Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillor N Heslop declared an Other Significant Interest in the item on Review of Fees and Charges in respect of the list of concessionary users of Tonbridge Castle Chamber on the grounds of being a member of the Board of the Bridge Trust.  He withdrew from the meeting during consideration of this matter and the chair was taken by Councillor Coffin.

Item LAA 14/45 referred from Leisure and Arts Advisory Board minutes of 8 December 2014

Item LAA 14/45 referred from Leisure and Arts Advisory Board Minutes of 8 December 2014

Decision Notice D150014CAB

Item FP 15/6 referred from Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board minutes of 7 January 2015

Item FIP 15/6 referred from Finance, Innovation and Property Advisory Board Minutes of 7 January 2015

Decision Notice D150015CAB

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 CB 15/24

This report will take the Cabinet through the process of setting the Council Tax for 2015/16.  As the process follows on from "Setting the Budget for 2015/16", a report will be circulated in advance of the meeting once the preceding report has also been finalised.

The joint report of the Chief Executive, Director of Finance and Transformation, Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Finance, Innovation and Property set out the requirements under the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for a billing authority to set an amount of council tax for each category of dwelling in its area.  Members were advised of the position concerning the determination of their respective precepts for 2015/16 by the major precepting authorities.

Consideration was given to a draft resolution identifying the processes to be undertaken in arriving at the levels of council tax applicable to each part of the Borough.  Reference was made to the debate that needed to take place regarding the relative merits of a freeze in council tax as opposed to an increase.  Accordingly, the resolution and further information regarding the precepts of the other authorities would be reported to the full Council on 17 February 2015.

RECOMMENDED:  That the resolution be noted and the Council be recommended to approve a 1.99% increase in the Borough Council’s element of the council tax for 2015/16, representing an annual charge at Band D of £187.51.

*Referred to Council

The Chairman to move that the press and public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting during consideration of any items the publication of which would disclose exempt information.

There were no items considered in private.