Agenda and minutes

The Chair 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 4.4 Appendix 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 issued a general dispensation for all Councillors who pay Council Tax or were School Governors and therefore had an interest in these items, to enable them to take part in the debate and vote on agenda item 8 - Budget & Council Tax 2023/24.

In addition, specific dispensations were granted for the following Councillors;

Grant Johnson

Sarah Warren

Who have a family member in receipt of Council SEND support or social care support.

Also, Councillors:

George Leach

Michael Auton

Dine Romero

Steve Hedges

Chris Dando

Tim Warren

Who have a family member or employer contracted to provide services or are a precepting authority or a member of a Town or Parish Council receiving a grant from B&NES Council.

The following non-pecuniary (other) declarations of interest were also made;

·  Councillor Hodge as Chair of The Friends of B&NES Society of Young Musicians

• Councillor Jackson regarding the purchase and refurbishment of Trinity Methodist Church.

• Councillor Hale – granddaughter employed at Charlton House.

• Councillor May as a non-executive director of Sirona

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

On a motion from Councillor Guy, seconded by Councillor Jackson, it was

RESOLVED that the minutes of 30^th November 2023 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

The Chair made the following announcements;

1)  She reminded Councillors about the microphone use;

2)  She explained that Annex 12 of the Budget report had been circulated separately.

3)  She reminded Councillors that all votes on the budget (item 8) are required to be a recorded vote.

4)  She invited Councillors to stand for a minute’s silence following the recent death of former B&NES Councillor John Whittock.  John served from 2007 - 2011, representing Midsomer Norton North and was also Clerk for Peasedown St John Parish Council.

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.

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.

There were none

The attached report presents the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2024/25.

The Council considered a report which presented the revenue and capital budgets together with proposals for increases in Council Tax and the Adult Social Care Precept for 2024/25.

On a motion from Councillor Mark Elliott, seconded by Councillor Kevin Guy, it was

RESOLVED

1.  The Council approves-

·  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2024/25 of £135.85m and the individual service cash limits for 2024/25 as outlined in Annex 1.

·  The savings and income plans outlined in Annex 2(i), funding requirements 2(ii), in conjunction with the Equalities Impact Assessment Report in Annex 3.

·  An increase in Council Tax of 2.99% in 2024/25 (an increase of £49.45 per Band D property or 95p per week).

·  An increase of 2% to Council Tax for the Adult Social Care Precept in recognition of the current demands and financial pressures on this service. This is equivalent to an increase of £33.07 on a Band D property (64p per week).

·  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 £12.3m - £13.6m.

·  To note the Children’s Services management plan set out in section 5.2.7 of the report.

·  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4.

·  The Capital Programme for 2024/25 of £71.91m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.8.3, and notes the programme for 2025/26 to 2028/29 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.

·  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 Cabinet Portfolio Holder.

·  The schedule of asset disposals as set out in section 5.8.2 and delegates the final disposal decision to the Head of Commercial and/or Corporate Estate in consultation with the S151 Officer and appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.

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

·  The Capital & Investment Strategy attached at Annex 6.

·  The MRP Policy attached at Annex 7.

·  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.8.7.

·  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 8.

·  The Community Contribution Fund extension outlined section 5.5.

·  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2024/25 shown in the following link:  https://beta.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2024-01/Bath%20%26%20NE%20Someset%20S13A%20202425%20FINAL.pdf and referred to in 5.3.5

·  The Fees and Charges schedule for 2024/25 at Annex 11 and support its publication following approval of the budget, with delegation to amend individual costs within the schedule in line with market needs, to the Director of Place Management, in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Portfolio Holder.

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 12.

3.  That the Council note the S151 Officer’s report on the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 73.

To consider the attached report regarding the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement. The Authority is required to approve a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year.

The Council considered a report regarding the Council’s Treasury Management Strategy Statement. The Authority is required to approve a treasury management strategy before the start of each financial year.

On a motion from Councillor Mark Elliott, seconded by Councillor Matt McCabe, it was unanimously

RESOLVED to

1.  Approve the actions proposed within the Treasury Management Strategy Statement (Appendix 1); and

2.  Note the Treasury Management Indicators detailed in Appendix 1.

There were none.