Minutes – Finance Working Group – 19 October 2021

The agenda and papers for this meeting are available here: Finance Working Group – 19 October 2021 – agenda and papers

The minutes of this meeting are presented below.

You can also download a PDF copy of the minutes here: Minutes – Finance Working Group – 19 October 2021

NOTES OF THE VIRTUAL MEETING OF THE FINANCE WORKING GROUP
HELD ON TUESDAY 19 OCTOBER 2021 AT 2.00PM

PRESENT:

• Councillors Scicluna (Chairman), Barrie (Vice-Chairman), Dignum, Harry, K Hughes

EX-OFFICIO:

• The Mayor (Councillor J Hughes), Councillor Apel (Chairman of Community Affairs), Councillor Plowman (Chairman of Planning and Conservation)

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:

• Town Clerk, Deputy Town Clerk (Responsible Finance Officer), Member Services Support Officer, Mr David Elliott – Art of Chichester Grant applicant, A member of the public

43. APOLOGIES AND RECORD OF ABSENCE

The Deputy Mayor (Councillor Joy) was absent.

44. MINUTES OF THE FINANCE WORKING GROUP MEETING HELD ON 14 SEPTEMBER 2021

AGREED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 September 2021, having been circulated, be approved and signed as a correct record at a later date.

45. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST BY MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE IN MATTERS ON THE AGENDA FOR THIS MEETING

The following Personal Interests were declared:

Councillors Scicluna and Plowman as members of the Murray Club

Councillor Dignum as CDC representative on BID

Councillor K Hughes as a member of the Chichester Running Club

46. UPDATES FROM THE PREVIOUS MINUTES

(i) Minute 29(f) – Over the Rainbow – 30 September 2021

Councillor Plowman said that this event held on 30 September 2021 had been a most enjoyable occasion, notwithstanding inclement weather and had fulfilled the undertaking given by him in his Mayoralty. Councillor Plowman gave thanks to all those who had helped make this event such a success.

(ii) Minute 29(g) – Covid-19 Awards

The Mayor said that he had been pleased to present these awards at the Over the Rainbow event and that the Certificates produced by the City Council had been warmly received by the recipients. The list of award winners was publicised on the City Council’s website.

(iii) Minute 36 – Remembrance Sunday – 14 November 2021

The Town Clerk said that, subject to Government intervention, it was intended to run the 2021 Remembrance Sunday event along the usual format with encouragement being given both about face covering wearing and social distancing.

It was AGREED that the Garrison Atillery Volunteers provide a gun salute for the Two Minutes’ Silence. It was further AGREED that the cost of this would be £285.

(iv) Minute 37 – Volunteering Charter

This document had been prepared and was available to view on the City Council’s website.

47. DISCRETIONARY GRANT APPLICATION – ART OF CHICHESTER

Due to exceptional circumstances, the Committee had agreed to consider a presentation for Discretionary Grant funding by Mr David Elliott about the book “Art of Chichester”.

Mr Elliott presented his case and invited questions from Councillors.

It was AGREED this matter be dealt with later in the meeting with the Press and Public excluded.

48. NEW HOMES BONUS

The terms of Agreement for the 2021/2022 allocation and the conditions were accepted and understood by the Working Group.

49. CHICHESTER CITY COUNCIL DRAFT BUDGET – 2022-2023

The Finance Manager explained the Draft Budget Report 2022-23 that showed a 1.48% increase, but also explained that the tax base is still unknown and may change the final budget

50. INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN

(a) DRAFT CHICHESTER INFRASTRUCTURE PLAN

The Working Group reviewed the City Council’s projects and acknowledged that the electric van would be added to the list of projects.

(b) CHICHESTER DISTRICT COUNCIL’S INFRASTRUCTURE BUSINESS PLAN ALLOCATION FOR LANGLEY HOUSE (IBP877)

The Working Group expressed strong disapproval of this project and wished this to be fed back through the consultation process.

51. CHICHESTER BID BALLOT

It was AGREED to vote in support of the Chichester BID ballot.

52. NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN – UPDATE ON PROGRESS AND FUNDING

Following an initial report from Councillor Plowman, it was AGREED that a written report about administrative support for the Neighbourhood Plan be submitted by Councillor Plowman to a Special Meeting of the Committee on Thursday 28 October 2021.

53. PUBLIC BODIES (ADMISSION TO MEETINGS) ACT 1960

It was proposed, seconded and AGREED that the public and press would be excluded from this briefing for Agenda Items 13 and 14 because of the confidential nature of the business to be transacted

54. DISCRETIONARY GRANT – ART OF CHICHESTER

It was AGREED that a grant of £2000 be made.

55. NEW HOMES BONUS

At their meeting in September, the District Council’s Grants and Concessions Panel had declined to support the City Council’s recommendation of funding towards the bronze version of the Murray/Nelson sculpture. Instead, the Panel had decided to redirect the funding (£15,000) to the application by Chichester Runners supported by the City Council to bring the total amount awarded to the Runners to £43,000.

The Chairman made the point that she was surprised that CDC had awarded Chichester Runners an additional £18,000 more than CDC’s ceiling ruling for the City to award any one group.

Whilst members were mindful of their support for the Runners, they considered that the decision of the District Council to take this action without any support consultation with the City Council was unacceptable and that the District Council be advised of the City Council’s strong objection to this principle being adopted, and it ever being repeated.

Members asked for the process to be reviewed by Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

56. DATE OF NEXT SPECIAL MEETING

Thursday 28 October 2021 at 2.30pm.

DATE OF NEXT ORDINARY MEETING: 25 November 2021

The meeting closed at 3.35pm.