Agenda and minutes

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

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and asked Jo to read out the emergency evacuation procedure.

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.

The Monitoring Officer granted a general dispensation to all Councillors in respect of their payment of Council Tax and school governorships, in regard to item 8. A specific dispensation for the following interests declared by Councillors was also granted;

·  Kevin Guy - Family business is a recipient of a covid relief grant

·  Shaun Hughes - Family business is a recipient of a covid relief grant

·  Lisa O’Brien - Family member in receipt of social services support.

To be confirmed as a correct record and recommended for approval to Council on 16^th February 2022.

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

RESOLVED unanimously that the minutes of 18^th November 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair informed the meeting that a minute’s silence had been held at the virtual Council meeting on 15^th February to mark the recent death of former councillor, Chairman and Mayor of Bath, Ian Gilchrist.

If there is any urgent business arising since the formal agenda was published, the Chair will announce this and give reasons why it has been agreed for consideration at this meeting. In making this decision, the Chair will, where practicable, have consulted with the Leaders of the Political Groups. Any documentation on urgent business will be circulated at the meeting, if not made available previously.

The Chair made the following announcement;

Councillors will be aware that a note was sent out yesterday with a revised link to the amended Local Council Tax Support scheme, highlighting that some minor changes to the scheme were necessary to reflect that the recently announced £150 Energy Bills Rebate payments are not to be taken into account when determining eligibility for council tax reductions under the scheme.

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.

There were no statements made at this meeting, although the statements made at the virtual meeting on 15^th February 2022 were noted;

https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/documents/g6161/Public%20minutes%2015th-Feb-2022%2018.30%20Council.pdf?T=11

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.

The Authority is required to approve a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year.

The Council considered a report requiring approval of a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year, fulfilling the Authority’s legal obligation under the Local Government Act 2003 to have regard to the CIPFA Code.

On a motion from Councillor Richard Samuel, seconded by Councillor Andy Wait, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to

1.  Approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement.

Officers are seeking delegated authority to take the decision making powers from Mendip District Council for a planning application for approx. 35 houses and new access from the A362 which is located within the Mendip area on the edge of the B&NES district. B&NES currently have an associated planning application for approx. 220 dwelling adjoining the site and utilising the same access.

The Council considered a report seeking delegated authority to take the decision-making powers from Mendip District Council for a planning application for approximately 35 houses and new access from the A362 which is located within the Mendip area on the edge of the B&NES district.

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

RESOLVED unanimously;

1.  to accept devolved decision-making powers for planning application 21/04509/OUT from Mendip District Council (Mendip ref. 2021/2268/OTS).

The Corporate Audit Committee is required to report back annually on its work to Council under its Terms of Reference. Appendix 1 details the work carried out by the Committee for the period July 2020 to December 2021.

As part of its work. the Corporate Audit Committee resolved at its meeting on the 15^th December 2021, to recommend to Full Council that they approve the use of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd to carry out the re-procurement of External Auditors to be appointed to B&NES Council for the 5-year period commencing 1^st April 2023.

The Council considered the annual report of the Corporate Audit Committee for the period July 2020 to December 2021. As part of its work, the Corporate Audit Committee resolved at its meeting on the 15th December 2021, to recommend to Full Council that they approve the use of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd to carry out the re-procurement of External Auditors to be appointed to B&NES Council for the 5-year period commencing 1^st April 2023.

On a motion from Councillor Hal McFie, seconded by Councillor Richard Samuel, it was

RESOLVED unanimously that

1.  The Annual Report of the Corporate Audit Committee is noted; and

2.  To approve the use of Public Sector Audit Appointments Ltd (PSAA) to carry out the re-procurement of External Auditors to be appointed to B&NES Council for the 5-year period commencing 1st April 2023 and that the Council’s Chief Financial Officer (S151) writes to PSAA to formally accept the invitation to opt into the national scheme before the deadline of Friday 11^th March 2022.

The Constitution is a single point of reference which contains the principal governance structures and procedures of the authority. The proportionality table currently sits within part 5 of the Constitution and, following a change in political group membership, needs amendment by Council.

The Council considered a report requesting agreement to an amended proportionality table within the Constitution following a change in political group membership.

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

RESOLVED unanimously to

1.  Agree the revised political proportionality table, offering a place on the Climate Emergency & Sustainability Panel to the non-aligned Councillor, Cllr Dr Kumar.

The Council noted the questions from Councillor Joanna Wright, and responses given, that had been circulated and added to the Council’s website.

The Council also noted the statement from Cllr Dr Kumar which had been made at the virtual meeting on 15^th February entitled ‘Building Communities, Shared Dreams’; -https://democracy.bathnes.gov.uk/documents/g6161/Public%20minutes%2015th-Feb-2022%2018.30%20Council.pdf?T=11