Agenda item

Before calling upon Councillor Mrs Blackmore to move the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy 2015/16 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 Mrs Blackmore, seconded by Councillor McLoughlin, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy 2015/16 onwards be approved.

Amendment moved by Councillor Mrs Wilson, seconded by Councillor Harwood:

That the recommendations of the Cabinet to the Council relating to the Budget Strategy 2015/16 onwards be approved subject to the amendment of recommendation 5 to read:

That the revenue estimates for 2015/16 incorporating the growth and savings items, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet, be agreed with the following amendments:

a)  That recognition of the service growth required to provide new housing is set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy through the provision of a budget of £40,000 to support the new service.  For the budget year 2015/16 funding will be provided from the set aside of the projected under spend for 2014/15 that Cabinet has already approved for such use.  For future budget years 2016/17 onwards this would be resourced from the income generated by the service.

b)  That a sum of £50,000 is set aside from the business rates growth identified in the 2015/16 budget to enable survey and feasibility work to be completed on one or more areas of the town centre that would benefit from regeneration and would provide a catalyst for further regeneration activity in the town.

c)  That 50% of the surplus generated from the litter enforcement activity of the Council be directed into new litter awareness work through a joint arrangement between the waste team and the community development team and that this work be focused on campaigns with school age children and young adults.

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

FOR (22)

Councillors Chittenden, Cox, Daley, English, Mrs Gooch, Mrs Grigg, Harwood, Mrs Joy, Long, Moriarty, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Naghi, Newton, Paterson, Pickett, Mrs Robertson, Sams, Vizzard, B Watson, Willis and Mrs Wilson

AGAINST (19)

Councillors Mrs Blackmore, Burton, Butler, Collins, Cuming, Garland, Greer, Mrs Hinder, Hogg, Paine, Mrs Parvin, Perry, Mrs Ring, Ross, Round, Mrs Stockell, Thick, de Wiggondene and J.A. Wilson

ABSTAINED (8)

Councillors Ash, Black, Ells, Harper, McKay, McLoughlin, Powell and Sargeant

AMENDMENT CARRIED

The substantive 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 substantive motion as follows:

FOR (45)

Councillors Ash, Black, Mrs Blackmore, Burton, Butler, Chittenden, Collins, Cox, Cuming, Daley, Ells, English, Mrs Gooch, Greer, Mrs Grigg, Harper, Mrs Hinder, Mrs Joy, Long, McKay, McLoughlin, Moriarty, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Naghi, Newton, Paine, Mrs Parvin, Paterson, Perry, Pickett, Powell, Mrs Ring, Mrs Robertson, Ross, Round, Sams, Sargeant, Mrs Stockell, Thick, Vizzard, B Watson, de Wiggondene, Willis and

Mrs Wilson

AGAINST (3)

Councillors Garland, Hogg and J.A. Wilson

ABSTAINED (1)

Councillor Harwood

SUBSTANTIVE MOTION CARRIED

RESOLVED:

1.  That the future production of the budget book should be linked to the Council’s priorities as detailed in the Strategic Plan and as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet (circulated separately).

2.  That the revised revenue estimates for 2014/15, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet, be agreed.

3.  That the minimum level of General Fund Balances be set at £2m for 2015/16.

4.  That the proposed Council Tax of £235.71 at Band D for 2015/16 be agreed.

5.  That the revenue estimates for 2015/16 incorporating the growth and savings items, as set out in Appendix A to the report of the Cabinet, be agreed with the following amendments:

a)  That recognition of the service growth required to provide new housing is set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy through the provision of a budget of £40,000 to support the new service.  For the budget year 2015/16 funding will be provided from the set aside of the projected under spend for 2014/15 that Cabinet has already approved for such use.  For future budget years 2016/17 onwards this would be resourced from the income generated by the service.

b)  That a sum of £50,000 is set aside from the business rates growth identified in the 2015/16 budget to enable survey and feasibility work to be completed on one or more areas of the town centre that would benefit from regeneration and would provide a catalyst for further regeneration activity in the town.

c)  That 50% of the surplus generated from the litter enforcement activity of the Council be directed into new litter awareness work through a joint arrangement between the waste team and the community development team and that this work be focused on campaigns with school age children and young adults.

6.  That the Statement of Earmarked Reserves and General Fund 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 Strategic Revenue Projection, as set out in Appendix A 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 2015/16 has been calculated as 56974.3 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 £58,252,075.

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 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 2015/16 (excluding Parish precepts) is £13,429,412.

16.  That the following amounts now be calculated by the Council for the year 2015/16 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 2015/16 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:

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 2015/16 for each of the categories of dwellings shown.

Note:  Councillor Powell left the meeting after consideration of this item.