-
Agenda item
REVENUE BUDGET 2018/19 REVISED AND 2019/20, PLUS CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2019/20 - 2021/22
Minutes:
Councillor Sinden, the Right Worshipful the Mayor, proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Beaver, and agreed unanimously as follows:
RESOLVED that in order to facilitate full discussion on cabinet’s proposal for the revenue budget 2018/19 revised and 2019/20, plus capital programme 2019/20 – 2021/22 and any proposed amendment 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 Sinden, the Right Worshipful the Mayor, proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Beaver, and agreed unanimously as follows:
RESOLVED that in order for Councillors to take advice from the Assistant Director, Financial Services and Revenues, and other officers, under Rule 16(14) of council procedure the council proceed as if in committee.
Councillor Chowney, Leader of the Council, proposed a motion, seconded by Councillor Davies, that recommendations 1-14 and recommendation 16 of minute number 152 of Budget Cabinet on 11th February 2019, Revenue Budget 2018/19 Revised and 2019/20, plus Capital programme 2019/20 - 2021/22, be approved.
The Assistant Director, Financial Services and Revenues informed Councillors that when Cabinet considered the budget papers the Fire Authority precept was an estimate. Now that the East Sussex Fire Authority has agreed its precept for the coming financial year appendix A and M of the budget report has been updated and hard copies have been distributed to Councillors and to the public gallery. In agreeing the budget Councillors are agreeing to the figures in the revised appendix A and M.
Councillor Lee, Leader of the Opposition, proposed two amendments to the budget, seconded by Councillor Edwards, as follows:
Amendment 1 -
“The Council resolves to make additional necessary staffing and supplies and services reductions for the 2019/20 year amounting to:Staffing net saving of £1,192,830 including a net reduction of staffing of 24.7 FTE
Other savings in both corporate and operational budgets of £172,630
£129,000 being added back into the invest to save budget
These savings provide a total net savings of £1,395,460There is however an area of increased expenditure proposed, the ongoing costs to be met from some of the savings identified above. Reinstate reduced CCTV hours at a cost of £30,000.
The net overall saving to the budget is £1,395,460 in 2019/20. The budget deficit being reduced from £1,746,553 to £520,623 in 2019/20 and to £1,183,000 in 2020/21.
The remaining reserve balances as at 31st March 2020 would increase and be as follows:
Transition reserves £956,000
Community Safety Reserve £150,00
Economic Development £301,000
Combined total of £1,407,000”Amendment 2 -
“Should the Council choose not to accept amendment 1 it is proposed that the reduction in monitoring hours for CCTV is reinstated at a cost of £30,000 per annum. This to be funded from the deletion from the budget of the local strategic partnership funding (£26,630) and a £3,370 reduction from the Cultural Activities budget.“
The mayor adjourned the meeting at 7.23pm so that Councillors could consider the proposed amendments. The meeting reconvened at 7.36pm.Councillor Chowney rejected the proposed amendments and Councillors debated the motion and the proposed amendments.
The Mayor proposed that the meeting return to Full Council mode, seconded by Councillor Beaver, in order to vote.
The proposed amendment 1 was lost by 7 votes for to 20 votes against with 0 abstentions. Councillors K Beaney, beaver, Edwards, Foster, Lee, Marlow-Eastwood and Patmore voted in favour of the amendment. Councillors Bacon, Batsford, Battley, S Beaney, Berelson, Charman, Chowney, Cox, Davies, Evans, Levane, Louise, O’Callaghan, Roberts, Rogers, Sabetian, Scott, Turner and Webb voted against the amendment.
The proposed amendment 2 was lost by 7 votes for to 20 votes against with 0 abstentions. Councillors K Beaney, beaver, Edwards, Foster, Lee, Marlow-Eastwood and Patmore voted in favour of the amendment. Councillors Bacon, Batsford, Battley, S Beaney, Berelson, Charman, Chowney, Cox, Davies, Evans, Levane, Louise, O’Callaghan, Roberts, Rogers, Sabetian, Scott, Turner and Webb voted against the amendment.
Recommendations 1-14 and 16 of the motion proposed by Councillor Chowney were approved by 20 votes for, to 7 against with 0 abstentions. Councillors, Bacon, Barnett, Batsford, Battley, S Beaney, Berelson, Charman, Chowney, Cox, Davies, Evans, Levane, Louise, O’Callaghan, Roberts, Rogers, Sabetian, Scott, Turner and Webb voted in favour of the motion. Councillors K Beaney, Beaver, Edwards, Foster, Lee, Marlow-Eastwood and Patmore voted against the motion.
RESOLVED (by 20 votes for, to 7 against, with 0 abstentions) that:
1. Approve the revised revenue budget for 2018/19 (Appendix A).
2. Approve the draft 2019/20 revenue budget (Appendix A).
3. Approve a 2.99% (rounded up) increase in the Borough Council's part of the Council Tax.
4. Agree that the absolute minimum level of reserves that shall be retained be £6m (plus General Fund Balance).
5. Approve the Capital Programme 2018/19 (revised) to 2021/22 (Appendix P).
6. Approve the proposed expenditure from the Renewal and Repairs Reserve, and Information Technology Reserve (Appendices J and I respectively) and those items from other reserves shown in Appendix H that can proceed without further reference to Cabinet or Council.
7. Approve that the use of the monies in the budget and Reserves for "Invest to Save" schemes be determined by the Chief Finance Officer in consultation with the Leader of the Council.
8. Approve the revised Land and Property Disposal Programme (Appendix L), and agree that disposals can be brought forward if market conditions make it sensible to do so.
9. Agree that schemes marked with an asterisk in the Capital Programme can proceed without further reference to Cabinet or Council.
10. Agree that work on Priority Income and Efficiency Reviews (PIER) through the Strategic Oversight and Planning Board should continue, and where possible identify a sustainable budget for a period in excess of one year. A mid-year review, for members and officers, to be undertaken in the light of the continuing severe government grant reductions.
11. Approve the detailed recommendations in revised Appendix M, which relate to the setting of Council Tax in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government Act 1992 (to be updated for full Council).
12. Approve that the budget be amended as necessary to reflect the final grant figures including Disabled Facility Grants - once received.
13. Approve an increase in the Council Tax premium chargeable for long term empty properties to 100% extra from 2019/20 (from 50% extra), 200% extra from 2020/21 (empty for 5-10 years), 300% extra from 2021/22 (empty greater than 10 years), i.e. the maximum permissible amounts in accordance with the Rating (Property in Common Occupation) and Council Tax (Empty Dwellings) Act 2018.
14. Approve that the determination of eligibility and award in respect of the Business Rate Retail Relief Scheme is delegated to the Chief Finance Officer for the next two financial years and any extension period thereafter.
16. Approve that the Director of Operational Services, or his nominee, in consultation with the lead member for Environment and Place, will consider, negotiate, undertake an Equality Impact Assessment and agree amendments to the recycling arrangements within the new joint waste contract.
The reason for this decision was:
1. Major reductions in funding are set to continue in 2019/20 and this impacts heavily upon the Council’s ability to provide services and grants across all areas of existing activity. A major overhaul of the funding mechanism along with the Government's 2019 spending review provides considerable uncertainty on funding for 2020/21 and beyond.
2. Since 2010/11 funding has been reduced by more than 70% in cash terms on a like for like basis. To ensure key corporate priorities and statutory responsibilities are achieved it remains imperative that the limited resources available are properly targeted.
3. The Council needs to be in a position to match its available resources to its priorities across the medium term and to maintain sufficient reserves and capacity to deal with potentially large and unexpected events in addition to fluctuations in income and expenditure levels.
4. The Council is exposed to a much greater degree of volatility in the level of funding it receives through Non Domestic Rates. In addition it is also exposed to a much higher degree of volatility in terms of Council Tax Support claims – the cost falling directly on the Council and the preceptors. The potential downside risks of Brexit and the increased reliance on income streams provide further potential volatility to the Council's future funding.
5. Further reductions in grant funding have major implications for the Council and as such work needs to continue to identify and make savings in order to produce balanced budgets in 2019/20 and beyond.
The Mayor asked Councillor Chowney to leave the Council Chamber at 8.18pm for the discussion and voting of recommendation 15 of the Revenue Budget 2018/19 Revised and 2019/20, plus capital programme 2019/20 – 2021/22 due to a prejudicial interest.Councillor Rogers moved a motion that recommendation 15 of the Revenue Budget 2018/19 Revised and 2019/20, plus capital programme 2019/20 – 2021/22 be agreed, seconded by Councillor Batsford.
Recommendation 15 of the motion proposed by Councillor Rogers was approved by 19 votes for, to 7 against with 0 abstentions. Councillors, Bacon, Barnett, Batsford, Battley, S Beaney, Berelson, Charman, Chowney, Cox, Davies, Evans, Levane, Louise, O’Callaghan, Roberts, Rogers, Sabetian, Scott, Turner and Webb voted in favour of the motion. Councillors K Beaney, Beaver, Edwards, Foster, Lee, Marlow-Eastwood and Patmore voted against the motion.
RESOLVED (by 19 votes for, 7 against) that:15. Approve the revised parking charges as detailed in Appendix Q.
Councillor Chowney returned to the Chamber at 8.21pm.
-
My council
Contact
Got a question about democratic services?
Content
The content on this page is the responsibility of our Democratic Services team.