Issue - meetings

This report presents the Cabinet's draft medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2014/15 financial year together with a proposal for a Council Tax level for 2014/15.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s draft and medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2014/15 financial year together with a proposal for a Council tax level for 2014/15.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors received a copy of the draft minute of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 10^th February with the Panel’s comments on the budget proposals.  Councillors also received Appendix 7 – Formal Council Tax Setting resolutions (incorporating precepts from Parishes, Fire and Police).

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Tim Warren, it was RESOLVED that the Council suspends Council rule 42, Content and Length of Speeches, for the duration of this debate so as to enable variations to be permitted to the length of speeches by the Cabinet Member for Community Resources, the Conservative, Labour and Independent Groups and the Chair of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.  During the debate, a motion was received from Councillor Paul Crossley that the meeting continue until 1am in accordance with Council rule 48.  This was accepted by the meeting.

On a motion from Councillor David Bellotti, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED

1.  To approve:

a.  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2014/15 of £120.386m with no increase in Council Tax, with the additional sums allocated from the Financial Planning Reserve;

  i.  £100k over two years to support the delivery of the Council’s Advice Services Strategy and protect as far as possible the universal advice services currently provided under contract for the Council;

  ii.  £200k as a revenue contribution to capital for additional funding for Disabled Facilities Grants;

  iii.  £50k to create a Looked After Children & Disabled Young Persons fund, which can be used to enable foster carers to access grants to provide activities, facilities and equipment for children in their care, to meet exceptional needs linked to the learning and achievement of Looked After children, particularly at Key Stage 4 and to enable parents, foster carers and legal guardians of young disabled people supported by the Council’s Disabled Children’s Team to access funds to meet or enhance the equipment needs of these children;

b.  That no special  Expenses be charged other than Town and Parish  Council precepts for 2014/15;

c.  The adequacy of reserves at Appendix 1, table 8 with a risk-assessed level of £10.5m;

d.  The individual service cash limits for 2014/15 summarised at Appendix 1, table 4 and detailed in Annex 1;

e.  That the specific arrangements for the governance and release of reserves, including invest to save proposals, be delegated to the Council’s Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Community Resources and the Chief Executive;

f.  Recognising the proposals and feedback from the Resources PDS Panel;

  i.  To earmark an on-going revenue allocation of £300k for 2015/16 onwards to be ring-fenced to further reduce the savings required specifically relating to Children’s Centre Services.  It is intended  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68

Cabinet will be asked to agree and set the Council's medium term planning approach and to recommend the 2014/15 Council Tax and Budget to Council.  Council will consider the Cabinet’s recommendations on 18-Feb-14.

Elizabeth Derl-Davis (Radstock Town Council) made a statement [a summary of which is attached to these Minutes as Appendix 4 and on the Council’s website]about the Bronze Band support scheme. She said that about 320 pensioners, including herself, would be affected if the Council stopped paying the support charge for those living in sheltered housing. Those living in sheltered housing were there because they were over 60, disabled or had a long-term illness. They were the poorest, most vulnerable group in the country. The Bronze Band only gave access to an alarm system, which was part of the fabric of the building and could not be removed. The cost for this was £3.60 a week or £187.20 over a year. Those who could not afford to pay this amount would be expected to move. The majority of pensioners where she lived were over 80. The Silver, Gold, Platinum and Diamond Bands were, of course, more expensive. The cost of 320 x £187.20 was not a great sum in the overall budget for B&NES. If the Council withdrew this support, it would create a precedent. She urged the Cabinet to reverse this cut, as Bristol City Council had done.

Councillor Bull in an ad-hoc statement highlighted the continual reductions in central government grants to councils. The Institute of Fiscal Studies had warned that 50% of austerity cuts were yet to take effect. The Local Government Association had warned that eventually councils might only be able to afford adult social care and refuse collection. The budget was unsatisfactory and failed to meet the expectations of residents. There were many other relatively small cuts like the one the previous speaker had raised, but above all there had been a £1.8m cut for Children’s Services.

Councillor Laming in an ad hoc statement welcomed the recommendation for provisional approval of a River Corridor Fund. He had been urging this for the past three years. He recalled that on 28 April 2012 the river had been so low that boats had been sitting on the river bed, and there had been warnings of drought. Since then rain had been unremitting. The Transport Secretary had confirmed on the radio that morning that climate change was occurring. In his experience of 27 years on the river everything had changed, and in particular during the last 2 years.  The River Corridor Working Group was desperately needed and should be properly funded, because people’s lives and livelihoods were at risk. 23 businesses in Keynsham, including his own, had been ruined in the past two weeks because of the floods. He urged that the allocated £340,000 should not be wasted, but used as “feed money” to attract additional investment from private enterprise, government and the EU.

Councillor Gerrish in an ad hoc statement welcomed many aspects of the budget, but also raised some concerns. He was concerned that the costs of travellers’ sites were increasing. His group proposed that the proposed capital spend on travellers’ sites be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 116

The report 'Council Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Plans' will be sent out early next week when it is released for the Cabinet papers.

Please find attached a cover report and attachment 2 (including a presentation given to the Early Years PDS Panel).

The Chairman outlined the proposed structure of the debate. He explained that he would firstly ask Tim Richens, Divisional Director – Business Support to give an introduction to the budget report. He would then ask Andrew Pate, Strategic Director – Resources to comment on the Policy Development and Scrutiny (PDS) Panel’s minutes. He explained that Ashley Ayre Strategic Director – People and Communities was in attendance to address any of the Panel’s questions regarding Children’s Services followed by general debate on the budget and on PDS comments. The Panel will then put forward their recommendations which will be put forward to the Cabinet on 12^th February 2014.

Tim Richens, Divisional Director – Business Support introduced the report “Medium Term Service & Resources Planning 2014/15 – 2015/16, & Budget and Council Tax 2014/15” (page 5, Agenda item 8). He highlighted some sections of Appendix 1 (page 11).

Andrew Pate, Strategic Director – Resources outlined the process of the Council budget setting. He referred members to the comments from PDS Panels (page 19) in their November meetings on the Medium Term Plans. He also referred to the report (page 15) where some of the points raised by PDS Panels are summarised.

Ashley Ayre Strategic Director – People and Communities, explained that there is a report on “Re- structuring of Early Years, Children Centre and Early Help (0-11) Services 2014-2016” on the Cabinet agenda for 12^th February.

The Panel raised the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Gerrish asked Ashley Ayre to comment on the observations of Councillor Hardman in her statement at Item 6. The Strategic Director explained that £500k had been put back into the budget for Children’s Services and £300k would go directly to Children’s Centres and £200k would go back into direct support for children with additional needs. He further explained that the £500k has enabled the protection of targeted services for families with children with additional needs.

Councillor Barrett asked that the increase in the hire charge for youth groups using Weston Children’s Centre be considered again as it may cause some groups to fold.  The Strategic Director explained that the charge had been £10 per hour which was not economic and not nearly at market rates. He explained that there would be consultation on charging policy and there would be an opportunity to comment on this.

There was some discussion around a proposal from Councillor Bull on Children’s Centres which was agreed and is shown at points 2 and 3 of the resolutions below.

The Revenue Budget 2014/15 (page 14)

Following a query from Councillor Gerrish, The Divisional Director for Business Support explained that there are some estimates as to the cost of administering business rate relief but exact amounts are not known until claims come in. There was some discussion around a proposal from Councillor Gerrish which was agreed and is shown at point 4 of the resolutions below.

Councillor Bull referred to the ‘Time Out’ Club and asked if they will be provided  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61