Agenda and minutes

The Chairman will draw attention to the emergency evacuation procedure as set out under Note 5.

The Chair 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 Officeror a member of his staff before the meeting to expedite dealing with the item during the meeting.

Councillor Joe Rayment declared an ‘other’ interest in item 8 - “Budget & Council Tax 2018/19 and Financial Outlook” as he is an employee of DHI.

The Monitoring Officer granted a general dispensation to all Councillors for item 8 - “Budget & Council Tax 2018/19 and Financial Outlook” with regard to their school governor roles, receipt of a Pension and payment of Council Tax.

To be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Steve Hedges, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of 9^th November 2017 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair made the customary announcements regarding mobile phones, webcasting, Councillors accessing meeting papers via their ipads and a comfort break.  In response to a question from Councillor Alan Hale about why the Union Jack flag had not been placed in the Chamber, the Chair responded that she would look into it.

The Chair invited Councillor Vic Pritchard to address the meeting.  Councillor Pritchard apologised to the Council for his recent breach of the Code of Conduct which had been considered by the Standards Committee.

There were no items of urgent business.

The Democratic Services Manager will announce any submissions received. The Council will be invited to decide what action it wishes to take, if any, on the matters raised in these submissions. As the questions received and the answers given will be circulated in written form there is no requirement for them to be read out at the meeting. The questions and answers will be published with the draft minutes.

Andy Halliday addressed the Council regarding libraries.  He expressed his concerns about the Modern Libraries programme and his view that the public had not been consulted.  He welcomed the supportive comments and advice he had received from Scrutiny members but hoped the Council would look again at the programme, particularly the staffing reductions.  In response to a question from Councillor Karen Warrington about whether Andy had participated in the engagement exercise for the Bath Library, he confirmed that he had.

The Council had received one question which was circulated, with a response, and has been placed on the Council’s Minute book and made available online.

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets for 2018/19 together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2018/19.

Report is subject to final confirmation of the Local Government Finance Settlement for 2018/19 which is expected to be announced shortly.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s revenue and capital budgets for the 2018/19 financial year together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2018/19.

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 5^th February with the Panel’s comments on the budget proposals.  Councillors also received Annex 10 – Formal Council Tax Setting resolutions (incorporating precepts from Parishes, Fire and Police), plus a set of revised recommendations and an updated Annex 1 (Individual Service Cash Limits) incorporating changes from Cabinet on 7^th February.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Steve Hedges, 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 Finance and Efficiency, the Liberal Democrat, Labour and Independent Group Leaders or their nominated Spokespersons, and the Chair of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.

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

RESOLVED

1.  that the Council approves

a.  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2018/19 of £113.271m and the individual service cash limits for 2018/19 as outlined in Annex 1;

b.  The savings and income generation plans outlined in Annex 2 in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3 and thereby agrees to implement the Council’s draft Operational Plan which has been presented to each of the relevant PDS Panels;

c.  That the agreement of a revised TDC (Thermae Spa) Profit Share arrangement is delegated to the Chief Executive  in consultation with the S151 Officer and Leader, with appropriate independent legal advice obtained, and on the basis this will generate a simpler approach and better return for the Council, but that any associated extension of the lease is subject to a separate executive decision;

d.  To help protect front line services and meet additional pressures in Children’s Services the budget includes a recommendation that Council Tax is increased by 1.95% in 2018/19 (an increase of £25.04 per Band D).

e.  An increase of 3% 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 £38.52 on a Band D property.

f.  That the release of reserves, including the Invest to Save Reserve is delegated to the Council’s S151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Efficiency and the Chief Executive.

g.  The transfers between reserves outlined in 5.5.1 and the adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.2m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m-£13.1m.

h.  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4 and delegation of the Leading Together Change Programme funding of £2.0m to the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader  ...  view the full minutes text for item 72.

In February 2012, the Council adopted the revised CIPFA Treasury Management in Public services Code of Practice 2011 Edition, which requires the Council 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. CIPFA issued an updated Treasury Management in Public Services: Code of Practice in late December 2017 and the code will be effective for the 2018/19 Financial Year.  In accordance with Arlingclose advice we have continued to seek approval of our Treasury Management Strategy (TMS) under the requirements of the 2011 Codes, not least because the new code does not recommend any changes to the format or content of the TMS. CIPFA is currently planning to publish updated guidance notes on the changes to the code later in 2018 and if any changes to this strategy are required they will be reported in future treasury management reports and further approvals will be sought at full council.

The Council considered a report seeking approval for the Treasury Management Strategy and the Investment Strategy.

On a motion from Councillor Charles Gerrish, seconded by Councillor Paul May, it was

RESOLVED

1.  To approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement as set out at Appendix 1 of the report;

2.  To approve the Investment Strategy as detailed in Appendix 2.

[Notes;

1.  The above resolution was carried with 1 abstention and all other Councillors voting in favour.]

There were no items from Councillors.

The Committee is asked to consider passing the following resolution;

“that having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business and the reporting of the meeting be prevented under Section 100A(5A) because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Steve Hedges, it was

RESOLVED that, having been satisfied that the public interest would be better served by not disclosing relevant information, in accordance with the provisions of Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business and the reporting of the meeting be prevented under Section 100A(5A) because of the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended.

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Steve Hedges, it was unanimously

RESOLVED as set out in the recommendations.