Agenda item

Before calling upon Councillor Garland to move the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy 2014/15 onwards, the Mayor reminded Members that, in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 16.4, each Group Leader could speak for up to ten minutes when moving his/her Group’s budget proposals.

It was moved by Councillor Garland, seconded by Councillor J A Wilson, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy 2014/15 onwards be approved.

Councillor Mrs Wilson, the Leader of the Opposition, stated that whilst her Group supported a Council Tax increase of 1.99%, she did not believe that they would support the budget as a whole.

As a consequence of the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, which came into force on 25 February 2014, a named vote was taken on the motion as follows:

FOR (27)

Councillors Ash, Black, Mrs Blackmore, Brindle, Butler, Collins, Cuming, Garland, Mrs Gibson, Mrs Gooch, Greer, Hogg, Hotson, Lusty, McLoughlin, Moss, Nelson-Gracie, Newton, Mrs Parvin, Parvin, Mrs Ring, Ross, Springett, Mrs Stockell, Thick, J A Wilson and Yates

AGAINST (19)

Councillors Chittenden, Cox, Daley, Mrs Grigg, Harwood, Mrs Joy, Mrs Mannering, McKay, Moriarty, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Munford, Naghi, Paterson, Pickett, Mrs Robertson, Vizzard, Warner and Mrs Wilson

ABSTAINED (1)

Councillor English (The Mayor)

MOTION CARRIED

RESOLVED:

1.  That the revised revenue estimates for 2013/14, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet (circulated separately), be agreed.

2.  That the minimum level of General Fund Balances be set at £2m for 2014/15.

3.  That the proposed Council Tax of £231.12 at Band D for 2014/15 be agreed.

4.  That a premium of 50% to the Council Tax charge be introduced on 1^st April 2014 for properties that have been empty and unfurnished for two years.  This to include periods prior to 1^st April 2014 but not payable on charges prior to 1^st April 2014.

5.  That the revenue estimates for 2014/15 incorporating the growth and savings items, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet, be agreed.

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

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

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

9.  That the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet, be agreed.

10.  That the Medium Term Financial Projection, as set out in AppendixA to the report of the Cabinet, be endorsed as the basis for future financial planning.

11.  That it be noted that the Council’s Council Tax Base for the year 2014/15 has been calculated as 55675.1 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 £54,171,300.

13.  That it be noted that, as detailed in Appendix B, the Council Tax Base for each of the Parish Areas, calculated in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, are the amounts of the Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a special item relates (Parish precepts).

14.  That the distribution of Local Council Tax Support funding to Parish Councils, as set out in Appendix C, be approved.

15.  That the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2014/15 (excluding Parish precepts) is £12,867,601.

16.  That the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for the year 2014/15 in accordance with Sections 31A, 31B and 34-36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as amended by the Localism Act 2011:

17.  That it be noted that for the year 2014/15 Kent County Council, the Kent Police and Crime Commissioner and the Kent and Medway Fire and 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:-

18.  That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts at 16 (d), and 17 above, the Council, in accordance with Section 30 (2) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets out in Appendix D, the amounts of Council Tax for the year 2014/15 for each of the categories of dwellings shown.

Note:  Following consideration of this report, there was a short adjournment of the meeting (8.13 p.m. to 8.20 p.m.).