To notify the Mayor of any items that appear later in the agenda in which you may have an interest.

No declarations of interest were received.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meetings held on :-

The Minutes of the meetings held on 18^th April, 2008 and 16^th May, 2008 were confirmed as correct records and signed by the Chairman.

It was explained that, in the absence of the Mayor, details of functions, events, etc., attended by the Mayor would be given at the next meeting.

Report of Director of Resources.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Resources (for copy see file of Minutes) dealing with the statutory requirements set out in the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 for the production and publication of the Annual Statement of Accounts.

Under the Account and Audit Regulations 2003 the Council was required to approve the Accounts of the authority for the 2007/8 financial year by no later than 30^th June, 2008 prior to publication and the formal signing off by the District Auditor.

The Director of Resources gave a short presentation outlining the key points in the Statement of Accounts and financial performance during 2007/8.  Members were given the opportunity to ask questions and raise any concerns that they had in relation to the Accounts.

The Audit Committee had reviewed the Statement of Accounts and separately reviewed the contents of the Statement of System of Internal Control and Corporate Governance at its meeting earlier that day and had recommended that Council approves both statements.

It was explained that in respect of the General Fund that Council had approved a net budget requirement for 2007/8 of £14,618,060 after a use of balances of £700,000 which represented a net increase in spending of £572,580 or 4.1%.  The gross budget requirement was subsequently increased by £60,000 to take into account additional anticipated costs associated with Local Government Re-organisation in County Durham.

The commitment made in the Medium Term Financial Plan to restrict a Council Tax increase to 3% was delivered in 2007/8.

The outturn position on the General Fund showed that the Council had only been required to use £436,000 of the budget support fund as opposed to the budgeted use of balances of £760,000.

The financial outturn position on the Housing Revenue Account showed the use of HRA balances of £1.9m.  However it was explained that the position included some significant costs that had been incurred early and the account would be replenished in 2008/09

In respect of reserves the overall level of resources available to the Council had fallen by £2.761m compared with balances as at 31^st March, 2007, largely in line with expectations.

The Medium Term Financial Plan anticipated that by the end of 2008/9 all the budget support  fund would have been utilised.  As a result of a much smaller use of the fund during 2007/8 it was anticipated that there would be a balance on the fund at the end of the 2008/9 financial year.

In respect of the Capital Programme the Council had spent £18.126m of which £7.908m related to Housing, £5.35m to General Fund services and £4.865 on Special Regeneration projects.

As a consequence of slippage and other savings on the 2007/8 Capital Programme and the Capital Receipts generated during the year the Council had useable Capital Receipts available to finance future capital works amounting to £10.978m as at 31^st March, 2008.  In accordance with decisions taken by Council in July 2004, £9.32m of those receipts were being earmarked specifically for major regeneration and affordable housing schemes.

RESOLVED :         1.      That the Statement of Accounts for year ended 31^st March, 2008 be approved.

                                 2.      That the Statement of the System of Internal Control and Corporate Governance be approved.

Report of Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) outlining revisions to the Council’s Transition Plan which had been approved by Council in January 2008.

It was explained that the Council’s 2007/2008 performance against national best value performance indicators and the statement on contracts which had involved the transfer of staff were appended to the Transition Plan enabling the Council to meet the statutory requirements to publish such information.

RESOLVED :         That the revised Transition Plan be adopted as the Council’s Corporate Plan for 2008/2009.

Report of Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) outlining amendments to the allocation of seats on Committees to political groups as the result of recent changes in political balance in accordance with the Local Government (Committee and Political Groups) Regulations 1990.

Nominations had been received from political groups in respect of representation on the Committees affected by the revised allocation of seats which were detailed in Appendix 3 to the report.

RESOLVED :         1.      That the allocation of seats to political groups be in accordance with the schedule detailed at Appendix 1 to the report.

                                 2.      That the membership of political groups outlined in Appendix 2 to the report be noted.

                                 3.      That the nominations received from political groups detailed in Appendix 3 to the report be approved.

Report of Chief Executive.

Consideration was given to a report of the Chief Executive (for copy see file of Minutes) regarding representation on Jubilee Fields Community Association.

Members were reminded that at the Annual Meeting of Council held on 16^th May, 2008 appointments had been made to a number of outside organisations.

A resignation had been received from the representative on Jubilee Fields Community Association and a nomination was therefore sought for the resulting vacancy.

RESOLVED :      That Councillor Mrs. D. Bowman be appointed as the Council’s representative on Jubilee Fields Community Association.