Agenda item

This is a revised version of Item 06 (Budget and Council Tax 2017/18) taking into account Surrey County Council’s decision on its Council Tax Precept.  Amendments were also necessitated amendments to Appendix 13 (also attached).  Revisions have been highlighted in yellow throughout the report and the relevant Appendix.

(Note: Kathryn Beldon returned to the Chamber for the remainder of the meeting)

The Council gave consideration to its 2017/18 budget, comprising both revenue and capital expenditure plans and Council Tax amounts for each band of dwelling which took account of recommendations of the Community & Wellbeing, Environment and Strategy and Resources Committees (appertaining to fees and charges, the revenue budget and capital programme).

An amended report had been issued on 9 February 2017, following, on 7 February 2017, the decision of Surrey County Council regarding its precept.  The amended report was based on a recommended increase of £4.95 per annum (for Band D properties) in Council Tax reflecting the final settlement which had allowed District Councils to increase council tax by up to £5 or 2% whichever provided the higher increase in income.

In moving the recommendations of the Director of Finance and Resources, the Chairman of the Strategy and Resources Committee, Councillor Eber Kington, made a statement to the Council on the budget for 2016/17 to which Councillors Alexander Clarke and Vince Romanguolo responded.

Upon being put, the MOTION was CARRIED, there being 26 members in favour and 6 against as follows:

Accordingly, it was

RESOLVED that:

(1)          it be noted that, under delegated powers, the Director of Finance and Resources calculated the amount of the Council Tax Base as 32,324.01 (Band ‘D’ equivalent properties) for the year 2017/18 calculated in accordance with the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”);

(2)          the following estimates recommended by the policy committees be approved:-

a)            The revised revenue estimates for the year 2016/17 and the revenue estimates for 2017/18;

b)           The capital programme for 2017/18 and the provisional programme for 2018 to 2020, as summarised in the capital strategy statement;

(3)          the fees and charges recommended by the policy committees be approved for 2017/18.

(4)          the Council Tax Requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2017/18 is £6,045,236;

(5)          the budget risk assessment at Appendix 6 be received and the conclusion of the Director of Finance and Resources that these budget proposals are robust and sustainable as concluded in this report be noted;

(6)          the Director of Finance & Resources’ Statement on the Reserves as attached at Appendix 8 be received.

(7)          the Prudential Indicators and Authorised Limits for 2017/18 as set out in Appendix 11 be approved 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)          the following amounts be now calculated for the year 2017/18 in accordance with sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

a)            £53,806,686 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31A(2) of the Act

b)           £47,761,450 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in section 31(A)3 of the Act

c)            £6,045,236 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)           £187.02 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, as the basic amount of its council tax for the year

(9)          that it be noted that Surrey County Council and Surrey Police Authority had issued precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area as indicated in the table below:-

SURREY COUNTY COUNCIL

SURREY POLICE AUTHORITY

(10)       in accordance with Section 30 to 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, the Council hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in the tables below as the amounts of Council Tax for 2017/18 for each of the categories of dwellings.

EPSOM AND EWELL BOROUGH COUNCIL

AGGREGATE OF COUNCIL TAX REQUIREMENTS