Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1)  Noted the position on the Collection fund and how it will be funded.

(2)  Noted the position relating to the General Fund balance and that due to the risk identified a minimum balance of £2.5million was recommended.

(3)  Noted the net revenue savings that are likely to be required in future years, combined with the Chief Finance Officer’s commentary on the reliability of estimates and the resilience index.

(4)  Approved the revenue savings and investments as detailed in Appendix B.

(5)  Approved a net expenditure budget of £18.123m, as detailed in Appendix C.

(6)  Approved a Council Tax increase of 2.99%, which was in line with the provisions in the Medium term Financial Strategy.

(7)  Approved that the revenue investment for leisure centre condition surveys (as detailed in Appendix B, reference R13) and £10k of the consultancy and legal support for the leisure contract (as detailed in Appendix B, reference R37) is brought forward so that it can be spent in 2022/23.

(8)  Approved an additional revenue investment (for 2023/24 only) to create a Community Wealth Fund of £100k to support the local community in delivering projects that have wider community benefits.

(9)  Noted the staff resourcing issues that the Council faces, particularly in relation to planning and the strategic implementation of the Local Plan. Council further notes that Cabinet and the Head of Paid Service will look at options to make use of available resources (such as carry-forward of unspent salary budgets) to support the delivery of key Council functions and priorities.

REASON FOR DECISION: To ensure all relevant factors are considered in arriving at a budget and Council Tax level for 2023/24. To ensure that the budget is aligned to Council priorities for 2023/24 as set out in the Council Plan.

Audio Recording – 16 minutes 36 seconds

The Chair advised that he would invite Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, as Leader of the Council, to introduce the item and would then invite Councillor Ian Albert to present the report. The Chair noted that he had granted Councillor Albert permission to speak for longer than five minutes on this item.

The Leader of the Council made an introductory speech on the Revenue Budget 2023/24. 

Councillor Ian Albert presented the Revenue Budget to Members, and proposed an additional recommendation to the Revenue Budget. This was seconded by Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg.

Councillor Claire Strong thanked Councillor Ian Albert for his speech, and noted some concerns regarding the Budget, including increase in parking charges, the renewal of waste and leisure contracts and funding for Churchgate. 

The following Members also took part in the debate:

·         Councillor Alistair Willoughby

·         Councillor Ralph Muncer

·         Councillor Nigel Mason

·         Councillor Tom Plater

·         Councillor Steve Jarvis

·         Councillor Gerald Morris

·         Councillor Ruth Brown

·         Councillor Chris Hinchliff

·         Councillor Amy Allen

·         Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg

Councillor Ian Albert commented that it was important that Member’s Allowances increased. Playgrounds would not be closed under the budget. The administration wanted to work cross-party with the opposition and with residents to create a plan for Churchgate.

Having been proposed by Councillor Albert and seconded by Councillor Dennis-Harburg, the motion was put to a vote.

The results of the vote were as follows:

YES       :  23

ABSTAIN   :   2

NO        :  12

TOTAL     :  37

The individual results were as follows:

Cllr Sam North                                      ABSTAIN

Cllr Adem Ruggerio-Cakir                            YES

Cllr Alistair Willoughby                            YES

Cllr Amy Allen                                      YES

Cllr Chris Hinchliff                                YES

Cllr Chris Lucas                                    YES

Cllr Claire Strong                                  NO

Cllr Daniel Allen                                   YES

Cllr David Barnard                                  NO

Cllr David Levett                                   NO

Cllr Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg                       YES

Cllr Gerald Morris                                  NO

Cllr Ian Albert                                     YES

Cllr Ian Mantle                                     YES

Cllr James Denselow                                 YES

Cllr Jean Green                                     NO

Cllr Keith Hoskins                                  YES

Cllr Lisa Nash                                      YES

Cllr Mandi Tandi                                    NO

Cllr Michael Muir                                   ABSTAIN

Cllr Morgan Derbyshire                              NO

Cllr Nigel Mason                                    YES

Cllr Philip Weeder                                  YES

Cllr Ralph Muncer                                   NO

Cllr Richard Thake                                  NO

Cllr Ruth Brown                                     YES

Cllr Sean Nolan                                     YES

Cllr Sean Prendergast                               YES

Cllr Simon Bloxham                                  NO

Cllr Steve Jarvis                                   YES

Cllr Tamsin Thomas                                  YES

Cllr Terry Hone                                     NO

Cllr Terry Tyler                                    YES

Cllr Tom Plater                                     YES

Cllr Tom Tyson                                      YES

Cllr Tony Hunter                                    NO

Cllr Val Bryant                                     YES

As such it was:

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1)  Noted the position on the Collection fund and how it will be funded.

(2)  Noted the position relating to the General Fund balance and that due to the risk identified a minimum balance of £2.5million was recommended.

(3)  Noted the net revenue savings that are likely to be required in future years, combined with the Chief Finance Officer’s commentary on the reliability of estimates and the resilience index.

(4)  Approved the revenue savings and investments as detailed in Appendix B.

(5)  Approved a net expenditure budget of £18.123m, as detailed in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 189