Agenda item

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.