To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Cowell and Stockman.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17 September 2019.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Cabinet held on 17 September 2019 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any communications or announcements from the Leader of the Council.

The Leader of the Council provided a verbal update on a coffee morning and afternoon held with foster carers on 30 September 2019.  Positive feedback had been received from the event which would be evaluated to see what improvements the Council could put in place to help support foster carers.

The Cabinet considered the following matters, full details of which (including the Cabinet’s decisions) are set out in the Record of Decisions appended to these Minutes.

To consider the submitted report setting out the recommendations of the Overview and Scrutiny Board in respect of the Land Release Fund and proposed changes to governance arrangements.

To consider the submitted report on the above criteria.

To note the current position in respect of the Council’s Revenue and Capital Budgets for 2019/2020.

The Cabinet noted the contents of the submitted report which provided a high level budget summary of the Council’s revenue and capital income and expenditure for 2019/2020 as at quarter one.  The report had also been discussed at the Overview and Scrutiny Board on 19 September 2019.

The Deputy Head of Finance outlined the salient points within the report and advised that as a consequence of quarter one performance a moratorium on spend was introduced but this has not had as much of an impact as it did on last year.  The report predicted an overspend up to £4.2m by the end of the financial year and highlighted mitigating actions taken by the Senior Leadership Team, which included bringing forward savings and use of reserves.  Members noted that, whilst the net balanced budget had not improved the changes coming forward for quarter two provided greater assurance that the Council would deliver a balanced budget.

(Note: Councillor Barrand arrived during discussion of this item.)

To consider passing a resolution to exclude the press and public from the meeting prior to consideration of the following items on the agenda on the grounds that exempt information (as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) is likely to be disclosed.

Councillor Steve Darling proposed and Councillor Morey seconded the motion, which was agreed by the Cabinet unanimously, as set out below:

that the press and public be excluded from the meeting prior to consideration of the item 11 on the agenda on the grounds that exempt information (as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended)) is likely to be disclosed.

Prior to consideration of the item in Minute 33.5, the press and public were formally excluded from the meeting.

To consider the submitted report on the above.

(Note:  Councillor Douglas-Dunbar arrived during discussion of this item.)

To consider potential investment opportunities.

There were no new investment opportunities.

To receive an update on existing investments.

There was nothing new to update at this time.