Agenda and minutes

Councillor David Renard, Leader of the Council, welcomed the invited representatives of local businesses to the meeting.

Report presented to Cabinet at its meeting on 6^th December 2017.

Councillor Renard opened the meeting and advised that it was intended to inform local businesses of the Council’s projected outturn for 2017/18 and the financial context for setting the budget for 2018-2020.

Mr Paul Smith, Head of Finance, explained that the 2018-2020 draft budget would be submitted to Cabinet for consideration at its meeting on 7^th February 2018 and that recommendations would then be made to the Council meeting on 22^nd February 2018. It was noted that consultation feedback in relation to the budget proposals, including feedback from this meeting, would be included in the submission to the Cabinet meeting.

Mr Smith provided some updated figures on the projected outturn for 2017/18, including the reduction in the overspend against the revenue budget from £2.2m to £0.5m, and the projected variance for the Children Services budget increasing from £3.3m to £3.9m. Mr Smith explained the reasons for the projected overspend and variances, and made particular reference to the Swindon Programme which aims to save £30m over the next 30 months across all Council services.  

Mr Richard Lay (Lay Holding Group) commented on the adult social care pressures being faced by the Council, and expressed concern over how business rates could be targeted for raising money in the future. Mr Lay also referred to proposals to use existing public parking for residential parking, and empty commercial buildings being turned into residential properties, which he feels detrimentally impacts the commercial development in the town. Mr Lay was of the view that the loss of public car parking spaces would decrease footfall, particularly for smaller local businesses within the town, which could lead to commercial failures. He also felt that residential parking spaces would tend to be empty during the day and could be utilised for public parking during that time.

Ms Sarah Fish (Atkins) queried if there are opportunities within the planning process which could potentially be utilised to help businesses, and explained how current developments in technology – such as sensors in car parks being linked to apps on mobile phones – could help to provide digital solutions in the future to parking issues.

Mr Lay referred to how some parking bays only allow one or two hour parking at all times, and how he believes one simple solution could be to allow unlimited waiting times during the day and only place restrictions in the evenings.

Councillor Renard confirmed that a review of parking restrictions in the town centre is currently being undertaken.

Mr Mike Godfrey (Business West) queried who will be responsible for determining the methodology for calculating the business rates tax in the future, and what improvements will be provided to local businesses from their local authority once they start to receive funds from the business rates. Mr Smith advised that government regulations will continue to set business rates and local authorities will collect it, and also that the move towards 75% retention of business rates in 2020/21 may be offset through reductions in revenue support grantand that,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.