Agenda and minutes

Noted the attendance of two officers from Revenue Services at the Institute of Revenues Ratings and Valuation Conference, and the benefits to the Council of their attendance.

Agreed the attendance of the Revenues Business Unit Manager (Rents & Benefits) and the Benefits Manager at the Institute of Revenues, Ratings and Valuation Annual Housing Benefits Conference and Exhibition 2006 at an estimated cost of £1,305, (excluding travel and subsistence expenses), which will be met from existing budgets.

Received a report detailing the Council’s revenue and capital position from the beginning of April to the end of November 2005, and details of the action being taken by Chief Officers to ensure a balanced position by the year end.

Agreed, as a matter of good financial practice, to:

(i)  Note the current position of the Council’s revenue and capital budget;

(ii)  Note the action being taken by Chief Officers to ensure a balanced position by the year end;

(iii)  The one-off (budget transfer) virement of £273,000 from interest on balances for unavoidable one-off costs in the Leisure and Community Services Division as detailed in the report;

(iv)  Note the position and projected out-turn for the Housing Revenue Account; and

(v)  The reprofiling of capital programme schemes as identified in Appendix E to the report.

Received a report setting out the position of the Council’s revenue budgets for 2005 / 2006 and a base budget position for 2006 / 2007.

Agreed, in order to reflect decisions made during the year and set an initial position fore deciding the overall 2006/2007 budget, to:

(i)  The revised budget for 2005 / 2006 and the base budget for 2006 / 2007 as set out in Appendix A (i) of the report.

(ii)  The budget virements for the 2005 / 2006 revised budget as set out at Appendix A (iii) of the report; and

(iii)  To note the position on the projected outturn for 2005 / 2006.

Received the draft final report of the Improving Employment Prospects Policy Commission on the key findings.

The Commission had made a number of recommendations covering:

·  tackling the low skills base

·  the barriers to employment

·  the development of the local and regional economy

·  the development of the local existing and future workforce

·  strengthening the leadership role of the Council on employment

There were no additional comments made and it was noted that the report would be submitted to the Assembly on 1 March 2006.