Agenda for Finance Cabinet Member Meeting on Wednesday, 4th June, 2008, 4.00pm

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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 1, Hove Town Hall. View directions

Contact: Nara Miranda, Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

1.

Procedural Business

    (a)  Declarations of Interest by all Members present of any personal interests in matters on the agenda, the nature of any interest and whether the Members regard the interest as prejudicial under the terms of the Code of Conduct.

     

    (b)  Exclusion of Press and Public - To consider whether, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted, or the nature of the proceedings, the press and public should be excluded from the meeting when any of the following items are under consideration.

     

    NOTE:  Any item appearing in Part 2 of the Agenda states in its heading the category under which the information disclosed in the report is exempt from disclosure and therefore not available to the public.

     

    A list and description of the exempt categories is available for public inspection at Brighton and Hove Town Halls.

     

    Minutes:

    1a      Declarations of Interests

     

    1a.1    There were none.

     

    1b      Exclusion of Press and Public

     

    1b.1    The Cabinet Member considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of any items contained in the agenda, having regard to the nature of the business to be transacted and the nature of the proceedings and the likelihood as to whether, if members of the press and public were present, there would be disclosure to them of confidential or exempt information as defined in Schedule 12A, Part 5A, Section 100A(4) or 100 1 of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).

     

    1b.2    RESOLVED – That the press and public be not excluded from the meeting.

2.

Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 70 KB

    Report of the Director of Strategy & Governance (copy attached).

    Minutes:

    2.1           The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Strategy & Governance relating to the Terms of Reference for the Finance Cabinet Member Meeting (for copy see minute book).

     

    2.2           RESOLVED – That theTerms of Reference for the Cabinet Member Meeting for Finance be noted.

3.

Minutes of the Finance Management Sub-Committee of 28 March 2008 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

    (copy attached).

    Minutes:

    3.1           RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Finance Management Sub-Committee meeting held on 28 March 2008 be noted.

4.

Cabinet Member's Communications

    Minutes:

    4.1           The Cabinet Member welcomed Members, officers and members of the public to the first meeting of the Cabinet Member Meeting for Finance. She also introduced Councillor Harmer-Strange as the Lead Councillor supporting her at the Cabinet Member Meeting for Finance.

     

    4.2           The Cabinet Member explained that she intended to conduct the Cabinet Member Meetings for Finance in an open way, and would try to ensure that all political groups were kept informed of the decisions.

     

    4.3           The Cabinet Member indicated that the Council faced   significant financial challenges, with pressure on several areas. She clarified that, despite the tight financial constraints, the Administration was determined to reduce the rate of increases in council tax and keep a tight focus on improving value for money. She indicated that a key part of the Cabinet Member for Finance’s role was to advise the Cabinet as a whole on financial issues. Therefore, within her portfolio, she would also be interested in the financial information and implications, which would be considered by other Cabinet Members.

     

    4.4           The Cabinet Member clarified that a number of reports, including updates on the Council’s efficiency savings targets, corporate value for money programme, approach to improving income collection and recovery, approach to treasury management, would be brought to Cabinet Member Meetings for information. However, on occasions, they might require decisions to be made as well.

     

    4.5           The Cabinet Member indicated that monthly meetings for the Finance Cabinet Member Meetings would probably be too frequent. In view of this, she proposed that these meetings should be held quarterly, although additional meetings could be called when necessary. She, therefore, confirmed that the next meeting scheduled for July 2008 would take place and quarterly from then onwards. She further stated that reports to be considered at next meeting would relate to an update on the Value for Money programme, the debt collection and recovery report for 2007/08, and an update on the treasury management.

5.

Items reserved for discussion

    (a)  Items reserved by the Cabinet Member

     

    (b)  Items reserved by the Opposition Spokesperson

     

    (c)  Items reserved by Members, with the agreement of the Cabinet Member.

     

    NOTE: Public Questions, Written Questions form Councillors, Petitions, Deputations, Letters from Councillors and Notices of Motion will be reserved automatically.

    Minutes:

    5.1           Members present sought clarification on point (c) of this item and who was entitled to reserve items for discussion.

     

    5.2           The Director of Strategy & Governance clarified that any Member was entitled to do so with the agreement of the Cabinet Member. He further clarified that Members were requested to submit any wishes to speak to the Democratic Services Officer at least 24 hours in advance of the meeting. However, this was not a legal requirement.

     

    5.3           Members present further enquired whether any Members in the audience wishing to speak and contribute to the debate could do so at the Cabinet Member meetings.

     

    5.4           The Director of Strategy & Governance clarified that this was at the Cabinet Member’s discretion.

     

    5.5           RESOLVED – That the comments above be noted.

6.

Public Questions

    (The closing date for receipt of public questions is 12 noon on 28 May 2008)

     

    No public questions received by date of publication.

    Minutes:

    6.1           There were none.

7.

Written Questions from Councillors

    No written questions have been received.

    Minutes:

    7.1           There were none.

8.

Petitions

    No petitions received by date of publication.

     

    Minutes:

    8.1           There were none.

9.

Deputations

    (The closing date for receipt of deputations is 12 noon on 28 May 2008)

     

    No deputations received by date of publication.

    Minutes:

    9.1           There were none.

10.

Letters from Councillors

    No letters have been received.

     

    Minutes:

    10.1       There were none.

11.

Notices of Motions referred from Council

    No Notices of Motion have been referred.

     

    Minutes:

    11.1       There were none.

12.

Matters referred for reconsideration

    No matters have been referred.

    Minutes:

    12.1       There were none.

13.

Reports from Overview & Scrutiny Committees

    No reports have been received.

    Minutes:

    13.1       There were none.

 


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