Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence, if any.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M.Birleson and M.Cook.

Councillor L.Brandon was also not present at the meeting.

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2021 (previously circulated).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 1 February 2021 were confirmed as a correct record and noted by the Mayor.

The hard copies of minutes will be signed by the Mayor as soon as it is reasonably practicable or alternatively, electronic signatures can be arranged after a meeting.

To note declarations of Members’ disclosable pecuniary interests, non-disclosable pecuniary interests and non-pecuniary interests in respect of items on the Agenda.

Councillors S.Boulton, L.Chesterman and P.Zukowskyj declared non-pecuniary interests in items on the Agenda as appropriate as Members of Hertfordshire County Council.

Report of the Chief Executive on setting the Council Tax for 2021/22.

Report of the Chief Executive on setting the Council Tax for 2021/22.

The Council is required under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 to set the Council Tax for its area by no later than 11 March.  The Council has always aimed to approve the budget and Council Tax by February in order to ensure prompt despatch of bills and hence quicker collection of sums due.  The Council approved the 2021/22 budget at its meeting on 1 February and the purpose of this report is to set the Council tax for 2021/22.

It was moved and seconded by Councillors D.Bell and T.Kingsbury and

RESOLVED:

(33 voting FOR and 10 AGAINST and 2 ABSTENTIONS)

Voting FOR: D.Bell, E.Boulton, J.Boulton, S.Boulton, H.Bower, J.Caliskan, M.Cowan, J.Cragg, A.Dennis, S.Elam, B.Fitzsimon, P.Hebden, C.Juggins, S.Kasumu, T.Kingsbury, R.Lass, F.Marsh, S.Markiewicz, G.Michaelides, T.Mitchinson, N.Pace, H.Quenet, J.Quinton, J.Ranshaw, D.Richardson, A.Rohale, B.Sarson, P.Smith, F.Thomson, S.Thusu, R.Trigg, S.Wrenn, P.Zukowskyj

Voting AGAINST: J.Broach, A.Chesterman, L.Chesterman, G.Hayes, M.Holloway, M.Larkins, L.Musk, P.Shah, K.Thorpe, J.Weston

Voting ABSTAIN: T.Jackson-Mynott, J.P.Skoczylas

(1)   That it be noted that the 2021/22 General Fund budget as approved by Council meeting on 1 February is shown in Appendix A.

(2)   That it be noted that at the Cabinet, Special Cabinet and Council meetings on the 5 January, 19 January and 1 February respectively, the following amounts for the year 2021/22 were agreed in accordance with regulations made under Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”).

(a)   The gross 2021/22 Tax base for the Borough is 43,724.7 equivalent Band D properties before the application of a collection rate.

(b)   43,462.4 being the amount calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) (England) Regulations 2012 (the Regulations), as its Council Tax Base for the year 2021/22; including deductions for council tax support and a collection rate of 99.4%.

(c)   Part of the Council's Area being the amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amounts of its Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate;

(3)     In accordance with the statutory legislation the Council is recommended to resolve:

(4)     That the following amounts be calculated by the Council for the year 2021/22 in accordance with sections 31 - 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(a)   £138,141,956 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items  ...  view the full minutes text for item 102.