Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of Cabinet from its meeting on 17^th February, 2009.

Councillor Bryning then presented the Cabinet recommendations on the General Fund Revenue Budget and having answered a number of questions, moved the recommendations (1) to (3) set out in the supplementary report subject to the following revisions to the updated Appendix A:

 

(i)                  That the Catch the Wind Kite and Sandcastles Festivals be re-instated at a cost of £9,300 to be funded from savings made by cancelling the Jazz Festival.

 

(ii)                That the proposed cut in the grant to the Dukes Theatre be reduced by £20,000 in 2009/10 to be funded from the Arts and Leisure Development budget.

 

(iii)               That the proposed cut of £20,000 in the grant to the Citizens Advice Bureaux in 2009/10 be reduced to £10,000 (£5,000 each) to be funded by a £10,000 reduction in the Community Cohesion reserve.

 

The recommendations were seconded by Councillor Sherlock.

 

It was then moved by Councillor John Whitelegg and seconded by Councillor Fletcher, by way of an amendment to recommendation (1):

 

‘That the £10,000 cut in grant to the Citizens Advice Bureaux now proposed for 2009/10 and the £20,000 in future years be deleted, the cost to be met by a corresponding reduction in funding for subscriptions.’

 

(Prior to the commencement of the debate on this amendment Councillors Ashworth, Barnes, Charles, Gilbert, Rogerson, Sherlock and Towers re-iterated their personal and prejudicial interests in relation to the Citizens Advice Bureaux, left the meeting and took no part in the debate or voting thereon.)

 

At the conclusion of the debate, 21 Members voted for the amendment, 23 against and 4 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment lost.

 

Councillors Ashworth, Barnes, Charles, Gilbert, Rogerson, Sherlock and Towers returned to the meeting.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Archer and seconded by Councillor Kerr, by way of amendment to recommendation (1):

 

(a)     That further to Cabinet Minute 97, Council no longer supports the “in principle” decision to close the Dome from 1^st June 2009.

 

(b)     That in order to finance the operation of the Dome for the 2009/10 season, the following budget amendment be agreed to increase the £64,300 sum already included in the revenue budget for the Dome :-

 

·         The Playgrounds (Improvement, Equipment and Materials) revenue budgets totaling £49,700 be reduced by £18,000 as a one off item only for 2009/10.  Should this create difficulties in maintaining playground standards during the year, then use of any available monies in the Renewals Reserve be considered to help the position.

 

(c)     That the 2009/10 revenue budget for operating the Dome be increased accordingly to £82,300, with the exact opening arrangements and programme of events to be considered further but contained within this agreed budget.

 

(d)     That officers immediately commence taking bookings again for the Dome in line with the opening arrangements for 2009/10 only.

 

(e)     Should any emergency capital works be necessary to operate the Dome for 2009/10, they be funded from the £85,000 capital sum set aside in 2009/10 to demolish the Dome. 

 

(f)       That the operation of the Dome be carefully monitored throughout 2009/10 and its future operation be considered further as part of the 2010/11 budget exercise.

 

There followed a lengthy debate at the conclusion of which a recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.   The votes were recorded as follows:

 

For the amendment:

 

Councillors Evelyn Archer, June Ashworth, John Barnes, Keith Budden, Shirley Burns, Chris Coates, John Day, Roger Dennison, Jean Dent, Rebekah Gerrard, Mike Greenall, Janice Hanson, Andrew Kay, David Kerr, Janie Kirkman, Geoff Knight, Stuart Langhorn, Geoff Marsland, Roger Plumb, Peter Robinson, Bob Roe, Ron Sands, Keith Sowden, Joyce Taylor, Jude Towers, Morgwn Trolinger, Tony Wade and John Whitelegg (28).

 

Against the amendment:

 

Councillors Jim Blakely, Eileen Blamire, Susan Bray, Ken Brown, Abbott Bryning, Susie Charles, Tina Clifford, Sheila Denwood, Sarah Fishwick, Jane Fletcher, John Gilbert, Charles Grattan, Emily Heath, Helen Helme, Val Histed, Tony Johnson, Roger Mace, Robert Redfern, Sylvia Rogerson, Roger Sherlock, Rob Smith, Catriona Stamp, Malcolm Thomas, Maia Whitelegg and Peter Williamson (25).

 

Abstentions:

 

Councillors Anne Chapman and Joyce Pritchard (2).

 

With 28 Members voting for the amendment, 25 against and 2 abstentions, the Mayor declared the amendment carried.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Langhorn and seconded by Councillor Kirkman by way of further amendment to recommendation (1):

 

‘That £10,000 of the cut in grant to the Citizens Advice Bureaux now proposed for 2009/10 and future years be deleted, the cost to be met by a corresponding reduction in the Arts and Leisure Development budget.’

 

(Prior to the commencement of the debate on this amendment Councillors Ashworth, Barnes, Charles, Gilbert, Rogerson, Sherlock and Towers again left the meeting having declared personal and prejudicial interests in relation to the Citizens Advice Bureaux and took no part in the debate or voting thereon.).

 

 At the conclusion of the debate a recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.   The votes were recorded as follows:

 

For the amendment:

 

Councillors Evelyn Archer, Eileen Blamire, Abbott Bryning, Keith Budden, Shirley Burns, Anne Chapman, Tina Clifford, John Day, Jean Dent, Sheila Denwood, Mike Greenall, Janice Hanson, Andrew Kay, David Kerr, Janie Kirkman, Geoff Knight, Stuart Langhorn, Geoff Marsland, Roger Plumb, Joyce Pritchard, Bob Roe, Keith Sowden, Joyce Taylor and Tony Wade (24).

 

Against the amendment:

 

Councillors Susan Bray, Ken Brown, Chris Coates, Sarah Fishwick, Jane Fletcher, Rebekah Gerrard, Charles Grattan, Emily Heath, Helen Helme, Val Histed, Tony Johnson, Roger Mace, Robert Redfern, Peter Robinson, Rob Smith, Catriona Stamp, Malcolm Thomas, Maia Whitelegg and Peter Williamson (19).

 

Abstentions:

 

Councillors Jim Blakely, Roger Dennison and Morgwn Trolinger (3).

 

With 24 Members voting for the amendment, 19 against and 3 abstentions, the Mayor declared the amendment carried.

 

Councillors Ashworth, Barnes, Charles, Gilbert, Rogerson, Sherlock and Towers returned to the meeting.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Langhorn and seconded by Councillor Kirkman by way of further amendment to recommendation (1):

 

‘That the £24,000 growth item to undertake a Parish Financial Arrangements Review be re-instated in 2009/10, the cost to be met by a corresponding reduction in the Grounds Maintenance budget.’

 

At the conclusion of the debate a recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.   The votes were recorded as follows:

 

For the amendment:

 

Councillors Susan Bray, Ken Brown, Abbott Bryning, Susie Charles, John Day, Sarah Fishwick, John Gilbert, Helen Helme, Val Histed, Tony Johnson, Janie Kirkman, Stuart Langhorn, Roger Mace, Joyce Pritchard, Bob Roe, Sylvia Rogerson, Keith Sowden, Malcolm Thomas, Jude Towers and Peter Williamson (20).

 

Against the amendment:

 

Councillors June Ashworth, John Barnes, Jim Blakely, Keith Budden, Chris Coates, Sheila Denwood, Jane Fletcher, Rebekah Gerrard, Charles Grattan, Janice Hanson, Emily Heath, Andrew Kay, Geoff Knight, Geoff Marsland, Robert Redfern, Peter Robinson, Roger Sherlock, Rob Smith, Catriona Stamp, Joyce Taylor, Morgwn Trolinger and Maia Whitelegg (22).

 

Abstentions:

 

Councillors Evelyn Archer, Eileen Blamire, Shirley Burns, Anne Chapman, Tina Clifford, Roger Dennison, Jean Dent, Mike Greenall, David Kerr, Roger Plumb and Tony Wade  (11).

 

With 20 Members voting for the amendment, 22 against and 11 abstentions, the Mayor declared the amendment lost.

 

At this point the Mayor advised that the meeting would adjourn for 30 minutes in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 10.1.

 

The meeting adjourned at 6.10pm and reconvened at 6.40pm.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Histed by way of further amendment to recommendation (1):

 

‘That the £24,000 growth item to undertake a Parish Financial Arrangements Review be re-instated in 2009/10, the cost to be met by a corresponding reduction in the Leisure Development budget.’

 

There followed a further lengthy debate at the conclusion of which a recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.   The votes were recorded as follows:

 

For the amendment:

 

Councillors June Ashworth, John Barnes, Eileen Blamire, Susan Bray, Ken Brown, Abbott Bryning, Keith Budden, Susie Charles, John Day, Sheila Denwood, Sarah Fishwick, John Gilbert, Mike Greenall, Janice Hanson, Helen Helme, Val Histed, Tony Johnson, Janie Kirkman, Geoff Knight, Stuart Langhorn, Roger Mace, Bob Roe, Sylvia Rogerson, Roger Sherlock, Keith Sowden, Malcolm Thomas, and Peter Williamson (27).

 

Against the amendment:

 

Councillors Jim Blakely, Shirley Burns, Anne Chapman, Tina Clifford, Chris Coates, Jane Fletcher, Rebekah Gerrard, Charles Grattan, Emily Heath, Geoff Marsland, Roger Plumb, Peter Robinson, Rob Smith, Catriona Stamp, Jude Towers, Morgwn Trolinger and Maia Whitelegg (17).

 

Abstentions:

 

Councillors Evelyn Archer, Roger Dennison, Jean Dent, David Kerr, Robert Redfern and Tony Wade (6).

 

With 27 Members voting for the amendment, 17 against and 6 abstentions, the Mayor declared the amendment carried.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Mace and seconded by Councillor Charles by way of further amendment to recommendation (1):

 

(1)               That the budget allocated to the Civic Programme for 2009/10 for the Mayor to prioritise be reduced from £12,700 to £12,300 (instead of by £4,300 to £8,400 as was included in the Cabinet recommendations); and

 

(2)               That the reduction be funded by contributing £3,900 from the General Fund unallocated reserve, shown in Appendix B, leaving a balance there at 31.3.2010 of £1,000,066.

 

At the conclusion of the debate a recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.   The votes were recorded as follows:

 

For the amendment:

 

Councillors Evelyn Archer, June Ashworth, John Barnes, Eileen Blamire, Susan Bray, Ken Brown, Abbott Bryning, Keith Budden, Susie Charles, John Day, Sheila Denwood, Sarah Fishwick, Mike Greenall, Janice Hanson, Helen Helme, Val Histed, David Kerr, Janie Kirkman, Roger Mace, Robert Redfern, Bob Roe, Sylvia Rogerson, Roger Sherlock, Rob Smith, Keith Sowden, Malcolm Thomas, Tony Wade and Peter Williamson (28).

 

Against the amendment:

 

Councillors Jim Blakely, Shirley Burns, Anne Chapman, Tina Clifford, Chris Coates, Roger Dennison, Jean Dent, Jane Fletcher, Rebekah Gerrard, Charles Grattan, Emily Heath, Geoff Marsland, Peter Robinson, Catriona Stamp, Jude Towers, Morgwn Trolinger and Maia Whitelegg (17).

 

Abstentions:

 

Councillors John Gilbert, Geoff Knight, Stuart Langhorn and Roger Plumb (4).

 

With 28 Members voting for the amendment, 17 against and 4 abstentions, the Mayor declared the amendment carried.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Robinson and seconded by Councillor Marsland by way of further amendment to recommendation (1):

 

‘That the proposal to make savings to Regent Road and the Dome toilets of £12,000 in 2009/10 and beyond be deleted and compensatory savings of £12,000 per annum on Community Cohesion be approved.’

 

At the conclusion of the debate 16 Members voted for the amendment, 30 against and 2 abstained whereupon the Mayor declared the amendment lost.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Heath and seconded by Councillor Chapman by way of a further amendment to recommendation (1):

 

‘That the savings of £24,000 identified from the Arts and Leisure Development budget to fund the Parish Financial Arrangements Review in 2009/10 be deleted and replaced by a reduction of £24,000 to the Planning Inquiry Fund.’

 

At the conclusion of the debate a recorded vote was requested in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4.   The votes were recorded as follows:

 

For the amendment:

 

Councillors Anne Chapman, Chris Coates, Jane Fletcher, Emily Heath, Catriona Stamp, Jude Towers, Morgwn Trolinger and Maia Whitelegg (8).

 

Against the amendment:

 

Councillors Evelyn Archer, John Barnes, Jim Blakely, Eileen Blamire, Susan Bray, Abbott Bryning, Keith Budden, Shirley Burns, Susie Charles, Tina Clifford, John Day, Roger Dennison, Jean Dent, Sheila Denwood, Sarah Fishwick, Rebekah Gerrard, John Gilbert, Charles Grattan, Mike Greenall, Janice Hanson, Helen Helme, Val Histed, David Kerr, Janie Kirkman, Geoff Knight, Stuart Langhorn Roger Mace, Geoff Marsland, Roger Plumb, Robert Redfern, Peter Robinson, Bob Roe, Sylvia Rogerson, Roger Sherlock, Rob Smith, Keith Sowden, Malcolm Thomas, Tony Wade and Peter Williamson (39).

 

Abstentions:

 

Councillor June Ashworth (1).

 

There being 8 votes for the amendment, 39 against and 1 abstention the Mayor declared the amendment lost.

 

A vote was then taken on the substantive motion as amended.  29 Members voted for the motion, 8 against and 10 abstained, whereupon which the Mayor declared the motion carried.

 

Resolved:

 

(1)         That the City Council’s 2009/10 General Fund Revenue Budget of £23.99M be approved, together with the supporting proposals as set out in Appendix A to the supplementary report and at Appendices B and C to the report, subject to the following amendments and as set out in the updated supporting proposals in Appendix B to the minutes:

 

(a)     That the Catch the Wind Kite and Sandcastles Festivals be re-instated at a cost of £9,300 to be funded from savings made by cancelling the Jazz Festival.

 

(b)     That the proposed cut in the grant to the Dukes Theatre be reduced by £20,000 in 2009/10 to be funded from the Arts and Leisure Development budget.

 

(c)     That the proposed cut of £20,000 in the grant to the Citizens Advice Bureaux in 2009/10 be deleted to be funded by a reduction of £10,000 in the Community Cohesion reserve and a reduction of £10,000 in the Arts and Leisure Development budget.

 

(d)     That the proposed cut of £20,000 in the grant to the Citizens Advice Bureaux in future years be reduced to £10,000 to be funded from the Arts and Leisure Development budget.

 

(e)     That the budget for running the Dome in 2009/10 be increased by £18,000 to be funded from Playgrounds (Improvements, Equipment & Materials).

 

(f)       That a growth item of £24,000 be included in 2009/10 for a Parish Financial Arrangements Review to be funded from the Arts and Leisure Development budget.

 

(g)     That the proposed cut in the Civic Programme for 2009/10 be reduced by £3,900 to be funded by a contribution form the General Fund unallocated reserve.

 

(2)         That in agreeing the budget for 2009/10, Council no longer supports the “in principle” decision to close the Dome from 1^st June 2009 and has approved an appropriate budget as follows:

 

(a)         That in order to finance the operation of the Dome for the 2009/10 season, the following budget amendment be agreed to increase the £64,300 sum already included in the revenue budget for the Dome as set out in (1) above.

 

·         The Playgrounds (Improvement, Equipment and Materials) revenue budgets totaling £49,700 be reduced by £18,000 as a one off item only for 2009/10.  Should this create difficulties in maintaining playground standards during the year, then use of any available monies in the Renewals Reserve be considered to help the position.

 

(b)         That the 2009/10 revenue budget for operating the Dome be increased accordingly to £82,300, with the exact opening arrangements and programme of events to be considered further but contained within this agreed budget.

 

(c)         That officers immediately commence taking bookings again for the Dome for in line with the opening arrangements for 2009/10 only.

 

(d)         Should any emergency capital works be necessary to operate the Dome for 2009/10, they be funded from the £85,000 capital sum set aside in 2009/10 to demolish the Dome. 

 

(e)         That the operation of the Dome be carefully monitored throughout 2009/10 and its future operation be considered further as part of the 2010/11 budget exercise.

 

(3)         That the Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2009/12 as set out at Appendix E to the report be approved, as updated by decisions made in (1) above.

 

(4)         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.