Agenda and minutes

Councillor Thrane declared an other interest in Item 6b Budget & Medium Term Financial Plan  – (Council Tax Premiums).

It was moved by Councillor Anthony McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2022 be approved as a correct record.

The motion was carried and the Mayor was authorised to sign the minutes.

The Mayor announced the passing of Mr Mark Pearson who acted as Mayoral consort to Cllr Linda Grooby and offered his condolences on behalf of the Council.

Group Leaders paid tribute to councillors who would be retiring at the forthcoming election.

It was moved by Councillor Barrow and seconded by Councillor A McKeown that the Council approve the amendments in section 7.15 (m), section 7.14 and the introduction of a new income banded / grid scheme for working age applicants with effect from 1^st April 2023 to reduce the administrative burden placed on the Council by the introduction of Universal Credit and to increase the overall level of support for the lowest income families.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Barrow and seconded by Councillor A McKeown that Council:

·       Approves the General Fund Budget for 2023/24 as detailed in Appendix A (section 9).

·       Approves the revised Medium-Term Financial Plan (2023/24 to 2026/27) as detailed in Appendix A, including the revised Capital Programme (attached at Annex A).

·       Approves the Capital Strategy 2023/24 as set out in Appendix B.

·       Approves the proposed Fees and Charges for 2023/24 as detailed in Appendix C.

·       Approves the proposed Procurement Forward Plan for 2023/24, providing the Authority to procure based on procurement activity detailed in Appendix D.

·       Approves a Band D Council Tax of £211.36 for 2023/24 (an increase of £5.96 or 2.90% from 2022/23).

·       Approves the adoption of the Council Tax premium on second homes outlined s7.1.7 and the empty property premium for properties that have remained empty for 1 year s7.1.10.

·       HRA charges as follows:

o   All dwellings rents to increase by 5%, increasing the average rent from £73.96 to £77.78 per week (average rent takes into account new tenancies let over the previous year where the higher formula rent was charged. This gives an arithmetical increase of 5.16%)

o   Garage rents to be increased by 5% from £7.86 to £8.26 average per week

o   Other Charges including service charges to increase by a maximum of 5%

o   Fuel charges at individual blocks have been reviewed and the 2023/24 charge is based on the 2022/23 estimated costs and 2021/22 actual fuel usage/prices, charged on an individual scheme basis.

·       Notes the Chief Finance Officer's view that the level of reserves are adequate for the Council, based on this budget and the circumstances in place at the time of preparing it (Appendix A Annex C).

In accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, councillors voted as follows with regard to the recommendations provided within the report.  Due to concerns expressed by some councillors with regards to revised Medium Term Financial Plan the following recorded votes were taken (Due to notification of interests received the recommendations relating to Council Tax premiums were dealt with after the other budget recommendations).

Recorded vote - all report recommendations, save the revised Medium Term Financial Plan and recommendations relating to Council Tax premiums:

Recorded vote - revised Medium Term Financial Plan:

It was moved by Councillor Thrane and seconded by Councillor Cross that Members note the current Treasury Management position as at 31^st December 2023.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Thrane and seconded by Councillor Cross that the Annual Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) 2023/24 be approved.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Thrane and seconded by Councillor Cross that Council confirm that the Liberal Democrat Group be invited to make a nomination for the appointment of Mayor of the Borough and Chairman of the Council for the municipal year 2023/24.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Barrow and seconded by Councillor Anthony McKeown that the following amounts be calculated by the Council in accordance with Sections 31A and 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by the Localism Act 2011):

(a)    £47,685,953  being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (2) of the Act. (Gross Expenditure on General Fund Services, and Parish Precepts)

(b)    £40,259,450   being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act. (Gross Income including External Financing and the Use of Reserves)

(c)    £7,426,503     being the amount by which the aggregate at (a) above exceeds the aggregate at (b) above calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31A (4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year (Amount to be Funded from Council Tax)

(d)    £236.59          being the amount at (c) above divided by the tax base, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31 (B) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year. (Average Local Council Tax)

(e)    Appendix B     being Council Tax for the HPBC Borough divided by the tax base plus the Parish Precept and any amounts of special items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area divided the local tax base. (Band D Charges for each Parish)

(f)     Appendix C     being the amounts given by multiplying the amount at (e) above by the number which, in the proportion applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands (Charges for all Bands)

(g)         Appendix D    being the aggregate of the local charges in (f) above and the amounts levied by major precepting authorities. (Total Council Tax charge for each Band in each Parish)

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

APPENDIX B

Local Council Tax at Band D – 2023/24

(Total of the Borough charge plus the named Town or Parish Council)

APPENDIX C

Local Council Tax All Bands – 2023/24

           (Total of the Borough charge plus the named Town or Parish Council)                                                              

It was moved by Councillor Barrow and seconded by Councillor Anthony McKeown that the Council approves the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/24.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.