Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 8.

The Chairman drew attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out on the agenda.

At this point in the meeting declarations of interest are received from Members in any of the agenda items under consideration at the meeting. Members are asked to complete the green interest forms circulated to groups in their pre-meetings (which will be announced at the Council Meeting) to indicate:

(a) The agenda item number in which they have an interest to declare.

(b) The nature of their interest.

(c) Whether their interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest or an other interest,  (as defined in Part 2, A and B of the Code of Conduct and Rules for Registration of Interests)

Any Member who needs to clarify any matters relating to the declaration of interests is recommended to seek advice from the Council’s Monitoring Officer before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Nigel Roberts declared an ‘other’ interest due to his work at the RUH (subject of a proposed amendment on the budget item).

Councillor Simon Allen declared an ‘other’ interest due to his position as a stakeholder governor at the RUH (subject of a proposed amendment on the budget item).

On a motion from Councillor Paul Crossley, seconded by Councillor Tim Warren, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of 15^th January 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The Chairman made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones and the meeting being webcast.  He checked everyone had received all the supplementary information and reminded Members that a recorded vote was needed on all budget items.  At this point, the Monitoring Officer explained the voting process.

The Chairman informed Council of the letters of support he had received from various other Councils following the tragic accident in Lansdown Lane last week and invited the Council to stand in silence as a mark of respect for those affected.

He concluded by congratulating the Roman Baths for winning Gold in the Large Visitor Attraction category of the South West Tourism Excellence awards.

There were no items of urgent business but the Chairman took the opportunity to thank Members for their support to him in his role as Chairman, as this meeting might be the final Council meeting for some Councillors.

David Redgewell made a statement covering various bus and rail issues.  The full statement can be viewed via the link from the minutes.  The Chairman thanked David Redgewell for his statement which was referred to the Cabinet Member for Transport.

[This statement was taken after the budget item.]

This report presents the Cabinet's draft medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2015/16 financial year together with a proposal for a Council Tax level for 2015/16.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2015/16 financial year together with a proposal for a Council tax level for 2015/16.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors had received a copy of the draft minute of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 9^th February with the Panel’s comments on the budget proposals.  Councillors also received Appendix 8 – Formal Council Tax Setting resolutions (incorporating precepts from Parishes, Fire and Police) and updated budget proposals.

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, Independent and Labour Groups and the Chair of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.

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

RESOLVED

1.  that the Council approve:

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2015/16 of £119.914m with no increase in Council Tax.

b)  That no Special Expenses be charged other than Town and Parish Council precepts for 2015/16.

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 2015/16 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.

2.  That the Council include in its Council Tax setting, the precepts set and approved by other bodies including the local precepts of Town Councils, Parish Councils and the Charter Trustees of the City of Bath, and those of the Fire and Police Authorities.

3.  That the Council notes the Section 151 officer's report on the robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council's reserves (Appendix 1, Annex 2) and approves the conditions upon which the recommendations are made as set out throughout Appendix 1.

4.  That in relation to the capital budget the Council:

a)  approves a capital programme of £57.873m for 2015/16 and notes items for provisional approval in 2015/16 and the programme for 2016/17 to 2019/20 as shown at Appendix 1, Annex 3 (as amended by the document attached to these minutes), including the planned sources of funding.

b)  delegates implementation, subject to consultation where appropriate, of the capital programmes set out in Annex 3i to Annex 3iv to the relevant Strategic Director in Consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member.

c)  approves all other delegations as set out in the budget report.

d)  approves the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy as shown at Appendix 1, Annex 4

e)  approves the Capital Prudential Indicators  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

In accordance with the revised CIPFA Treasury Management in Public Services Code of Practice 2011, the Council is required to approve a Treasury Management Strategy before the start of each financial year and for this to be scrutinised by an individual / group of individuals or committee.

In addition, the Department for Communities and Local Government (CLG) issued revised guidance on local authority investments in March 2010 that requires the Council to approve an investment strategy before the start of each financial year.

This report fulfils the Council’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to both the CIPFA Code and the CLG Guidance.  This report is on the agenda to be scrutinised by the Corporate Audit Committee at the 26^th March 2015 meeting, following which any recommended amendments to the strategy will be reported back to Cabinet.

Councillors considered a report which fulfilled the Council’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to approve a Treasury Management Strategy and an Investment Strategy before the start of each financial year, in accordance with the CIPFA Code and the CLG Guidance.

The report is also on the agenda to be scrutinised by the Corporate Audit Committee on 26^th March 2015.

On a motion from Councillor David Bellotti, seconded by Councillor Tim Warren, it was

RESOLVED to agree that;

1.  The actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (Appendix 1 of the report) are approved;

2.  the Investment Strategy, as detailed in Appendix 2 of the report, is approved; and

3.  the changes to the authorised lending lists detailed in Appendix 2 and highlighted in Appendix 3 are approved.

[Note – this item was passed unanimously]

This report recommends approval of the B&NES Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). Following the examination hearings on the 8^th January 2015, the Examiner recommended approval of the CIL, with modifications. The Council can only approve the CIL if it accepts the Examiner’s modifications.

The Council considered a report recommending approval of the B&NES Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).  Following the examination hearings on the 8^th January 2015, the Examiner recommended approval of the CIL, with modifications. The Council can only approve the CIL if it accepts the Examiner’s modifications.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Ball, seconded by Councillor Liz Richardson, it was

RESOLVED

1.  To approve the B&NES Community Infrastructure Levy as modified by the Examiner (Attachment 1 to the report) with a commencement date of 6^th April 2015;

2.  To delegate responsibility to the Divisional Director for Development, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Homes  and Planning,  to make minor amendments and to correct any errors to the documentation before CIL comes into effect; and

3.  Agree that the CIL charging schedule is kept under review and any proposed adjustments to the charging schedules are reported to Cabinet before 6^th April 2017 for recommendation, if appropriate, to Council.

[Note – this item was passed unanimously]