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Agenda item

ITEM REFERRED FROM CABINET: 29 JANUARY 2019 - REVENUE BUDGET 2019/20

REPORT OF THE SERVICE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES

 

To consider the revenue budget for 2019/20 and the main factors which contribute to the determination of the North Hertfordshire District Council (NHDC) Council Tax level, for recommendation to Council.

Decision:

Resumed meeting at 8.56pm

 

The recommendations, as amended, were then put to the meeting and it was a recorded vote being required in accordance with 4.8.16(e) of The Constitution.

 

RESOLVED:

(0 voting AGAINST, 24 voting FOR and 17 ABSTENTIONS)

 

Voting FOR: David Barnard, John Bishop, Julian Cunningham, Steve Deakin-Davies, Sarah Dingley, Faye Frost, Jean Green, Nicola Harris, Simon Harwood,  Terry Hone, Tony Hunter, David Levett, Bernard Lovewell, Paul Marment, Ian Moody, Michael Muir, Lynda Needham, Janine Paterson, Michael Rice, Valentine Shanley, Harry Spencer-Smith, Claire Strong, Richard Thake, Michael Weeks

 

ABSTENTIONS: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, Judi Billing, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Mike Hughson, Steve Jarvis, Ian Mantle, Lisa Nash, Sue Nawala, Helen Oliver, Deepak Sangha, Martin Stears-Handscomb

 

(1)     That Council notes the changes detailed in this addendum report when approving a proposed net budget of £15.2m for 2019/20.

 

(2)     That Council approve the resultant increase in the level of Council Tax for the North Hertfordshire District Council element of 2.99%.

 

(3)     That Council notes, with two parish precept notifications currently outstanding, the Parish and Town Council precept requests received totalling £1,160,095.

 

(4)     That Council notes that, with two parish precept notifications currently outstanding, the total District Council Tax Requirement is £12,551,161 and approves this figure for inclusion in the Council Tax Resolution.

 

(5)     That Council agrees an Investment Proposal to add an additional sum of £25,000 in 2019-20 to provide for additional Economic Development staffing equivalent to one full time post and that the tables in Appendix A be amended accordingly. This reflects the existing plans to fund half of a joint post from the Strategic Priorities Fund in 2019-20 and to look at it further for future years.

 

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:  To ensure that all relevant factors are taken into consideration when arriving at the proposed Council Tax precept for 2019/20.

Minutes:

Audio Recording – Start of Item – Session 2 - 1 hr 05 minutes 39 seconds

 

Resumed meeting at 8.56pm

 

Members were referred to the addendum report of the Service Director – Resources to inform Council of the changes made by Cabinet to the Revenue Budget for 2019/20 onwards at their meeting on 29th January 2019. As with the rest of the budget, the changes were subject to approval by Full Council.

 

The report also informed Council of the precepts demanded by all the local precepting authorities in the District and the resulting total District Council Tax Requirement.

 

Councillor Lynda Needham introduced the budget and Councillor Julian Cunningham made the budget speech moving the recommendations as referred to in the supplementary agenda pack which were seconded by Councillor Lynda Needham.

 

The Chairman invited Opposition Spokespersons/Group Leaders, Councillors Martin Stears-Hardscomb and Steve Jarvis to respond to the budget speech.

 

The Service Director – Resources reported that notification had been following publication of the agenda from Clothall and Kelshall of their precept requirements, which were shown as to be confirmed in the report.

 

Clothall had a total funding requirement for 2019/20 of £1,000, which after reflecting the CTRS grant equated to a precept demand of £881.88. This resulted in a Band D Parish precept of £10.89.

 

Kelshal have a total funding requirement for 2019/20 of £3,000, which after reflecting the CTRS grant equated to a precept demand of £2,850.45. This resulted in a Band D Parish precept of £37.21.

 

As a result table 1 of the addendum report would require an update.  There were consequential impacts on recommendations 2.3 and 2.4.  In 2.3 the total  would be £1,160,095 (rather than £1,156,362). In 2.4 the total  would be £12,551,161 (rather than £12,547,429).

 

It was moved by Councillor Ian Albert and seconded by Councillor Judi Billing that the following new item be added to the recommendations:-

 

“That Council agrees to remove E7 ‘Rolling Reduction in Area Committee Grants’ from the efficiency proposals in Appendix B at a cost of £10,000 in 2019-20, £19,000 in 2020-21, £25,000 in 2021/22 and £31,000 in 2022/23 onwards and that the tables in Appendix A be amended accordingly. And that the rules for awarding grants be reviewed to enable Area Committees to more effectively support community groups in their areas.”

 

On being put to the meeting:-

 

the amendment was declared LOST.

 

 

 

 

It was moved by Councillor Helen Oliver and seconded by Councillor Martin Stears-Handscomb that the following new item be added to the recommendations:-

 

“That Council agrees an Investment Proposal to add an additional sum of £25,000 in 2019/20 as potential match-funding and to bring together stakeholders to investigate ways of providing for those who formerly used the Health Shuttle and that the tables in Appendix A be amended accordingly.”

 

On the basis of response Councillor David Levett stated that the matter would be considered as part of the Transport Users Forum, and it was agreed that the amendment be withdrawn.

 

It was moved by Councillor Deepak Sangha and seconded by Councillor Sue Ngwala that the following new item be added to the recommendations:-

 

“That Council agrees an Investment Proposal to add an additional sum of £25,000 in 2019-20 to provide for additional Economic Development staffing equivalent to one full time post and that the tables in Appendix A be amended accordingly. This reflects the existing plans to fund half of a joint post from the Strategic Priorities Fund in 2019-20 and to look at it further for future years.”

 

On being put to the vote:-

 

the amendment was declared CARRIED.

 

It was then moved by Councillor Ruth Brown and seconded by Councillor Paul Clark that the recommendations be amended as follows:-

 

“Item PE 10 to be deleted” from Appendix B and this saving be not included as it does not represent value for money.”

 

On being put to the vote:-

 

the amendment was declared LOST.

 

It was moved by Councillor Julian Cunningham and seconded by Lynda Needham that the recommendations in the supplementary agenda pack, as amended, including the precept requirements reported at the meeting, be approved.

 

The recommendations, as amended, were then put to the meeting and it was a recorded vote being required in accordance with 4.8.16(e) of The Constitution.

 

RESOLVED:

(0 voting AGAINST, 24 voting FOR and 17 ABSTENTIONS)

 

Voting FOR: David Barnard, John Bishop, Julian Cunningham, Steve Deakin-Davies, Sarah Dingley, Faye Frost, Jean Green, Nicola Harris, Simon Harwood,  Terry Hone, Tony Hunter, David Levett, Bernard Lovewell, Paul Marment, Ian Moody, Michael Muir, Lynda Needham, Janine Paterson, Michael Rice, Valentine Shanley, Harry Spencer-Smith, Claire Strong, Richard Thake, Michael Weeks

 

ABSTENTIONS: Ian Albert, Daniel Allen, Kate Aspinwall, Judi Billing, Ruth Brown, Val Bryant, Paul Clark, Sam Collins, Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Mike Hughson, Steve Jarvis, Ian Mantle, Lisa Nash, Sue Nawala, Helen Oliver, Deepak Sangha, Martin Stears-Handscomb

 

(1)     That Council notes the changes detailed in this addendum report when approving a proposed net budget of £15.2m for 2019/20.

 

(2)     That Council approve the resultant increase in the level of Council Tax for the North Hertfordshire District Council element of 2.99%.

 

(3)     That Council notes, with two parish precept notifications currently outstanding, the Parish and Town Council precept requests received totalling £1,160,095.

 

(4)     That Council notes that, with two parish precept notifications currently outstanding, the total District Council Tax Requirement is £12,551,161 and approves this figure for inclusion in the Council Tax Resolution.

 

(5)     That Council agrees an Investment Proposal to add an additional sum of £25,000 in 2019-20 to provide for additional Economic Development staffing equivalent to one full time post and that the tables in Appendix A be amended accordingly. This reflects the existing plans to fund half of a joint post from the Strategic Priorities Fund in 2019-20 and to look at it further for future years.

 

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS:  To ensure that all relevant factors are taken into consideration when arriving at the proposed Council Tax precept for 2019/20.

 

Supporting documents: