Agenda item

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

Members were reminded by the Monitoring Officer that any Councillor in arrears of Council Tax by more than two months must not vote in decisions on or which might affect budget calculations, and must disclose at the meeting that this restriction applied to them.  A failure to comply with these requirements was a criminal offence under Section 106 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992.

The Monitoring Officer added that any Members who were tenants of a Council property should declare an interest for any budget setting item, but these Members had an automatic dispensation to remain in the room to speak and vote on the items in question.

The Monitoring Officer also reminded Members that votes on budget and Council Tax setting items would be done by recorded vote as required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014.

The following interests were declared:

The Monitoring Officer reported that he had received a request from Councillor Steve Fritchley, Leader of the Council, for a dispensation for himself and Councillors Emma Stevenson, Janet Tait, Deborah Watson and Carol Wood, to remain in the meeting, take part in the debate and vote on the Medium Term Financial Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28.  The Monitoring Officer advised that the Council could grant a dispensation to enable a Councillor to participate and vote on a matter in which they had an Other Registerable Interest.  Requests had to be made in writing and had to be made on one of the grounds set out in the Council’s Constitution.  The Monitoring Officer stated that the dispensation would fall under the grounds that the District Council considered that it was otherwise appropriate to grant a dispensation.

The Monitoring Officer read out the request for a dispensation, which stated ‘I would like to request a dispensation at Council on Wednesday to allow myself and Cllrs Stevenson, Tait, Watson and Wood to remain present for the debate and vote for the Medium Term Financial Plan report at item 7 on the agenda.

The reasons for this are twofold:

Whilst we recognise the reports set out the budgets for Dragonfly Management Ltd, these budgets relate entirely to the delivery of Council Services, for example housing repairs and facilities management. These services, and the allocation of existing budgets are detailed and agreed within the Service Level Agreement between the Council and Dragonfly Management Ltd approved by Executive on 29^th January 2024. The budgets are in line with the normal budget provision identified by the Council’s Finance Team. If there is reason to request growth to these budgets (with the exception of inflationary increases), this will be made to Council separately, in accordance with the SLA.

The setting of the Council’s budget, Council Tax, and rents are amongst the most important financial decisions made by Council on an annual basis. It is of utmost importance that the Leader and Members receive all relevant information and take part in Council debate on these matters. At a time when Council finances across the country are causing concern, with several Councils issuing Section 114 Notices, it is even more important that all Councillors are fully informed, involved and take part in these decisions.’

A query was raised regarding the flow of information from the Shareholder Board of Dragonfly to the Council.  The Monitoring Officer confirmed that steps were being taken to ensure all Members received information on the work of the Board.

The request for a dispensation was put to the vote.

RESOLVED that a dispensation be granted to Councillors Steve Fritchley, Emma Stevenson, Janet Tait, Deborah Watson and Carol Wood to participate and vote on the item Medium Term Financial Plan 2023/24 – 2027/28.