Agenda item

Referral from Cabinet.

The Mayor explained that in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 20.7, which was introduced in February 2014 to comply with regulations, a recorded vote would be taken in respect of budget setting, and recommendations (1) & (2) of the report would be ‘budget decisions’ within the terms of the regulations.

 

Councillor Whitehead presented a report setting out Cabinet’s budget proposals and responded to questions from Members. The Chief Officer (Resources) also responded to Members’ questions.

 

Councillor Whitehead moved, seconded by Councillor Blamire:

 

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

The Mayor informed Council that he had been given notice of alternative budget proposals from the Conservative Group. Papers containing the proposals had been circulated at the start of the meeting. By way of an amendment, Councillor Peter Williamson moved the proposals, seconded by Councillor Phillippa Williamson (figures are appended to these minutes):

 

“(1)      That Council rescinds the following decision taken on 01 February regarding council tax (minute 89):

 

-        that a City Council tax increase of £5 for 2017/18, together with a year on year target of £5 for future years, subject to local referendum thresholds, be approved.”

 

(15 signatories had signed the motion in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 18.1 of the Council’s Constitution, which stated that “A motion or amendment to rescind a decision made at a meeting of Council within the past 6 months cannot be moved unless the notice of motion is signed by at least 15 members, being a quorum of the Council.”)

 

(2)                 That in place of that earlier decision, Council approves a freeze in the City Council tax rate for 2017/18, together with a target for a year on year freeze for future years.

 

(3)               That to fit with the above, a General Fund Revenue Budget of £15.637M for 2017/18 be approved, resulting in a Council Tax Requirement of £8.421M excluding parish precepts, and a Band D basic City Council tax rate of £208.97.

 

(4)               That the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) be approved as set out at Appendix A of the report, subject to it being amended to reflect the following:

 

(a)          That the amended General Fund revenue budget proposals (as appended) be approved.

 

(b)          That the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2017/18 be approved as set out at Annex 2 of the report, but subject to future transfer to a housing association (as appended).

 

(c)           That the Policy and Statement on Provisions and Reserves as set out at Annexes 3 and 4 of the report be approved, but subject to amendment in line with the papers appended.

 

(d)          That the General Fund Capital Programme as set out at Annex 5 of the report be approved, but subject to amendment in line with the papers appended.

 

(e)          That the Council Housing Capital Programme for 2017/18 be approved, as set out at Annex 6 of the report, but subject to future transfer to a housing association (as appended).

 

(f)            That the budget transfer (virements and carry forwards) limits be approved, as set out at Annex 7 of the report.

 

(5)               That Council notes the Section 151 Officer’s advice regarding robustness of budget estimates, the adequacy of reserves and balances and the affordability of borrowing.”

 

There was a lengthy debate and at the conclusion of the debate Members took a recorded voted on the amendment and it was lost. The outcome of the recorded vote was:

 

For the proposition

Councillors Bateson, Cooper, Edwards, Gardiner, Goodrich, Guilding, Helme, Joan Jackson, Mace, Rogerson, Sykes, Thomas, Wild, Peter Williamson, Phillippa Williamson and Yates (16)

 

Against the proposition

Councillors Armstrong, Atkinson, Barry, Biddulph, Blamire, Brayshaw, Brookes, Brown, Bryning, Burns, Clifford, Clift, Cozler, Denwood, Devey, Hall, Hamilton-Cox, Hanson, Hartley, Hughes, Caroline Jackson, Kay, Kershaw, Leytham, Leyshon, Metcalfe, Mills, Pattison, Redfern, Reynolds, Sands, Scott, Sherlock, Thynne, Warriner, Whitaker, Whitehead and Wilkinson. (38)

 

Abstentions

Councillors Ashworth, Knight, Novell and Woodruff. (4)

 

(There was a ten minute adjournment at this point, in line with Council Procedure Rule 10.1. Council re-convened at 8.25pm)

 

(Councillor Novell, having previously declared a disclosable pecuniary interest, left the council chamber before the next amendment was proposed and returned when the discussion on the amendment was over.)

 

The Green Group had submitted a paper with five separate amendments, which had been distributed to Councillors. Each amendment was proposed in turn, the first amendment by Councillor Barry, seconded by Councillor Brookes:

 

“That the Marsh Community Centre grant is continued for 2017/18 and that the amount of £14,000 is financed from reducing the contribution to General Fund balances. Any future support is decided as part of the ongoing Voluntary and Faith Sector Commissioning of Services Review.”

 

At this point in the meeting, Councillor Leytham requested an adjournment to consider the amendments from the Green Group. The request was seconded by Councillor Whitehead. A vote was taken on the proposal to adjourn, which was clearly carried.

 

(The meeting adjourned at 8.30pm and re-convened at 8.45pm)

 

 

Councillor Leytham made it clear that the amendment was likely to be accepted as a friendly amendment if the proposer and seconder agreed to change the words ‘General Fund’ to ‘Housing Revenue Account’. Councillors Barry and Brookes agreed to this and their amendment was accepted by Councillors Whitehead and Blamire as a friendly amendment to their budget proposals.

 

Councillor Barry proposed the next amendment, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:

 

“That 50% of the projected savings on the street cleaning budget is used to employ additional cleaning staff from 2017/18 (one full time equivalent cleaner costs £23k). This would be to offset the 112 as week reduction in hours for street cleaners in the budget. If the current re-organisation of contracts means that the 112 hours per week reduction is service neutral, then additional cleaning staff would improve services, thus boosting tourism and the well-being of residents. The funding should come from reducing the contribution to General Fund balances.

 

This was not accepted as a friendly amendment. There was a short debate before a vote was taken and the amendment was lost.

 

Councillor Brookes proposed the third Green Group amendment:

 

“That proposals to spend the £500,000 allocated to economic development reserve are not delegated to officers but are taken to Cabinet so that the proper Council scrutiny procedures can take place.”

 

This was seconded by Councillor Goodrich. It was not accepted as a friendly amendment by Councillors Whitehead and Blamire.

 

Debate followed, during which the Chief Officer (Resources) clarified the decision making arrangements for the economic development reserve, making it clear that any decisions taken by officers over the key decision threshold of £50k would be Officer Delegated Decisions which would be recorded in the usual way and subject to the required call-in period of 5 working days.

 

The Mayor called for a vote and, with 27 Councillors voting for the amendment, and 30 voting against, the amendment was lost.

 

Councillor Hamilton-Cox proposed the next amendment, seconded by Councillor Goodrich:

 

“That the Council conducts a property review in 2017/18 with a view to saving money on buildings needed to carry out its operations and to reduce corporate property capital expenditure in-year. That the results are presented to Cabinet and full Council so that they can be fed into the budget process.”

 

After a short debate, a vote was taken. 25 Members voted for the amendment and 32 voted against. The amendment was lost.

 

The final amendment from the Green Group was proposed by Councillor Caroline Jackson and seconded by Councillor Barry:

 

“That Cabinet comes up with a renewable energy proposal in 2017/18 from the £1.8m in the invest to save reserve. That this proposal is used to generate money for the Council and to contribute to the Council’s efforts to combat Climate Change.”

 

The amendment was not accepted as a friendly amendment and a short debate followed. The amendment was clearly lost when put to the vote.

 

Councillor Peter Williamson then put forward a further budget amendment, seconded by Councillor Mace:

 

“That, subject to the local community declaring their interest, Council grants an extension of six months from the proposed closing date of Hornby Pool to allow time for the local community to establish a Community Trust to manage the pool and agrees that the cost of operating the pool for this additional six month period be charged to reserves.”

 

There was extensive debate on the amendment before a vote was taken and the amendment was lost with 24 Members voting ‘for’ and 29 ‘against’.

 

(There was a further five minute adjournment at this point)

 

Councillor Wilkinson then proposed a further amendment which was accepted as a friendly amendment by Councillors Whitehead and Blamire:

 

“That, subject to the local community declaring their interest, Council grants an extension of six months from the proposed closing date of Hornby Pool to allow time for the local community to establish a Community Trust to manage the pool and agrees that the cost of mothballing the pool (i.e. equipment and building maintained) for this additional six month period be charged to reserves.”

 

There were no further amendments and a recorded vote was taken on the original budget proposals incorporating the friendly amendments relating to the Marsh Community Centre and Hornby Community Pool.  A recorded vote was taken:

 

For the proposition

Councillors Armstrong, Ashworth, Atkinson, Biddulph, Blamire, Brayshaw, Brown, Bryning, Burns, Clifford, Clift, Cozler, Denwood, Devey, Hall, Hanson, Hartley, Hughes, Kershaw, Leyshon, Leytham, Metcalfe, Pattison, Reynolds, Sands, Scott, Sherlock, Thynne, Warriner, Whitaker and Whitehead. (32)

 

Against the proposition

Councillors Bateson, Clift, Edwards, Gardiner, Goodrich, Guilding, Hamilton-Cox, Helme, Joan Jackson, Mace, Rogerson, Sykes, Thomas, Wild, Wilkinson, Peter Williamson, Phillippa Williamson and Yates. (18)

 

Abstentions

Councillors Barry, Brookes, Caroline Jackson, Knight, Mills and Redfern. (6)

 

 

Resolved:

 

(1)                 That the General Fund Revenue Budget of £15.839M for 2017/18 be approved, resulting in a Council Tax Requirement of £8.623M excluding parish precepts, and a Band D basic City Council tax rate of £213.97.

 

(2)                 That the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) be approved as set out at Appendix A of the report, subject to Council agreeing the following:

 

(a)          That the supporting General Fund revenue budget proposals be approved, as summarised at Annexes 1 and 10 of the report.

 

That, subject to the local community declaring their interest, Council grants an extension of six months from the proposed closing date of Hornby Pool to allow time for the local community to establish a Community Trust to manage the pool and agrees that the cost of mothballing the pool (i.e. equipment and building maintained) for this additional six month period be charged to reserves.

 

(b)     That the Housing Revenue Account budgets and future years’ projections be approved, as set out at Annex 2 of the report subject to the following:

 

That the Marsh Community Centre grant continues for 2017/18 and that the amount of £14,000 is financed from reducing the contribution to Housing Revenue Account balances. Any future support is decided as part of the ongoing Voluntary and Faith Sector Commissioning of Services Review.

 

(c)     That the Policy and Statement on Provisions and Reserves be approved, as set out at Annexes 3 and 4 of the report, subject to the following:

 

(d)         That the General Fund Capital Programme be approved, as set out at Annex 5 of the report.

 

(e)          That the Council Housing Capital Programme be approved, as set out at Annex 6 of the report.

 

(f)            That the budget transfer (virements and carry forwards) limits be approved, as set out at Annex 7 of the report.

 

(3)               That Council notes the Section 151 Officer’s advice regarding robustness of budget estimates, the adequacy of reserves and balances and the affordability of borrowing.

 

(In view of the time spent on debating the budget, the Mayor announced that the reports about Member Development Mandatory Training and the minutes of Cabinet (Items 11 and 16 on the agenda) would be deferred to the April Council meeting.)