Members considered a report that asked for
their views on the content of the draft Revenue Budget Proposals
report for 2020-21.
In
discussion, particular reference was made to:-
(a)
a Community Transport scheme being developed in
Kingsbridge. Whilst there had been no
requests made for funding for 2020-21, if such a scheme was
developed in Kingsbridge, then representatives would be encouraged
to submit a request to the Council that would be considered during
the 2021-22 draft budget setting process;
(b)
Employment Estates Income of
£25,000. A Member sought
confirmation that this income was for the Ermington Business Units. In reply, officers confirmed that this was the
case;
(c)
the budget pressure derived from Housing Benefit Overpayment
recoveries. When questioned, the
Section 151 Officer confirmed that, as a consequence of the
Universal Credit scheme and the Department of Work and Pensions
Real Time Information Referrals, there were now fewer Overpayments
being generated in real time and this had created a budget
pressure. However, the Section 151
Officer also confirmed that this budget pressure would have no
detrimental impact on claimants and was purely due to less
Overpayments being generated;
(d)
the Marine Infrastructure Reserve.
Officers confirmed that the delay in the Batson project would
result in the allocated £68,000 being retained within the
Marine Infrastructure Reserve;
(e)
an alternative set of Revenue Budget recommendations
were PROPOSED and SECONDED as follows:-
‘1.
That a fund of £400,000 be set up for Emergency Climate
Change projects in order to give effect to the Action Plan being
produced by the Council. It is proposed
that part of the fund be open to bids from Community Groups with
proposals for Climate Change projects.
The mechanism for providing such funds to be established as well as
the extent of the expenditure by the Council and that awarded to
Community Groups;
2. That car
parking charges for all car parks be frozen (cost
£80,000);
3. That the
budget gap of £51,543 be closed.
(NB. the total additional expenditure of the above
points 1, 2 and 3 is £531,543).
This additional expenditure to be funded
from:
1.
The anticipated income from planning
fees being increased by £75,000;
2.
The anticipated income for car parking
fees being increased by £50,000;
3.
That an additional sum of £406,543
be used from the New Homes Bonus fund,
(NB. the total of the above to support the
additional expenditure is £531,543).
In respect of Partnership Funding, the £10,000
being sought by the South Hams Community and Voluntary Service
(CVS) be reinstated. (There is already
£7,000 to cover this expenditure in the budget and it is
proposed that the remaining balance of £3,000 be taken from
the remainder of the unallocated New Homes Bonus; and
As to the remainder of the unallocated New Homes
Bonus (totalling £289,616), it is proposed that this funding
be earmarked as a contribution towards a reduction in the funding
gap for 2021/22.
The meeting proceeded to consider each aspect of the
alternative budget proposals as follows:
Emergency
Climate ...
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