Agenda item

This report presents the revenue and capital budgets for 2019/20 together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2019/20.

The Council considered a report presenting the Cabinet’s revenue and capital budgets for the 2019/20 financial year together with proposals for Council Tax and Adult Social Care Precept for 2019/20.

In addition to the reports circulated with the agenda, all Councillors had received a summary document of Policy Development and Scrutiny Panel comments on the budget proposals.  Councillors also received Annex 12 – Formal Council Tax Setting resolutions (incorporating precepts from Parishes, Fire and Police).

On a motion from Councillor Tim Warren, seconded by Councillor Dine Romero, 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 Council approves;

a)  The General Fund net revenue budget for 2019/20 of £113.10m and the individual service cash limits for 2019/20 as outlined in Annex 1 of the report.

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

c)  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 2.95% in 2019/20 (an increase of £39.76 per Band D).

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 £13.47 on a Band D property.

e)  The adequacy of Un-earmarked Reserves at £12.2m within a risk assessed range requirement of £11.9m - £13.1m.

f)  The Efficiency Strategy attached at Annex 4 of the report.

g)  The Capital Programme for 2019/20 of £78.591m including new and emerging capital bids outlined in Annex 5(i), planned sources of funding in 5.7.2, and notes the programme for 2020/21 to 2023/24 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(ii) to Annex 5(iv) of the report 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) of the report and the addition of Alternative Education Provision to the Regulation 123 list.

j)  The Capital & Investment Strategy at Annex 6 to the report.

k)   The MRP Policy at Annex 7 to the report.

l)  The Capital Prudential Indicators outlined in 5.7.8 of the report.

m)  The Annual Pay Policy Statement at Annex 9 of the report.

n)  The Council’s Organisational Plan at Annex 10 of the report.

o)  The Council Tax Support Scheme for 2019/20 shown in the following link:  http://www.bathnes.gov.uk/sites/default/files/sitedocuments/Council-Tax-Benefits-and-Grants/CouncilTax/draft_bath_ne_someset_s13a_201920.pdf  and referred to in 5.3.4 of the report.

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 of the report.

3.  That Council notes the S151 Officer’s report on the robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves outlined in 5.6 of the report.

THE COUNCIL APPROVES THE BUDGET AND COUNCIL TAX FOR 2019/20 AS INDICATED ABOVE AND ACCORDINGLY RESOLVES:

4.  That the 2019/20 revenue expenditure is funded as follows:

* Before Tariff Payment of £38.980m
 

a.  That it be noted that on the 12th December 2018 the Director of Finance (as authorised section 151 officer) agreed 65,687.52 Band D property equivalent as the Council Tax Base for the year 2019/20 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) of the report. [Annex 1 (1) gives Band D Tax base by parish]

5.  That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the 2019/20 financial year in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Local Government and Finance Act 1992, as amended:

a.  £346,963,908 (=£344,236,634 (gross expenditure including contribution to reserves) +£2,727,274 (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.  £252,200,534 (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.  £94,763,374  being the amount by which the aggregate at 5(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 5(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.  £ 1,442.64  being the amount at 5(c) above divided by the amount at 4(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.  £ 2,727,274  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.  £1,401.12  being the amount at 5(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 5(e) above by the amount at 4(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 5(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 4(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) of the report.

[Annex 1 (3) gives the Band D Council tax for each area including the parish precepts]

h.  h) The amounts given by multiplying the amounts at 5(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) of the report.

[Annex 1 (4) shows the B&NES and parish Council Tax for all bands.]

Precepting Authorities

6.  That it be noted that for the year 2019/20 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 below:-

7.  Avon and Somerset Police

Valuation Bands

8.  That it be noted that for the year 2019/20 Avon Fire Authority met on 13th February 2019 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 below:-

9.  Avon Fire Authority

Valuation Bands

10.That, having calculated the aggregate in each case of the amounts 7, 9 and 5(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 2019/20 financial year for each of the categories of dwellings shown, as listed in Annex 1 (5) of the report.

11.On average (for a Band D, 2 adult household) the Council Tax for 2019/20 will be as follows:

[Overall annual increase in average Band D Council Tax is £81.87]

* The percentage figures represent the number of percentage points which increases for the Adult Social Care precept and the B&NES general expenditure charge each contribute to the overall increase set by the Council in 2019/20.

12.The Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2019/20 is not determined to be excessive in accordance with principles approved under section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992.

[Notes;

1.  During debate, an unsuccessful amendment was moved by Councillor Joe Rayment and seconded by Councillor Chris Dando, calling for an alternative budget to be brought to the reserve meeting with proposals more consistent with the Corporate Strategy, and asking the Leader to demand of Government a reversal of cuts to the core grant.  This was lost on a recorded vote with 24 Councillors voting in favour, 34 Councillors voting against and 0 abstentions, as set out below;

Councillor voting in favour; - Councillors Rob Appleyard, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, Sarah Bevan, Colin Blackburn, John Bull, Neil Butters, Sue Craig, Paul Crossley, Chris Dando, Ian Gilchrist, Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Alison Millar, Robin Moss, Michelle O’Doherty, Lin Patterson, June Player, Joe Rayment, Dine Romero, Richard Samuel, Will Sandry, Shaun Stephenson Mc-Gall and Karen Walker.

Councillors voting against; - Councillors Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Jasper Becker, Anthony Clarke, Fiona Darey, Matthew Davies, Sally Davis, Emma Dixon, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Lizzie Gladwyn, Bob Goodman, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Deirdre Horstmann, Steve Jeffries, Les Kew, Barry Macrae, Paul May, Paul Myers, Michael Norton, Lisa O’Brien, Bryan Organ, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Mark Shelford, Brian Simmons, Peter Turner, Martin Veal, David Veale, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Karen Warrington and Chris Watt.

2.  The substantive motion was carried with 33 Councillors voting in favour, 22 Councillors voting against, and 2 objections as set out below;

Councillors voting in favour: - Councillors Patrick Anketell-Jones, Colin Barrett, Jasper Becker, Anthony Clarke, Fiona Darey, Matthew Davies, Sally Davis, Emma Dixon, Michael Evans, Charles Gerrish, Lizzie Gladwyn, Bob Goodman, Francine Haeberling, Alan Hale, Deirdre Horstmann, Les Kew, Barry Macrae, Paul May, Paul Myers, Michael Norton, Lisa O’Brien, Bryan Organ, Vic Pritchard, Liz Richardson, Mark Shelford, Brian Simmons, Peter Turner, Martin Veal, David Veale, Geoff Ward, Tim Warren, Karen Warrington and Chris Watt.

Councillors voting against; - Councillors Rob Appleyard, Tim Ball, Cherry Beath, Colin Blackburn, John Bull, Neil Butters, Sue Craig, Paul Crossley, Chris Dando, Ian Gilchrist, Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Alison Millar, Robin Moss, Michelle O’Doherty, Lin Patterson, June Player, Joe Rayment, Dine Romero, Richard Samuel, Will Sandry and Shaun Stephenson-McGall.

Councillors abstaining; - Councillors Sarah Bevan and Karen Walker.]