O&S 70
The Committee considered a report
that sought consideration of the draft Revenue Budget proposals for
2020/21.
During the ensuing debate, the
following points were raised:-
(a)
It was confirmed that the proposal to recruit a temporary Climate
Change Policy Officer would be on a shared (50/50 basis) with South
Hams District Council;
(b)
In respect of the modelling work that was to be undertaken on car
parking fees, it was confirmed that the Council would consult with
its key stakeholders as part of this process. Also, the Leader advised that it was intended that
this modelling would look at sites on a place by place basis;
(c)
With regard to the proposed Economy post, officers advised that it
was intended that one of the key roles of the postholder would be to write and submit bids in
order to obtain external grant funding;
(d)
When questioned, officers gave an assurance that they would
continue to lobby Central Government in order to ensure that
legislation was changed whereby business rates were no longer
payable on public conveniences;
(e)
Members were informed that the result of the 2019 Pension Actuarial
Valuation would also be considered by the Audit Committee at its
meeting on 21 January 2020;
(f)
The Committee discussed the proposal to introduce a premium
planning service and, whilst the intention of the initiative was
recognised, the majority of Members did not feel it appropriate to
introduce it at this present time;
(g)
Before the Council made a final decision to implement a pricing
scheme for the use of the Electric Charging Points that were
situated at Kilworthy Park, Tavistock, the Committee requested that
the current usage of these Points be established. Also, Members asked that an answer be provided as
to whether or not the current Points would need to be replaced in
order to be able to charge users.
It was then:
RESOLVED
That, as
part of the 2020/21 Budget Setting process, the Hub Committee take
into account that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
support:
1.
the proposed increase in Council
Tax for 2020/21 of £5 (Band D of £236.63 for 2020/21
– an increase of 10 pence per week or £5 per year
– equates to a 2.16% increase);
2.
the proposed financial pressures
of £638,500 (as shown in Appendix A of the presented agenda
report);
3.
the proposed contributions to
Earmarked Reserves of £87,500;
4.
the proposed savings of
£535,000 (as shown in Appendix A of the presented agenda
report);
5.
the proposed use of
£200,000 of New Homes Bonus funding to fund the 2020/21
Revenue Budget (as set out in Section 2.20 of the presented agenda
report);
6.
the proposal to maintain the
deficit recovery period of the Pension Deficit at 17 years (as per
Section 2.26 of the presented agenda report);
7.
the inclusion of an Economy post
(to be shared with South Hams District Council) within the staffing
establishment, as set out in Section 1.7 of the presented agenda
report;
8. ...
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70