Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Susie Charles and Jane Parkinson.

To receive as a correct record the Minutes of the Meeting of the City Council held on 1^st February 2017 (previously circulated). 

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2017 were signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

Members advised of the following interests at this stage:

Councillor Novell reported that she would declare a disclosable pecuniary interest, should there be any reference to the Marsh Community Centre during budget setting, as the Manager of the Centre.  Councillor Barry informed the Mayor that he would declare a personal, non-pecuniary interest in the Centre.

(Minute No.104 refers.)

The Mayor reported the sad death of Honorary Alderman Pat Quinton.

Mrs Quinton was elected in May 1987 for Caton Ward and then Lower Lune Valley when the boundaries changed in 2003. She was Mayor in 2001/2 and sat on the Council’s Cabinet until she retired in May 2007. Pat was also a County Councillor from 1993 to 2001 in Lancaster Rural South division.

The Mayor informed Councillors that a service would be taking place at Caton Institute on Wednesday 15 March at 2.30pm.

Members stood in a minute’s silence in her memory.

The Mayor announced that he would be holding a Charity Race Night on Friday 24 March at Lancaster Town Hall. This would be his final big fundraising event. Tickets were on sale from the Mayor’s office priced £10, to include a hotpot supper.

Before moving on to the next agenda item, the Mayor reminded Members that there was a lot of business to be discussed at the meeting. He asked for all Councillors to debate with respect for one another so that the items on the agenda could be dealt with efficiently.

To receive questions in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 11.1 and 11.3 which require members of the public to give at least 3 days’ notice in writing of questions to a Member of Cabinet or Committee Chairman. 

The Mayor advised that no questions had been received from members of the public in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rule 11.

The Chief Executive informed Members that she had not received any petitions or requests to address Council in accordance with the requirements set out in the Council’s Petition Scheme. However, she wished to make Members aware that there was currently an e-petition running on the Council’s website with over 300 signatures, asking the Council to grant an extension to the proposed closing date of Hornby Community Pool to allow the local community time to establish a trust to manage the pool.

The Chief Executive informed Council that, although the required notice had not been given for the petition to be presented for debate at the meeting, she understood that reference would be made to it during debate on the budget. 

The Leader presented her report updating Members on various issues since her last report to Council. She then responded to a number of questions from Councillors.

Resolved:

That the report be noted. 

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,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 104.

Referral from Cabinet.

Councillor Whitehead introduced a Cabinet report seeking approval for the Council’s Treasury Management Framework for 2017/18 onwards, including all the various elements as required under relevant legislation and the associated Code of Practice.

Councillor Whitehead and the Chief Officer (Resources) responded to questions from Councillors.

The recommendation in the report was moved by Councillor Whitehead and seconded by Councillor Blamire.

There was a short debate before a vote was taken on the motion, which was carried.

Resolved:

That the Treasury Management Framework and associated Prudential Indicators, as set on in Appendices A to C of the report, be approved.

Referral from Council Business Committee.

Councillor Hall presented a report of Council Business Committee, asking Council to approve a timetable of meetings for the 2017/18 municipal year. She proposed the recommendations, as set out in the report, seconded by Councillor Reynolds.

Councillor Ashworth, seconded by Councillor Blamire, proposed an amendment to proposal (1) by way of providing and alternative timetable to the one set out at Appendix 1 of the report. The alternative timetable had been circulated to members at the start of the meeting.

The proposer and seconder of the original motion accepted the alternative timetable as a friendly amendment to proposal (1).

Councillor Devey then proposed a further amendment, which was also accepted as a friendly amendment:

“That there be no change to the start time of Annual Council.”

It was noted that Annual Council was a meeting in two parts, with the Mayor-making at noon on Friday generally being referred to as “Annual Council” and second part, dealing with appointments for the new Municipal Year and starting at 6.30pm on the Monday after Mayor-making generally being referred to as “Annual Business Council.”  Officers clarified that the recommendation to change the start time proposed in the report referred to part two of the Annual Council meeting, not Mayor-making.

The motion, complete with friendly amendments, was carried when put to the vote.

Resolved:

(1)     That the Committee Timetable for 2017/18 be approved. (Copy appended to these minutes).

(2)     That:

a)      The start time of the Joint Consultative Committee (JCC) be changed from 4pm to 5pm and Personnel Committee to start at 6:10pm, ‘or at the rise of JCC, whichever is the later’ with the Chairman to use their discretion regarding an earlier start for JCC depending on the amount of business to be considered.

b)     The venue for Audit Committee be changed from Morecambe Town Hall to Lancaster Town Hall.

To consider the report of the Chief Officer (Resources).

The Chief Officer (Resources) submitted a report seeking Council’s approval for Council tax rates for the district for 2017/18.

The Chief Officer (Resources) and Leader of the Council responded to a question from a Councillor.

Councillor Whitehead proposed recommendations (1)-(6), as set out in the report. Councillor Blamire seconded the proposition.

There was no debate and a vote was taken on the proposal, which was clearly carried.

Resolved:

(1)             That it be noted that, under delegated powers in accordance with section 84 of the Local Government Act 2003, the following amounts have been calculated for the year 2017/18, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 (as amended) made under section 33(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (the “Act”):

(a)   40,300.00 being the amount of its council tax base for the whole district [item T in the formula in section 31B of the Act];

(b)  

             being the amounts of its council tax base for each parish within the district.

(2)             That in accordance with section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, it be noted that there are no expenses to be treated as the City Council’s special expenses.

(3)             That the following amounts be now calculated by the City Council for the year 2017/18 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act, as amended by the Localism Act 2011:

(a)    £140,481,994.03 being the aggregate of the amounts which the City Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by parish councils;

(b)    £131,273,275.00 being the aggregate of the amounts which the City Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act;

(c)    £9,208,719.03 being the amount by which the aggregate at 3(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 3(b) above, calculated by the City Council, in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its council tax requirement for the year. [Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act];

(d)    £585,719.03 being the aggregate amount of all special items (parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act;

(e)    £8,623,000.00 being the council tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2017/18 (excluding parish precepts);

(f)      £228.50 being the amount at 3(c) above [Item R], all divided by the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 107.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

The Chief Executive’s report on the Pay Policy Statement 2017/18 was considered by Council. Councillors’ questions on the report were responded to by the Chief Executive.

Councillor Whitehead, seconded by Councillor Blamire, proposed:

“That the Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18, appended to the report, be approved for publication.”

There was no debate. Council voted on the proposition, which was clearly carried.

Resolved:

That the Pay Policy Statement for 2017/18 appended to the report, be approved for publication.

To receive questions in accordance with the provisions of Council Procedure Rules 12.2 and 12.4 which require a Member to give at least 3 working days’ notice, in writing, of the question to the Chief Executive. 

The Mayor advised that Councillor Scott had submitted a question for Councillor Hanson to the Chief Executive in accordance with Council Procedure Rules. He asked if she would be prepared to accept a written answer after the meeting, in view of the lateness of the hour. Councillor Scott agreed.