To consider recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 4 February 2014 and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1.

 

(a)       Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2014 to 2018 

(pages 17 – 18)

 

(b)       Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18                             (page 19)

 

(c)       Budget report for the Housing Revenue Account (Housing Service)

         Business Plan                                                (page 21)

 

(d)       Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Policy    (page 23)

 

and to present the Council Tax Resolution (pages 25 to 38)

 

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

 

http://www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/modgov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=4398&Ver=4

 

 

(a)       Budget 2014/15 and Medium Term Financial Plan 2014 to 2018

 

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 4 February 2014 seeking approval of the proposed Medium Term Financial Plan and Revenue Budget for 2014/15. 

 

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 any budget had to be sustainable, affordable and support the Council’s priorities.  He was pleased to confirm that the proposed budget entailed no increase in the Council’s element of the Council Tax nor any cuts to frontline services.  He also commented that the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account was positive and would enable the Council to achieve the ambitions contained in the Housing Asset Management Strategy.

 

The Deputy Leader referred to the transfer of Public Health, with its £10m budget, to the Council, the proposed Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18 which included funding for significant capital projects across all directorates, including the Woodside Link, the Leisure Centre in Flitwick, enhanced waste disposal facilities and new school places.

 

The Leaders of the Independent and the Liberal Democrat Groups commented on the proposed budget as provided for in the Council’s constitution. 

 

RESOLVED:

 

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

 

2.    that the Revenue Budget for 2014/15 and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2014/15 to 2017/18 be approved;

 

3.    that there were no adjustments to the draft Budget as described in paragraph 52 of the report;

 

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

 

5.    that a Band D Council Tax (CBC element) of £1,308.33 for residents of Central Bedfordshire, representing a 0% increase on the charge for 2013/14, be approved;

 

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

 

7.    that efficiency proposals identified in Appendix I to the Executive report be noted, and that they be subject to formal consultation and equality impact assessment in the coming months, and that the Corporate Management Team be instructed to propose alternative compensatory savings if it appears, following a review of the outcome of the equality impact assessment, that any specific proposal cannot be delivered.

 

In accordance with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those in favour of the resolutions were:

 

Councillors Barker, Bastable, Berry, Birt, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, Clarke, Collins, Costin, Dalgarno, Dodwell, Drinkwater, Duckett, Gomm, Hegley, Hollick, Hopkin, Jamieson, Janes, M Jones, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, McVicar, Mustoe, Nicols, B Saunders, Shadbolt, Sheppard, Sparrow, Spurr, Stay, A Turner, P Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wenham and Young.

 

Those against the resolutions were:

 

Councillors Egan, Murray, Pepworth, Shingler, Smith and Zerny.

 

Those who abstained from voting were:

 

Councillors Aldis, Coleman, Goodchild, Graham, D Jones and  Williams.

 

(b)      Capital Programme 2014/15 to 2017/18

 

The Council considered the recommendation from the meeting of the Executive held on 4 February 2014 in respect of the proposed capital programme for 2014/15 to 2017/18.

 

The Deputy Leader introduced two additional recommendations in connection with the proposed capital programme, relating to the land east of Biggleswade, which would be considered in detail at the Executive meeting on Tuesday 18 March 2014.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    that the capital programme for 2014/15 to 2017/18 be approved;

 

2.    to note that a report on the implications of the terms of the Consortium for Land East of Biggleswade will be submitted to Executive on 18 March 2014;

 

3.    that this additional scheme be incorporated into the capital programme for 2014/15.

 

In accordance with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those in favour of the resolutions were:

 

Councillors Barker, Bastable, Berry, Birt, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, Clarke, Coleman, Collins, Costin, Dalgarno, Dodwell, Drinkwater, Duckett, Egan, Gomm, Graham, Hegley, Hollick, Hopkin, Jamieson, Janes, M Jones, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, McVicar, Murray, Mustoe, Nicols, Pepworth, B Saunders, Shadbolt, Sheppard, Shingler, Smith, Sparrow, Spurr, Stay, A Turner, P Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wenham, Young and Zerny.

 

No Councillors voted against the resolutions.

 

Those who abstained from voting were:

 

Councillors Aldis, Goodchild, D Jones and Williams.

 

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

 

Councillor Dr Egan left the meeting prior to detailed debate on this item, in view of her declaration of interest recorded at minute C/13/77 above.

 

Councillor N Costin left the meeting at the commencement of this item.

 

The Council considered the recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 4 February 2014 in respect of the financial position of the Housing Revenue Account ( Housing Service) and the proposed rent increase for 2014/15.

 

RESOLVED

 

to approve the HRA budget proposals for 2014/15, as follows:

 

(a)  that the HRA’s debt portfolio and interest payments due in 2013/14 be noted;

 

(b)  that the proposal for principal debt repayments to begin in 2017/18 be approved;

 

(c)  that the use of £3.237m from the Major Repairs Reserve to finance part of the HRA Capital Programme for 2013/14 be approved;

 

(d)  that the development of an Investment Plan during 2014/15 to set out future development objectives, subject to consultation with stakeholders, be approved;

 

(e)  that the HRA Revenue Budget for 2014/15 and the Landlord Service Business Plan summary to Appendices A and B to the  Executive report be approved;

 

(f)   that the 2014/15 to 2017/18 HRA Capital Programme at Appendix C to the Executive report be approved; and

 

(g)  that the average rent increase of 5.46% for 2014/15 be approved in line with the national rental increase, as per the Government’s Rent Convergence Policy.

 

In accordance with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those in favour of the resolutions were:

 

Councillors Barker, Bastable, Berry, Birt, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, Clarke, Collins, Dalgarno, Dodwell, Drinkwater, Duckett, Gomm, Graham, Hegley, Hollick, Hopkin, Jamieson, Janes, M Jones, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, McVicar, Murray, Mustoe, Nicols, Pepworth, B Saunders, Shadbolt, Sheppard, Shingler, Smith, Sparrow, Spurr, Stay, A Turner, P Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wenham, Young and Zerny.

 

No Councillors voted against the resolutions.

 

Those who abstained from voting were:

 

Councillors Aldis, Coleman, Goodchild, D Jones and Williams.

 

(d)      Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Policy

 

The Council then considered the recommendation from the meeting of the Executive held on 4 February 2014 in respect of the Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Policy.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy Statement for 2014/15 be approved.

 

(e)       Council Tax Resolution

 

The Council lastly considered the recommendation in respect of the Council Tax Resolution as set out in Appendix A to the submitted report.

 

RESOLVED

 

that the Council Tax Resolution as set out in Appendix A to the submitted report be approved.

 

In accordance with The Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, a recorded vote was taken.

 

Those in favour of the resolutions were:

 

Councillors Barker, Bastable, Berry, Birt, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, Clarke, Coleman, Collins, Dalgarno, Dodwell, Drinkwater, Duckett, Gomm, Graham, Hegley, Hollick, Hopkin, Jamieson, Janes, M Jones, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, McVicar, Murray, Mustoe, Nicols, B Saunders, Shadbolt, Sheppard, Shingler, Smith, Sparrow, Spurr, Stay, A Turner, P Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wenham, Young and Zerny.

 

Those against the resolutions were:

 

Councillors Egan and Pepworth.

 

Those who abstained from voting were:

 

Councillors Aldis, Goodchild, D Jones and Williams.