59/22
The Council was
presented with a report that outlined the recommendations of the
Executive in respect of a series of draft revenue and capital
budget proposals for 2023/24 (Minute E.69/22 refers)
In debate, the
following points were raised:
a)
A number of Members expressed their support for the
Council’s approach to the Budget setting process and the
collaborative cross-party working that had resulted in the draft
Budget proposals that had been presented to this
meeting. By way of an example, Members
particularly welcomed the fact that the two recommendations that
had been generated by the Budget Advisory Committee (relating to
Council owned public conveniences and an additional Tree Officer)
had been taken forward;
b)
There was widespread disappointment stated amongst
Members that an increase in Council Tax was necessary. In addition, there were calls for Central
Government to provide increased grant funding to local authorities
and for a fairer system of taxation to be employed;
c)
It was highlighted that the proposed increase
recommended within the published agenda report represented only the
District Council’s share of the forthcoming year’s
Council Tax billing and that increases could also be expected from
Devon County Council, the Police and Fire Authorities and local
Town and Parish Councils.
In line with
statutory requirements, a recorded vote was then undertaken on part
(i) of the substantive
motion. The voting was recorded as
follows:
For the
motion (21):- Cllrs Austen,
Bastone, Brown, Chown, Foss, Hawkins, Hodgson, Holway, Hopwood, Jones, Long, McKay, Pearce,
Pennington, Pringle, Reeve, Rose, Rowe, Smerdon, Spencer and Taylor.
Against the
motion (6):- Cllrs Abbott, Baldry, Brazil, O’Callaghan,
Pannell and Thomas.
Abstentions (0):
Absent
(4):
Cllrs Birch, Jackson, Kemp and Sweett
and the
vote on part (i) of the motion was therefore declared CARRIED.
In line with
statutory requirements, a recorded vote was then undertaken on
parts (ii) to (xi) of the motion. The
voting was recorded as follows:
For the
motion (27): Cllrs
Abbott, Austen, Baldry, Bastone,
Brazil, Brown, Chown, Foss, Hawkins,
Hodgson, Holway, Hopwood, Jones, Long,
McKay, O’Callaghan, Pannell, Pearce, Pennington, Pringle,
Reeve, Rose, Rowe, Smerdon, Spencer,
Taylor and Thomas
Against
the motion (0):
Abstentions (0):
Absent
(4):
Cllrs Birch, Jackson, Kemp and Sweett
and the
vote on parts (ii) to (xi) of the
substantive motion was therefore declared CARRIED.
It was then:
RESOLVED
i)
That Council
Tax for 2023/24 be increased by £5 (Band D of £185.42
for 2023/24 – an increase equivalent to less than 10 pence
per week or £5 per year – equating to a 2.77%
increase). This equates to a Council Tax Requirement of
£7,407,344;
ii) That the financial
pressures (as shown in Appendix A of the presented agenda report
and amounting to £4,107,700) be approved;
iii)
That the net contributions from Earmarked Reserves of
(£412,000) as shown in Appendix D of the presented agenda
report, including the proposed use of £500,000 of New Homes
Bonus funding to fund the 2023/24 Revenue Budget as set out in
section 3.23 of the agenda report presented to the Executive
meeting of 26 January 2023 and £400,000 from the Business
Rates Retention Earmarked Reserve (as set out in section 3.17 of
the published Executive report of 26 January 2023) be
approved;
iv) That the
savings/additional income of £2,422,000 (as shown in Appendix
A of the presented agenda report) be approved;
v)
That the take up of the ‘stepped pension contribution
rates’ being offered by the actuaries of the Devon Pension
Fund, following the results of the Triennial Pension Revaluation
(as set out in section 3.24 of the presented agenda report to the
Executive meeting of 26 January 2023) be approved;
vi) That the
Council’s total net expenditure for 2023/24 be set at
£11,738,067 (as set out in Appendix B of the presented agenda
report);
vii) That the proposed Capital Programme Proposals
for 2023/24 of £2,035,000 and the proposed financing of the
Capital Programme (as set out in Appendix E of the presented agenda
report) be approved
viii) That Unearmarked
Reserves continue to have a minimum level of £1.5 million (as
set out in the adopted Medium Term Financial Strategy, Minute CM
52/22(c) refers), but an operating level of a minimum of £2
million;
ix) That, in
line with the requirement of Part 2 of the Local Government Act
2003, the level of reserves and the assessment of their adequacy
and the robustness of budget estimates be noted;
x)
That the setting of fees and charges for the Dartmouth Lower Ferry
(applicable for 2023/2024) be delegated to the Director of Place
and Enterprise, in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the
Executive Member for Assets and the Section 151 Officer;
and
xi) that
£10,700 of New Homes Bonus funding be allocated to the
Dartmoor National Park Authority for the delivery of housing growth
within its area over the past three years.