Venue: Council Chamber - Port Talbot Civic Centre. View directions
No. | Item |
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Council Tax Base 2018-19 Minutes: Committee
noted the report of the Head of Financial Services on the proposed Council Tax
Base for 2018-19. Members then raised
the following:- ·
In relation to the Council Tax collection rates, Members asked how the Authority
proposed to maintain/increase its collection rates and were advised that
Officers now used such methods as Facebook, the Department of Works and
Pensions data, etc. The Director of
Finance and Corporate Services was confident that the 2017/18 collection rates
would be between 97.5% and 98%. Members
were advised that with the introduction of the Universal Credit the process had
become slightly more difficult, however Officers would do their utmost to maintain
the collection rate. ·
Members asked how many were paying Council Tax and were advised that in
the region of 65k properties were liable to pay, some residents were however on
full or partial benefit and were not therefore liable for the full
amounts. Over 99% of debt was collected,
with the Authority being the second best in Wales for 2015/16 and the third
best in Wales for 2016/17 with 98%. Following
scrutiny the Committee was supportive of the proposal to be considered by
Cabinet. |
|
Treasury Management Mid Year Report 2017-18 Minutes: Members
noted the report of the Director of Finance and Corporate Services on Treasury
Management Mid Year Report for 2017-18. Committee noted that since the compilation of
the report the Director of Finance and Corporate Services had authorised a
further £20m borrowing at the lower interest rate. ·
Members asked whether Officers took external financial advice on
investments and were advised that the Authority’s financial advisors were P.S.
Asset Ltd (formerly CAPITA). Meetings
were held 2 or three times per year with the advisors and regular daily updates
were received. ·
Members asked how long the Authority had been with P.S.Asset
Ltd and were advised that the Council had been with the former CAPITA since at
least 2002. In addition Members were told
that the Authority paid around £10k per annum to the consultants with
additional payments for any specific project work. Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the proposals to be considered by
Cabinet. |
|
Parliamentary Boundary Review 2018 - Revised Proposals Minutes: Members
received the report of the Head of Corporate Strategy and Democratic Services
in relation to the above and raised the following:- ·
The impact on Wales seemed disproportionate to the rest of the UK; ·
The proposed boundary changes would result in confusion as the proposed
new parliamentary constituencies would not be coterminous with the boundaries
for the Local Health Board and regional working; ·
Members hoped that any further representations made would be positively
considered , although Members were reminded that the Boundary Commission was required
to comply with the overriding rules of the electoral quota; ·
Members were reminded that individuals and political parties could also
make representations to the Boundary Commission. Following
scrutiny, the Committee was supportive of the Council making further
representations to the Boundary Commission and that the points set out in the
report form the basis of the Council’s submission. |