Agenda and minutes

To receive apologies for absence, if any.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors M.Birleson, L.Brandon, J.Broach, L.Chesterman, S.Roberts and L.Sparks (Deputy Mayor).

To confirm as a correct record the Minutes of the special meeting held on 6 February 2017 (circulated separately).

The Minutes of the special meeting held on 6 February 2017 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Mayor.

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

Councillors M.Cook, M.Cowan, S.Johnston and P.Zukowskyj declared non–pecuniary interests in the item on the Agenda as appropriate as Members of Hertfordshire County Council. 

Report of the Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the Council Tax setting for 2017/18.

Report of the Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on setting the Council Tax for 2017/18 in accordance with statutory requirements.

An amendment to the recommendations was moved by Councillor M.Cowan and seconded by Councillor T.Bailey:-

“That in the interests of transparency and fair comparison, this Council resolves that all publicity it produces relating to the change in Council Tax for 2017/18 must also refer to the new bin charge, and show the total effect on Band D taxpayers ie an increase of £40.00.”

On being put to the meeting there voted:-

FOR the amendment – 15

AGAINST the amendment – 27

and the amendment was declared LOST.

The recommendations were then put to the meeting and it was

RESOLVED:

(27 voting for and 15 against)

Voting FOR: J.Beckerman, D.Bell, D.Bennett, J.Boulton, S.Boulton, H.Bower, H.Bromley, N.Chapman, J.Cragg, I.Dean, J.Dean, B.Fitzsimon, C.Gillett, K.Holman, S.Johnston, T.Kingsbury, M.Levitt, P.Mabbott, S.Markiewicz, G.Michaelides, H.Morgan, N.Pace, M.Perkins, B.Sarson, N.Taylor, F.Thomson, R.Trigg

Voting AGAINST: T.Bailey. R.Basch, H.Beckett, A.Chesterman, M.Cook, M.Cowan, J.Fitzpatrick, G.Hayes, M.Holloway, M.Larkins, H.Quenet, P.Shah, K.Thorpe, J.Weston, P.Zukowskyj

(1)    That it be noted that at the Cabinet and Special Council meeting on 10 January and 6 February 2017 respectively, the following amounts for the year 2017/18 were agreed in accordance with regulations made under Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”).

(a)   The gross 2017/18 Tax base for the District is 41,273.50 equivalent Band D properties before the application of a collection rate.

(b)   40,324.2 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 2017/18; including deductions for council tax support and a collection rate of 97.70%.

(2)    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)    That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2017/18 in accordance with sections 31 - 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992. 

(a)       £151,196,911 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act, taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.

(b)       £141,434,993 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.

(c)       £9,761,918 being the amount by which the aggregate at (3)(a) above exceeds the aggregate at (1)(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

(d)       £242.09 being the amount at (3)(c) above, all divided by the Council tax base at (1)(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year.

(e)       £2,211,946 being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act.

(f)        £187.24 being the amount  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48b