Agenda item

The chairman referred to regulations which came into force on 25 February 2014 that required councils to record the names of those councillors voting in favour, against or abstaining from any vote on the budget, including amendments, and the council tax. In accordance with the regulations she would call for a named vote on each of these matters at this meeting.

The chairman reminded councillors that they were not entitled to vote on any issue affecting the level or administration of the council tax or other decisions which might affect the making of any such calculation such as the budget, if they were over two months in arrears with their council tax payments. Where such circumstances applied, councillors were under a statutory obligation to disclose the restriction placed on them and refrain from voting at the relevant meeting. No councillor made any such declaration.

Council noted the report of the chief finance officer on the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the reserves.

Mr W Hall, Cabinet member for finance, presented the Cabinet’s proposals for the revenue budget 2015/16 and capital programme to 2019/20.

Mr W Hall moved and Mr J Cotton seconded a motion to approve Cabinet’s recommendations as follows:

That Council:

(a) sets the revenue budget for 2015/16 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance's report to Cabinet on 12 February 2015;

(b) approves the capital programme for 2015/16 to 2019/20 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance's report, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 of this report;

(c) sets the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance's report;

(d) approves the medium term financial plan to 2019/20 as set out in appendix F to the head of finance's report; and

(e) allocates £1,000,000 to fund the Communities Capital Grant Scheme.

Mr D Turner moved and Mrs E Hards seconded an amendment to the above budget in the following terms:

That Council sets the revenue budget and capital programme taking account of the proposed changes as set out in the schedule - "opposition forum budget proposal"(attached to the minute book copy of these minutes). to:

- create a budget to support the introduction of civil parking enforcement

- provide additional funding for the deep street cleansing programme

- freeze council tax.

A number of councillors spoke in support of the amendment. The freeze in council tax would allow the council to build up reserves in anticipation of further cuts to central government funding and the uncertainty surrounding New Homes Bonus funding. The additional funding to the deep cleanse street clean growth bid would increase the coverage of the programme to the benefit of residents across the district. Funding to support the set up costs of civil parking enforcement (CPE) and the ongoing running costs would address the current lack of on street parking enforcement, address congestion caused by illegal parking and improve the quality of life for those residents living in the areas affected mainly near train stations and bus stops.

A number of councillors spoke against the amendment. Freezing the council tax was unnecessary despite the uncertainty in government and New Homes Bonus funding as the council had sufficient reserves and should only charge residents for the cost of the services it provided. The proposed introduction of CPE was not supported by three of the five district councils in Oxfordshire and therefore the cost to the council would increase. It was possible to enforce on street car parking without CPE as successfully evidenced in other areas of the district working in partnership with the police and police community support officers. CPE would make the towns less attractive for visitors and shoppers. Additional funding, above that provided for in the Cabinet’s budget, was not required for the deep cleanse street clean programme because of negotiations with the council’s contractor, Biffa, to provide additional coverage. 

The chairman called for a recorded vote on the amendment which was

lost with the votes recorded as follows:

Councillors supporting the Cabinet’s budget revenue and capital budget proposals expressed the view that it included increased investment in services yet proposed a three per cent council tax reduction.

The chairman called for a recorded vote on the motion which was carried with the votes recorded as follows:

RESOLVED: to

1.    set the revenue budget for 2015/16 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance's report to Cabinet on 12 February 2015;

2.    approve the capital programme for 2015/16 to 2019/20 as set out in appendix D.1 to the head of finance's report, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 of this report;

3.    set the council’s prudential limits as listed in appendix E to the head of finance's report;

4.    approve the medium term financial plan to 2019/20 as set out in appendix F to the head of finance's report; and

5.    allocate £1,000,000 to fund the Communities Capital Grant Scheme.