To consider any motions on notice from members of the Council under Rule 17, in the order received.

1.     Notice of Motion from Councillor Nigel Aldis –

The Council recognises that even in these difficult financial times it has a duty of care and responsibility towards the Town and Parish Councils which are the bedrock of our democracy. Accordingly it asks the Executive, when preparing the Council’s draft revenue budget for 2014-15, to include a grant to Town and Parish Councils equivalent to 80% of the Transition and Mitigation Grant for the financial year 2013-14.

Unless directed otherwise by Central Government, the Council proposes that in future years the level of this grant will be reduced by 20% each year (60% of 2013-2014 level in 2015-2016; 40% in 2016-2017; 20% in 2017-2018)

The Council recognises that these arrangements will considerably assist local councils in those areas where the change in the Council Tax system is most acute.

Notice had been received from Councillor Aldis of a Motion under Procedure Rule No 17 as follows:

“The Council recognises that even in these difficult financial times it has a duty of care and responsibility towards the Town and Parish Councils which are the bedrock of our democracy.  Accordingly it asks the Executive, when preparing the Council’s draft revenue budget for 2014-15, to include a grant to Town and Parish Councils equivalent to 80% of the Transition and Mitigation Grant for the financial year 2013-14.

Unless directed otherwise by Central Government, the Council proposes that in future years the level of this grant will be reduced by 20% each year (60% of 2013-2014 level in 2015-2016; 40% in 2016-2017; 20% in 2017-2018).

The Council recognises that these arrangements will considerably assist local councils in those areas where the change in the Council Tax system is most acute.”

Further to agreement by the Council in accordance with Part B5 paragraph 19.8 of the Council’s Constitution, an alteration to the motion from Councillor Zerny was accepted, as follows:

1.    2^nd sentence of first paragraph: replace the wording following “2014-15” with:-

“to pay the same level of Council Tax Support Grant to each of the parish councils as in 2013/14 and to do so throughout the duration of the Medium Term Plan.  If any reductions have to be made to the support grant they should be directly proportional to any decrease in the overall income Central Bedfordshire receives from Government.”

2.    Remove 2^nd paragraph

3.    Final sentence reverse the order of the words “considerably assist”.

So the motion before Council read:

“The Council recognises that even in these difficult financial times it has a duty of care and responsibility towards the Town and Parish Councils which are the bedrock of our democracy.  Accordingly, it asks the Executive, when preparing the Council’s draft revenue budget for 2014/15, to pay the same level of Council Tax Support Grant to each of the parish councils as in 2013/14 and to do so throughout the duration of the Medium Term Financial Plan. If any reductions have to be made to the support grant they should be directly proportional to any decrease in the overall income Central Bedfordshire Council receives from Government.

The Council recognises that these arrangements will assist considerably local councils in those areas where the change in the Council Tax system is most acute.”

In accordance with paragraph 21.5 of Part B5 of the Council’s Constitution ‘Full Procedure Rules’, a recorded vote was requested and granted.

Upon being put to the vote, those in favour of the motion were:

Councillors: Aldis, Coleman, Egan, Goodchild, Graham, D Jones, Murray, Pepworth, Shingler, Smith, Williams and Zerny.

Those against the motion were:

Councillors: Barker, Bastable, Berry, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, S Clark, Costin, Dalgarno, Dodwell, Duckett, Gomm, Hegley, Hollick, Jamieson, Janes, Johnstone, M Jones, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, McVicar, Mustoe, B Saunders, J Saunders, Sheppard, Sparrow, Stay, A Turner, P Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wells, Wenham & Young.

Councillors: Mrs Drinkwater, Mrs Gurney & Shadbolt had left the meeting prior to consideration of this item.

Councillor Maudlin abstained from voting.

The motion was lost.