To consider recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 5 February 2013 and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1.

(a)         Budget 2013/14 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2013 to 2017

(b)         Capital Programme 2013/14 to 2013/17

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

(papers to follow)

and to present the Council Tax Resolution (papers to follow)

Note: The papers for (a) (b) and (c) above may be seen at the following link:

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=4055&Ver=4

(a)    Budget 2013/14 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2013 to 2017

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 5 February 2013 seeking approval of the proposed Medium Term Financial Plan and Revenue Budget for 2013/14.  It also considered the Council Tax Resolution in conjunction with this item.

In his introduction, the Deputy Leader drew attention to the external factors which had influenced the proposed budget and the financial challenges faced by local authorities.  He referred to the significant social and economic drivers of change within Central Bedfordshire across the medium term and beyond.  He commented that the proposed budget had to be sustainable, affordable and support the Council’s priorities.  He was pleased that the proposed budget entailed no increase in the Council’s element of the Council Tax. 

The Deputy Leader referred to the proposed Capital Programme 2013/14 to 2016/17 which included funding for significant capital works associated with the Bedfordshire Energy and Recycling (BEaR) Project and the Woodside Link.  The financial position of the Housing Revenue Account was positive and would enable the Council to achieve the ambitions proposed in the emerging Housing Asset Management Strategy.

In accordance with the Constitution, the Leaders of the Liberal Democrat and Independent Groups spoke to the item.  The Leader of the Independent Group moved an additional recommendation, which was duly seconded:-

“(i)    that cut CSE 08 on page 90 of the Executive Committee agenda of 5 February be deleted, included as a growth item and the amounts mentioned be doubled.  That the amount budgeted for 2013-2014 be increased by the same percentage.”

Upon being put to the vote, the amendment was lost.

RESOLVED

1.         that the response to consultation with Overview and Scrutiny as set out in paragraph 38 and the response to consultation with the public stakeholders as set out in Appendix A to the Executive report, be noted;

2.         that the Revenue Budget for 2013/14 and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2013/14 to 2016/17 be approved;

3.         that the adjustments to the draft Budget as described in paragraph 24 of the Executive report be noted;

4.         that the Council Tax Base as set out in Appendix G to the Executive report be noted;

5.         that the allocation of £0.8m to Parish Councils as set out in paragraph 24 in the Executive report be noted;

6.         that a Band D Council Tax of £1,308.33 for residents of Central Bedfordshire be approved;

7.         that the fees and charges set out in Appendix J to the Executive report be approved; and

8.         that certain efficiency proposals identified in Appendix I to the Executive report would be subject to formal consultation and Equality Impact Assessment in the coming months and instructs the Corporate Management Team to propose alternative compensatory savings if it appears, following a review of the outcome of the consultation and Equality Impact Assessment, that any specific proposal cannot be delivered.

9.            that the resolution set out in the separate report on the Council Tax be approved.

(b)    Capital Programme 2013/14 to 2016/17

         The Council considered the recommendation from the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 21 February 2013 that proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution to allow the Executive, subject to certain provisions, to add schemes from a reserve list to the Capital Programme.

         RESOLVED

that the proposed changes to the Council’s Constitution regarding the extension of the Executive’s authority to add schemes to the Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved and adopted.

         The Council then considered the recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 5 February 2013 in respect of the proposed Capital Programme for 2013/14 to 2016/17.

RESOLVED

1.            that the 2013/14 to 2016/17 Capital Programme (as per Appendix A to the Executive report) be approved;

2.            that the Capital Programme Reserve List 2013/14 to 2016/17 (as per Appendix B to the Executive report) be approved; and

3.            that the revised capital, treasury and borrowing Prudential Indicators contained within Appendix C to the Executive report be approved.

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

The Council considered the recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 5 February in respect of the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) during the first year of the self financing regime.

RESOLVED

1.            that the HRA’s debt portfolio and interest payments due in 2012/13 be noted;

2.            that the proposal for no principal debt repayments in the current financial year or during the period of the Medium Term Financial Plan, namely 2012/13 - 2016/17 be approved;

3.            that the creation of a new reserve, to be called the Strategic Reserve, be approved;

4.            to fund the HRA’s 2012/13 Capital Programme from the negative HRA Capital Financing Requirement, thereby releasing additional funds for the Sheltered Housing Re-Provision Reserve and Strategic Reserve;

5.            that the HRA Revenue Budget for 2013/14 and the Landlord Service Business Plan summary at Appendix A to the Executive report be approved;

6.            that the 2013/14 to 2016/17 HRA Capital Programme at Appendix B to the Executive report be approved;

7.            that the average rent increase of 4.67% for 2013/14 in line with the national rental increase as per the Government’s Rent Convergence Policy be approved; and

8.            that the proposed allocation of £0.2m to support financial advice, money management and debt problems for customers be approved.