To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2022

Decision

The Committee approve the minutes of the meeting held on 24 May 2022 as a correct record.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer

This report provides an update on the activity of the Revenues and Benefits Unit as set out in the October 2021 Scrutiny Report, including details of Covid schemes and cost of living schemes delivered by the service.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer that provided an update on the activity of the Revenues and Benefits Unit as set out in the October 2021 Scrutiny Report, including details of Covid schemes and cost of living schemes delivered by the service.

Key themes in the report included:

·                An overview of Benefits administration, including Council Tax Support and the management of the Welfare Provision Scheme and other discretionary schemes;

·                The financial support provided as part of the Test and Trace scheme;

·                The financial support provided by the Household Support Fund scheme;

·                The financial support provided by the Energy Grant Scheme; Performance in the collection of council tax and how the Council balances collection, whilst working in an ethical way and supporting those residents on a low income; and

·                Performance in the collection of business rates, including the financial support provided to businesses through various Business Rates Reliefs and grants.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·                Was it possible to provide any indication as to how many families and businesses had been supported by the Council’s approach to helping those in need;

·                It was noted that there were no properties within the Private Rented Sector within Manchester that offered properties for rent close to the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate and it was deeply worrying that there had been no uplift in April 2022;

·                Was there any significant variations between Council Tax bandings and the uptake in direct debit payments of Council Tax;

·                What percentage of applicants were approved in relation to the Welfare Provisions Scheme;

·                In relation to the pilot with Oasis Centre in Gorton, what have been the learning outcomes for wider implementation;

·                Had there been any occasion where the Council had managed to collect Council Tax at a rate of 95% or more;

·                Clarification was sought on how the Council was preventing the £150 Council Tax rebate being paid to those residents with a second home;

·                A question was asked on how quickly ‘U’ banded properties became classified;

·                Clarification was sought as to whether Enforcement Agents were bailiffs and how likely was the trial on attachments to earnings to be extended;

·                Was there any indication as to how many business the city were lost due to them not fitting the criteria set by Government for its Business Support Scheme; and

·                Was there any specific reasons for the low uptake of the CARF funding.

The Head of Corporate Assessments advised that it was difficult to give a precise number as to how many people had been supported as many people had been affected by a range of pressure.  He advised that it would be possible to provide a high level figure of the number of households that had received support.  The Head of Corporate Revenues advised that the position was similar in relation to business rate support, insofar that it would be possible to provide a figure on how many businesses had received support and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer attached

This report informs Members of the capital outturn position for 2021/22 including total expenditure and funding, confirms that funding sources have been managed to best utilise resources available to fund the capital programme and presents a revised capital programme for the 2022/23 financial year after taking into account the final outturn position.

The Committee considered the report of the Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer. The Committee had been invited to comment on the report prior to it being considered by the Executive.

Key themes in the report included:

·                The outturn of capital expenditure for 2021/22;

·                The financing of capital expenditure for 2021/22;

·                The major variances between the 2021/22 outturn and the previous Capital Programme monitoring report submitted in February 2022; and

·                The revised capital programme budget for 2022/23; and subsequent years as a result of the review of the programme following outturn.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·                Was the inflation contingency of £28m over the next four years going to be enough given the increasing rate;

·                Would it be possible to have a report on how each capital project contributed to a net zero carbon city;

·                Could information be provided on the spending towards the new proposed residents parking zone in Ancoats;

·                Was the Council still expecting a positive return on investment in regard to The Factory

·                How would spending change on Northwards Housing now that it was back within the Council;

·                Concern was expressed around the economic volatility Manchester residents were facing and whether there would be an effect on Council borrowing if interest rates were to increase;

·                How was social value delivered within the projects;

·                Concern was expressed around the cost of inflation to the construction industry;

·                Why was there a proposed virement of £1.62m from the Newton Heath High Rise Block

·                Could an explanation of maintaining structure of borrowing be given; and

·                Clarification was sought as to the why the cost of refitting the Peterloo Memorial was greater than the total cost of the Emmeline Pankhurst memorial.

The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer advised that it was difficult to accurately assess the level of contingency needed for inflation as the situation was very fast moving and the impact on the supply chain was profound as well.  All major schemes had been reviewed but it would be further in the year before there would be clearer picture of the impact of recent increases in inflation would have.  The Deputy City Treasurer also comment that most of the capital projects had contingency levels built in and it would be these contingencies that would be used in the first instance and the £28m was for anything that couldn’t be covered within the planned contingency levels within each project.

The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer agreed to share with Committee Members the Council’ Low Carbon Build Standard report.  In addition, it was explained that each capital project went through a business case process, with a specific part centred around how the project would contribute towards low carbon and other climate mitigation measures.

In terms of the residents parking zone in Ancoats, the scheme would be included in the Council’s Capital Programme at the point it became fully approved and the funding in place.  At present, this scheme was currently going through  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit.

This report provides the Committee with details of key decisions that fall within the Committee’s remit and an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also includes the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee is asked to amend as appropriate and agree.

The Committee considered the report by the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which provided details of key decisions that fall within the Committee’s remit and an update on actions resulting from the Committee’s recommendations. The report also included the Committee’s work programme, which the Committee was asked to amend as appropriate and agree.

Decision

The Committee note the report and agreed the work programme.