Agenda item - REVENUE BUDGET 2022/23

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

To note and adopt the Revenue Budget 2022/23

Councillor Ian Albert proposed, Councillor Sam North seconded, and the recommendations in the report were put to debate.

Councillor Steve Jarvis proposed an amendment, Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg seconded.

Councillor Simon Harwood declared an interest in respect of his daughter being an employee of the Hitchin Outdoor Pool whose opening hours were being considered as part of the amendment. The Monitoring Officer advised that he take no part in the debate or vote on this amendment.

The amendment was put to the vote.

The results of the vote were as follows:

YES: 35

ABSTAIN: 0

NO: 0

TOTAL: 35

The individual results were as follows:

Cllr Val Bryant YES

Cllr Adam Compton YES

Cllr Adem Ruggiero-Cakir YES

Cllr Amy Allen YES

Cllr Claire Strong YES

Cllr Clare Billing YES

Cllr Daniel Allen YES

Cllr David Barnard YES

Cllr David Levett YES

Cllr Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg YES

Cllr George Davies YES

Cllr Gerald Morris YES

Cllr Ian Albert YES

Cllr Ian Mantle YES

Cllr Jean Green YES

Cllr Judi Billing YES

Cllr Kate Aspinwall YES

Cllr Kay Tart YES

Cllr Keith Hoskins YES

Cllr Mandi Tandi YES

Cllr Michael Muir YES

Cllr Mike Hughson YES

Cllr Mike Rice YES

Cllr Morgan Derbyshire YES

Cllr Nigel Mason YES

Cllr Richard Thake YES

Cllr Ruth Brown YES

Cllr Sam Collins YES

Cllr Sam North YES

Cllr Sarah Dingley YES

Cllr Sean Prendergast YES

Cllr Simon Bloxham YES

Cllr Simon Harwood

Cllr Steve Jarvis YES

Cllr Terry Hone YES

Cllr Terry Tyler

Cllr Tom Tyson YES

As such it was:

RESOLVED: To amend the recommendations to include an additional recommendation 2.6 as follows:

“Noting the additional flexibility resulting from the final Local Government Settlement, Council approves the following further investments to support the council’s sustainability objectives and the continuing provision of high quality leisure facilities for local people:

A. Implementation of additional wilding schemes from those set out in the Wilding Audit prepared for the council by Countryside Management at a total cost of £25k.

B. Work with user groups to investigate and implement potential extensions to open air pool opening at the end of the 2022 season at a cost of £25k.

C. Provision of expert leisure market, pre-procurement and strategic investment advice in respect of the leisure services contract retendering at a cost of £25k.”

The substantive motion as amended was put to debate.

The substantive motion as amended was put to the vote.

The results of the vote were as follows:

YES: 21

ABSTAIN: 15

NO: 0

TOTAL: 36

The individual results were as follows:

Cllr Val Bryant YES

Cllr Adam Compton ABSTAIN

Cllr Adem Ruggiero-Cakir YES

Cllr Amy Allen YES

Cllr Claire Strong ABSTAIN

Cllr Clare Billing YES

Cllr Daniel Allen YES

Cllr David Barnard ABSTAIN

Cllr David Levett ABSTAIN

Cllr Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg YES

Cllr George Davies ABSTAIN

Cllr Gerald Morris ABSTAIN

Cllr Ian Albert YES

Cllr Ian Mantle YES

Cllr Jean Green ABSTAIN

Cllr Judi Billing YES

Cllr Kate Aspinwall YES

Cllr Kay Tart YES

Cllr Keith Hoskins YES

Cllr Mandi Tandi ABSTAIN

Cllr Michael Muir ABSTAIN

Cllr Mike Hughson YES

Cllr Mike Rice ABSTAIN

Cllr Morgan Derbyshire ABSTAIN

Cllr Nigel Mason YES

Cllr Richard Thake ABSTAIN

Cllr Ruth Brown YES

Cllr Sam Collins YES

Cllr Sam North YES

Cllr Sarah Dingley ABSTAIN

Cllr Sean Prendergast YES

Cllr Simon Bloxham ABSTAIN

Cllr Simon Harwood ABSTAIN

Cllr Steve Jarvis YES

Cllr Terry Hone

Cllr Terry Tyler YES

Cllr Tom Tyson YES

As such it was:

RESOLVED: That Council:

(1) Notes the position on the Collection Fund and how it will be funded.

(2) Notes the position relating to the General Fund balance and that due to the risks identified a minimum balance of £30.5 million is recommended.

(3) Approves the savings and investments as detailed in Appendix B.

(4) Approves a net expenditure budget of £18.123m* as detailed in Appendix C

(5) Approves a Council Tax increase of £5 on a band D property (other bands with pro-rata increases). This is in line with the Medium Term Financial Strategy and is equivalent to 2.08%

(6) Noting the additional flexibility resulting from the final Local Government Settlement, Council approves the following further investments to support the council’s sustainability objectives and the continuing provision of high quality leisure facilities for local people:

A. Implementation of additional wilding schemes from those set out in the Wilding Audit prepared for the council by Countryside Management at a total cost of £25k.

B. Work with user groups to investigate and implement potential extensions to open air pool opening at the end of the 2022 season at a cost of £25k.

C. Provision of expert leisure market, pre-procurement and strategic investment advice in respect of the leisure services contract retendering at a cost of £25k.

[*It was confirmed that the amended substantive resolution therefore was an approved net expenditure figure being £18.198m – being the figures in 2.4 and 2.6]

REASON FOR DECISIONS: To ensure that all relevant factors are considered in arriving at a proposed budget and Council Tax level for 2022/23 and to ensure that the budget is aligned to Council priorities for 2022/23 as set out in the Council Plan.

Audio Recording: 9:32

The Chair advised that she would be inviting Councillor Dennis-Harburg (Leader of the Council) to speak, following which Ian Albert (Executive Member for Finance and IT) would present the report. The Chair agreed that Councillor Albert may speak for more than 5 minutes regarding the Budget.

The Leader of the Council made an introductory speech regarding the Revenue Budget 2022/23.

The Executive Member for Finance and IT gave a detailed speech regarding the entitled Revenue Budget 2022/23 and the following Appendices:

· Appendix A – Financial Risks 2022/23

· Appendix B – Revenue Budget Savings and Investments

· Appendix C – Budget Summary 2022 – 2027

· Appendix D – Resilience Index

Councillor Ian Albert proposed, Councillor Sam North seconded the recommendations in the report.

Councillor Steve Jarvis presented his amendments to the recommendations, which had been attached as an addendum to the Agenda Pack entitled Revenue Budget 2022/23: Proposed Amendments to Recommendations. Councillor Steve Jarvis proposed and Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg seconded.

Councillor Simon Harwood declared an interest in respect of his daughter being an employee of the Hitchin Outdoor Pool whose opening hours were being considered as part of the amendment. The Monitoring Officer advised that he take no part in the debate or vote on this amendment.

The following Members asked questions and took part in the debate regarding the proposed amendment:

· Councillor Claire Strong

· Councillor Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg

· Councillor Richard Thake

· Councillor Ruth Brown

The amendment was put to the vote.

The results of the vote were as follows:

YES: 35

ABSTAIN: 0

NO: 0

TOTAL: 35

The individual results were as follows:

Cllr Val Bryant YES

Cllr Adam Compton YES

Cllr Adem Ruggiero-Cakir YES

Cllr Amy Allen YES

Cllr Claire Strong YES

Cllr Clare Billing YES

Cllr Daniel Allen YES

Cllr David Barnard YES

Cllr David Levett YES

Cllr Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg YES

Cllr George Davies YES

Cllr Gerald Morris YES

Cllr Ian Albert YES

Cllr Ian Mantle YES

Cllr Jean Green YES

Cllr Judi Billing YES

Cllr Kate Aspinwall YES

Cllr Kay Tart YES

Cllr Keith Hoskins YES

Cllr Mandi Tandi YES

Cllr Michael Muir YES

Cllr Mike Hughson YES

Cllr Mike Rice YES

Cllr Morgan Derbyshire YES

Cllr Nigel Mason YES

Cllr Richard Thake YES

Cllr Ruth Brown YES

Cllr Sam Collins YES

Cllr Sam North YES

Cllr Sarah Dingley YES

Cllr Sean Prendergast YES

Cllr Simon Bloxham YES

Cllr Simon Harwood

Cllr Steve Jarvis YES

Cllr Terry Hone YES

Cllr Terry Tyler

Cllr Tom Tyson YES

As such it was:

RESOLVED: To amend the recommendations to include an additional recommendation 2.6 as follows:

“Noting the additional flexibility resulting from the final Local Government Settlement, Council approves the following further investments to support the council’s sustainability objectives and the continuing provision of high quality leisure facilities for local people:

A. Implementation of additional wilding schemes from those set out in the Wilding Audit prepared for the council by Countryside Management at a total cost of £25k.

B. Work with user groups to investigate and implement potential extensions to open air pool opening at the end of the 2022 season at a cost of £25k.

C. Provision of expert leisure market, pre-procurement and strategic investment advice in respect of the leisure services contract retendering at a cost of £25k.”

The following Members asked questions and took part in the debate regarding the substantive motion:

· Councillor Sam Collins

· Councillor David Levett

· Councillor George Davies

· Councillor Claire Strong

· Councillor Judi Billing

· Councillor Adam Compton

· Councillor Terry Hone

· Councillor Amy Allen

In response to a query from Councillor David Levett the Service Director – Resources gave advice regarding the statutory consultation of business ratepayers.