Agenda item

Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2023/24, the Revenue Budget for 2023/24 and Council Tax for 2023/24

 

The recommendation at pages 23 to 24 of the report (pages 14032 to 14034 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.

 

An amendment was moved by County Councillor Liz Colling and seconded by County Councillor Steve Shaw-Wright that the proposed £450,000 reduction in the Domestic Violence Budget be deferred and the money used to assist in the provision of services to support victims of domestic violence.

 

There followed a debate.

 

A named vote was taken by roll call and the motion was declared defeated 38 for, 48 against and no abstentions.

 

For:  County Councillors Chris Aldred, Joy Andrews, Phillip Barrett, Philip Broadbank, Eric Broadbent, Barbara Brodigan, Andy Brown, Lindsay Burr MBE, Liz Colling, Sam Cross, Melanie Davis, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Stephanie Duckett, Kevin Foster,  Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Janet Jefferson, Pat Marsh, Steve Mason, Rich Maw, John McCartney, Andrew Murday, David Noland, Bob Packham, Stuart Parsons, Kirsty Poskitt, Jack Proud, John Ritchie, Mike Schofield, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Monika Slater, Andy Solloway, Neil Swannick, Malcom Taylor, Matt Walker, Arnold Warneken, Dave Whitfield.

 

Against:  County Councillors Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Derek Bastiman, Nick Brown, John Cattanach, David Chance, Mark Crane, Gareth Dadd, Caroline Dickinson, Keane Duncan, Bridget Fortune, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, Nathan Hull, David Ireton, George Jabbour, David Jeffels, Tom Jones, Mike Jordan, Nigel Knapton, Andrew Lee, Carl Les, Cliff Lunn, John Mann, Heather Moorhouse, Simon Myers, Andy Paraskos, Yvonne Peacock, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, Janet Sanderson, Karin Sedgwick, David Staveley, Roberta Swiers, Angus Thompson, Philip Trumper, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson, Andrew Williams and Robert Windass.

 

Abstentions:  None.

 

An amendment was moved by County Councillor Matt Walker and seconded by County Councillor Bryn Griffiths that an additional £1million be set aside from reserves on a one-off basis for environmental projects and to supplement existing pump-priming funding and to undertake feasibility study work to help build business cases for projects which lead to net zero.

 

There followed a debate.

 

County Councillor Andrew Williams moved that the vote be taken now.  This was seconded.  The vote was taken and the motion was declared carried with 77 for, 10 against and no abstentions.

 

A named vote was taken by roll call on the amendment regarding funding for environmental projects.  The motion was declared defeated with 30 for, 53 against and 4 abstentions.

 

For:  County Councillors Chris Aldred, Joy Andrews, Philip Broadbank, Eric Broadbent, Barbara Brodigan, Lindsay Burr MBE, Liz Colling, Melanie Davis, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Stephanie Duckett, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Pat Marsh, Steve Mason, Rich Maw, John McCartney, Andrew Murday, David Noland, Bob Packham, Stuart Parsons, Jack Proud, John Ritchie, Mike Schofield, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Monika Slater, Neil Swannick, Matt Walker, Arnold Warneken, Dave Whitfield.

 

Against:  County Councillors Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Philip Barrett, Derek Bastiman, Nick Brown, John Cattanach, David Chance, Mark Crane, Gareth Dadd, Caroline Dickinson, Keane Duncan, Bridget Fortune, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, Nathan Hull, David Ireton, George Jabbour, David Jeffels, Janet Jefferson, Tom Jones, Mike Jordan, Nigel Knapton, Andrew Lee, Carl Les, Cliff Lunn, John Mann, Heather Moorhouse, Simon Myers, Andy Paraskos, Yvonne Peacock, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, Kirsty Poskitt, Janet Sanderson, Karin Sedgwick, David Staveley, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Philip Trumper, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson, Andrew Williams and Robert Windass.

 

Abstentions: County Councillors Andy Brown, Sam Cross, Kevin Foster and Andy Solloway.

 

At 12:55pm, the Chairman then adjourned the meeting for lunch.

 

The meeting was re-convened at 1:45pm.

 

A named vote was taken by roll call on the substantive motion, the recommendations at pages 23 to 23 of the report, and declared carried with 66 for, 4 against and 17 abstentions. 

 

For:  County Councillors Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Philip Barrett, Derek Bastiman, Eric Broadbent, Nick Brown, John Cattanach, David Chance, Liz Colling, Mark Crane, Sam Cross, Gareth Dadd, Melanie Davis, Caroline Dickinson, Stephanie Duckett, Keane Duncan, Bridget Fortune, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, Nathan Hull, David Ireton, George Jabbour, David Jeffels, Tom Jones, Mike Jordan, Nigel Knapton, Andrew Lee, Carl Les, Cliff Lunn, John Mann, Rich Maw, Heather Moorhouse, Simon Myers, Bob Packham, Andy Paraskos, Yvonne Peacock, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, Kirsty Poskitt, Jack Proud, Janet Sanderson, Karin Sedgwick, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Andy Solloway, David Staveley, Neil Swannick, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Philip Trumper, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Davie Whitfield, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson, Andrew Williams and Robert Windass.

 

Against:  County Councillors Lindsay Burr MBE, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, John McCartney and Stuart Parsons.

 

Abstentions: County Councillors Chris Aldred, Joy Andrews, Philip Broadbank, Barbara Brodigan, Andy Brown, Kevin Foster, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Janet Jefferson, Pat Marsh, Steve Mason, Andrew Murday, David Noland, Mike Schofield, Monika Slater, Matt Walker and Arnold Warneken.

 

Resolved -

 

That the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2023/24, the Revenue Budget for 2023/24 and Council Tax for 2023/24 be approved and that:

 

a) The Section 25 assurance statement provided by the Corporate Director, Strategic Resources regarding the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of the reserves (paragraph 8.12) and the risk assessment of the MTFS detailed in Section 9 are noted;

 

b) An increase in Council Tax of 4.99% (basic 2.99% and Adult Social Care 2%) resulting in a Band D weighted average charge of £1,759.96 – an increase of £83.64 (paragraph 4.3.8 and Appendix D);

 

c) In accordance with Section 31A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 (as amended by Section 74 of The Localism Act 2011), a Council Tax requirement for 2023/24 of £427,729,811.74 is approved;

 

d) A Net Revenue Budget for 2023/24, after use of reserves, of £623,458k (Section 5.0 and Appendix H) is approved;

 

e) In the event that the level of overall external funding (including from the final Local Government Settlement) results in a variance of less than £5m in 2023/24 then the difference to be addressed by a transfer to / from the Strategic Capacity Unallocated Reserve in line with paragraph 4.2.3 with such changes being made to Appendix F as appropriate.

 

f) The Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Service is authorised, in consultation with the Corporate Director, Strategic Resources and the Executive Members for Schools and Finance, to take the final decision on the allocation of the Schools Budget including High Needs, Early Years and the Central Schools Services Block (paragraph 3.1.16).

 

g) The Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2023/24 to 2025/26, and its caveats, as laid out in Section 3.0 and Appendix G is approved in line with the proposed council tax option.

 

h) The Corporate Director – Environment is authorised, in consultation with the Executive Members for Highways & Transportation and Open for Business, to carry out all necessary actions, including consultation where considered appropriate, to implement the range of savings as set out in Appendix B (ENV1 to 6).

 

i) The Corporate Director – Community Development is authorised, in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning for Growth, to carry out all necessary actions, including consultation where considered appropriate, to implement the range of savings as set out in Appendix B (CDS 1).

 

j) The Corporate Director – Health and Adult Services is authorised, in consultation with the Executive Members for HAS, to carry out all necessary actions, including consultation where he considers it appropriate, to implement the range of savings as set out in Appendix B (HAS 1 to 3).

 

k) The Corporate Director – Children and Young People’s Services is authorised, in consultation with the Executive Members for CYPS, to carry out all necessary actions, including consultation where he considers it appropriate, to implement the range of savings as set out in Appendix B (CYPS 1 to 5).

 

l) The Chief Executive is authorised, in consultation with the Executive Members for Central Services, to carry out all necessary actions, including consultation where he considers it appropriate, to implement the range of savings as set out in Appendix B (CS 1 to 3).

 

m) Any outcomes requiring changes following Recommendations h), i), j), k) and l) above be brought back to the Executive to consider and, where changes are recommended to the existing major policy framework, then such matters to be considered by full Council.

 

n) The proposed policy target for the minimum level of the General Working Balance is £62m in line with Appendix E.

 

o) £900k be provided annually to provide for a Member Locality Budget at £10k per annum per Member as set out in paragraph 4.8.2.

 

p) £50k be provided annually for each Area Constituency Committee to commission works they feel appropriate for their local areas as set out in paragraph 4.8.3 and to delegate authority to the Corporate Director, Community Development in consultation with the Executive Member for Planning for Growth to determine application of the scheme.

 

That the delegation arrangements referred to in Section 11 are agreed and that the Corporate Directors are authorised to implement the Budget proposals contained in this report for their respective service areas and for the Chief Executive in those areas where there are cross-Council proposals.

 

That the introduction of a council tax premium of 100% on second homes following consultation subject to the legislation receiving Royal Assent as currently drafted is confirmed.

 

That Council will have regard to the Public Sector Equality Duty (identified in Section 7 and Appendix J) in approving the Budget proposals contained in this report.

 

Council Tax Resolution Report

 

The recommendation at pages 25 of the report (page 14034 of the Minute Book) was moved and seconded.

 

A named vote was taken by roll call on the amendment regarding funding for environmental projects.  The motion was declared defeated with 87 for, none against and no abstentions.

 

For: County Councillors Chris Aldred, Joy Andrews, Karl Arthur, Alyson Baker, Philip Barrett, Derek Bastiman, Philip Broadbank, Eric Broadbent, Barbara Brodigan, Andy Brown, Nick Brown, Lindsay Burr MBE, John Cattanach, David Chance, Liz Colling, Mark Crane, Sam Cross, Gareth Dadd, Melanie Davis, Caroline Dickinson, Michelle Donohue-Moncrieff, Stephanie Duckett, Keane Duncan, Bridget Fortune, Kevin Foster, Richard Foster, Sam Gibbs, Caroline Goodrick, Hannah Gostlow, Bryn Griffiths, Tim Grogan, Michael Harrison, Paul Haslam, Robert Heseltine, Nathan Hull, David Ireton, George Jabbour, David Jeffels, Janet Jefferson, Tom Jones, Mike Jordan, Nigel Knapton, Andrew Lee, Carl Les, Cliff Lunn, John Mann, Pat Marsh, Steve Mason, Rich Maw, John McCartney, Heather Moorhouse, Andrew Murday, Simon Myers, David Noland, Bob Packham, Andy Paraskos, Stuart Parsons, Yvonne Peacock, Clive Pearson, Heather Phillips, Kirsty Poskitt, Jack Proud, John Ritchie, Janet Sanderson, Mike Schofield, Karin Sedgwick, Subash Sharma, Steve Shaw-Wright, Monika Slater, Andy Solloway, David Staveley, Neil Swannick, Roberta Swiers, Malcolm Taylor, Angus Thompson, Phil Trumper, Matt Walker, Arnold Warneken, Steve Watson, David Webster, John Weighell OBE, Greg White, Dave Whitfield, Annabel Wilkinson, Peter Wilkinson, Andrew Williams and Robert Windass.

 

Against: none.

 

Abstentions: none.

 

Resolved -

 

That the Council Tax Resolution be approved.

 

Capital Five Year Spending Plan and the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24

 

These items were taken as one.  The recommendation regarding the Capital Five Year Spending Plan at page 25 of the report (page 14034 of the Minute Book) and the recommendation regarding the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 at page 25 of the report (page 14034 of the Minute Book) were moved and seconded.

 

The vote was taken and the motion was declared carried, with 87 for, none against and no abstentions.

 

Resolved -

 

That the Capital Five Year Spending Plan be approved:

 

a)         Approve the consolidated Capital Plan summarised at Appendix A;

 

b)         Note the next steps in transitioning to the new unitary council; and

 

c)         Agree that no action be taken at this stage to allocate any additional capital resources (paragraph 6.7).

 

That the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24 be approved:

 

a)         The Treasury Management Strategy Statement at Annex 1, consisting of the Annual Treasury Management Strategy (Section 1), Capital Prudential Indicators (Section 2), Borrowing Strategy (Section 3) and Annual Investment Strategy 2023/24 (Section 4), including in particular;

 

i.          an authorised limit for external debt of £652.1m in 2023/24;

 

ii.         an operational boundary for external debt of £631.1m in 2023/24;

 

iii.         the Prudential and Treasury Indicators based on the Council’s current and indicative spending plans for 2023/24 to 2025/26;

 

iv.        a limit of £60m of the total cash sums available for investment (both in house and externally managed) to be invested in Non-Specified Investments over 365 days;

 

v.         a Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) policy for debt repayment to be charged to Revenue in 2023/24;

 

vi.        the Corporate Director – Strategic Resources to report to the Council if and when necessary during the year on any changes to this Strategy arising from the use of operational leasing, PFI or other innovative methods of funding not previously approved by the Council;

 

b)         The Capital Strategy as attached as Annex 2;

 

c)         The Debt Recovery Policy set out at Annex 3;

 

d)         That the Audit Committee be invited to review Annex 1, 2 and 3 and submit any proposals to the Executive for consideration at the earliest opportunity.