Agenda item

It was then moved by Councillor G.Hayes and seconded by L.Chesterman:-

“That the Council sets up a £100,000 fund from general reserves for local businesses to apply for in order to make changes to their buildings to facilitate disability access. It is envisaged that such grant funding scheme should be set up during 2019/20, with the funding criteria to be agreed by the appropriate Committee as soon as this budget amendment is approved.”

Following discussion and consultation with Officers, Councillor Hayes accepted a revision to his amendment as follows:-

“That the Council sets up a £100,000 earmarked reserve from general reserves for local businesses to apply for in order to make changes to their buildings to facilitate disability access. It is envisaged that such a grant funding scheme should be set up during 2019/20, with the funding criteria to be agreed by the appropriate Committee and based upon advice by Officers as soon as this budget amendment is approved.”

On being put to the meeting there voted:-

For the Amendment as revised - UNANIMOUS

And the Amendment as revised was declared CARRIED

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

RESOLVED:

(23 voting FOR AND 19 AGAINST)

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

Voting AGAINST: J.Broach, J.Caliskan, A.Chesterman, L.Chesterman, M.Cook, M.Cowan, S.Elam, G.Hayes, M.Holloway, T.Jackson-Mynott, M.Larkins, T.Lyons, L.Musk, H.Quenet, P.Shah, JP.Skoczylas, K.Thorpe, J.Weston, P.Zukowskyj

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

(2)     That the Council also notes that the following amounts for the year 2019/20 have been set in accordance with regulations made under Sections 31A and 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as agreed by the Cabinet on 8 January 2019:

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

(1)           General Fund

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

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

(1.3)      The 2019/20 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 £5.16 (2.5%), taking the average Band D Tax to £211.77 for 2019/20.

(1.5)      The Special Expenses Scheme as set out in section 3.6 of the report continue into 2019/20, and the Special Expenses detailed in Appendix P be approved for inclusion in setting the Council Tax for 2019/20.

(1.6)      That the Council sets up a £100,000 earmarked reserve from general reserves for local businesses to apply for in order to make changes to their buildings to facilitate disability access. It is envisaged that such a grant funding scheme should be set up during 2019/20, with the funding criteria to be agreed by the appropriate Committee and based upon advice by Officers as soon as this budget amendment is approved.

(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 £103.37 per week.

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

(2.3)     The Housing Revenue Account budget for 2019/20 as shown in Appendix F.

(2.4)     The 2019/20 fees and charges which have been incorporated into the budget proposals, as set out in appendix H.

(2.5)     The Medium Term Financial Strategy to maintain Housing Revenue Account working balances to around 5% of rental income.

(3)           Capital Programme

(3.1)     The Capital Programme for 2019/20 to 2023/24 as set out in Appendix I.

(3.2)     The approval of the Capital Financing for the Capital Programme, for 2019/20 to 2023/24 as set out in Appendix J.

(4)           Medium Term Financial Strategy

(4.1)     The Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2019/20 – 2021/22 as set out in Appendix L.

(5)           Treasury Management Strategy

(5.1)     The Treasury Management Strategy for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix M.

(5.2)     The Investment Strategy for 2019/20 as set out in Appendix N.