Agenda item

To consider the report of Cabinet following its meeting on 26 July 2011.

Councillor Bryning, the portfolio holder for Finance, presented a report of Cabinet which recommended that a number of underspent budgets, amounting to £398,400 for General Fund and £30,000 for Housing Revenue Account (HRA), be carried forward into the current financial year.

Approval had been given by Cabinet for those requests under £10,000 at its meeting on 26 July 2011 but any above that amount required approval by full Council. The requests were detailed at Appendix A to the report which explained that all requests were either tied in with existing contractual or statutory commitments, or were requesting a change in use of the original budget underspend or for it to be applied to new schemes or anticipated commitments.

The report also set out the performance of the Council in respect of Treasury Management for 2010/11. It was noted that under the Code of Practice on Treasury Management in Local Authorities, it was a requirement that an information report on these matters be presented to Council as well as Cabinet. 

Council was also asked to approve the Prudential Indicators relating to outturn.

A further issue was brought to Council’s attention in the report. This was the partial collapse of a section of the lower steps below the Ashton Memorial, which had necessitated some urgent technical support to be commissioned. Council was informed of the risk that further significant expenditure would be needed in due course.

Councillor Bryning responded to a question from a Councillor before moving the recommendations in the report, seconded by Councillor Blamire:

(1)                    That the requests for carry forward of underspent budgets, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be approved.

(2)                    That the Annual Treasury Management report, as set out in Appendix B of the report, be noted and the supporting year end Prudential Indicators, as set out in Appendix C of the report, be approved.

(3)                    That Council notes the position regarding works and costs in connection with the Ashton Memorial Steps.

By way of an amendment to (1), Councillor Sykes proposed, seconded by Councillor Mace:

“(1)      That the requests for carry forward of underspent budgets as set out at Appendix A of the report be approved with the exception of requests 11-14.”

Following a lengthy debate on the amendment, a vote was taken. With few voting for the amendment, many against and one abstention, the Deputy Mayor declared the amendment clearly lost.

The vote was then taken on the original motion. With many voting for and few against, the Deputy Mayor declared the proposition clearly carried:

Resolved:

(1)                    That the requests for carry forward of underspent budgets, as set out in Appendix A of the report, be approved.

(1)                    That the Annual Treasury Management report, as set out in Appendix B of the report, be noted and the supporting year end Prudential Indicators, as set out in Appendix C of the report, be approved.

(2)                    That Council notes the position regarding works and costs in connection with the Ashton Memorial Steps.