Issue - meetings

This report fulfils the statutory requirement to agree a budget for 2019/20, comprising both revenue and capital expenditure plans, and to set a Council Tax for the year. The council tax recommendation is for an increase of 2.99%. Financial Policy Panel made no recommendation to Council but requested that the report include options for a Council Tax freeze and an increase of 2.99%.

The Council gave consideration to its 2019/20 budget, comprising both revenue and capital expenditure plans and Council Tax amounts for each band of dwelling.  The report took account of the recommendations of the Community & Wellbeing, Environment & Safe Communities and Strategy & Resources Committees (appertaining to fees and charges, the revenue budget and capital programme).

In moving the recommendations of the Chief Finance Officer, the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, Councillor Eber Kington, made a statement to the Council on the budget for 2019/20 to which Councillors Alexander Clarke and Kate Chinn responded.

Upon being put, the MOTION was CARRIED, there being 29 members in favour and 6 against and 1 abstention as follows:

Accordingly, it was resolved that:

1.         That it be noted that, under delegated powers, the Chief Finance Officer calculated the Council Tax Base as 32,895.63 (Band ‘D’ equivalent properties) for the year 2019/20 calculated in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”).

2.         That the following estimates recommended by the policy committees be approved:-

a)    The revised revenue estimates for the year 2018/19 and the revenue estimates for 2019/20.

b)   The capital programme for 2019/20 and the provisional programme for 2020 to 2022, as summarised in the capital strategy statement.

3.         That the fees and charges recommended by the policy committees be approved for 2019/20.

4.         That the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2019/20 is £6,525,177.

5.         That the Council receives the budget risk assessment at Annexe 6 and notes the conclusion of the Chief Finance Officer that these budget proposals are robust and sustainable as concluded in this report.

6.         That the Council receives the Chief Finance Officer Statement on the Reserves as attached at Annexe 8.

7.         That the Council agrees the Treasury Management Strategy, Prudential Indicators and Authorised Limits for 2019/20 as set out in Annexe 11 including:-

a)    Affordability Prudential Indicators

b)   The actual and estimated Capital Financing Requirement

c)    The estimated levels of borrowing and investment

d)   The authorised and operational limits for external debt

e)    The treasury management prudential indicators

8.         That the following amounts be now calculated for the year 2019/20 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

a)    £55,822,364 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act

b)   £49,297,187 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31(A)3 of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35