To confirm the Minutes of the meeting held on 11th August, 2020 (copy attached).

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 11th August, 2020 were confirmed.

To consider Report No. FIN2024 (copy attached), which sets out the provisional outturn position on the General Fund revenue budget for 2019/20, subject to audit.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2024, which set out the provisional outturn position on the General Fund revenue budget for 2019/20, subject to audit.

The Report set out the General Fund Revenue Summary and revenue balances, with the principal individual variations between the current approved estimates and actual expenditure. The Cabinet was advised that, given the timing of the report and the impact of Covid-19 on the Council’s finances in the current financial year, the Report did not provide a detailed analysis of all of the outturn variations on the revenue budget. Members were informed that the outturn position was positive and that this could be utilised to mitigate the financial impact from Covid-19 in 2020/21 and over the medium term. The Report also set out the latest position relating to the Council’s treasury management activities, the Savings Plan and Government funding, Council Tax and Business Rates. It was confirmed that, for the time being, the Council would continue to utilise the Stability and Resilience Reserve to cover the forecasted deficits on the General Fund in 2020/21 and to mitigate the expected impact from Covid-19 over the medium term. It was acknowledged that the Council’s budget strategy would need to ensure that balances and reserves would be maintained at an adequate level.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the draft revenue budget outturn position for 2019/20, as set out in Report No. FIN2024, be noted;

(ii)          the carry forward requests from 2019/20 into 2020/21, as set out in Table 3a of the Report, be approved; and

(iii)         the transfers to reserves to support the Council’s financial sustainability in light of the impact from Covid-19, as set out in Table 8a of the Report, be approved.

To consider Report No. FIN2025 (copy attached), which sets out the provisional outturn position on the General Fund Capital Programme for 2019/20, subject to audit.

The Cabinet considered Report No. FIN2025, which set out the provisional outturn position on the General Fund Capital Programme for 2019/20, subject to audit.

The Report set out an overview of performance and any material variations to the capital budget. Key issues and actions were also highlighted. Members were reminded that the Council had approved the revised Capital Programme of £50.628 million at its meeting on 20th February, 2020. It was reported that a number of variations within the Capital Programme were due to timing differences on major projects and these would be treated as slippage from 2019/20 to 2020/21. The major variations related to the Voyager House project, regeneration activities at Union Street, Aldershot and the establishment of the Housing Company. 

The Cabinet RESOLVED that

(i)           the draft Capital Programme outturn position for 2019/20, as set out in Report No. FIN2025, be noted;

(ii)          the slippages totalling £4.188 million from 2019/20 to 2020/21, as set out in the Report, be approved.

To consider Report No. LEG2001 (copy attached), which sets out matters relating to a review of the Council’s corporate policy on the use of covert investigatory techniques, including surveillance, within and outside the scope of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

The Cabinet considered Report No. LEG2001, which set out a proposed update to the Council’s corporate policy on the use of covert investigatory techniques, including surveillance within and outside of the scope of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA).

The Report set out the reasons why the policy had been reviewed at this time. Members were informed that the revision took into account that most, if not all, of the surveillance undertaken by the Council would be outside of RIPA. It also implemented the latest guidance, took account of both of the recommendations made by the inspector in 2020 and reflected changes in the Council’s structure. It also included new provisions relating to communications data and the use of social networking sites when carrying out investigations.

The Cabinet RESOLVED that the revised corporate Surveillance and Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) Policy and Guidance, as set out in Appendix 1 to Report No. LEG2001, be approved.