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Agenda and minutes
Venue: Town Hall, Queen's Square, Priory Meadow, Hastings, TN34 1QR
Contact: Michael Courts on 01424 451764 email mcourts@hastings.gov.uk
Items No. Item Draft Corporate Plan 2015/16 to 2017/18
Minutes:
It was proposed that the recommendations set out in minute number 66 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 16 February 2015 be approved.
Councillor Dowling, The Right Worshipful the Mayor, proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Cartwright, and agreed unanimously as follows: -
RESOLVED that in order to facilitate full discussion on Cabinet’s proposal for the corporate plan and any proposed amendments to cabinet’s recommendations, Council suspends Rule 16.6.(b) of Council Procedure Rules (only one amendment may be moved and discussed at any one time. No further amendment may be moved until the amendment under discussion has been disposed of) to permit the Deputy Leader’s motion and all amendments to be on the table and open for discussion at the same time.
Councillor Atkins moved an amendment to the Corporate Plan, seconded by Councillor Pragnell, as follows: -
1. Replace the current vision with:
We believe Hastings Borough Council should be committed to focusing its efforts on reigniting the local economy as a whole. Hastings will become a “Borough of Aspiration”, in which economic prosperity and quality of life is at the forefront thanks to sustainable, long term economic plan for this council. Together we will build a town where aspiration and ambition become synonymous with the 1066 brand that Hastings is so famous for. Through a long term economic plan we will develop a two pronged approach to economic prosperity; through the high tech industries, manufacturing and engineering and by building upon our creative heritage – creating the most famous digital technology hub on the South Coast. A culture of aspiration will, in turn, drive the educational changes needed throughout the town to ensure new businesses have the skilled workforce needed to work towards an economically prosperous town.
The council will develop a long term plan to stand on its own two feet as a council, free from the reliance and uncertainty of government grants, free to fulfil its duties to provide well paid local jobs, warm and affordable homes, high quality health care and good quality infrastructure. We will do everything we can to build transport links to and from the capital, encouraging visitors and widening our tourism offering; opening up the town and properly marketing and preserving the fantastic cultural, creative and historical heritage that we have inherited.
2. Council Values (c)
Amend statement to say
We believe that the council should be doing all it can to promote business, entrepreneurship and aspiration in the town. As a result we believe all local people (including employees of the council) will receive a high standard of education and decent jobs that pay a living wage, where they are treated with dignity, respect and fairness.
3. Turning our vision into a reality
Add priority ‘H’ which reads
An aspirational borough: to promote practices that lead to lean, we run services. To do all we can as a council to promote and become an entrepreneurial, aspirational town, through inward business investment and skill development.
4. Programmes and Projects (External ... view the full minutes text for item 26.
Revenue Budgets 2014/15 (Revised) and 2015/16, plus Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18
Minutes:
It was proposed that the recommendations set out in minute number 67 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 16 February 2015, be approved.
Councillor Dowling, The Right Worshipful the Mayor, proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Cartwright, and agreed unanimously, as follows: -
RESOLVED – that in order to facilitate full discussion on Cabinet’s proposal for the budget and any proposed amendments to Cabinet’s recommendations, Council suspends Rule 16.6.(b) of Council Procedure Rules (only one amendment may be moved and discussed at any one time. No further amendment may be moved until the amendment under discussion has been disposed of) to permit the Leader’s motion and all amendments to be on the table and open to discussion at the same time.
Councillor Pragnell moved an amendment to the revenue budget, seconded by Councillor Atkins, as follows: -
1. Remove money from general reserves: £1,000,000
Place money in an ‘Aspiring Millions’ reserve £1,000,000
2. Reduction in I.T. budget £15,000
Working with the I.T. department to transfer
all LOCAL server services to the
Cloud / Amazon Web Services
Reductions / Savings £15,000
3. Generate revenue from sources: £60,100
A. Website advertising revenue £10,000
B. Roadside billboard and town wide digital £26,000
advertising revenue
C. Charging for pre-planning application advice £9,700
D. Charging other authorities for officer advice £14,400
on grant application and sourcing
Total Revenue / Income £75,100
4. Expenditure from revenue budget: £75,100
A. 2 additional annual cuts for grass verges £15,000
B. Additional funds for the Chess Congress £10,000
for 2015/16, followed by £10,000 for
2017/18
C. Annual upkeep of the Old Town Museum / £45,000
Creative and Digital Tech Hub
D. Balance to contingency fund £5,100
Total Expenditure £75,100
The proposed amendment was lost by 8 voted to 22. Councillors Atkins, Beaver, Charlesworth, Cooke, Edwards, Lee, Lock and Pragnell voted in favour of the proposed amendment to the revenue budget. Councillors Batsford, Beaney, Birch, Cartwright, Charman, Chowney, Clark, Davies, Fitzgerald, Forward, Hodges, Howard, Poole, Roberts, Rogers, Sabetian, Scott, Sinden, Turner, Webb, Westley and Wincott voted against the proposed amendment.
Councillor Birch moved approval of the Revenue Budgets 2014/15 (Revised) and 2015/16, plus Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18.
Councillors Batsford, Beaney, Birch, Cartwright, Charman, Chowney, Clark, Davies, Fitzgerald, Forward, Hodges, Howard, Poole, Roberts, Rogers, Sabetian, Scott, Sinden, Turner, Webb, Westley and Wincott voted for approval of the Revenue Budgets 2014/15 (Revised) and 2015/16, plus Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18. No votes were cast against the motion. Councillors Atkins, Beaver, Charlesworth, Cooke, Edwards, Lee, Lock and Pragnell abstained from the vote.
RESOLVED (by 22 votes for 0 against with 8 abstentions) to: -
1)Approve the revised budget for 2014/15 (appendix A to the Cabinet report)
2)Approve the draft 2015/16 budget (appendix A to the Cabinet report)
3)Approve a 1.9% increase in the borough council’s part of the council tax
4)Approve the coastal space initiative, a grant of £875,000 being payable, as detailed in appendix P and the main body of the report
5)Approve the capital ... view the full minutes text for item 27.
Treasury Management and Annual Investment Strategy 2015/16
Minutes:
It was proposed that the recommendations set out in minute number 68 of the meeting of Cabinet held on 16 February 2015 be approved under rule 13.3 (items which have not been reserved are not to be discussed).
RESOLVED that: -
1) The Treasury Management Strategy, Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Policy and Annual Investment Strategy 2015/16 be approved;
2) The current year’s strategy remains unaltered
The reason for this decision was:
The council seeks to minimise the costs of borrowing and maximise investment income whilst ensuring the security of its investments. The sums involved are large and the assumptions made play an important part in determining the annual budget. Compliance with the CIPFA Code of Practice represents best practice and ensures compliance with statutory requirements.
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