Agenda item

O&S6           

The Committeesconsidereda reportthatprovidedMemberswith adetailed positionstatementon theCouncil’sMediumTermFinancialStrategy.  In addition,thereportprovidedOverviewandScrutinyCommitteeMembers withtheopportunityto haveaninputintothedraftBudgetproposalsfor 2017/18priortothe considerationoftheHubCommitteeand FullCouncil.

Inpresentingthisagendaitem,the Section151Officertabledan additional paperthatoutlineda summaryofthechangesto thereportthatwasinitially consideredby the HubCommitteeatits meetingon19 December2016 (MinuteHC44 refers).

Inthesubsequentdiscussion,referencewasmade to:

(a)  the  2017/18  Local  Government  Finance  Settlement.    Having  been informed  that  the  provisional  settlement  for  the  Council  would  see fundingreducedby afurther37%betweennowand2019/20,a number of Membersexpressedtheirdeepfrustrationsat thisannouncement.  In acknowledgingtheseconcerns,the Section151Officeradvisedthatshe hadcompileda stronglywordedconsultationresponselettertothe Departmentfor CommunitiesandLocalGovernment,which shewould ensurewascirculatedto allMembers.   Membersalsostatedtheir disappointmentthatthe lateannouncementsfromcentralgovernment eachyearwereparticularlyunhelpfulwhenthe Councilwastryingtoset itsBudget;

(b)  thereductionin planningfeeincome.  Itwasnotedthatthemainreason thatincomehadreducedwasattributedto theextensivereductionin large scale renewableenergyrelatedplanningapplications.  Officers proceeded  to  confirm  that  this  trend  was  consistent  throughout  the SouthWestregion;

(c)  additionalplanningresource.   Whilstacknowledgingthatplanningfee incomewasreducing(point(b)above),theCommitteeswereadvised thatthenumberofplanningapplicationsbeingreceivedby theCouncil wasinfactincreasing.   SincetheDevelopmentManagementservice was alreadyunderimmensepressure,officerswerenow recommending thatthebudgetincludeprovisionfor someadditionalstaffingresource;

(d)theincomegenerationagenda.  AMemberexpressedhisfrustrationat the apparentlackofprogressbeingmadeby theCouncilinrelationto becomingmorecommerciallymindedand incomegenerative.   In response,  officers  referred  tosomeexamples  ofproposals  thathad been  brought  forward  that  had  subsequently  been  deemed unacceptableby Members.  Inconclusiononthispoint,therewasa generalacceptancethatbothofficersandMembershada bigroleto playinprogressingtheincomegenerationagendato counterthe significantbudgetarypressuresfacing theCouncil;

(e) increasingtheCouncilTaxfor2017/18.  Whilstregrettable,therewas unanimoussupportamongstMemberstorecommendthatCouncilTax be increasedby£5for2017/18.  Suchwastheextentoftheongoing budgetreductionsfromcentralgovernment,thatMembersreluctantly feltitto beabsolutelyessentialfortheCouncilTaxBasetobebuiltup asmuchaspossible;

(f)  futurebudgetreports.  AMemberrequestedthat,inthefuture,budget reports   should  be  presented  differently  to  provide  a  wider  suite  of optionsforMembersto choosefrom;

(g)  therecentMemberSurvey.  SinceonlyhalfhadcompletedtheSurvey todate,allMembers  wereurgedto completeittohelpthe Council informits workin bringingforwardand prioritisingincomeandefficiency initiatives;

(h)NewHomesBonusfunding. WhilstacceptingthattheCouncilhadto utilise£700,000ofNewHomesBonusfundingtobalancethe2017/18 Revenue  Budget,  a Member  emphasised  thatthissituation  was  not sustainable  andthe  Council  could  not  besoreliant  onthisfunding source infutureyears;

(i)   areductionintheCouncilTaxSupportGrantpaidto TownandParish Councils.    Since  town  and  parish  councils  were  not  subject  to  any cappingrules,Membersexpressedtheirsupportfor theproposed reduction.  Furthermore,itwasconfirmedthatfeedbackto theBorough Councilhad indicatedthatthisproposalhadnotproventobe particularly contentiousamongstthe townand parishcouncils;

(j)  carparkingcharges.   SomeMemberswereoftheviewthatthe Car ParkingStrategyGroupneededto undertakea detailedreviewofcar parkingchargesduring2017/18and considerationshouldbegivento an increasein 2018/19;

(k) thegardenwasteservice.   Sincea number  of Members  wished  to discuss  the  future  of  the  garden  waste  service,  it  was  therefore PROPOSEDandSECONDEDand onbeingputto thevotedeclaredto beCARRIEDand“RESOLVEDthatunderSection100(A)(4)of the LocalGovernmentAct1972,the publicbe excludedfromthe meeting on thegroundsthatexemptinformationis likely tobe disclosedas definedinParagraph3 ofSchedule12(A)totheAct.

A  lengthy  debate  ensued  during  which  it  became  apparent  that  a numberofMemberswerenowsupportiveoftheprincipleofchargingfor agardenwaste collectionservice.

As  one  option  before  afinal  decision  was  taken  by  the  Council,  a Member  requested  thatconsideration  begiventoanannual  charge being  linked  to  the  relevant  property’s  Council  Tax  Band,  with  the chargebeingcollectedaspartofthe CouncilTaxforthe property.

OnceallMemberswerecontentthat theyhadno furtherissuesto raise in thisregard,itwasthenPROPOSEDand SECONDEDand onbeing puttothevotedeclaredto beCARRIEDand “RESOLVEDthatthe pressand publicbere-admittedto themeeting.”

ItwasthenPROPOSEDandSECONDEDandwhenputto thevotewas declaredCARRIEDthattheHubCommitteegiveconsiderationto the followingRECOMMENDATIONSthat:-

1.  CouncilTaxfor2017/18shouldbe increasedby£5(whichequatesto a BandD CouncilTaxof£218.39for2017/18).  Thisequatesto a Council Taxrequirementof£4,356,612;

2.  thefinancialpressuresof£595,571benoted;

3.  thecontributionstoEarmarkedReservesof£277,000benoted;

4.  theproposedsavingsof £473,171benoted;

5.  anICTEarmarkedReservebe createdof£42,000;

6.   £700,000  of  New  Homes  Bonus  Funding  be  used  to  balance  the 2017/18RevenueBudget;

7.  £100,000oftheBudgetSurplusContingencyEarmarkedReservebe usedtofund£50,000  fortheJoint  Local  Planand£50,000  forfive additional  Case  Managers  within  Development  Management  for  a periodofoneyear;

8.  theCapitalProgrammeprojectsfor2017/18(asoutlinedatparagraph 9.1ofthepresentedagendareport)be supported,withoneexception beingthattheAffordableHousingBidshouldbe reducedfrom£350,000 to£200,000;

9.  thefinancingoftheCapitalProgrammebe madeup of £238,000ofNew HomesBonusfunding,£402,000of BetterCareFundingand£80,000 fromtheBudgetSurplusContingencyEarmarkedReserve;

10.  theprincipleoftransferringan allocationofNewHomesBonusmonies for 2017/18to anEarmarkedReservecalled:‘CommunityInvestment Fund– DartmoorNationalPark’besupported.  (NB.moniesfromthis Fundwillbeappliedfor(anddrawndown)bytheDartmoorNational ParkAuthorityasandwhenrequired.  Thisamountisa one-offpayment andthepositionwillbe consideredannuallybytheCouncilaspartofthe Budgetsettingprocess.  The conditionis thatthisis foruse withinthe boundariesoftheBoroughCouncilonly);

11.  itbenotedthattheCouncilTaxSupportGrantbeingpaidtoTownand Parish  Councils  will  bereduced  by8.6%  for  2017/18,  2018/19  and 2019/20.  (NB.thisequatesto apaymentof£70,841for2017/18;

12.  the   minimum   level   of   the   Unearmarked   Revenue   Reserves   be maintainedat£750,000;

13. carparkingchargesbe frozenfor2017/18andthatchargesbe reviewed by theCarParkingStrategyGroupintimefor the2018/19draftbudget settingprocess;

14.  the  principle  of  charging  for  a  garden  waste  collection  service  be supported;and

15.theprincipleofusingReservestoclosetheremainingbudgetgapin 2017/18be supported.  (NB.theCommitteenotethattheCouncilcould use the 2016/17BudgetSurplusContingencyEarmarkedReserveto closethe BudgetGap in 2017/18.