Agenda item

Councillor Robert Rigby (Deputy Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Regeneration) to update the Committee on current and forthcoming issues in this Portfolio.

4.1       Councillor Robert Rigby (Deputy Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Regeneration) presented the report and began by informing Members that the Budget and Performance Task Group was due to consider the Budget for 2019-20 and the Capital Programme. In respect of the programme to replace BT Managed Services with the IBC Solution from Hampshire County Council (HCC), officers were testing the system and feedback received to date was positive. HCC were due to go live with the new payroll system on 1 December 2018. In respect of the Church Street regeneration programme, Members heard that Councillor Robathan had recently visited the site to view progress to date. Councillor Rigby advised that the new Leaseholder Policy for Housing Renewal Areas 2018 had just been published and the options to buy offered were generous in comparison with other local authorities.

4.2       Councillor Rigby reported that the business plan for the Wholly Owned Company (WOC) had been well received by the Capital Review Group. He also advised that City Hall works in Victoria Street were on track and within budget. There would be opportunities for Members to visit City Hall before it re-opened. The City Council was seeking to invite local enterprise groups to operate the canteen in City Hall. Members were informed that there had been strong public support to keep St John’s Wood Post Office in Circus Road open during a recent public consultation. Councillor Rigby also advised that the City Council was due to take over building facilities services when the Amey contract expires on 31 March 2019.

4.3       During Members’ discussions, it was commented that it would be useful to see how the City Council compared with others using a league table in respect of Council Tax and National Non-Domestic Rates (NNDR) collection rates. Information was sought on how much had been spent on the Community Contribution to date. In respect of St John’s Post Office, a Member asked if there was room for flexibility regarding the rent the Post Office was willing to pay. He also sought details on how the Futures Groups for the Church Street and Ebury Bridge Regeneration schemes were progressing, including who would be chairing these groups in future. Members asked for further information on Marylebone Job Centre’s implementation of the transition from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit, progress in sub-letting space at City Hall and what activities would the WOC perform.

4.4       The Chairman commented that there needed to be careful consideration of the City Council’s needs regarding building facilities services when the Amey contract expires.

4.5       In reply to issues raised by Members, Councillor Rigby advised that the Council Tax and NNDR collection target rates were 96.5% and 98.5% respectively. He agreed to provide details of how much had been spent on the Community Contribution to date. In respect of St John’s Wood Post Office, the City Council was taking a very flexible approach and the rent was below market value.  Officers were making every effort to ensure that the Post Office continued to operate as it played an important role in the community.  Councillor Rigby would feedback to officers the Chairman’s thoughts on the need to carefully consider what building facilities services were needed. He advised that the Marylebone Job Centre’s implementation of the transition from Housing Benefit to Universal Credit had gone well and the Department for Work and Pensions had stated that it was an example of best practice. Councillor Rigby advised that the City Council was actively marketing space to sub-let in City Hall. He commented that developing the WOC was a time consuming process and he was on the WOC Board with three officers and it was hoped the scheme would be up and running in the next few months. Councillor Rigby acknowledged that it was crucial to have the right chairs in respect of the Futures Groups for the Church Street and Ebury Bridge regeneration schemes.

4.6       Barbara Brownlee (Executive Director, Growth, Planning and Housing) added that there was currently a review of the Church Street Futures Group and how the City Council proceeds with this group awaits the outcome of this review. She stated that many other consultation groups are up and running on Church Street dealing with specific projects. In respect of Ebury Bridge, clarification in respect of future arrangements were likely to take longer as there were extensive building works taking place at present. In respect of the WOC, Barbara Brownlee advised that the business plan required formal approval before the scheme would commence. The business plan would need to demonstrate that it was workable, and once this was approved, consideration would then be needed as to how to the scheme would start.

4.7       The Chairman advised that an update on the WOC was due to be presented at the 14 January 2019 meeting and the input of Members would be important.

4.8       ACTION:

            Information on how much has been spent on the Community Contribution to be circulated to Members. (Action for: Councillor Robert Rigby and Steven Mair, City Treasurer.)