Agenda item

Referral from Policy and Resources Committee - Business Planning - Corporate Plan, Budget 2021/22 and Medium Term Financial Strategy 2021-25

Minutes:

Council noted a correction to Agenda item 10.1 (Referral from Policy and Resources Committee – Business Planning – Corporate Plan, Budget 2021/22 and Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021-25), Appendix E (Summary of Savings Proposal 2021-25). In relation to the saving proposal “ENV 12” the description in the “impact on Customer Satisfaction” column should read “The opporunity may impact on access to open sites which are under-utilised.” This correction was required to ensure that the decision proprerly refletcs the recommentations of the Policy and Resources committee made to Full Council.

 

Councillor Daniel Thomas, Chairman of the Policy and Resources Committee, moved the reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Councillor Barry Rawlings 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 decisions relating to the budget and Council Tax be recorded.

 

On the Labour Group’s amendment to the budget being put to the vote, votes were individually recorded for all Members as follows:

 

 

Councillor

 

 

For

 

 

Against

Not

Voting

Absent

1.     

Golnar

BOKAEI

 

x

 

 

 

2.     

Jess

BRAYNE

 

x

 

 

 

3.     

Felix

BYERS

 

x

 

 

 

4.     

Anne

CLARKE

x

 

 

 

 

5.     

Pauline

COAKLEY WEBB

x

 

 

 

 

6.     

Dean

COHEN

 

x

 

 

 

7.     

Melvin

COHEN

 

x

 

 

 

8.     

Geof

COOKE

x

 

 

 

 

9.     

Jo

COOPER

x

 

 

 

 

10. 

Sara

CONWAY

 

 

 

x

 

11. 

Alison

CORNELIUS

 

x

 

 

 

12. 

Richard

CORNELIUS

 

x

 

 

 

13. 

Saira

DON

 

x

 

 

 

14. 

Val

DUSCHINSKY

 

x

 

 

 

15. 

Paul

EDWARDS

x

 

 

 

 

16. 

Claire

FARRIER

x

 

 

 

 

17. 

Anthony

FINN

 

 

 

x

 

18. 

Nizza

FLUSS

 

x

 

 

 

19. 

Linda

FREEDMAN

 

x

 

 

 

20. 

Eva

GREENSPAN

 

x

 

 

 

21. 

Jennifer

GROCOCK

 

x

 

 

 

22. 

Rohit

GROVER

 

x

 

 

 

23. 

John

HART

 

x

 

 

 

24. 

Ross

HOUSTON

x

 

 

 

 

25. 

Anne

HUTTON

x

 

 

 

 

26. 

Laithe

JAJEH

 

x

 

 

 

27. 

Kathy

LEVINE

x

 

 

 

 

28. 

David

LONGSTAFF

 

x

 

 

 

29. 

John

MARSHALL

 

x

 

 

 

30. 

Kath

McGUIRK

x

 

 

 

 

31. 

Arjun

MITTRA

x

 

 

 

 

32. 

Alison

MOORE

x

 

 

 

 

33. 

Ammar

NAQVI

x

 

 

 

 

34. 

Nagus

NARENTHIRA

x

 

 

 

 

35. 

Charlie

O-MACAULEY

 

 

 

x

 

36. 

Reema

PATEL

x

 

 

 

 

37. 

Alex

PRAGER

 

x

 

 

 

38. 

Wendy

PRENTICE

 

x

 

 

 

39. 

Sachin 

RAJPUT

 

x

 

 

 

40. 

Barry

RAWLINGS

x

 

 

 

 

41. 

Danny

RICH

x

 

 

 

 

42. 

Helene

RICHMAN

 

x

 

 

 

43. 

Tim

ROBERTS

x

 

 

 

 

44. 

Gabriel

ROZENBERG

 

x

 

 

 

45. 

Lisa

RUTTER

 

x

 

 

 

46. 

Shimon

RYDE

 

x

 

 

 

47. 

Gill

SARGEANT

x

 

 

 

 

48. 

Alan

SCHNEIDERMANN

x

 

 

 

 

49. 

Mark

SHOOTER

 

x

 

 

 

50. 

Elliot

SIMBERG

 

x

 

 

 

51. 

Thomas

SMITH

 

x

 

 

 

52. 

Stephen

SOWERBY

 

x

 

 

 

53. 

Julian

TEARE

 

x

 

 

 

54. 

Daniel

THOMAS

 

x

 

 

 

55. 

Ruben

THOMPSTONE

 

x

 

 

 

56. 

Sarah

WARDLE

 

x

 

 

 

57. 

Roberto

WEEDEN-SANZ

 

x

 

 

 

58. 

Laurie

WILLIAMS

x

 

 

 

 

59. 

Peter

ZINKIN

 

 

x

 

 

 

60. 

Zakia

ZUBAIRI

x

 

 

 

 

61. 

DEPUTY MAYOR Lachhya

GURUNG

 

x

 

 

 

62. 

MAYOR Caroline

STOCK

 

x

 

 

 

Votes were recorded as follows:

For

22

Against

37

Abstain

0

Absent

3

Total

62


 

 

 

 

RESOLVED that The Labour Group’s amendment to the budget was therefore lost.

 

On the Liberal Democrat Group’s amendment to the budget being put to the vote, votes were individually recorded for all Members as follows:

 

 

Councillor

 

 

For

 

 

Against

Not

Voting

Absent

1.     

Golnar

BOKAEI

 

x

 

 

 

2.     

Jess

BRAYNE

x

 

 

 

 

3.     

Felix

BYERS

 

x

 

 

 

4.     

Anne

CLARKE

 

 

x

 

 

5.     

Pauline

COAKLEY WEBB

 

 

x

 

 

6.     

Dean

COHEN

 

x

 

 

 

7.     

Melvin

COHEN

 

x

 

 

 

8.     

Geof

COOKE

 

 

x

 

 

9.     

Jo

COOPER

 

 

x

 

 

10. 

Sara

CONWAY

 

 

 

x

 

11. 

Alison

CORNELIUS

 

x

 

 

 

12. 

Richard

CORNELIUS

 

x

 

 

 

13. 

Saira

DON

 

x

 

 

 

14. 

Val

DUSCHINSKY

 

x

 

 

 

15. 

Paul

EDWARDS

 

 

x

 

 

16. 

Claire

FARRIER

 

 

x

 

 

17. 

Anthony

FINN

 

x

 

 

 

18. 

Nizza

FLUSS

 

x

 

 

 

19. 

Linda

FREEDMAN

 

x

 

 

 

20. 

Eva

GREENSPAN

 

x

 

 

 

21. 

Jennifer

GROCOCK

 

x

 

 

 

22. 

Rohit

GROVER

 

x

 

 

 

23. 

John

HART

 

x

 

 

 

24. 

Ross

HOUSTON

 

 

x

 

 

25. 

Anne

HUTTON

 

 

x

 

 

26. 

Laithe

JAJEH

 

x

 

 

 

27. 

Kathy

LEVINE

 

 

x

 

 

28. 

David

LONGSTAFF

 

x

 

 

 

29. 

John

MARSHALL

 

x

 

 

 

30. 

Kath

McGUIRK

 

 

x

 

 

31. 

Arjun

MITTRA

 

 

x

 

 

32. 

Alison

MOORE

 

 

x

 

 

33. 

Ammar

NAQVI

 

 

x

 

 

34. 

Nagus

NARENTHIRA

 

 

x

 

 

35. 

Charlie

O-MACAULEY

 

 

 

x

 

36. 

Reema

PATEL

 

 

x

 

 

37. 

Alex

PRAGER

 

x

 

 

 

38. 

Wendy

PRENTICE

 

x

 

 

 

39. 

Sachin 

RAJPUT

 

x

 

 

 

40. 

Barry

RAWLINGS

 

 

x

 

 

41. 

Danny

RICH

 

 

x

 

 

42. 

Helene

RICHMAN

 

x

 

 

 

43. 

Tim

ROBERTS

 

 

x

 

 

44. 

Gabriel

ROZENBERG

x

 

 

 

 

45. 

Lisa

RUTTER

 

x

 

 

 

46. 

Shimon

RYDE

 

x

 

 

 

47. 

Gill

SARGEANT

 

 

x

 

 

48. 

Alan

SCHNEIDERMANN

 

 

x

 

 

49. 

Mark

SHOOTER

 

x

 

 

 

50. 

Elliot

SIMBERG

 

x

 

 

 

51. 

Thomas

SMITH

 

x

 

 

 

52. 

Stephen

SOWERBY

 

x

 

 

 

53. 

Julian

TEARE

 

x

 

 

 

54. 

Daniel

THOMAS

 

x

 

 

 

55. 

Ruben

THOMPSTONE

 

x

 

 

 

56. 

Sarah

WARDLE

 

x

 

 

 

57. 

Roberto

WEEDEN-SANZ

 

x

 

 

 

58. 

Laurie

WILLIAMS

 

 

x

 

 

59. 

Peter

ZINKIN

 

 

x

 

 

 

60. 

Zakia

ZUBAIRI

 

 

x

 

 

61. 

DEPUTY MAYOR Lachhya

GURUNG

 

x

 

 

 

62. 

MAYOR Caroline

STOCK

 

x

 

 

 

 

Votes were recorded as follows:

For

2

Against

36

Abstain

22

Absent

2

Total

62

 

RESOLVED that The Liberal Democrat Group’s amendment to the budget was therefore lost.

 

On the Administration Group’s budget proposals, as set out in the report, appendices and supplement being put to the vote, votes were individually recorded for all Members as follows:

 

 

Councillor

 

 

For

 

 

Against

Not

Voting

Absent

1.     

Golnar

BOKAEI

X

 

 

 

 

2.     

Jess

BRAYNE

 

X

 

 

 

3.     

Felix

BYERS

X

 

 

 

 

4.     

Anne

CLARKE

 

X

 

 

 

5.     

Pauline

COAKLEY WEBB

 

X

 

 

 

6.     

Dean

COHEN

X

 

 

 

 

7.     

Melvin

COHEN

X

 

 

 

 

8.     

Geof

COOKE

 

X

 

 

 

9.     

Jo

COOPER

 

X

 

 

 

10. 

Sara

CONWAY

 

 

 

x

 

11. 

Alison

CORNELIUS

X

 

 

 

 

12. 

Richard

CORNELIUS

X

 

 

 

 

13. 

Saira

DON

X

 

 

 

 

14. 

Val

DUSCHINSKY

X

 

 

 

 

15. 

Paul

EDWARDS

 

X

 

 

 

16. 

Claire

FARRIER

 

X

 

 

 

17. 

Anthony

FINN

X

 

 

 

 

18. 

Nizza

FLUSS

X

 

 

 

 

19. 

Linda

FREEDMAN

X

 

 

 

 

20. 

Eva

GREENSPAN

X

 

 

 

 

21. 

Jennifer

GROCOCK

X

 

 

 

 

22. 

Rohit

GROVER

X

 

 

 

 

23. 

John

HART

X

 

 

 

 

24. 

Ross

HOUSTON

 

X

 

 

 

25. 

Anne

HUTTON

 

X

 

 

 

26. 

Laithe

JAJEH

X

 

 

 

 

27. 

Kathy

LEVINE

 

X

 

 

 

28. 

David

LONGSTAFF

X

 

 

 

 

29. 

John

MARSHALL

X

 

 

 

30. 

Kath

McGUIRK

 

X

 

 

 

31. 

Arjun

MITTRA

 

X

 

 

 

32. 

Alison

MOORE

 

X

 

 

 

33. 

Ammar

NAQVI

 

X

 

 

 

34. 

Nagus

NARENTHIRA

 

x

 

 

 

35. 

Charlie

O-MACAULEY

 

 

 

x

 

36. 

Reema

PATEL

 

X

 

 

 

37. 

Alex

PRAGER

X

 

 

 

38. 

Wendy

PRENTICE

X

 

 

 

 

39. 

Sachin 

RAJPUT

X

 

 

 

 

40. 

Barry

RAWLINGS

 

X

 

 

 

41. 

Danny

RICH

 

X

 

 

 

42. 

Helene

RICHMAN

X

 

 

 

 

43. 

Tim

ROBERTS

 

X

 

 

 

44. 

Gabriel

ROZENBERG

 

X

 

 

 

45. 

Lisa

RUTTER

X

 

 

 

46. 

Shimon

RYDE

X

 

 

 

 

47. 

Gill

SARGEANT

 

X

 

 

 

48. 

Alan

SCHNEIDERMANN

 

X

 

 

 

49. 

Mark

SHOOTER

X

 

 

 

 

50. 

Elliot

SIMBERG

X

 

 

 

 

51. 

Thomas

SMITH

X

 

 

 

 

52. 

Stephen

SOWERBY

X

 

 

 

 

53. 

Julian

TEARE

X

 

 

 

 

54. 

Daniel

THOMAS

X

 

 

 

 

55. 

Ruben

THOMPSTONE

X

 

 

 

 

56. 

Sarah

WARDLE

X

 

 

 

 

57. 

Roberto

WEEDEN-SANZ

X

 

 

 

 

58. 

Laurie

WILLIAMS

 

X

 

 

 

59. 

Peter

ZINKIN

 

X

 

 

 

 

60. 

Zakia

ZUBAIRI

 

X

 

 

 

61. 

DEPUTY MAYOR Lachhya

GURUNG

X

 

 

 

 

62. 

MAYOR Caroline

STOCK

X

 

 

 

 

 

 

Votes were recorded as follows:

For

36

Against

24

Abstain

0

Absent

2

Total

62

 

RESOLVED that Council:

 

In respect of the Corporate Plan (included as Appendix A)

 

1.    Approved the Corporate Plan attached at Appendix A.

 

In respect of the Budget and Council Tax for 2021/22 and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2021-25, that Council:

 

2.    Approved the Medium-Term Financial Strategy attached as Appendix B and the detailed revenue budgets in Appendix D1, including the proposed savings and funding for pressures in 2021/22;

 

3.    Approved that the budget for 2021/22 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 1.99% for the general element Council Tax in 2021/22 as discussed in paragraph 1.5.14 to 1.5.18;

 

4.    Approved that the budget for 2021/22 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 3.00% for the Social Care Precept, to help fund social care paragraph 1.5.18 to 1.5.19;

 

5.    Approved the resolutions relating to Council Tax contained within Appendix C Council Tax Resolutions;

 

6.    Approved, on the advice of the Chief Finance Officer, that it determines that the council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2021/22 as set out in Council Tax resolution Appendix C 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 2021/22.

 

7.    Approved 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;

 

8.    Noted the use of the Local Council Tax Support Grant in 2021/22 as set in paragraphs 1.5.21 to 1.5.22;

 

9.    Noted within Section 1.8 that the financial position in 2020/21 remains stable despite the pressures on the council arising from the pandemic, and that an overall breakeven position is currently anticipated for this year (after making some targeted contributions to reserves).

 

10.Considered the issues that have emerged from the consultation discussed in Appendix G when making their decisions. The committee make the decisions below also being mindful of the equalities impact assessments including the cumulative equalities impact assessments;

 

In respect of Debt Write-offs requested relating to the current financial year that Council:

 

11.Approved the debt write-offs for Council Tax and Business Rates in paragraphs 1.9.2 to 1.9.7, Housing Benefit Overpayments in paragraphs 1.9.8 to 1.9.9, HRA and GF Tenant Rents in paragraphs 1.9.10 to 1.19.18 and Sundry Debt in paragraphs 1.19.19 to 1.19.20;

 

In respect of proposed capital expenditure, the Capital Strategy, and the policy on Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) that Council:

 

12.Approved the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix J1 and set out in paragraph 1.11.2, and that the Chief Officers be authorised to take all necessary actions for implementation.

 

13.Approved the changes to the existing Capital Programme in relation to slippage discussed in paragraphs 1.11.3 to 1.11.6, additions discussed in paragraphs 1.11.7 to 1.11.22 and summarised in Appendix J1;

 

14.Approved delegation to Chief Financial Officer to adjust capital programme and financing in 2021/22 in line with the 2020/21 outturn position;

 

15.Approved the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix J2;

 

16.Approved the change in MRP policy for 2020/21 as discussed in section 1.12;

 

17.Noted, subject to approval of the change in the MRP policy, the S151 Officer’s intention to make an additional Voluntary Revenue Provision (VRP) in 2020/21 as outlined in paragraphs 1.12.10 to 1.12.13;

 

In respect of the Treasury Management Strategy that Council:

 

18.Approved the Treasury Management Strategy for 2021/22 as set out in Section 1.13 and Appendix K1 and the Mid-Year Review Report for 2020/21 in Appendix K2;

 

In respect of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and proposed tenant rent increases that Council:

 

19.Approved 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 paragraphs 1.14.4 to 1.14.6 to take effect from 1 April 2021;

b)   The proposed increases to service charges for council dwellings as set out in paragraphs 1.14.11 to 1.14.13 to take effect from 1 April 2021; and,

c)    The proposed rent increase of 1.5% for council garages as set out in paragraphs 1.14.11 to 1.14.13 to take effect from 1 April 2021.

 

20.Approved the proposed temporary accommodation rents be increased in line with the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate as in paragraphs 1.14.7 to 1.14.10 to take effect from 1 April 2021;

 

In respect of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) that Council:

 

21.Approved the Gross Schools Budget of £379.223m for 2021/22 as per paragraphs 1.5.42 to 1.5.52;

 

22.Approved Post 16 Funding of £5.209m as per paragraph 1.5.45;

 

23.Approved that any changes to the Schools Budget reasonably required as a result of the final 2021/22 DSG and Post-16 settlement are delegated for decisions to the Executive Director – Children & Young People in consultation with the Director of Finance;

 

In respect of general Fees and Charges and other matters that Council:

 

24. Agreed the fees and charges as detailed in Appendix F1 to F5 and approved the proposed parking charges for green spaces in Appendix F6 and discussed in paragraph 1.4.12;

 

25.Agreed the Adult Social Care Fees and Charges consultation report in Appendix F7 and discussed in paragraph 1.4.11;

 

26. Having regard to the summary equality impact assessment (EIA) and cumulative assessment set out in Section 5.6.  Appendix H provides the cumulative impact and individual Delivery Unit assessments;

 

27. Approved of the revised reserves and balances policy as set out in Appendix L and indicative amounts as set out in paragraph 1.6.3 and the Director of Finance’s assessment of adequacy of General Fund Balances in section 1.6.2. Approved to delegate to the Director of Finance, authorisation to adjust balances in 2020/21 after 2019/20 accounts are closed and the amount of balances carry forward required are known;

 

28.Approved the underlying Financial strategy of the Council as set out in the paragraph 1.5.1;

 

29.Agreed the corporate risk register as set out in section 1.10 and Appendix I.

 

Supporting documents: