Minutes:
The recommendations in the report were then put to the meeting and it was
RESOLVED
(23 voting FOR and 18 AGAINST)
Voting FOR: D. Bell, J. Boulton, S. Boulton, J. Cragg, B. Fitzsimon, G. Ganney, P. Hebden, A. Hellyer, T. Kingsbury, J. Lake, R. Lass, S. McNamara, G. Michaelides, D. Richardson, B. Sarson, P. Smith, C. Stanbury, F. Thomson, S. Thusu, T. Travell, R. Trigg, S. Tunstall, F. Wachuku
Voting AGAINST: L. Chesterman, A. Dennis, S. Elam, G. Hayes, M. Holloway, T. Jackson – Mynott, A. Rohale, F. Marsh, L. Musk, R. Platt, H. Quenet, J. Quinton, J. Ranshaw, J.P. Skoczylas, P. Shah, K. Thorpe, 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 2022/23 have been set in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31A and 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992:
|
|
100% TAXBASE |
99.40% TAXBASE |
|
|
|
|
|
Welwyn Garden City |
17,853.5 |
17,746.4 |
|
Hatfield |
12,378.2 |
12,303.9 |
|
Welwyn |
4,747.1 |
4,718.6 |
|
Ayot St Lawrence |
70.0 |
69.6 |
|
Ayot St Peter |
113.4 |
112.7 |
|
North Mymms |
4,438.3 |
4,411.7 |
|
Essendon |
431.8 |
429.2 |
|
Northaw & Cuffley |
3,113.5 |
3,094.8 |
|
Woolmer Green |
614.4 |
610.7 |
|
|
|
|
|
TOTAL |
43.760.2 |
43,497.6 |
(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 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 £4.95 (2.26%), taking the average Band D Tax to £224.10 for 2022/23.
(4.5) That £250k be added to the Covid-19 earmarked reserve from the 2022/23 budget, the expenditure of which will be delegated to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Executive Member for Resources. This will be partly funded from the one-off funding received from the Government in 2022/23.
(4.6) That the Special Expenses Scheme as set out in section 3.5 continue into 2022/23, and the Special Expenses detailed in Appendix M be approved for inclusion in the Council Tax for 2022/23.
(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 £113.92 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 as shown in appendix F.
(5.4) The 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 2022/23 to 2026/27 as set out in Appendix I.
(6.2) The Capital Financing for the Capital Programme, for 2022/23 to 2026/27 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 2022/23 – 2024/25 as set out in appendix L.