Agenda item

Cabinet, at its meeting on 1 February 2017, considered a report on the council’s revenue budget to 2017/18 and capital programme to 2021/22.

The budget report presented to Cabinet on 1 February 2017 recommended a revenue budget for 2017/18 that included a proposed £5 increase to the current band “D” council tax of £111.24, resulting in a band “D” council tax for 2017/18 of £116.24.  However, at the meeting, Cabinet agreed to recommend a budget with no increase in council tax.

This decision changes some of the numbers quoted in the Cabinet report, and also Appendix A.1, Appendix C and Appendix F.  Revised copies of these appendices are attached to the Council agenda. These should be read in conjunction with the original report.  The addendum, also attached to the Council agenda, sets out the impact of the change on the report considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 1 February 2017.

Cabinet resolved to agree that the Cabinet member for finance, in conjunction with the head of finance, may make minor adjustments to the report and prudential indicators should they prove necessary prior to submission to Council. Any adjustments will be reported to Council.

The report of the head of finance, which Cabinet considered on 1 February 2017, and the revised appendices A1, C and F are attached.

The Scrutiny Committee will consider this report at its meeting on 9 February 2017. Any views or recommendations will be reported to Council.

RECOMMENDATION: to

1.         set the revenue budget for 2017/18, as set out in the revised appendix A.1 attached to the Council agenda; 

2.         agree that the capital schemes listed in paragraph 33 to the report remain in the capital programme; 

3.         approve the capital programme for 2017/18 to 2021/22, as set out in appendix D.1 to the report, together with the capital growth bids, set out in appendix D.2 of the report; 

4.         set the council’s prudential limits, as listed in appendix E to the report; 

5.         approve the medium term financial plan to 2021/22, as set out in the revised appendix F attached to the Council agenda;  

6.         allocate £1,000,000 to fund the Communities Capital and Revenue Grant Scheme. 

The Chairman referred to regulations that require 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 he 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 officeron the robustness of the budget estimates and the adequacy of the reserves.

Mrs Murphy, Cabinet member for finance, presented the Cabinet’s proposals for the revenue budget 2017/18 and capital programme to 2021/22. On behalf of the council she thanked officers for their part in continuing to control costs and in preparing the draft budget.

Mrs Murphy moved and Mr Hall seconded a motion to approve Cabinet’s recommendations as follows:

That Council:

1.    sets the revenue budget for 2017/18 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance's report to Cabinet on 1 February 2017;

2.    agrees that the capital schemes listed in paragraph 33 of the head of finance’s report remain in the capital programme

3.    approves the capital programme for 2017/18 to 2021/22 as set out in appendix D.1, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 to the head of finance’s report;

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

5.    approves the medium term financial plan to 2021/22 as set out in appendix F to the head of finance's report;

6.    allocates £1,000,000 to fund the Communities Capital and Revenue Grant Scheme.

Mr Turner moved and Mr Gawrysiak seconded an amendment to the above budget in the following terms:

“That the ongoing revenue savings proposal “Reduction in funding to Thames Valley Police” of £99,190 shown in Appendix B.2 on page 99 not be taken”.

Those councillors who spoke in support of the amendment stated that if Thames Valley Police (TVP) were unable to bridge the gap in funding there could be a reduction in the number of Police Community Support Officers (PCSO). This could have an adverse impact on the feelings of safety for elderly and vulnerable people particularly in rural areas where the PCSOs have had a positive impact particularly on youth crime and disturbance.

However, the majority of councillors were of the view that responsibility for funding PCSOs was a matter for TVP. In addition the nature of policing was changing with resources diverted to other means of tackling crime.

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

lost with the votes recorded as follows (Mr Service had left the meeting prior to the vote):

Mr Turner moved and Mr Gawrysiak seconded an amendment to the above budget in the following terms:

“That an ongoing revenue growth bid for the sum of £24,147 for “air quality” be added to the budget”. 

Those councillors who spoke in support of the amendment expressed the view that the growth bid would be used to fund an education programme to encourage residents to take action and change their behaviours to improve air quality by reducing harmful emissions.  

The majority of councillors referred to the current work being undertaken by the council to address air quality including the provision of electric car charging points and work on an air quality action plan which would identify measures to reduce harmful emissions.

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

lost with the votes recorded as follows (Mr Nimmo-Smith had left the meeting prior to the vote):

Councillors supporting the Cabinet’s budget revenue and capital budget proposals supported the view that the council continued to manage its financial matters sensibly while maintaining services and continuing its capital programme with no increase in this council’s element of the council tax in 2017/18.  Councillors supported additional investment to support the regeneration of Berinsfield, money to help Superfast Broadband reach more communities across the district and councillor ward budgets to support community projects and to help raise further funds for local voluntary and community groups. 

The Chairman called for a recorded vote on the motion whichwas carried with the votes recorded as follows:

RESOLVED: to

1.         set the revenue budget for 2017/18 as set out in appendix A.1 to the head of finance's report to Cabinet on 1 February 2017;

2.         agree that the capital schemes listed in paragraph 33 of the head of finance’s report remain in the capital programme

3.         approve the capital programme for 2017/18 to 2021/22 as set out in appendix D.1, together with the capital growth bids set out in appendix D.2 to the head of finance’s report;

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

5.         approve the medium term financial plan to 2021/22 as set out in appendix F to the head of finance's report;

6.         allocate £1,000,000 to fund the Communities Capital and Revenue Grant Scheme.