It was moved by Councillor Burton, seconded by Councillor Perry, that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved with the amendment of Table 2 on page 122 of the agenda (Maidstone Borough Council Balance Sheet) as circulated separately.

Amendment moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor Harper, that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendations 5 and 6:

This Council notes that transport around and through the Borough remains far from sustainable and that the current strategy and plans neither meet current needs nor the needs of the future.  The Council therefore requests the formation of a working group to rapidly review options and to identify both short- and long-term options for travel in the Borough.  The Council will allocate £10,000 of reserves for feasibility work on options that are generated.

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

FOR (10)

Councillors Bryant, Cleator, Coates, Harper, Jeffery, Mrs Robertson, Rose, J Sams, T Sams and D Wilkinson

Against (33)

Councillors Bartlett, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, Burton, Cannon, Conyard, Cooke, Cooper, Cox, Forecast, Fort, Garten, Mrs Gooch, Hastie, Hinder, Holmes, Mrs Joy, Kimmance, Knatchbull, McKenna, Munford, Newton, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Russell, Spooner, Springett, R Webb, S Webb, de Wiggondene-Sheppard, T Wilkinson and Young

Abstentions (5)

Councillors Clark, English, Mortimer, Naghi and Wilby

AMENDMENT LOST

Amendment moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor T Sams, that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendation 5:

That the full economic cost of fly tipping be recouped from perpetrators to further increase resources to tackle waste crime.

While the fine for fly tipping is set nationally, the Council can add to this the full cost of enforcement for that incident, e.g. officer time.  This additional charge, namely £15,000 per annum, can be reinvested in prevention.

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

FOR (8)

Councillors Cleator, Coates, Harper, Jeffery, Rose, J Sams, T Sams and

D Wilkinson

AGAINST (34)

Councillors Bartlett, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, Burton, Cannon, Conyard, Cooke, Cooper, Cox, English, Forecast, Fort, Garten, Mrs Gooch, Hastie, Hinder, Holmes, Mrs Joy, Kimmance, Knatchbull, McKenna, Munford, Naghi, Newton, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Russell, Spooner, Springett, R Webb, S Webb, de Wiggondene-Sheppard and Young

ABSTENTIONS (6)

Councillors Bryant, Clark, Mortimer, Mrs Robertson, Wilby and T Wilkinson

AMENDMENT LOST

Note:  Councillors J and T Sams left the meeting after the voting on this amendment (8.00 p.m.).

Amendment moved by Councillor Jeffery, seconded by Councillor Cleator,

that the recommendations of the Executive relating to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Budget Proposals 2023/24 be approved subject to the following changes affecting recommendation 5:

That minimum energy efficiency standards for rented properties (see Energy Efficiency (Private Rented Property) (England and Wales) Regulations 2015) be enforced.  These funds, namely £60,000 per annum, will be used to train insulation fitters.

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

FOR (6)

Councillors Cleator, Coates, Harper, Jeffery, Rose and D Wilkinson

AGAINST (33)

Councillors Bartlett, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, Bryant, Burton, Cannon, Conyard, Cooke, Cooper, Cox, English, Forecast, Fort, Garten,

Mrs Gooch, Hastie, Hinder, Holmes, Mrs Joy, Knatchbull, McKenna, Munford, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Russell, Spooner, Springett, R Webb, S Webb, de Wiggondene-Sheppard, T Wilkinson and Young

ABSTENTIONS (7)

Councillors Clark, Kimmance, Mortimer, Naghi, Newton, Mrs Robertson and Wilby

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 (43)

Councillors Bartlett, Mrs Blackmore, Brice, Brindle, Bryant, Burton, Cleator, Coates, Conyard, Cooke, Cooper, Cox, English, Forecast, Fort, Garten, Mrs Gooch, Harper, Hastie, Hinder, Holmes, Jeffery, Mrs Joy, Knatchbull, Mckenna, Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Newton, Parfitt-Reid, Perry, Mrs Robertson, Rose, Russell, Spooner, Springett, R Webb,

S Webb, de Wiggondene-Sheppard, Wilby, D Wilkinson, T Wilkinson and Young

AGAINST (1)

Councillor Clark

ABSTENTIONS (1)

Councillor Cannon

Note:  Councillor Kimmance left the meeting before the voting on the original motion (8.29 p.m.).

RESOLVED:

1.  That the revised Revenue Estimates for 2022/23, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Executive, be agreed.

2.  That the first £300,000 of 2023/24 unringfenced government grant be allocated for spatial policy and plan-making and a further £400,000 be allocated to increase the salary budget envelope, with the balance transferred to the Housing Investment Fund, to be used to subsidise the Council’s Affordable Housing programme.

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

4.  That the proposed Council Tax of £284.49 Band D for 2023/24 be agreed.

5.  That the Revenue Estimates for 2023/24, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Executive, be agreed.

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

7.  That the funding of the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Executive, be agreed.

8.  That the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Executive, be agreed

9.  That the Treasury Management Strategy, Investment Strategy and Capital Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Executive, be agreed.

10.  That the Medium-Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Executive, be agreed subject to the amendment of Table 2 on page 122 of the agenda (Maidstone Borough Council Balance Sheet) as circulated separately.

11.  That it be noted that the Council’s Council Tax base for the year 2023/24 has been calculated as 67,161.69 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 £60,758,711.

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 2023/24 (excluding Parish precepts) is £19,107,027.

15.  That the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for the year 2023/24 in accordance with Section 32-36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:

a)  £81,470,441 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

b)  £59,646,750 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 32(3) of the Act.

c)  £21,823,691 being the amount by which the aggregate at 15(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 15(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 32(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 32(4) of the Act).

  d)  £324.94 being the amount at 15(c) above (Item R), all divided by the figure stated at 11 above (Item T in the formula in Section 33(1) of the Act), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 33 of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish precepts).

  e)  £2,716,664 being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per the attached Appendix B).

f)  £284.49 being the amount at 15(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 15(e) above by the tax base given in 11 above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no Parish precept relates.

16.  That it be noted that for the year 2023/24 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 2023/24 for each of the categories of dwellings shown.

18.  That the Council agrees in principle to implement with effect from 1 April 2024 the measures in the Regeneration and Levelling-up Bill, subject to Royal Assent being obtained, to reduce the period before charging a Council Tax premium on empty property from two years to one and to charge a Council Tax premium on second homes.

Note:  Councillor de Wiggondene-Sheppard left the meeting at the conclusion of this item (8.45 p.m.).