Agenda item

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 robustness of the proposed budget and the adequacy of the Council’s reserves outlined in 5.7.

4.  That the Council note the budget consultation responses in Annex 10.

[Notes;

1.  An amendment was moved by Councillor Robin Moss and seconded by Councillor Liz Hardman.  This was lost on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (6); - Councillors David Biddleston, Chris Dando, Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson and Robin Moss

Councillors against (41)- Councillors Michael Auton, Alex Beaumont, Colin Blackburn, Alison Born, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Sarah Evans, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Alan Hale, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Gavin Heathcote, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Shaun Hughes, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Sarah Moore, Ann Morgan, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania; Manda Rigby, Dine Romero, Paul Roper, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, George Tomlin, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait, Karen Walker, Sarah Warren and Tim Warren.

Councillors abstaining (3) – Councillors Saskia Heijltjes, Sam Ross and Joanna Wright

2.  An amendment was moved by Councillor Joanna Wright and seconded by Councillor Saskia Heijltjes.  This was lost on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (3); - Councillors Saskia Heijltjes, Sam Ross and Joanna Wright

Councillors against (40)- Councillors Michael Auton, Alex Beaumont, Colin Blackburn, Alison Born, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Sarah Evans, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Gavin Heathcote, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Shaun Hughes, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Sarah Moore, Ann Morgan, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania; Manda Rigby, Dine Romero, Paul Roper, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, George Tomlin, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait, Karen Walker, Sarah Warren and Tim Warren.

Councillors abstaining (7) – Councillors David Biddleston, Chris Dando, Alan Hale, Liz Hardman, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson and Robin Moss

3.  The above successful resolution was carried on a named vote;

Councillors in favour (39); - Councillors Michael Auton, Alex Beaumont, David Biddleston, Alison Born, Chris Dando, Jess David, Mark Elliott, Fiona Gourley, Kevin Guy, Ian Halsall, Dave Harding, Liz Hardman, Steve Hedges, Oli Henman, Joel Hirst, Lucy Hodge, Duncan Hounsell, Eleanor Jackson, Grant Johnson, Samantha Kelly, George Leach, John Leach, Hal MacFie, Ruth Malloy, Paul May, Matt McCabe, Sarah Moore, Ann Morgan, Robin Moss, Michelle O’Doherty, Bharat Pankhania; Dine Romero, Paul Roper, Onkar Saini, Toby Simon, George Tomlin, Malcolm Treby, Andy Wait and Sarah Warren.

Councillors against (10); - Councillors Colin Blackburn Sarah Evans, Alan Hale, Gavin Heathcote, Saskia Heijltjes, Shaun Hughes, Sam Ross, Karen Walker, Tim Warren, and Joanna Wright.]