Agenda and minutes

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Council Chamber, Priory House, Monks Walk, Shefford

Contact: Helen Bell  0300 300 4040

Items
No. Item

 

In the absence of the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman chaired the meeting.

Prayers

 

Prayers were taken by Reverend Bill Britt.

70.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 94 KB

 

To approve the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 January 2018.

     .

Minutes:

 

RESOLVED

 

that the minutes of the Council meeting held on 10 January 2018 were approved as a correct record, subject to an amendment to resolution 1 on minute C/17/59 ‘Recommendations from the Executive, 1) Central Bedfordshire Local Plan’ to read as follows:

 

1.      that the draft Pre-Submission Local Plan be approved for the purposes of publication for consultation.

 

 

 

71.

Members' Interests

 

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

 

 

Minutes:

 

No declarations of interest were received.

 

 

72.

Questions, Statements and Deputations

 

To receive any questions, statements and deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Part 4G of the Constitution.  (This session will be held at the Chairman’s discretion and will normally last no longer than 15 minutes.)

 

Minutes:

 

Two members of the public had registered to speak on item 7, ‘Recommendations from the Executive, (a) Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Term Financial Plan’.

 

Dr Egan raised concerns about an increase in Council Tax and highlighted the proposal for a new national insurance plan as set out in a report on Health and Social Care by the Liberal Democrats Party.

 

In response, the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources indicated that he looked forward to a forthcoming consultation paper from the Government covering proposals for the future funding of social care.

 

Mrs Bagchi enquired about the costs associated with fluoridation in water.

 

In response to the question, the Executive Member for Health explained that the costs associated with fluoridation covering Central Bedfordshire were lower than suggested and referred to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence’s views and the return on investment. 

 

 

73.

Chairman's Announcements and Communications

 

The Chairman to announce any matters of communication.

 

Minutes:

 

The Vice-Chairman updated Members on the health of the Chairman and undertook to convey the Council’s best wishes to her for a speedy recovery.

 

In accordance with Local Authorities (Standing Order) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 there would be a recorded vote for agenda items 7 (a), (b),(c) and (g).

 

 

 

74.

Leader of the Council's Announcements and Communications

 

The Leader of the Council to announce any matters of communication.

Minutes:

 

The Leader provided an update on the Oxford to Cambridge Corridor and advised that a proposal would be presented to Council to establish a Central Area Growth Board.  The Government was also inviting authorities within the Central Area to consider entering into ‘growth deals’ to help unlock investment and this issue was under consideration.

 

 

 

75.

Recommendations from the Executive pdf icon PDF 5 KB

 

To consider a recommendation from the meeting of the Executive, 6 February 2018 and answer questions asked under Part 4A, Rule No. 13.1 of the Council’s Procedure Rules.

 

(a)  Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Plan.

 

(b)  Capital Programme 2018/19 to 2021/22.

 

(c)  Budget for the Housing Revenue Account (Landlord Business Plan).

 

(d)  Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Policy.

 

(e)  Social Care, Health & Housing Fees and Charges 2018/19.

 

(f)   Traded Services to Schools and Academies 2018/19.

 

(g)  and to present the Council Tax resolution.

 

Please note: The papers for (a) to (f) above can be viewed at the following link;

 

http://centralbeds.moderngov.co.uk/mgChooseDocPack.aspx?ID=5374

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

(a)      Budget 2018/19 and Medium Term Financial Plan.

 

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 6 February 2018, seeking approval of the proposed Medium Term Financial Plan and Revenue Budget for 2018/19.

 

In his introduction, the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources commented on the range of external factors which had influenced the proposed budget. In particular, the reductions in Government funding, the loss of the Revenue Support Grant in 2019/20 and the welcomed but unfunded increases in the Living Wage. He commented on the outcome of the public consultation and that the draft budget had been scrutinised by the Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee. 

 

He spoke about the pressure on services, particularly in social care with the increase in population and the number of residents aged between 65 to 85 years old increasing.  He also highlighted the additional pressure resulting from the increase in vulnerable children, school transport costs and homelessness.

 

The final Local Government Finance Settlement had been received which, included an additional one year only grant ring fenced for adult social care.  The New Homes Bonus would continue, although at a reduced rate and this would provide some support to the General Fund with a small surplus going to a reserve to help fund future capital investments.

 

The Executive Member highlighted the statutory requirements relating to specific budget proposals, as set out in Appendix F to the Executive report. 

 

In response to the budget consultation, the Executive Member for Corporate Resources advised that the Executive had recommended a Council Tax rise of 1.49%, a lower rate of increase than one of the options set out in the Council’s public consultation exercise and a 3.0% increase specifically to help fund adult social care.

 

The Leader of the Independent Group commented on the response from the public consultation to the increase in the Council Tax.

 

The Leader of the Labour Group advocated that a progressive approach to taxation to encourage growth and minimise the impact on local people on lower income.

 

Other Members of the Council were invited to comment on the proposed budget.

 

The Leader and the Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Corporate Resources responded to comments made during the debate.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.            that the Revenue Budget for 2018/19 and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2018/19 to 2021/22 be approved; and

 

2.            that in line with the Government guidance, the following increases in Council tax (CBC element) for residents of Central Bedfordshire be applied:

 

(a)          a Band D increase of £21.24, representing a 1.494% increase on the charge for 2017/18; and

 

(b)       a Band D increase of £42.66, representing a 3.0% increase on the charge for 2017/18, reflecting a precept of this amount to help fund adult social care costs.

           

In total the Band D increase will be £63.90, representing a 4.494% increase in the charge for 2017/18.  The CBC element of Band D Council Tax for 2018/19 will therefore be £1,485.78.

 

In accordance with the Local authorities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 75.

76.

Revised Composition of the Executive and Scheme of Delegation of Executive Functions pdf icon PDF 53 KB

 

To receive a report of the Leader on the revised Composition of the Executive and the amended Scheme of Delegation of Executive Functions.

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

NOTED

 

(1)          that Councillor Steve Dixon had been designated as Lead Member for Children’s Services;

 

(2)          the revision to the composition of the Executive and the allocation of portfolios, as set out at Appendix A; and

 

(3)          the scheme of delegation of Executive functions, as set out at Part C3 of the Council’s Constitution.

 

 

 

77.

Change of Membership on Committees

 

Notification is given under Part 4A (2.6.2) of the Council’s Constitution that since the last meeting, the following changes to the membership of Committees have been made:

 

(i)            Corporate Parenting Panel - Councillor Dixon has replaced Councillor Costin.

 

 

 

 

Minutes:

 

NOTED that Councillor Dixon had replaced Councillor Costin on the Corporate Parenting Panel.