Agenda item

The Leader of the Council presented the reportFIN/462 of the Head of Corporate Finance, which set out the Budget and level of Council Tax for the year 2019/20. 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 2019/20, each of those accounts identified had been considered. The combined proposal ensured that the Council had a balanced Budget. It was noted that the report had been considered by the Cabinet on 6 February 2019 and by the Overview and Scrutiny Commission at its meeting on 4 February 2019. In presenting The Budget to the Council Councillor Lamb also moved the Labour Amendment to the proposal (Recommendation 1), which was detailed in item 16 of Supplemental Agenda for the meeting. Councillor Jones seconded that report and the Labour Amendment.

The Full Council was reminded that regulations required all Councils at their annual budget meetings to adopt the practice of recorded votes - that is, recording in the minutes of the meeting how each member present voted on any decision relating to the Annual Budget and Council Tax. This applied not only to substantive budget motions to agree the budget and setting council taxes, including precepts, but also on any amendments proposed.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Duncan Crow addressed the meeting and made his budget speech which included presenting the Conservative Amendment to the Budget (Recommendation 1) which was detailed in item 17 of Supplemental Agenda for the meeting.  Councillor Lanzer seconded that Conservative Amendment. The Mayor then opened up the general debate on the proposed Budget report and both amendments to the Council with Councillor T. Belben, Burrett, Sudan, Jones, Lunnon, Lanzer, Irvine and Lamb, using his right to reply all spoke during debate.

At the conclusion of the discussion, Councillors expressed their thanks and appreciation for the work carried out by Karen Hayes (Head of Corporate Finance), the Finance Division generally and the Budget Advisory Group (BAG).

Following the conclusion of the debate, the Mayor invited the Head of Legal, Democracy and HR to commence the recorded voting process on the 2019/20 Budget and Council Tax and the related Amendments.

A recorded vote was then called on the Labour Amendment to Recommendation 1.

Votingin Favour:Councillors: Ayling, A Belben, T Belben, B Burgess, R Burgess, Burrett, Cheshire, Crow, Eade, Fiveash, Guidera, Irvine, Jaggard, Jones, Lamb, Lanzer, Lunnon, Malik, McCarthy, Pendlington, Pickett, Portal Castro, Quinn, Rana, Sharma, Skudder, B Smith, P Smith, Stone, Sudan, Tarrant, Thomas, Vitler and Willcock. (34)

VotingAgainst:Councillors: None (0)

Abstentions:Councillors: None (0)

The Mayor declared the Amendment was carried– votes in favour34, and votes against 0 with 0 abstention.

A recorded vote was then called on the Conservative Amendment to Recommendation 1. (Attached as Appendix B to these Minutes)

Votingin Favour:Councillors: A Belben, T Belben, B Burgess, R Burgess, Burrett,  Crow, Eade, Guidera, Jaggard, Lanzer, McCarthy, Pendlington, Stone, Tarrant, and Vitler. (15)

VotingAgainst:Councillors: Ayling, Cheshire, Fiveash, Irvine, Jones, Lamb, Lunnon, Malik, Pickett, Portal Castro, Quinn, Rana, Sharma, Skudder, B Smith, P Smith, Sudan, Thomas and Willcock. (19)

Abstentions:Councillors: None (0)

The Mayor declared the Amendment had fallen– votes in favour 15, and votesagainst 19 with 0 abstention.

A recorded vote was then called on the Substantive Recommendation 1 2019/20 Budget and Council Tax as amended

Votingin Favour:Councillors: Ayling, A Belben, T Belben, B Burgess, R Burgess, Burrett, Cheshire, Crow, Eade, Fiveash, Guidera, Irvine, Jaggard, Jones, Lamb, Lanzer, Lunnon, Malik, McCarthy, Pendlington, Pickett, Portal Castro, Quinn, Rana, Sharma, Skudder, B Smith, P Smith, Stone, Sudan, Tarrant, Thomas, Vitler and Willcock. (34)

VotingAgainst:Councillors: None (0)

Abstentions:Councillors: None (0)

The Mayor declared the Amendment was carried– votes in favour34, and votes against 0 with 0 abstention.

RESOLVED

That the Full Council approves

a)      the proposed 2019/20 General Fund Budget including savings and growth as set out in section 6 and Appendix 1 and Appendix 2 of report FIN/462,

b)      the proposed 2019/20 Housing Revenue Account Budget as set out in Section 10 and Appendix 3 of report FIN/462,

c)      the 2018/19 to 2021/22 Capital Programme and funding as set out below, which includes an increase of £1m for Purchase of investment properties budget from £6m to £7m to be funded from useable capital receipts.

d)      and agrees that the Council’s share of Council Tax for 2019/20 be increased by 2.49% from £198.99 to £203.94 for a band D property as set out in paragraphs 5.5.1 and 13.3 of report FIN/462,

e)      the Pay Policy Statement for 2019/2020 as outlined in paragraph 16.3 and Appendix 6 of report FIN/462.

f)       that a new ring fenced reserve entitled ‘Supported Accommodation’, be set up which is to be funded from any additional Housing benefit subsidy paid to the Council on behalf of the residents in such accommodation* and any necessary further saving in 2019-20 arising from the ongoing refreshed transformation programme, further to those in Section 6.4 of the budget report FIN/462.