Issue - meetings

The Leader’s Portfolio

To consider report FIN/514 of the Head of Corporate Finance, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission held on 1 February 2021.

RESOLVED

That Full Council be recommended to approve the following items regarding the 2021/22 Budget:

a)        to approve the proposed 2021/22 General Fund Budget including savings and growth as set out in paragraph 6.4,

b)        to approve the proposed 2021/22 Housing Revenue Account Budget as set out in section 10 and Appendix 3 of the report,

c)        to agree to ringfence £435,000 of useable capital receipts for investment in the Town Centre as a result of using Government funding on the Heat Network to avoid having to repay the grant,

d)        to agree to increase the capital budget for 2021/22 for temporary accommodation acquisition by £826,300 to be funded from the earmarked homelessness acquisition reserve,

e)        to approve the 2020/21 and future years Capital Programme and funding as set out in paragraph 11.6 of the report, 

f)         to agree that the Council’s share of Council Tax for 2021/22 be increased by 2.37% (£4.95) from £208.89 to £213.84 for a band D property as set out in paragraph 13.3,

g)        to approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2021/2022 as outlined in paragraph 16.3 and Appendix 6 of the report.

h)        to approve the CBC Pricing Strategy as outlined in Appendix 7 of the report.

Reasons for the Recommendations

To provide adequate funding for the proposed level of services and to fulfil the statutory requirement to set a Budget and Council Tax and report on the robustness of estimates.

The Leader presented report FIN/514 of the Head of Corporate Finance, which set out the Budget and level of Council Tax for the year 2021/22. It was noted that the report detailed each of the Revenue, Capital and Housing Revenue Accounts that combine together to formulate ‘The Budget’. In proposing the level of Council Tax for the Financial Year 2021/22, each of those accounts identified had been considered. The proposed Council Tax for 2021/22 was to be increased by 2.37%.

The Council has a statutory responsibility to set a Council Tax and Budget in advance of the commencement of the new financial year. The Council Tax has to be set by 11 March, each year.

The Cabinet was informed that the proposed Budget had been produced based on the principles set in the Budget Strategy which was approved by Full Council on 16 December 2020. That included achieving balanced Budget over a four year period including putting back to reserves when the Budget is in surplus.

The Leader emphasised that the Council budget setting process had been completely impacted by the Covid pandemic and how that has hit the Council’s main sources of funding. The Council was having to make in the region of £2.4mil of saving this year with £1.6mil from back office savings and the remaining £800k from service delivery.

Councillor T Belben presented the O­verview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report as detailed in report OSC/293, to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 1 February 2021, which included:

·         Confirmation that the savings for the pitch and putt would be made through an increase in fees and charges.  It was noted that the service had temporarily had to close due to the pandemic.

·         Clarification sought on the redundancy provision and pension entitlement information held within the Pay Policy statement, following introduction of the reform of local government exit payments.

·         Confirmation that the £506,450 was agreed in December 2020 as part of the in-year savings exercise, whilst the £506,000 has been identified as further current year savings as part of the consultation exercise.

·         Acknowledgement that there had been genuine cross party working throughout the budget process and that members had been involved throughout the budget process.

Councillor Crow spoke on item, confirming that he would be seconding this Budget and Council Tax report at Full Council in his position as Opposition Leader. He emphasised the cross party working throughout the budget process and it was important that the Council set a sustainable budget.

A recorded vote was taken on the recommendations in accordance with the Council’s Virtual Committee Procedure Rules.  The names of the Councillors voting for and against the recommendations, along with any abstentions, are recorded as set out below:

For the recommendations:

Councillors Irvine, Jhans, Lamb, Mullins and P Smith. (5)

Against the recommendations:

None.

Abstentions:

None.

RESOLVED

That Full Council be recommended to approve the following items regarding the 2021/22 Budget:

a)        to approve the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9

To consider report FIN/514 of the Head of Corporate Finance.

The Commission considered report FIN/514 with the Leader of the Council, Head of Corporate Finance and the Chief Accountant.  The Council has a statutory responsibility to set a Council Tax and Budget in advance of the commencement of the new financial year. The Council Tax has to be set by 11 March, each year. 

During the discussion, the following points were expressed:

·       Confirmation that the savings for the pitch and putt would be made through an increase in fees and charges.  It was noted that the service had temporarily had to close due to the pandemic.

·       Clarification sought on the redundancy provision and pension entitlement information held within the Pay Policy statement, following introduction of the reform of local government exit payments.

·       Confirmation that the £506,450 was agreed in December 2020 as part of the in-year savings exercise, whilst the £506,000 has been identified as further current year savings as part of the consultation exercise.

·       Acknowledgement that there had been genuine cross party working throughout the budget process and that members had been involved throughout the budget process.

RESOLVED

That the Commission notes the report and requests that the views expressed during the debate, are fed back to the Cabinet through the Commission’s Comment sheet along with the tabled questions from Councillor Burrett included in the Appendix.