Agenda item

CM 70/23   

The Council was presented with a report that outlined the recommendations of the Hub Committee in respect of a series of draft revenue and capital budget proposals for 2023/24 (Minute HC 42/23 refers).

During the ensuing discussion, the following points were raised:

(a)      Whilst regrettable, Members highlighted the compound effect that necessitated the need to increase Council Tax by 2.99%.

(b)      A number of Members recorded their thanks to the Section 151 Officer and her finance team for producing such a comprehensive set of budget proposals that would result in the achievement of a balanced budget.

It was then moved by Cllr M Ewings, seconded by Cllr M Renders and, 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 (25): Cllrs Blackman, Bridgewater, Calder, Casbolt, Cunningham, Daniel, Dexter, Edmonds, Elliott, Ewings, Guthrie, Johnson, Jory, Kimber, Mann, Mott, Oxborough, Renders, Saxby, Sellis, Southcott, Squire, Vachon, Wakeham and West

Against the motion (0)

Abstentions (0)

Absent (6):  Cllrs  Ball, Cheadle, Leech, Moody, Viney and Watts

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 (viii) of the motion.  The voting was recorded as follows:

For the motion (25): Cllrs Blackman, Bridgewater, Calder, Casbolt, Cunningham, Daniel, Dexter, Edmonds, Elliott, Ewings, Guthrie, Johnson, Jory, Kimber, Mann, Mott, Oxborough, Renders, Saxby, Sellis, Southcott, Squire, Vachon, Wakeham and West

Against the motion (0).

Abstentions (0).

Absent (6):  Cllrs Ball, Cheadle, Leech, Moody, Viney and Watts

and it was therefore declared CARRIED and “RESOLVED that:

i)     Council Tax for 2024/25 be increased by 2.99% (increasing a Band D council tax for 24/25 from £254.00 to £261.59 – an increase of £7.59 per year or under 15 pence per week). (NB. this equated to a Council Tax requirement of £5,627,384);

ii)     the financial pressures of £1,605,500 (as shown in Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be approved;

iii)    the savings/additional income of £(705,000) (as shown in Appendix A of the presented agenda report) be approved;

iv)    the net contributions to/(from) Earmarked Reserves of £(139,680) (as shown in Appendix D of the presented agenda report) be approved, to include the proposed use of £309,180 of New Homes Bonus funding to fund the 2024/25 Revenue Budget (as set out in section 3.4 of the presented agenda report) and £70,000 from the Business Rates Retention Earmarked Reserve (as set out in 3.3 of the presented report);

v)     the Council set its total net expenditure for 2024/25 (as shown in Appendix B of the presented agenda report) as £9,488,495;

vi)    the proposed Capital Programme Proposals for 2024/25 of £16,819,137 and the proposed financing of the Capital Programme (as set out in Appendix E of the presented agenda report) be approved;

vii)   the Reserves Strategy (as set out in Appendix H of the presented agenda report) be approved such that Unearmarked Reserves should continue to have a minimum level of £900,000 (as set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy in September 2023), but an operating level of a minimum of £1.25million; and

viii) in line with the requirements of Part 2 of the Local Government Act 2003, the level of reserves as set out within the presented agenda report and the assessment of their adequacy, and the robustness of budget estimates be noted.”