Issue - meetings

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

The Council considered a report presenting the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

On a motion from Councillor Richard Samuel, seconded by Councillor Kevin Guy, it was

RESOLVED that

The Council approves-

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2022/23 of £126.74m and the individual service cash limits for 2022/23 as outlined in Annex 1.

b)  The savings and income plans outlined in the revised Annex 2(i) that had been circulated following agreement at Cabinet, funding requirements 2(ii), in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3.

c)  An increase in Council Tax of 1.99% in 2022/23 (an increase of £30.44 per Band D property or 59p per week).

d)  An increase of 1% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept is approved in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £15.29 on a Band D property (29p per week).

e)  The movement in reserves outlined in section 5.6 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.58m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m - £13.2m.

f)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

g)  The Capital Programme for 2022/23 of £96.064m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.2, and notes the programme for 2022/23 to 2026/27 and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget Management Scheme.

h)  The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(i) to Annex 5(iv) to the relevant Director in Consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

i)  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations and amendments outlined in Annex 5(v).

j)  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6.

k)   The MRP Policy attached at Annex 7.

l)  The Establishment and funding of a Business Change Hub outlined in 5.2.6.

m)  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.7.

n)  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

o)  The Community Contribution Fund pilot 12-month extension outlined section 5.5.

p)  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 shown in the below link, and referred to in 5.3.4

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-02/Bath%20%26%20NE%20Someset%20S13A%20202223%20FINAL1.0.pdf

2.2  That the Council approves the technical resolutions that are derived from the budget report, and all the figures in that report, including the precepts for towns, parishes and other precepting bodies as set out in Annex 11.

2.3  That the Council note the S151 Officer’s report on the robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves outlined in 5.7.

2.4  That the Council note the budget consultation responses in Annex 10.

[Notes;

1.  The above successful resolution was carried on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (9); - Councillors Rob Appleyard, Alison Born, Kevin Guy, Duncan Hounsell, Hal McFie, Mark Roper, Richard Samuel, Alastair Singleton,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 103

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

The Council considered a report presenting the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

On a motion from Councillor Kevin Guy, seconded by Councillor Vic Pritchard, it was unanimously

RESOLVED that, in accordance with rule 16 (Suspension of Rules), 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 Resources, the Conservative, Independent and Labour Group Leaders or their nominated Spokespersons, and the Chair of the Corporate Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.

On a motion from Councillor Richard Samuel, seconded by Councillor Kevin Guy, it was

RESOLVED to recommend to Council on 16^th December that

The Council approves-

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2022/23 of £126.74m and the individual service cash limits for 2022/23 as outlined in Annex 1.

b)  The savings and income plans outlined in the revised Annex 2(i) that had been circulated following agreement at Cabinet, funding requirements 2(ii), in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3.

c)  An increase in Council Tax of 1.99% in 2022/23 (an increase of £30.44 per Band D property or 59p per week).

d)  An increase of 1% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept is approved in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £15.29 on a Band D property (29p per week).

e)  The movement in reserves outlined in section 5.6 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.58m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m - £13.2m.

f)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

g)  The Capital Programme for 2022/23 of £96.064m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.2, and notes the programme for 2022/23 to 2026/27 and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget Management Scheme.

h)  The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(i) to Annex 5(iv) to the relevant Director in Consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

i)  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations and amendments outlined in Annex 5(v).

j)  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6.

k)   The MRP Policy attached at Annex 7.

l)  The Establishment and funding of a Business Change Hub outlined in 5.2.6.

m)  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.7.

n)  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

o)  The Community Contribution Fund pilot 12-month extension outlined section 5.5.

p)  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2022/23 shown in the below link, and referred to in 5.3.4

https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-02/Bath%20%26%20NE%20Someset%20S13A%20202223%20FINAL1.0.pdf

2.2  That the Council approves the technical resolutions that are derived from the budget report, and all the figures in that report, including the precepts for towns,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 91

To consider the attached report which presents the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

Cllr Richard Samuel moved the officer recommendation with the following revision:

That the budget proposal to Council on 15^th / 16^th February reflects the following change to Annex 2(i) – “2022/23 to 2024/25 Budget Savings and Income proposals”,

Removal of the following item:

And incorporation of the saving requirement into the following item for achievement through a wider review of parking charges income.

A revised Annex 2(i) reflecting this change is attached as an appendix to the minutes.

This was seconded by Cllr Kevin Guy.

RESOLVED (unanimously) to recommend that Council approves:

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2022/23 of £126.74m and the individual service cash limits for 2022/23 as outlined in Annex 1 of the report.

b)  The amended savings and income plans as set out in revised Annex 2(i) (attached as an appendix to the minutes), funding requirements 2(ii) in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3 of the report.

c)  An increase in Council Tax of 1.99% in 2022/23 (an increase of £30.44 per Band D property or 59p per week).

d)  An increase of 1% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept is approved in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £15.29 on a Band D property (29p per week).

e)  The movement in reserves outlined in section 5.6 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.58m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m - £13.2m.

f)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4 of the report.

g)  The Capital Programme for 2022/23 of £96.064m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.2, and notes the programme for 2022/23 to 2026/27 and that any wholly funded projects coming forward during the year will be added to the Capital Programme in line with the Budget Management Scheme.

h)  The delegation of implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 5(i) to Annex 5(iv) of the report to the relevant Director in Consultation with the appropriate Portfolio Holder.

i)  The Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) allocations and amendments outlined in Annex 5(v) of the report.

j)  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6 of the report.

k)   The MRP Policy attached at Annex 7 of the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11

To consider the attached report which presents the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2022/23.

Cllr Samuel introduced the Budget and Council Tax report for 2022/23 and made the following statement:

“Members will be aware that the covid pandemic has had, and continues to have, a lasting negative impact on the council’s finances. Two of our principal sources of income – heritage attractions and our commercial property are operating below full capacity. The former because of the downturn in tourism and a need to maintain safe circulation space in the Roman Baths and Pump Rooms, and the latter because of a 40% downward market fall in rents together with rent arrears that accumulated during the pandemic.

Less income means more pressure on our budget because we cannot rely on the income we normally use to fund our full range of services. We expect to receive £13m less income in the coming financial year. When this is added to the significant inflationary pressures in the wider economy and the post-lockdown service pressures, we have a perfect storm.

I do not expect the Council to emerge from this financial maelstrom until 2025/6 at the earliest by which time £82.3m gross will have lost forever. I will repeat that. The council expects to lose £82.3m from its income over 5 years. Just think what could have been done with that money. It is going to take several more years before our recovery is complete.

Against this background, the Cabinet set itself the task of maintaining the drive to improve living standards for B&NES residents by holding spending on transport, and substantially enhancing our vital neighbourhood services and beginning the task of building the first council houses in our area for a generation.

We also committed to try and keep any council tax rise to a minimum recognising that pressures on household incomes are severe at present due to the government’s failure to fully protect households from the spike in energy prices.

Of course, the Council provides a very wide range of services to our residents and wherever possible these are being maintained at pre-pandemic levels. In some areas such as Children’s Services there are long term funding pressures which have continued to intensify. We have therefore provided additional funds to support these essential services for young people. However, the central government support for these services is insufficient over the longer term given all the other pressures facing local government.

The same is true of Adult Services where there is little evidence that the government’s recent proposals will lead to a better financial outcome for these crucial services.

Beneath the headlines, I highlight a series of important investment decisions:

·  More funding for IT reflecting the move to remote home-based working

·  Resources for a decent pay settlement for our hard-working staff

·  Provision against the expected spike in energy prices

·  More funds for maintaining and repairing our commercial property estate

·  Hedges against expected contract inflation price rises

·  Allowances for expected demographic growth

·  More money for home to school transport

·  More cash for recycling investment

All these and more show  ...  view the full minutes text for item 146