Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations made.

It was moved by Councillor Anthony McKeown and seconded by Councillor Greenhalgh that the minutes of the meeting of the Council held on 12 December 2024 be approved as a correct record.

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

The Mayor stated that it had been a privilege to meet HRH Princess Anne at a recent engagement an that he would be attending a Royal Garden Party later during the year.  The Mayor also thanked the Deputy Mayor for standing in.

The Leader of the Council explained that many discussions were taking place following the publication of the Devolution/Local Government Reorganisation White paper.  A report would be presented to a future extraordinary meeting of the Council.  Interim options would be submitted to Government 21 March to illustrate the direction of travel. 

Meetings continue to take place for the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) which will consider a report on a growth Commission and the establishment of a transport authority.

A report will be presented to the Corporate Select Committee with regards to the revisit of the Local Government Association Peer Review team.

1.     Question from Councillor Hopkinson to the Leader:

“Will HPBC give detailed reasons for the delays to the Glossop Halls project and an opening date?”

Response from the Leader of the Council:

“I would refer Cllr Hopkinson to the answers which I have given him to his previous Questions to Council on 3rd October 2024 and 12th December 2024 regarding the Glossop Halls – in particular, my December reply, which highlights in detail for him the significant works which have been carried out to these extremely important heritage buildings and the resulting conservation and regulatory issues which these works have presented, which has delayed their completion.

Since my December response, the Council has taken back possession of the Halls following the practical completion of the works in January. Various items still need to be finalised with the Building Control service, with the key item being the extent of the smoke ventilation required to the Market Hall following the issue of the expert Smoke Modelling report, as referred to in my previous answer to you.

The Council’s professional team has responded to all the queries the Building Control service has issued and will be meeting with them again tomorrow.

Good progress has been made in the meantime in agreeing on arrangements for the appointment of the Council’s operating partner for the Halls, Fork & Field Ltd, and following building control approval and the commencement of the fit-out in the Halls, I would expect the likely opening date to be made public shortly.”

In resposne to a supplementary question the Leader of the Council apologised and explained that he thought a previous query had been respsonded to.

2.     Question from Councillor Gourlay to the Executive Councillor for Corporate Services and Finance:

“To what extent are the risks associated with council-owned companies reflected in the documents seen by the Council's Audit Committee?"

Response from the Executive Councillor for Corporate Services and Finance:

“The risks associated with the council-owned companies are reported and reviewed at the company board meetings. The Council’s Audit and Regulatory Committee reviews all the council risks that are categorised as a high risk. These risks include some of the areas covered by the Council-owned companies.”

In response to a supplementary question the Executive Councillor stated that with regards to weedkiller this was used as required by a contract with Derbyshire County Council who believe the type used is fit for purpose.

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

·       Approves the General Fund Budget for 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix A (section 9).

·       Approves the revised Medium-Term Financial Plan (2025/26 to 2028/29) as detailed in Appendix A, including the revised Capital Programmes (attached at Annex A).

·       Approves the Capital Strategy 2025/26 as set out in Appendix B.

·       Approves the proposed Fees and Charges for 2025/26 as detailed in Appendix C.

·       Approves the proposed Procurement Forward Plan for 2025/26, providing the Authority to procure based on procurement activity detailed in Appendix D.

·       Approves a Band D Council Tax of £224.19 for 2025/26 (an increase of £6.51 or 2.99% from 2024/25).

·       HRA charges as follows:

o   All dwellings rents to increase by 2.7%, increasing the average rent from £84.43 to £86.91 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 2.94%)

o   Garage rents to be increased by 5% from £8.68 to £9.11 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 2025/26 charge is based on the previous year’s usage and estimated costs, 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.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Anthony McKeown and seconded by Councillor Barrow that the updated policies be approved.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Cross and seconded by Councillor Matt Taylor that Members note the current Treasury Management position as at the end of the third quarter 2024/25.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Cross and seconded by Councillor Matt Taylor that Council approves the Annual Treasury Management Strategy Statement (TMSS) 2025/26.

When put to the meeting it was RESOLVED accordingly.

It was moved by Councillor Barrow and seconded by Councillor Anthony McKeown that the Council approves the Pay Policy Statement for 2025/26.

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)      £50,635,514   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)      £42,110,980  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)      £8,524,534    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)      £259.35  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)

APPENDIX B

Local Council Tax at Band D – 2025/26

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

APPENDIX C

Local Council Tax All Bands – 2025/26

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