Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber - Epsom Town Hall, https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/2835740964519943948

Contact: Democratic Services, Email: democraticservices@epsom-ewell.gov.uk  tel: 01372 732000

Items
No. Item

36.

Declarations of Interest

To receive declarations of the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests from Members in respect of any item to be considered at the meeting.

Minutes:

No declarations of interest were made by Councillors regarding items on the agenda.

37.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 351 KB

To confirm the Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 7 December 2021.

Minutes:

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Council held on 7 December 2021 were agreed as a true record and the Mayor was authorised to sign them.

38.

Mayoral Communications/Business

To receive such communications or deal with such business as the Mayor may decide to lay before the Council.

Minutes:

The Mayor made a number of announcements relating to noteworthy virtual and in-person events which he had attended over the past 3 months.

 

39.

Budget Report 2022 - 2023 pdf icon PDF 580 KB

This report fulfils the statutory requirement to agree a budget for 2022/23, comprising both revenue and capital expenditure plans, and to set a Council Tax for the year.

 

The Council Tax recommendation as supported by the Financial Policy Panel is for an increase of £4.95 per annum (Band D property), an equivalent increase of 2.38%.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Council gave consideration to its 2022/23 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 Colin Keane, made a statement to the Council on the budget for 2022/23 to which Councillors Kate Chinn and David Gulland responded.

Upon being put the motion to agree the recommendations of the report was CARRIED, there being 26 members in favour, 3 against and 2 abstaining as detailed below.

Accordingly, it was resolved:

(1)          That it be noted that, under delegated powers, the Chief Finance Officer calculated the amount of the Council Tax Base as 33,251.43 (Band ‘D’ equivalent properties) for the year 2022/23, 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 2021/22 and the revenue estimates for 2022/23.

b.    The capital programme for 2022/23 and the provisional programme for 2024 to 2027, as summarised in the capital strategy statement.

(3)          That the fees and charges recommended by the Policy Committees be approved for 2022/23.

(4)          That the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2022/23 is £7,089,537.

(5)          That the Council receives the budget risk assessment at Appendix 6 to the report 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 Appendix 8 to the report.

(7)          That the Council agrees the Prudential Indicators and Authorised Limits for 2022/23 as set out in Appendix 11 to the report 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 calculated for the year 2022/23 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

a.    £57,560,657 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act.

b.    £50,471,120 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(3) of the Act.

c.    £7,089,537 being the amount by which the aggregate at 8(a) above  exceeds the aggregate at 8(b) above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year.

d.    £213.21 being the amount at 8(c) above divided by the amount at 1. above, calculated by the Council, in accordance with section 31(B) of the Act,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 39.

Recorded Vote
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Budget Report 2022 - 2023 Budget decision Carried
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  • 40.

    External Audit Update pdf icon PDF 309 KB

    This report presents Grant Thornton’s 2020/21 Annual Report to members.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Council received a report presents Grant Thornton’s 2020/21 Annual Report to members.

    Councillor Colin Keane MOVED the recommendations in the report.

    Upon being put the recommendations were CARRIED unanimously.

    Accordingly, it was resolved to:

    (1)      Receive the Auditor’s Annual Report;

    (2)      Note the management responses to the auditor’s recommendations at Appendix 1 to the report.

    41.

    Appointment of External Auditor from 2023/24 pdf icon PDF 295 KB

    This report sets out proposals for appointing the external auditor to the Council for the accounts for the five-year period from 2023/24.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Council received a report setting out proposals for appointing the external auditor to the Council for the accounts for the five-year period from 2023/24.

    Councillor Colin Keane MOVED the recommendations in the report.

    Upon being put the recommendations were CARRIED unanimously.

    Accordingly, it was resolved to:

    (1)      Agree with the recommendation, from both Audit, Crime & Disorder and Scrutiny Committee and Strategy & Resources Committee, that EEBC should accept Public Sector Audit Appointments’ invitation to opt into the sector-led option for the appointment of external auditors to principal local government bodies for five financial years from 1 April 2023.

    42.

    EEBC Pay Policy Statement 2022-23 pdf icon PDF 224 KB

    This report seeks approval of the draft Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Pay Policy Statement 2022/23.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Council received a report seeking approval of the draft Epsom & Ewell Borough Council Pay Policy Statement 2022/23.

    Councillor Colin Keane MOVED the recommendations in the report.

    Upon being put the recommendations were CARRIED by a majority vote in favour, with 28 Members voting for and 3 Members abstaining.

     

    Accordingly, it was resolved to:

    (1)          Approve the Pay Policy Statement for 2022/23

     

    43.

    Annual Plan 2022-2023 pdf icon PDF 237 KB

    This report sets out the Annual Plan 2022-2023 outlining the key objectives to support the delivery of the Council’s Four Year Plan 2020-2024. The plan was approved by Strategy & Resources Committee on 27 January 2022.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Council received a report setting out the Annual Plan 2022-2023 outlining the key objectives to support the delivery of the Council’s Four Year Plan 2020-2024. The plan had been approved by Strategy & Resources Committee on 27 January 2022.

    Councillor Colin Keane MOVED the recommendations in the report.

    During debate a Member raised a query regarding the date for key deliverable number 25 (Tree Planting Strategy) of the Annual Plan, and it was noted that the Chair of Environment and Safe Communities Committee would provide a response following the meeting.

    Upon being put the recommendations were CARRIED by a majority vote in favour, with 29 Members voting for and 2 Members abstaining.

    Accordingly, it was resolved to:

    (1)          Approve the draft  key  objectives  and deliverables identified  within  the Annual Plan for 2022-2023

    44.

    Financial Regulations Review pdf icon PDF 337 KB

    Following the Local Government Association (LGA) Finance Peer Review, this report presents a review of the Council’s financial decision-making procedures and recommends changes to the Financial Regulations for the Committee’s consideration. The report also provides an update on the LGA Peer Review Action Plan.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Council received a report presenting a review of the Council’s financial decision-making procedures and recommending changes to the Financial Regulations.

    Councillor Colin Keane MOVED the recommendations in the report.

    Upon being put the recommendations were CARRIED unanimously.

    Accordingly, it was resolved to:

    (1)      Agree with Strategy and Resources Committee’s recommendation to approve the proposed changes to Financial Policy Panel’s responsibilities and to the Financial Regulations as set-out in the report, with effect from 1 April 2022.

    45.

    Committee Terms of Reference pdf icon PDF 212 KB

    This report presents the amended Terms of Refence for Committees for approval by Council.

    Additional documents:

    Minutes:

    Council received a report presenting amended Terms of Refence for Committees for approval.

    Councillor Colin Keane MOVED the recommendations in the report.

    Upon being put the recommendations were CARRIED by a majority vote in favour, with 30 Members voting for and 1 Member abstaining.

    Accordingly, it was resolved to:

    (1)          Agree the amended Committee Terms of Reference.