Your Councillors

Before calling upon Councillor Garland to move the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy - Corporate Revenue and Capital Budgets 2011/12 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 Mrs Ring, that the recommendations of the Cabinet relating to the Budget Strategy - Corporate Revenue and Capital Budgets 2011/12 onwards be approved.

Amendment moved by Councillor Ash, seconded by Councillor Garland, that on Page 132 of Appendix A to the Record of Recommendation of the Cabinet, under Revenue Savings 2011/12 in the Leisure and Culture Portfolio, the saving for Parks and Open Spaces – Mote Park Parking of £15,000 be deleted and Parks and Open Spaces – Increased Income from Other Events of £15,000 be inserted.

AMENDMENT CARRIED

Amendment moved by Councillor Mrs Wilson, seconded by Councillor English, that the recommendations of the Cabinet to the Council relating to the Budget Strategy - Corporate Revenue and Capital Budgets 2011/12 onwards, as amended, be approved subject to the following amendments:-

1. That £40,000 be provided from revenue for the continuation of the Disabled Travel Voucher Scheme currently administered through Age Concern to be funded by the removal of £27,320 for Pest Control and the removal of £13,020 for Health Promotion from the Environment Revenue Budget.

2. That £2,000 be diverted from the Gypsy Site Improvements Account in the Regeneration Capital Programme and put towards landscaping and tree planting at the land recently acquired in Chatham Road.

3. That £250,000 be retained in the High Street Regeneration Budget 2011/12 to promote and pursue the business rate option for funding regeneration projects with central government and to complete any survey work that may still be required for the High Street and that £750,000 be diverted to a renewable energy project and £250,000 to the setting up of a green revolving loan.

The Cabinet Member for Environment advised the Council that he did not consider the first amendment to be necessary. A report would be submitted to him in the near future regarding the continuation of the Disabled Travel Voucher Scheme until April 2012 funded from balances.

With the agreement of her seconder, Councillor Mrs Wilson withdrew her first amendment.

The second and third amendments were voted on separately as follows:-

SECOND AMENDMENT CARRIED

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 19.4, five Members of the Council requested that a named vote be taken on the third amendment.

FOR (21)

Councillors Beerling, Chittenden, Daley, English, Field, Ms Griffin, Mrs Joy, Marchant, B Mortimer, D Mortimer, Naghi, Paterson, Pickett,

Mrs Robertson, Robertson, Sams, Sellar, Mrs Smith, Warner, Mrs Wilson and J E Wilson.

AGAINST (28)

Councillors Ash, Barned, Mrs Blackmore, Bradshaw, Brindle, Burton, Butler, Garland, Mrs Gibson, Mrs Gooch, Greer, Hinder, Mrs Hinder, Horne, Hotson (The Mayor), Lusty, Nelson-Gracie, Paine, Mrs Parvin, Parvin, Mrs Ring, Ross, Sherreard, Mrs Stockell, Thick, Verrall, J A ... view the full minutes text for item 128

1. That appropriate recommendations regarding Council Tax and spending levels for 2011/12 be recommended to Council on 2 March 2011 based upon Decisions 2 - 14 below.

2. That the revised revenue estimate for 2010/11, as set out in Appendices A and B of the report of Head of Finance and Customer Services, be agreed.

3. That there are no further budget issues identified in the third quarter budget monitoring report be agreed.

4. That the revenue estimate for 2011/12, as set out in Appendices A and B incorporating the growth and savings items set out in Appendices C and D of the report of Head of Finance and Customer Services, be agreed

5. That to continue to set an appropriate level of working balances for Cabinet’s day to day activities at a level equivalent to the level set in 2010/11 of £2.3m be agreed.

6. That the creation of a budget for the direct financing of capital expenditure from revenue, as an ongoing resource, be agreed.

7. That the use of the additional revenue support grant for the direct financing of capital expenditure from revenue, as a one off resource, be agreed.

8. That the use of the remaining VAT refund for financing of capital expenditure, as a one off resource, be agreed.

9. That the capital programme as option (b) given at Appendix J of the report of Head of Finance and Customer Services, noting that a detailed report on the High Street Regeneration project will be brought to the next meeting of the Cabinet, be agreed.

10. That the funding of the capital programme, as set out in Appendix I of the report of Head of Finance and Customer Services, noting that funding is dependent upon additional capital receipts, capital grants and other contributions in future years, be agreed.

11. That a report be brought to the September 2011 meeting on prioritised uses of future funding available for the capital programme.

12. That the Medium Term Financial Strategy, as set out in Appendix K of the report of Head of Finance and Customer Services and the resultant Financial Projection set out in Appendix F of the report of Head of Finance and Customer Services, be endorsed.

13. That Council Tax be frozen for the year 2011/12.

14. That the minimum level of general fund balances be set at £2m for 2011/12.

15. That the responses (attached as Appendix A) be sent to the Corporate Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee with regard to their reference on the Capital Budget.

DECISION MADE: