Cabinet Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.  A flowchart providing guidance on interests is attached to assist councillors.

There were no declarations of interest made by members in respect of items on the agenda.

To sign and confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2017.

Agreed the minutes of the meeting held on the 17 January 2017.

To receive questions from the public in accordance with the Constitution.

Questions, of no longer than 50 words, can be submitted to the Democratic Support Unit, Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five clear working days before the date of the meeting.

Two questions were submitted by members of the public.   Rhea Brooke and Nicky Williams were present at the meeting to ask their questions.

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

There were no items of Chair’s Urgent Business.

Councillor Jordan will present the Mayflower 400 National Trails Programme.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be assessed at the Council’s website Councillors, Committees and meetings/Committee Meetings/Library/Cabinet background papers 201617 or using the following link -

http://tinyurl.com/hvbnbn3

Councillor Jordan introduced the Mayflower 400 Trails Programme and highlighted that the funding would go towards developing historic trails so that visitors could follow in the footsteps of the Pilgrim Fathers, the renovation of two Elizabethan houses on the Barbican and a new Mayflower monument as well as maximising the anniversary of the Mayflower 400.

Cabinet agreed to –

1.         Commit to leading and participating in the National Trail Programme of heritage and cultural works and activities to commemorate the 400^th anniversary of the sailing of the Pilgrim Fathers to America on the Mayflower 400 ship in 2020 and the other necessary supporting projects outlined in this report.

2.         Recommend provision of £5m to be included in the Council’s Capital Budget to deliver the project.  Procurement activities and contract award decisions in relation to the projects will be undertaken in accordance with the Council’s Constitution.  Given the prestigious nature and firm timeline associated with the anniversary, early engagement with procurement should be undertaken to develop a pipeline of activity.

3.         Delegate authority to the Strategic Director for Place to submit funding bids to support these projects including bids to the Heritage Lottery Fund, Arts Council, and Coastal Communities Fund using up to £5m of Council funding for match funding/leverage requirements.

4.         Note that there will be a revenue requirement to the National Trail.  The ongoing maintenance requirements will be confirmed in the project Business Case(s) considered by the Leader before the funding is committed to the Capital Programme.

Tracey Lee (Chief Executive) will submit the response to the Budget Scrutiny Report on the Budget 2017 – 18.

The Leader welcomed Councillor Bowie, Chair of Place and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Councillor Mrs Aspinall, Chair of Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  Following agreement at the Co-operative Scrutiny Board in 2015 both Scrutiny Committees have scrutinised the budget through two short sessions.  This follows the significant scrutiny which took place on the MTFS in the autumn and scrutiny of major policy decisions which has been ongoing throughout the year.

The Place and Corporate Scrutiny Committee considered that the budget presented was not sufficiently detailed and as such the Committee was unable to judge whether the Draft Budget was effective and in line within the Corporate Plan, and has recommendations on how the budget should be broken down in the interests of openness and transparency.

The Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee raised significant concern on whether a sustainable, quality service and savings could be delivered in 2017/18 given rising demand and chronic underfunding of services by national government. As such the Committee recommends to full council to call upon national government to deliver a fair and sustainable settlement for the future of local social care.

Thanks were given to all of the members involved throughout the scrutiny of the budget.

Councillor Darcy provided a response to the recommendations made by the scrutiny committees.

Response to Place and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Darcy will present the Budget 2017 – 18 report.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be assessed at the Council’s website Councillors, Committees and meetings/Committee Meetings/Library/Cabinet background papers 201617 or using the following link - http://tinyurl.com/zneeezz

Councillor Darcy presented the Budget 2017 – 18 which sets out the resources available to deliver the Corporate Plan.  The Cabinet are also required to recommend the 2017/18 Budget to Council.

Cabinet agreed –

1.         That Cabinet recommends the 2017/18 Budget to Council.

2.         That Cabinet recommends the 2017/18 Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy to Council.

3.         That Cabinet recommends the increased Capital Budget of £861m to Council.

4.         The Medium Term Financial Strategy to be updated to reflect the new Capital Budget.

Councillor Darcy will present the Capital and Corporate Revenue Monitoring Report 2016/17 – Quarter 3.

Councillor Darcy presented the Capital and Revenue Monitoring Report 2016/17 – Quarter 3 that outlines the finance monitoring position of the Council as at the end of December 2016.

Cabinet agreed to –

1.         Note the current revenue monitoring position and action plans in place to reduce/mitigate shortfalls.

2.         Approve the non-delegated revenue budget virements (shown in Table 5).

3.         Increase the Capital Budget 2016-21 is increased to £478m (shown in Table 6).