The report of the Corporate Management Team was submitted.

Resolved that –

(1)        the work underway to improve the Carefirst System and the need for priority investment in this area be noted;

(2)        the maximum amount of carry forward at year end for Departments for 2009/10 be agreed, based on previously agreed criteria as:

                  Chief Executive’s                  £0.012m

                  Corporate Support                £0.066m;

(3)        the movement on the capital programme during the period be noted and the new schemes totalling £0.349m and scheme variations totalling £0.084m, outlined in paragraph 6.6 of the report, be added to the programme for 2009/10;

(4)        the reallocation of the Job Evaluation contingency across council departments, as outlined in section 13.2.2 of the report, be approved;

(5)        Officers seek an urgent meeting with Department of Communities and Local Government to discuss options to utilise the capital monies from the VAT shelter agreement to offset revenue pressures, these options to include:

(a)     an in principle agreement to an exceptional Capitalisation Direction over the next five years, and/or

(b)     agreement to a special regulation under section 9(3)(a) of the Local Government Act 2003 permitting the Council to treat VAT shelter receipts as revenue;

(6)        the action taken by Officers to ensure that funding for the Devonport Neighbourhood Manager post is available over the next three years be noted and the transfer of £0.100m to an earmarked reserve in return for additional New Deal Communities grant funding towards Brickfields running costs be agreed;

(7)        the action taken by the Director for Corporate Support, acting under delegated authority, to remove the £10m limit on call accounts be noted, these deposits to be managed within the overall credit limit for each banking Group.