It was moved by Councillor Cox, seconded by Councillor Mrs Gooch, that the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee relating to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2021/22 be approved.

Amendment moved by Councillor Perry, seconded by Councillor D Burton, that the recommendations of the Policy and Resources Committee relating to the Medium Term Financial Strategy and the Budget Proposals 2021/22 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendations 3, 5, 7 and 9:

1.  That the budget for Planning Policy be increased by £139,000 in 2021/22 to fund further work on the Local Plan Review.

2.  That the transfer to Earmarked Reserves for capital funding be reduced by £139,000 in respect of Lower Tier Services Grant receivable in 2021/22.

3.  That ongoing annual revenue costs of the capital programme be increased by £5,560 to reflect the consequent increased borrowing costs.

4.  That the annual contingency budget be reduced by £5,560 to fund the additional borrowing costs.

As a consequence of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a named vote was taken on the amendment as follows:

FOR (21)

Councillors Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, D Burton, M Burton,

Chappell-Tay, Cuming, Fort, Garland, Garten, Hinder, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Powell, Purle, Mrs Ring, D Rose, Round, Spooner, Springett and Young

AGAINST (26)

Councillors Adkinson, Clark, Cox, Daley, English, Fermor, Fissenden,

Mrs Gooch, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Harvey, Harwood, Hastie, Mrs Joy, Khadka, Kimmance, Lewins, Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Mrs Roberson, J Sams,

T Sams, Vizzard, Webb and Wilby

Abstentions (2)

Councillors McKay and M Rose

AMENDMENT LOST

The original motion was then put to the vote.

As a consequence of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a named vote was taken on the original motion as follows:

FOR (23)

Councillors Adkinson, Clark, Cox, Daley, English, Fermor, Fissenden,

Mrs Gooch, Mrs Grigg, Harvey, Harwood, Hastie, Mrs Joy, Khadka, Kimmance, Lewins, Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Mrs Robertson, Vizzard, Webb and Wilby

AGAINST (22)

Councillors Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, D Burton, M Burton,

Chappell-Tay, Fort, Garland, Garten, Hinder, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Powell, Purle, Mrs Ring, D Rose, Round, J Sams, T Sams, Spooner, Springett and Young

ABSTENTIONS (4)

Councillors Cuming, Harper, McKay and M Rose

ORIGINAL MOTION CARRIED

RESOLVED:

1.  That the revised Revenue Estimates for 2020/21, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed.

2.  That the minimum level of General Fund Balances be set at £4 million.

3.  That the Strategic Revenue Projection, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be endorsed as the basis for future financial planning. 

4.  That the proposed Council Tax of £270.90 at Band D for 2021/22 be agreed. 

5.  That the Revenue Estimates for 2021/22 set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee be agreed. 

6.  That the Statement of Earmarked Reserves and General Fund Balances, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed. 

7.  That the funding of the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed. 

8.  That the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed. 

9.  That the Treasury Management, Investment and Capital Strategies, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed.

10.  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Policy and Resources Committee, be agreed.

11.  That it be noted that the Council’s Council Tax base for the year 2021/22 has been calculated as 63,550.1 in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992. 

12.  That it be noted that in accordance with Government guidance the yield from business rates has been calculated as £57,743,359. 

13.  That it be noted that the individual parish area tax bases set out in Appendix B are calculated in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations and are the amounts of the Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of the Council’s area to which a special item relates. 

14.  That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2021/22 (excluding Parish precepts) is £17,215,722. 

15.  That the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for the year 2021/22 in accordance with Section 32-36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:- 

16.  That it be noted that for the year 2021/22 Kent County Council, the Kent Police & Crime Commissioner and the Kent & Medway Fire & Rescue Authority have stated the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:- 

17.  That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 15(d) and 16 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets out in Appendix C, the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2021/22 for each of the categories of dwellings shown.

Note:

Councillor Garland joined the meeting prior to consideration of this item (7.50 p.m.).

Councillors Parfitt-Reid and Wilby left the meeting after consideration of this item (8.45 p.m.).

Councillor Hastie left the meeting after consideration of this item but returned during consideration of the motion relating to the Maidstone Cycle Campaign Forum (9.15 p.m.).