Issue - meetings

Item CB 15/24 referred from Cabinet minutes of 12 February 2015

Item CB 15/24 referred from Cabinet minutes of 12 February 2015

It was proposed by Councillor Coffin and seconded by Councillor N Heslop that the recommendations at Minute CB 15/24 be adopted.  In accordance with Council Procedure Rule No 8.5 voting was recorded as follows:

Members voting for the motion:

Cllr A W Allison, Cllr Mrs J A Anderson, Cllr J A L Balcombe, Cllr O C Baldock, Cllr M A C Balfour, Cllr Mrs J M Bellamy, Cllr T Bishop, Cllr P F Bolt, Cllr V M C Branson, Cllr Mrs B A Brown, Cllr C Brown, Cllr M A Coffin, Cllr D J Cure, Cllr R W Dalton, Cllr D A S Davis, Cllr M O Davis, Cllr T Edmondston-Low, Cllr Miss J R L Elks, Cllr Mrs M F Heslop, Cllr N J Heslop, Cllr Mrs E M Holland, Cllr P J Homewood, Cllr S R J Jessel, Cllr D Keeley, Cllr Mrs F A Kemp, Cllr S M King, Cllr R D Lancaster, Cllr Mrs S Luck, Cllr B J Luker, Cllr Miss A Moloney, Cllr Mrs S Murray, Cllr Mrs A S Oakley, Cllr M Parry-Waller, Cllr M R Rhodes, Cllr H S Rogers, Cllr A G Sayer, Cllr Miss J L Sergison, Cllr Mrs E A Simpson, Cllr C P Smith, Cllr D W Smith, Cllr Ms S V Spence, Cllr A K Sullivan, Cllr M Taylor, Cllr D J Trice and Cllr Mrs C J Woodger

Total 45

Members voting against the motion:

Cllr J Atkins

Total 1

Members abstaining:

None

RESOLVED:  That the recommendations at Minute CB 15/24 be approved.

The holding report of the Chief Executive and Director of Finance and Transformation updated the Cabinet on issues relating to the setting of the Budget for 2015/16 together with the outcome of the examination of the draft Revenue Estimates and the Capital Plan review process undertaken by the Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board and the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

A more detailed supplementary report prepared in liaison with the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property was circulated in advance of the meeting.  It highlighted adjustments made to the Revenue Estimates presented to the Advisory Board and Committee in respect of the Business Rates Retention Scheme Reserve and the Capital Plan in respect of the need for greater evaluation of the tenders received for the Tonbridge Town Lock Scheme.  The report examined the situation in relation to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and gave details of the necessary procedure to be followed in order to set the budget for 2015/16.

The Director of Finance and Transformation explained the components of the funding allocation in the final local government settlement published on 3 February 2015 and the position arising from the Government's offer of a council tax 'freeze' grant in 2015/16 (equivalent to a 1% increase in council tax).

Members were advised of the Secretary of State's announcement that the referendum threshold had been set at 2% for 2015/16.  It was noted that the summary total for the 2015/16 estimates would be affected by the Council's decision on whether or not to accept the 'freeze' grant and thus the level of overall savings needing to be made.

Attention was drawn to recommendations from Advisory Boards and the decision of the Licensing and Appeals Committee regarding the levels of fees and charges to be implemented from 1 April 2015 which had been incorporated in the draft estimates.  Members were reminded of the approach to preparation of the Capital Plan, an updated summary of which was set out at Annex 7 to the report.

The report then described the remaining procedure to be followed in setting the budget for 2015/16 and calculating the council tax.  Consideration was given to the updated MTFS based on a council tax increase of 1.99% (the upper limit for referendum purposes) and a council tax freeze.  The Cabinet also deliberated on the most appropriate guidance to offer the Council as to the way forward for updating the MTFS for the next ten year period and setting the council tax for 2015/16.  Finally, the Director of Finance and Transformation explained the basis on which the statement as to the Robustness of the Estimates and Adequacy of the Reserves had been made. 

Members recorded their thanks to the Director of Finance and Transformation and colleagues for their work in bringing forward the budget and to staff for their flexibility in the current challenging circumstances.

RECOMMENDED:  That

(1)                                                    the fees and charges set out in Annex 2 to the report, as recommended by the appropriate Advisory Boards,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24