Agenda item

Having declared an interest, Councillor Whysall left the chamber.

The Worshipful the Mayor moved suspension of Council Procedure Rule 17.7 to allow the initial speeches on the Budget to be up to the following lengths:

10 minutes for the Leader and 8 minutes for the Leader of the Opposition.

Councillor Rawlings, Chair of the Policy and Resources Committee moved the reception and adoption of the recommendations in the report. Councillor Thomas moved the Conservative Group alternative budget. Debate ensued.

The Head of Governance informed Council that theLocal 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 Conservative Group amendment being put to the vote, the votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that the Conservative Group amendment in the name of Councillor Thomas is therefore LOST.

On the Labour Group proposal being put to the vote the votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that Council:

In respect of the Budget and Council Tax for 2023/24 and the MTFS 2024-27, that Council:

1.    Approve the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), attached as Appendix A, and the detailed revenue budgets in Appendix C, including the proposed savings and funding for pressures in 2023/24;

2.    Approve that the budget 2023/24 is prepared on the basis of a 1.80% increase for the general element of Council Tax in 2023/24 as discussed in paragraph 1.3.12 to 1.3.19;

3.    Approve that the budget for 2023/24 is prepared on the basis of an increase of 2% for the Social Care Precept, to help fund social care as detailed in paragraph 1.3.12 to 1.3.19;

4.    Approve the resolutions relating to Council Tax contained within Appendix B;

5.    Approve, on the advice of the Chief Finance Officer, that it determines that the council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2023/24 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 2023/27;

6.    Approve 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 5 above within a period of 21 days following the Council’s decision; and

7.    Considers the issues that have emerged from the consultation discussed in Appendix G when making their decisions. That Council make the decisions outlined in this report being mindful of the consultation responses and equalities impact assessments including the cumulative equalities impact assessments; and

8.    Note and have due regard to the opinion of the Chief Finance Officer as set out in section 1.7 of this report.

In respect of Capital Strategy and proposed capital expenditure that Council:

9.    Approve of the Capital Strategy as set out in Appendix I1;

10.Approve the Capital Programme as set out in Appendix I2 and set out in paragraph 1.8; and

11.Approve delegation to Chief Finance Officer to adjust capital programme and financing in 2023/24 in line with the 2022/23 outturn position;

In respect of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS):

12.Approve the TMSS for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix J.

In respect of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG):

13.Approve the Gross Schools Budget of £426.879m for 2023/24 as set out in Section 1.5; and

14.Approve that any changes to the Schools Budget reasonably required as a result of the final 2023/24 DSG and Post-16 settlement are delegated for decisions to the Executive Director – Children’s & Family Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Resources;

In respect of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA):

15.Approve Council dwelling rents increases as set out in paragraphs 1.6.3-1.6.8;

16.Approve Temporary accommodation rents increases in line with Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate as set out in paragraphs 1.6.9-1.6.13; and

17.Approve services charge and garages increases as set out in paragraph 1.6.14-1.6.28.

Councillor Whysall re-joined the meeting.

Councillor Grocock left the meeting.