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Agenda and minutes
- Attendance details
- Agenda frontsheet PDF 167 KB
- Agenda reports pack
- Budget Overview and Scrutiny Minutes 05/02/24 PDF 278 KB
- Minutes of the Last Meeting 29.01.24 PDF 276 KB
- Appendix A - Schedule of appointments to Cabinet committees, working groups and partnerships PDF 379 KB
- Printed minutes PDF 71 KB
Venue: Council Chamber, Muriel Matters House, Breeds Place, Hastings, East Sussex, TN34 3UY. Please enter the building through the Contact Centre entrance via the seafront.
Contact: Democratic Services on 01424 451484 email: democraticservices@hastings.gov.uk
Note: Postponed from the 5th February
Items No. Item Apologies for Absence
Minutes:
Apologies received from Councillor Roark.
Declaration of Interests
Minutes:
None received.
Minutes of Last Meeting PDF 101 KB
Minutes:
RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 29th January be approved as a true record.
Public Question Time (30 minutes)
Minutes:
No questions were received.
Revenue Budget 2024/25, and Capital Programme 2024/25 to 2026/27 PDF 100 KB
Additional documents:
- Budget Report 2024-25 v1.2 , item 41. PDF 670 KB
- Appendix A - Section 25 Notice v1.1 , item 41. PDF 63 KB
- Appendicies v1.1 02.02.24 , item 41. PDF 582 KB
- Appendix X - Hastings Council Tax Premiums Report , item 41. PDF 163 KB
- Appendix Z - Glossary , item 41. PDF 73 KB
- There are a further 2 documents.View the full list of documents for item 41.
Minutes:
The Chief Finance Officer presented the draft revenue budget for 2024/25 and capital programme budget for 2024/25, to 2026/27.
The Chief Finance Officer thanked all of those involved in the budget setting process and explained that the financial situation had changed quite dramatically since the Medium Term Financial Strategy was presented to cabinet in November 2023. The general reserve was previously forecast to be exhausted over the next couple of years, but this was before any savings were agreed late last year. Financial settlement figures were received from the government in December and January. Additionally, there has been a thorough review of the budget and the use of earmarked reserves as well as a reduction in the capital programme. In all, this has resulted in an improved financial position to that previously forecast.
Financial restrictions brought in last year have also contributed to the improvement in the council’s financial position, although these are only a temporary measure.
The report proposes that council tax is increased by the maximum allowed without holding a referendum. There are also additional council tax charges being brought forward following changes to legislation in relation to second homes and empty homes.
Over the course of the Medium Term Financial Strategy the general reserve balance is now forecast to remain at around £4 million which is the recommended minimum level.
Councillor Patmore asked why no savings from the housing acquisitions programme had been identified beyond 2024/25. The Head of Housing replied that the current allocation for the programme is coming to an end and officers are looking at opportunities for extending the programme. Although officers are confident that there will be further savings going forward it is difficult to determine what they will be at this stage.
Councillor Barnett proposed approval of the recommendations, seconded by Councillor Willis subject to the following amendments:
Amendment 1. Add the following words to paragraph 104:
A special meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was held last week to discuss the budget report. It was suggested there that the savings package agreed at Full Council in December was in danger of not being delivered. In fact, the changes made to Appendix K since December are as a result of reprofiling of some savings over a longer period, and so for example the Transformation savings agreed in December will be achieved over five years rather than three, and additional income being identified (so for example £224k more for fees and charges in 24/25, and £6.8m more from capital programme savings over the next three years). The overall impact of these revisions is significantly beneficial to the council’s overall financial position.
Amendment 2. Appendix K/2b: amend 2-3 year programme to 5 year programme.
Amendment 3. Appendix K – add savings of £310,542 from the housing acquisition programme for 2025/26
RESOLVED (unanimously):
Subject to the agreed amendments above, cabinet recommends that Full Council:
(i) Approve the draft 2024/25 revenue budget (Appendix B)
(ii) Approve a 2.99% increase in the Borough Council's part of ... view the full minutes text for item 41.
Cabinet appointments to committees, working groups and partnerships PDF 115 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chief Legal Officer presented a report to confirm appointments to cabinet committees, working groups and external boards.
Councillor Hilton gave an update on the committees of cabinet which were announced at Full Council. They will now be referred to as working groups to clarify their advisory status, and no allowances will be paid. Membership of the working groups is not yet finalised, but they have started to meet and political groups are welcome to put forward members.
RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. To appoint councillors to Cabinet committees, working groups, partnerships and representative bodies for the remainder of the 2023/24 municipal year as set out in appendix A and;
2. To appoint the Chair and Vice Chair of Charity Committee as listed in appendix A.
Reasons:
Councillors are required to serve on the committees, working groups, partnerships and representative bodies to which Cabinet appoints.
(The Chair declared the meeting closed at 7.10pm)
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