Agenda item

This report presents the Cabinet's draft medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2014/15 financial year together with a proposal for a Council Tax level for 2014/15.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s draft and medium term financial plan, and revenue and capital budgets for the 2014/15 financial year together with a proposal for a Council tax level for 2014/15.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors received a copy of the draft minute of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 10^th February with the Panel’s comments on the budget proposals.  Councillors also received Appendix 7 – Formal Council Tax Setting resolutions (incorporating precepts from Parishes, Fire and Police).

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, Labour and Independent Groups and the Chair of the Resources Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel.  During the debate, a motion was received from Councillor Paul Crossley that the meeting continue until 1am in accordance with Council rule 48.  This was accepted by the meeting.

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

RESOLVED

1.  To approve:

a.  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2014/15 of £120.386m with no increase in Council Tax, with the additional sums allocated from the Financial Planning Reserve;

  i.  £100k over two years to support the delivery of the Council’s Advice Services Strategy and protect as far as possible the universal advice services currently provided under contract for the Council;

  ii.  £200k as a revenue contribution to capital for additional funding for Disabled Facilities Grants;

  iii.  £50k to create a Looked After Children & Disabled Young Persons fund, which can be used to enable foster carers to access grants to provide activities, facilities and equipment for children in their care, to meet exceptional needs linked to the learning and achievement of Looked After children, particularly at Key Stage 4 and to enable parents, foster carers and legal guardians of young disabled people supported by the Council’s Disabled Children’s Team to access funds to meet or enhance the equipment needs of these children;

b.  That no special  Expenses be charged other than Town and Parish  Council precepts for 2014/15;

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 2014/15 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;

f.  Recognising the proposals and feedback from the Resources PDS Panel;

  i.  To earmark an on-going revenue allocation of £300k for 2015/16 onwards to be ring-fenced to further reduce the savings required specifically relating to Children’s Centre Services.  It is intended that this funding will be allocated as part of the 2015/2016 revenue budget;

  ii.  To allocate a sum of up to £200k in 2014/2015 to support the transition and implementation of the new delivery model for Early Years and Children’s Centre Services.  This funding will be allocated from the Council’s Financial Planning Reserve as may be required during the financial year;

  iii.  To allocate a sum of up to £40k as one-off funding to fund a temporary increase in capacity to support the delivery of the recommendations arising from the Boat Dwellers and River Travellers Task and Finish Group.  This funding will be allocated from the Council’s Financial Planning Reserve as may be required during the financial year;

  iv.  To allocate £100k on-going revenue funding from 2014/2015 to provide additional resources to support subsidised bus routes in new housing developments;

  v.  To allocate £60k on-going revenue funding from 2014/15 to maintain appropriate existing or alternative provisions for emergency alarms for vulnerable adults;

2.  To delegate the sign-off of the Better Care Plan on behalf of the Council to the Health & Wellbeing Board in consultation with the Chief Executive, the Leader and the Cabinet Member for Community Resources;

3.  To delegate the updating of the Council’s discretionary rate relief policy, to reflect the measures announced in the Autumn Budget statement, to the Council’s Section 151 Officer, in consultation with the Chief Executive and the Cabinet Member for Community Resources;

4.  That the Council includes 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;

5.  To note 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;

6.  That in relation to the capital budget, the Council;

a.  Approves a capital programme of £66,065m for 2014/15 and notes items for provisional approval in 2014/15 and the programme for 2015/16 to 2018/19 as shown at Appendix 1, Annex 3 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 3iii to the relevant Strategic Director in consultation with the appropriate Cabinet Member;

c.  Approves the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy as shown at Appendix 1, Annex 4;

d.  Approves the Capital Prudential Indicators as set out in Appendix 1, Table 6;

7.  To agree the Council’s proposed pay policy statement, including the arrangements for senior severance practice, as out in Appendix 4;

8.  To note the approach to Community Asset as set out in Appendix 5;

9.  To note the issues raised in Appendix 6 and agree that the proposals in the budget properly reflect the Council’s duties under the Equalities Act 2010; and

10.To approve the technical resolutions that are derived from the budget report, and all figures in that report, including the precepts for towns, parishes and other precepting bodies as set out in Appendix 7;

11.To authorise the Section 151 Officer to make any necessary calculations and adjustments within the Approved Budget and associated Council Tax Setting resolution consequent upon, and to reflect, the decisions of Council during the debate and make all relevant changes to the presentation to reflect the final Approved budget.

THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX FOR 2014/15 AS INDICATED ABOVE AND ACCORDINGLY RESOLVES:

12.That the 2014/15 expenditure is funded as follows:

* Before Tariff Payment

13.That it be noted that

a.  on the 30th December 2013 the Divisional Director of Business Support (as authorised section 151 officer) agreed 60,433.33 Band D property equivalent as the Council Tax Base for the year 2014/15 in accordance with regulation 3 of the Local Authorities (Calculation of Council Tax Base) Regulations 1992 made under Section 35(5) of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.

b.  The amounts calculated by the Council, in accordance with Regulation 6 of the Regulations, as the amount of its Council Tax Base for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate is given as Annex 1 (1). [Annex 1 (1) gives Band D Tax base by parish]

14.That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the 2014/15 financial year in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992, as amended:

a.  £317,615,334 (=£315,456,763 (gross expenditure including contribution to reserves) +£2,158,571 (Parish precepts))being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the 1992 Act.

[This is the gross expenditure incurred in performing functions and charged to the revenue account, contingencies for revenue, any financial reserves to be raised, financial reserves to meet prior year deficit not yet provided for, any amounts transferred from its general fund to its collection fund in accordance with section 97(4) of the Local Government Finance 1988 Act, and any amounts transferred from general fund to collection fund under section 98(5) of 1988 Act.]

b.  £242,824,963 (gross income) being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the 1992 Act.

[This is the income estimated to accrue which will be credited into the revenue account for the year in accordance with proper practices, any amounts transferred in the year from the collection fund to the general fund in accordance with section 97(3) of the 1988 Act, any amounts which will be transferred from the collection fund to the general fund pursuant to a direction under section 98(4) of the 1988 Act and will be credited to the revenue account for the year, and financial reserves used to provide for items in Section 31A(2)]

c.  £74,790,371 being the amount by which the aggregate at 14(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 14(b) above calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the 1992 Act as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

d.  £1,237.57 being the amount at 14(c) above divided by the amount at 13(a) above, calculated in accordance with Section 31B of the 1992 Act, as the basic amount of Council Tax for the year. [This is the average Council tax including B&NES and parish precepts]

e.  £2,158,571 being the aggregate amount of all special items (Parish precepts) referred to in Section 34(1) of the 1992 Act. [This is the total of parish precepts]

f.  £1,201.85  being the amount at 14(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 14(e) above by the amount at 13(a) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the 1992 Act, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates. [This is the B&NES Council tax only excluding parish precepts]

g.  The amounts given by adding to the amount at 14(f) above the amounts of special items or items relating to dwellings in those parts of the Council's area mentioned above divided in each case by the amount at 13(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 34(3) of the 1992 Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which one or more special items relate are given at Annex 1 (3). [Annex 1 (3) gives the Band D Council tax for each area including the parish precepts]

h.  The amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 14(g) above by the number which, in the proportion set out in Section 5(1) of the Act, is applicable to dwellings listed in a particular valuation band divided by the number which in that proportion is applicable to dwellings listed in valuation band D, calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 36(1) of the 1992 Act, as the amounts to be taken into account for the year in respect of categories of dwellings listed in different valuation bands are given in Annex 1 (4). [Annex 1 (4) shows the B&NES and Parish Council Tax for all bands.]

Precepting Authorities

15.That it be noted that for the year 2014/15 the Police & Crime Commissioner for Avon and Somerset has determined the amount in precepts issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown in the report:-

16.Avon and Somerset Police

Valuation Bands

17.That it be noted that for the year 2014/15 Avon Fire Authority met on 7th February 2014 to determine the amounts in precepts issued to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of the dwellings shown in the report:-

18.Avon Fire Authority

Valuation Bands

19.That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts 16, 18 and 14(h) above, the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 hereby sets the following amounts as the amounts of Council Tax for the 2014/15 financial year for each of the categories of dwellings shown, as listed in Annex 1 (5).

20.On average (for a Band D, 2 adult household) the Council Tax for 2014/15 will be as follows:

[Overall annual increase in average Band D Council Tax is £5.89]

21.The Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2014/15 is not determined to be excessive in accordance with principles approved under section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992.

[Notes:

1.  The above motion was carried with 30 Councillors voting in favour and 28 Councillors abstaining;

a.  Councillors in favour – Simon Allen, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Lisa Brett, Neil Butters, Bryan Chalker, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andrew Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Steve Hedges, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees, David Martin, Loraine Morgan- Brinkhurst MBE, Douglas Nicol, June Player, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds;

b.  Councillors abstaining – Patrick Anketell-Jones, Rob Appleyard, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, John Bull, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis, Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Alan Hale, Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Lew Kew, Barry Macrae, Robin Moss, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber.

2.  An amendment was moved on behalf of the Conservative Group by Councillor Vic Pritchard, seconded by Councillor Francine Haeberling with regard to support for Advice Services.  This wording is incorporated as resolution 1.a.i above and was carried with 32 Councillors voting in favour, 3 Councillors voting against and 28 Councillors abstaining, as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour – Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, John Bull, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis, Doug Deacon, Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Liz Hardman, Nathan Hartley, Eleanor Jackson, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Robin Moss, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, June Player, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors voting against – Bryan Chalker, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees;

c.  Councillors abstaining – Simon Allen, Rob Appleyard, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Sarah Bevan, Lisa Brett, Neil Butters, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Steve Hedges, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds.

3.  An amendment was moved on behalf of the Conservative Group by Councillor Francine Haeberling, seconded by Councillor Sally Davis, with regard to Disabled Facilities Grants.  This wording is incorporated as resolution 1.a.ii above and was carried with 32 Councillors voting in favour, 30 Councillors voting against, as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour - Patrick Anketell-Jones, Rob Appleyard, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, John Bull, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis, Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Liz Hardman, Nathan Hartley, Eleanor Jackson, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Robin Moss, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, June Player, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors voting against - Simon Allen, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Sarah Bevan, Lisa Brett, Neil Butters, Bryan Chalker, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Steve Hedges, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds

4.  An amendment was moved on behalf of the Conservative Group by Councillor Chris Watt, seconded by Councillor Michael Evans, with regard to support for Looked After children and young people with disabilities.  This wording is incorporated as resolution 1.a.iii above and contains underlined wording proposed by Councillor Liz Hardman and accepted by the mover and seconder of the amendment. It was carried with 31 Councillors voting in favour, 2 Councillors voting against, and 26 Councillors abstaining as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour – Patrick Anketell-Jones, Rob Appleyard, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, John Bull, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis, Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Alan Hale, Liz Hardman, Nathan Hartley, Eleanor Jackson, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Robin Moss, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, June Player, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors against – Bryan Chalker, Dave Laming

c.  Councillors abstaining - Simon Allen, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Lisa Brett, Neil Butters, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Steve Hedges, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds

5.  An amendment was moved by Councillor Nathan Hartley, seconded by Councillor June Player, requesting inclusion within the capital programme of a sum of £20,000 (to be taken from the identified £100,000 for Public WC conversions on page 47 of Appendix 1) to fund renovation works for Greenlands Road toilets, Peasedown St John and for the works to commence as soon as possible, and for support to Councillor Hartley and Healthmatic with work on finding a suitable tenant for the new commercial/community space.  The amendment was not carried with 29 Councillors voting in favour, 33 Councillors voting against and I Councillor abstaining, as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour - Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis, Doug Deacon, Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Nathan Hartley, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, June Player, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, Jeremy Sparks, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors against - Simon Allen, Rob Appleyard, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Sarah Bevan, Lisa Brett, John Bull,  Neil Butters, Bryan Chalker, Paul Crossley, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Liz Hardman, Steve Hedges, Eleanor Jackson, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, Robin Moss,  Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds

c.  Councillors abstaining - Gerry Curran,

6.  An amendment was moved on behalf of the Conservative Group by Councillor Anthony Clarke, seconded by Councillor Charles Gerrish, with regard to support for local bus services, requesting £150k be allocated from the Financial Planning Reserve to create a new Community Bus Services Fund to assist in the set-up costs of new Community Bus Services throughout the district and further requesting Cabinet give serious consideration to utilising funds within either the Revenue Budget Contingency or Financial Planning Reserve to support and protect tendered bus services as contracts come up for renewal if any tendered services in areas with clear need become at-risk of reduction or cancellation.  The amendment was not carried with 25 Councillors voting in favour, 37 Councillors voting against and I Councillor abstaining, as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour - Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis,  Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors voting against – Simon Allen, Rob Appleyard, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Sarah Bevan, Lisa Brett, John Bull,  Neil Butters, Bryan Chalker, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, Doug Deacon, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Liz Hardman, Steve Hedges, Eleanor Jackson, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, June Player, Robin Moss,  Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds.

c.  Councillors abstaining - Nathan Hartley

7.  An amendment was moved on behalf of the Conservative Group by Councillor Patrick Anketell-Jones, seconded by Brian Webber, with regard to action to tackle urban gulls, requesting an allocation of up to £104,000 from the Financial Planning Reserve to undertake a two-year intensive trail of measures to reduce the impact and number of urban gulls and including funding towards meeting the cost of implementing the recommendations of the PT&E PDS Urban Gulls Scrutiny Inquiry day. The amendment was not carried with 25 Councillors voting in favour, 34 Councillors voting against and 4 Councillors abstaining, as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour - Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis,  Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors voting against – Simon Allen, Rob Appleyard, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Sarah Bevan, Lisa Brett, Neil Butters, Bryan Chalker, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, Doug Deacon, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Nathan Hartley, Steve Hedges, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, June Player, Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds.

c.  Councillors abstaining - John Bull, Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Robin Moss.

8.  An amendment was moved on behalf of the Conservative Group by Councillor Liz Richardson, seconded by Councillor Geoff Ward, with regard to safer routes to school and highway investment, requesting a one-off allocation of £200,000 from the Financial Planning Reserve as a revenue contribution to capital to provide for the delivery of Safer Routes to Schools Schemes in the period 2014/2015 – 2015/16, to be reviewed at the end of the 2014/2015 financial year as part of the Council’s capital financing requirement in the event any underspend is available from the funding allocated to meet the cost of the Gypsy and Traveller Site on Lower Bristol Road, to provide an alternative source of capital finance, and that, once the total required budget to deliver the 13-pitch traveller site is known, any further remaining surplus, over and above the £200,000 mentioned above, serious consideration be given by Cabinet to using at least a proportion of the remaining surplus to provide extra resources for highway resurfacing, noting that investing in highway surfaces saves the Council maintenance costs in the longer term.  The amendment was not carried with 25 Councillors voting in favour and 37 Councillors voting against, as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour - Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, Anthony Clarke, Sally Davis,  Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors voting against – Simon Allen, Rob Appleyard, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Sarah Bevan, Lisa Brett, John Bull,  Neil Butters, Bryan Chalker, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Liz Hardman, Nathan Hartley, Steve Hedges, Eleanor Jackson, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, June Player, Robin Moss,  Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds.

9.  An amendment was moved on behalf of the Conservative Group by Councillor Paul Myers, seconded by Councillor Chris Watt, with regard to Midsomer Norton traffic light and pavement realignments, requesting an allocation of up to £45,000 from the Financial Planning Reserve as a revenue contribution to capital to enable the necessary highway adjustments to the traffic lights and island as well as the pavement at the entrance to Midsomer Norton High Street to allow the return of Midsomer Norton Carnival on a route which encompasses Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Westfield in November 2014, subject to a workable scheme being agreed with Officers.  The amendment was not carried with 27 Councillors voting in favour and 33 Councillors voting against, as set out below;

a.  Councillors in favour - Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Matthew Blankley, Anthony Clarke, Bryan Chalker, Sally Davis,  Peter Edwards, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Alan Hale, Nathan Hartley, Les Kew, Marie Longstaff, Barry Macrae, Paul Myers, Bryan Organ, Vic Pritchard, June Player, Liz Richardson, Brian Simmons, Kate Simmons, David Veale, Martin Veal, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Chris Watt, Brian Webber;

b.  Councillors voting against – Simon Allen, Rob Appleyard, Sharon Ball, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, David Bellotti, Lisa Brett, John Bull,  Neil Butters, Paul Crossley, Gerry Curran, David Dixon, Paul Fox, Andy Furse, Ian Gilchrist, Katie Hall, Liz Hardman, Steve Hedges, Eleanor Jackson, Dave Laming, Malcolm Lees, David Martin, Loraine Morgan-Brinkhurst MBE, Robin Moss,  Doug Nicol, Manda Rigby, Caroline Roberts, Nigel Roberts, Dine Romero, Will Sandry, Jeremy Sparks, Ben Stevens, Roger Symonds.

10.  During the debate, a short comfort break was taken.