Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) setting out the proposals for approval of the 2018/19 budgets for revenue (General Fund and Housing Revenue Account) and capital and also asking the Council to approve the Borough element of the Council Tax for 2018/19 (final approval would be sought at the special Council meeting on 21 February 2018).

Report of the Executive Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) setting out the proposals for approval of the 2018/19 budgets for revenue (General Fund and Housing Revenue Account) and capital and also asking the Council to approve the Borough element of the Council Tax for 2018/19 with final approval being sought at the special Council meeting on 21 February 2018.

 

It was moved by Councillor D.Bell and seconded by Councillor J.Dean that the recommendations in the report of the Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) be approved.

 

Amendment One

 

An amendment to the recommendations was moved by Councillor J.Broach and seconded by Councillor K.Thorpe:-

 

“This Council is aware of chronic parking problems in Welwyn Hatfield. This Council accepts that the Parking Services team does not have the resources to address these problems in a timely manner and that some of the most severe areas affected are years away from being looked at.

 

This Council therefore agrees to allocate a further £100,000 from the £8M unallocated general reserves, to enable two additional staff members on a fixed term contract to bolster the Parking Services team and address serious parking issues in Welwyn Hatfield.”

 

On being put to the meeting there voted:-

 

FOR the amendment – 42

ABSTENTION – 1

 

and the amendment was declared CARRIED.

 

Amendment Two

 

An amendment to the recommendations, as amended, was moved by Councillor S.Roberts and seconded by Councillor H.Beckett:-

 

“In the event of an underspend on the Splashlands development that underspend will be ring fenced to be used to improve the infrastructure in our parks and playgrounds. The King George V playing fields which has suffered from a serious lack of investment, should be given priority.”

 

On being put to the meeting there voted:-

 

FOR the amendment – 19

AGAINST the amendment – 24

 

and the amendment was declared LOST.

 

Amendment Three

 

An amendment to the recommendations, as amended, was moved by Councillor M.Cowan and seconded by Councillor P.Zukowskyj:-

 

“This Council, being concerned about the standards of litter picking, recycling bin emptying, verge and tree maintenance and dealing with rats, resolves to bring forward proposals within the next four months to improve performance in these areas, setting up and using an earmarked reserve created from General Fund reserves, and to form an all-party group to agree objectives and oversee this process.”

 

On being put to the meeting there voted:-

 

FOR the amendment – 19

AGAINST the amendment – 24

 

and the amendment was declared LOST.

 

Amendment Four

 

An amendment to the recommendations, as amended, was moved by Councillor M.Cowan and seconded by Councillor P.Zukowskyj:-

 

“This Council resolves to pursue a more aggressive policy towards disposal of non-operational land and property in order to support the capital programme in 2018/19 and beyond.”

 

On being put to the meeting there voted:-

 

FOR the amendment – 5

AGAINST the amendment – 38

 

and the amendment was declared LOST.

 

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

 

RESOLVED:

(24 voting for, 19 against)

 

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

 

Voting AGAINST: T.Bailey. H.Beckett, M.Birleson, J.Broach, A.Chesterman, L.Chesterman. M.Cook, M.Cowan, S.Elam, G.Hayes, M.Holloway, M.Larkins, T.Lyons, H.Quenet, S.Roberts, P.Shah, K.Thorpe, J.Weston, P.Zukowskyj

 

RESOLVED:

 

(1)     That the Council notes the recommendations from the Cabinet and the Statement of the Chief Financial Officer on the robustness of budgets and adequacy of reserves (Appendix N).

 

(2)     That the Council also notes the following amounts for the year 2018/19 have been set in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31A and 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 and agreed by the Cabinet on 9 January 2018.

 

(1)     That the 2018/19 taxbase is 41,363.2, which has incorporated an overall collection rate of 99.40% (the in-year target remained at 97.7%).

 

(2)     That in accordance with the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 2012, the amount calculated by the Borough Council as its taxbase for the year 2018/19 shall be 41,363.2 and its constituent elements shall be:

 

	100% TAXBASE	99.40% TAXBASE
Welwyn Garden City	16,901.5	16,800.1
Hatfield	11,507.7	11,438.7
Welwyn	4,622.8	4,595.1
Ayot St Lawrence	70.8	70.4
Ayot St Peter	115.1	114.4
North Mymms	4,367.1	4,340.9
Essendon	433.2	430.6
Northaw & Cuffley	3,059.7	3,041.3
Woolmer Green	534.9	531.7
Total	41,612.8	41,363.2

 

(3)     That the Council approves the following budget proposals:

 

(1)     General Fund

 

(1.1)    The General Fund Budget as summarised in Appendix A and detailed in Appendix B.

 

(1.2)    The savings and growth proposals as detailed in Appendices C and D.

 

(1.3)    The 2018/19 fees and charges which have been incorporated into the budget proposals, as set out in Appendix E.

 

(1.4)    The increase in the Council’s Band D Tax of £5.00 (2.48%), taking the average Band D Tax to £206.61 for 2018/19.

 

(1.5)    The Special Expenses Scheme as set out in section 3.6 of the report to continue into 2018/19, and the Special Expenses detailed in Appendix O be approved for inclusion in setting the Council Tax for 2018/19.

 

(1.6)    The allocation of a further £100,000 from the £8M unallocated general reserves, to enable two additional staff members on a fixed term contract to bolster the Parking Services team and address serious parking issues in Welwyn Hatfield.

 

(2)     Housing Revenue Account (HRA)

        

(2.1)    That dwelling rents are reduced by 1% in accordance with Government legislation, resulting in an average rent of £104.42 per week (based on a 52 week year).

 

(2.2)    The continuation of the policy charge formula rent minus 1% when vacant properties are re-let.

 

(2.3)    The HRA budget for 2018/19 as shown in Appendix F.

 

(2.4)    The 2018/19 fees and charges which have been incorporated into the budget proposals, as set out in Appendix H.

 

(2.5)    The change to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) to maintain HRA working balances of between 5% and 10% of income.

 

(3)     Capital Programme

 

(3.1)    The Capital Programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23 as set out in Appendix I.

 

(3.2)    The capital financing for the Capital Programme for 2018/19 to 2022/23 as set out in Appendix J.

 

(4)     Medium Term Financial Strategy

 

(4.1)    The Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2018/19 – 2020/21 as set out in Appendix L.

 

(5)     Treasury Management Strategy

 

(5.1)    The approval of the Treasury Management Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Policy for 2018/19 as set out in Appendix M.