Agenda item

The recommendations in the report, as amended, were then put to the meeting and it was

RESOLVED:

(22 voting FOR and 22 AGAINST with Mayor’s casting vote FOR)

Voting FOR: D.Bell, E.Boulton, J.Boulton, S.Boulton, H.Bower, J.Cragg, B.Fitzsimon, P.Hebden, C.Juggins, S.Kasumu, T.Kingsbury, R.Lass, G.Michaelides, T.Mitchinson, N.Pace, D.Richardson, B.Sarson, P.Smith, F.Thomson, S.Thusu, R.Trigg, S.Wrenn

Voting AGAINST: M.Birleson, J.Caliskan, A.Chesterman, L.Chesterman, M.Cook, M.Cowan, A.Dennis, S.Elam, G.Hayes, M.Holloway, T.Jackson-Mynott, M.Larkins, F.Marsh, L.Musk, H.Quenet, J.Quinton, J.Ranshaw, A.Rohale, P.Shah, J.P.Skoczylas, J.Weston, P.Zukowskyj

(1)   That Council note the recommendations from Cabinet, and the Statement of the Chief Financial Officer on the robustness of budgets and adequacy of reserves (appendix N)

(2)   That Council also note that the following amounts for the year 2021/22 have been set in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31A and 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as agreed by Cabinet on 5 January 2021:

(3)   That Council approve the following budget proposals:

(4)     General Fund

(4.1)  The proposed General Fund Budget as summarised in Appendix A, and detailed in appendix B.

(4.2)  The inclusion of the savings and growth proposals into the budget as detailed in appendices C and D.

(4.3)  The 2021/22 fees and charges which have been incorporated into the budget proposals, as set out in appendix E.

(4.4)  The increase in the Council’s Band D Tax of £4.23 (1.97%), taking the average Band D Tax to £219.15 for 2021/22.

(4.5)  That £610k be added to the Covid-19 earmarked reserve from the 2021/22 budget, the expenditure of which will be delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources. This will be fully funded from the one off Covid-19 Support Grant received from the Government.

(4.6)  That the Special Expenses Scheme as set out in section 3.5 continue into 2021/22, and the Special Expenses detailed in Appendix M be approved for inclusion in the Council Tax for 2021/22.

(4.7)  That up to £25k is added to the parking enforcement budget for 2021/22 and this will be funded from the Strategic Initiative Reserve.  Officers should bring a progress report on how VPO’s are being enforced and how the additional budget is being utilised to a Cabinet Planning and Parking Panel (CPPP) meeting in October/November 2021.

(5)     Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

(5.1)  That dwelling rents are increased by CPI+1% in accordance with Government legislation, resulting in an average rent of £109.01 per week.

(5.2)  To continue the policy of charging formula rent when vacant properties are re-let.

(5.3)  The Housing Revenue Account budget for 2021/22 as shown in appendix F.

(5.4)  The 2021/22 fees and charges which have been incorporated into the budget proposals, as set out in appendix H.

(5.5)  The Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to maintain HRA working balances to a minimum of 5% of rental income.

(6)     Capital Programme

(6.1)  The Capital Programme for 2021/22 to 2025/26 as set out in Appendix I.

(6.2)  The Capital Financing for the Capital Programme, for 2021/22 to 2025/26 as set out in Appendix J, and note the forecast capital balances in Appendix K.

(7)     Medium Term Financial Strategy

(7.1)  The Medium-Term Financial Strategy and Financial Governance Framework, including all annexes and prudential indicators for 2021/22 – 2023/24 as set out in appendix L.