Agenda item

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, moved reception and adoption of the recommendations in the Report. Councillor Ross Houston moved the Labour Group amendment and Councillor Gabriel Rozenberg moved the Liberal Democrat amendment. Debate ensued.

The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 and Council Procedure Rule 12.4 requires that voting relating to the budget and Council Tax be recorded.

In accordance with this requirement, voting on the budget decisions was as follows:

Upon being put to the vote, the Labour Alternative Budget was declared lost. Voting on the Labour Alternative Budget was as follows:

Upon being put to the vote, the Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget was declared lost. Voting on the Liberal Democrat Alternative Budget was as follows:

Upon being put to the vote the recommendations in the report were declared carried, with voting being declared as follows:

RESOLVED – that Council:

1.     Have considered the issues that have emerged from the consultation when making their decisions and that Council have made the decisions below also being mindful of the equalities impact assessments including the cumulative equalities impact assessments;

2.     Approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) attached as Appendix A and the detailed revenue budgets in Appendices C1 and C2. The MTFS sets out all the budget changes over the period 2020-25, including assumptions around inflation, changes to levies, pressures, savings and income generation proposals and grant funding. It is the model around which the council’s financial strategy is based;

1.     Approve that the budget for 2020/21 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 1.99% general Council Tax in 2020/21;

2.     Approve that the budget for 2020/21 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 2.00% Social Care Precept, to help fund care for the elderly;

3.     Approve the resolutions relating to Council Tax contained within Appendix B – Council Tax Resolutions;

4.     Determine that the council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2020/21 as set out in Council Tax Resolution (Appendix B) 2(iv) is not excessive in accordance with the principles approved under section 52ZB and 52ZC of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, set out in the Referendums relating to Council Tax increases (Principles)(England) Report 2020/21;

5.     Approve that in accordance with Section 38(2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 the Chief Executive be instructed to place a notice in the local press of the amounts set under recommendation 6 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision;

6.     Approve the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix D, and that the Chief Officers be authorised to take all necessary actions for implementation;

7.     Approve that the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to adjust capital project budgets and financing in 2020/21 and throughout the Capital Programme after the 2019/20 accounts are closed and the amount of slippage and budget carry forward required are known;

8.     Approve the adoption of Flexible Use of Capital Receipts provisions as set out in paragraphs 1.6.14 to 1.6.17;

9.     Approve the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix J;

10.  Approve the Treasury Management Strategy for 2020/21 as set out in Appendix K1

11.  Notes the Treasury Management Performance reports set out in Appendices K2 and K3;

12.  Approve the following in relation to the Housing Revenue Account:

a)              The proposed rent be increased by CPI+1% for council dwellings as set out in paragraph 1.8.8 to take effect from 1 April 2020;

b)              The proposed temporary accommodation rents are increased by in line with the LHA rate as in para 1.8.9 to take effect from 1 April 2020;

c)              The proposed increases to service charges for council dwellings as set out in paragraph 1.8.13 to take effect from 1 April 2020; and

d)              The proposed rent increase of 3% for council garages as set out in paragraph 1.8.13 to take effect from 1 April 2020.

13.  Approve the Schools Budget of £351.626m for 2020-21 as per paragraph 1.5.46 to 1.5.55;

14.  Approve Post 16 Funding of £5.209m as per para 1.5.45;

15.  Approve that any changes to the Schools Budget reasonably required as a result of the final 2020/21 DSG and Post-16 settlement are delegated for decisions to the Strategic Director – Children & Young People in consultation with the Director of Finance;

16.  Note the fees and charges as detailed in Appendix G;

17.  Note the summary equality impact assessment (EIA) and cumulative assessment set out in section 9.  Appendix I provides the cumulative impact and individual Departmental assessments;

18.  Approve the reserves and balances policy as set out in Appendix L and indicative amounts as set out in paragraph 1.5.64 and the Director of Finance’s assessment of adequacy of General Fund Balances in section 1.5.70. Council are asked to approve that the Director of Finance is authorised to adjust balances in 2020/21 after 2019/20 accounts are closed and the amount of balances carry forward required are known;

19.  Note the summary Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) and cumulative assessment set out in section 9.  Appendix I provides the cumulative impact and individual Departmental assessments;

20.  Approve the Reserves and Balances Policy as set out in Appendix L and indicative amounts as set out in paragraph 1.5.64 and the Director of Finance’s assessment of adequacy of General Fund Balances in section 1.5.70. Council are asked to approve that the Director of Finance is authorised to adjust balances in 2020/21 after 2019/20 accounts are closed and the amount of balances carry forward required are known;

21.  Approve the overarching financial strategy of the council as set out in paragraph 1.5.1; and

22.  Notes the Corporate Risk Register as set out in Appendix N.