Agenda item

Report of Councillor Clive Moesby, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Resources

Council considered a report which sought Members’ approval of the proposed budget for 2020/21 for the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Programme, as part of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Plan covering the years 2020/21 to 2023/24.  The report provided Members with an overview of the Council’s financial position in order to inform the decision making process.

Councillor Peter Roberts queried the table in the report in relation to the proposed increase in Council Tax on a Band D property in the District.  The Section 151 Officer explained that the table showed some of the options available to Council regarding any increase on a Band D property and the extra revenue it would generate.  It was confirmed that the Council’s share on any of these options was around 16%.

Councillor Ross Walker queried why the figures in the AMP Refurbishment Work on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme, increased from £35,083 in 2019/20 to £260,000 in the following 4 years.  The Section 151 Officer explained that the £260,000 would be allocated each year over the following 4 years but would be split out between all the codes marked AMP (Asset Management Plan).  The £35,083 Councillor Walker referred to was the amount left in the AMP Refurbishment Work for 2019/20.  The Director of Development added that he would present a report to a future meeting of Executive providing the allocation of the £260,000 between the AMP codes.

Moved by Councillor Steve Fritchley and seconded by Councillor Duncan McGregor

On being put to a recorded vote it was RESOLVED that;

            (1) in the view of the Chief Financial Officer, the estimates included in the Medium Term Financial Plan 2020/21 to 2023/24 were robust and that the level of financial reserves whilst at minimum levels were adequate, be accepted,

(2) officers to report back to Executive and the Budget Scrutiny Committee on a quarterly basis regarding the overall position in respect of the Council’s budgets.  These reports to include updates on achieving savings and efficiencies for 2020/21 and future years,

            GENERAL FUND

(i)            a Council Tax increase of £5.00 is levied in respect of a notional Band D property (2.83%),

(ii)          the Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the General Fund as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved as the Revised Budget 2019/20, as the Original Budget in respect of 2020/21, and the financial projection in respect of 2021/22 to 2023/24,

(iii)         any further under spend in respect of 2019/20 be transferred to the Council’s General Fund Reserves,

(iv)         on the basis that income from Planning Fees may exceed £0.500m in 2019/20, the Chief Executive Officer, in consultation with the Leader, be granted delegated powers to authorise such additional resources as necessary to effectively manage the resultant increase in workload.

            HOUSING REVENUE ACCOUNT

(i)            Council sets its rent levels in line with Government policy, increasing rent levels by CPI (1.7%) plus 1% to apply from 1 April 2020,

(ii)          the increases in respect of other charges as outlined in Appendix 3 Table 1 be implemented with effect from 1 April 2020,

(iii)         the Medium Term Financial Plan in respect of the Housing Revenue Account as set out in Appendix 3 of the report be approved as the Revised Budget in respect of 2019/20, as the Original Budget in respect of 2020/21, and the financial projection in respect of 2021/22 to 2023/24.

(iv)         under spends in respect of 2020/21 to 2023/24 be transferred to the HRA Revenue Reserve,

            CAPITAL PROGRAMME

(i)            the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 4 of the report be approved as the Revised Budget in respect of 2019/20, and as the Approved Programme for 2020/21 to 2023/24.

(ii)          the Director of Development be granted delegated powers in consultation with the Portfolio Holder and the Asset Management Group to approve the utilisation of the £260,000 of AMP Refurbishment Work allocation, with such approvals to be reported back to Executive through the Quarterly Budget Monitoring Report.

Members were advised that a recorded vote would be taken on the recommendations for the Treasury Strategy Reports 2020/21 – 2023/24.

For the motion – 27

(Councillors Derek Adams, Rose Bowler, Jane Bryson, Dexter Bullock, Tracey Cannon, Ann Clarke, Tricia Clough, David Dixon, Maxine Dixon, Mary Dooley, David Downes, Steve Fritchley, Ray Heffer, Natalie Hoy, Andrew Joesbury, Chris Kane, Duncan McGregor, Tom Munro, Evonne Parkin, Graham Parkin, Sandra Peake, Peter Roberts, Liz Smyth, Janet Tait, Rita Turner, Deborah Watson and Jenny Wilson.

Against the motion – 1 (Councillor Allan Bailey)

Abstentions – 2 (Councillors Dan Salt and Ross Walker)