Agenda item

HC 75/22         

The Hub Committee was presented with a report that outlined a series of draft revenue and capital budget proposals for 2023/24.

In discussion, the following points were raised:

(a)   In respect of the request from the Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) regarding the Princetown Visitor Centre (paragraph 3.23 of the published agenda report refers), the Committee was supportive of contributing £78,500 to ensure that the facility was kept open during the summer months.  However, for clarity, an addition to that part of the recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED that read as follows:

‘with the proviso that this Funding be used to ensure that the Visitor Centre at Princetown is kept open until at least 30 September 2023.’

When put to the vote, the addition was declared CARRIED;

(b)   A Member felt that the reductions in car parking income could no longer be attributed to the COVID pandemic but was now more likely as a result of changing shopping habits which were to the detriment of the high street;

(c)   The Committee made reference to the conclusions reached by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee whereby, in recognition of increasing inflationary costs, the annual subscription for the Garden Waste Collection service should be increased to £52 per year (i.e. £1 per week). 

In discussion, it was apparent that, whilst recognising the cost of living crisis, there was support amongst the Committee for this recommendation and a revised recommendation was PROPOSED and SECONDED and when put to the vote declared CARRIED.

In response to a question and, in light of similar views being expressed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, it was agreed that clarity would be sought outside of this meeting over the ability to advertise and promote the service on collection vehicles;

(d)   At the invitation of the Leader, the Section 151 Officer set out the reasons behind the recommendation for the dormant company (Servaco) being closed down and Members proceeded to express their support for this proposal.

It was then:

RESOLVED

That Council be RECOMMENDED:

i)     to increase Council Tax for 2023/24 by £7.37 (a 2.99% increase)  (This would equate to a Band D council tax of £254.00 for 2023/24, an increase of 14 pence per week or £7.37 per year);

ii)    to approve the financial pressures (as shown in Appendix A of the presented agenda report) of £1,928,800;

iii)    to approve the net contributions to/(from) Earmarked Reserves of £(45,567) (as shown in Appendix A of the published agenda report), including the proposed use of £150,000 from the Business Rates Retention Earmarked Reserve (as set out in paragraph 3.17 of the presented agenda report);

iv)   to use £150,000 of New Homes Bonus funding in 2023/24 to fund the Revenue Base Budget (as set out in paragraph 3.22 of the presented agenda report) and to allocate £78,500 of New Homes Bonus funding to the Dartmoor National Park Authority (as set out in paragraph 3.23 of the presented agenda report), with the proviso that this Funding be used to ensure that the Visitor Centre at Princetown is kept open until at least 30 September 2023;

v)    to approve the savings of £1,110,500 (as set out at Appendix A of the presented agenda report);

vi)   to approve the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s recommendation on the increase in the garden waste subscription charge from April 2023, (for the sum of £52.00 per annum) as set out in paragraph 5.3 and Appendix F of the presented agenda report;

vii) to approve the proposed Capital Programme Proposals for 2023/24 of £910,000 and the proposed financing of the Capital Programme (as set out in Appendix D of the published agenda report) (being £700,000 from the Better Care Fund funding from Devon County Council, £160,000 from New Homes Bonus funding and £50,000 revenue funding from the Vehicles and Plant Earmarked Reserve);

viii) that Unearmarked Reserves should continue to have a minimum level of £900,000 (as set in the Medium Term Financial Strategy in September 2022), but an operating level of a minimum of £1.25million; and

ix)   that, with effect from 31 March 2023, the Servaco dormant company (which the Council jointly owns with South Hams District Council), be closed down.