value of £2,500, where officers believed that there is little or no prospect of recovering them.

It was moved by Councillor A Johnson and seconded that the recommendations of the Report No.01/2024 be approved. Upon being put to the vote, with six votes in favour the motion was unanimously carried.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

a)    NOTED the action taken to recover outstanding debts.

b)    AUTHORISED the write off of the debts shown in Exempt Appendix A.

To receive items of urgent business which have previously been notified to the person presiding.

There were no items of urgent business.

Tuesday, 12^th March 2024.

Tuesday, 12^th March 2024.