To consider recommendations from the meeting of the Executive, 7 February 2017and answer questions asked under Rule No. 13.1.

 

(a) Budget 2017/18 and Medium Term Financial Plan

 

(attached pages 15 to 16)

 

 

(b) Capital Programme 2017/18 - 2020/21

 

(attached page 17)

 

 

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

 

(attached page 19)

 

 

(d) Social Care, Health & Housing Fees & Charges 2017/18

 

(attached page 21)

 

 

(e) Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Policy

                                                                                               

(attached page 23)

 

 

(f)and to present the Council Tax resolution

 

(attached pages 25-40)

 

 

Please note: The papers for (a) to (e) above may be seen at the following link:

 

http://centralbeds.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=577&MId=5135&Ver=4

 

 

 

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the  Executive held on 7 February 2017 seeking approval of the proposed Medium Term Financial Plan and Revenue Budget for 2017/18.

 

In his introduction, the Executive Member for Corporate Resources drew attention to external factors which had influenced the proposed budget and the financial pressures faced by local authorities.  In particular the reduction in funding from Government and other pressures. He referred to the significant social and economic factors which influenced change within Central Bedfordshire across the medium term and beyond.  He commented that the budget had to be sustainable, affordable and support the Council’s priorities.  He highlighted that the budget now included a 3% increase in the social care precept.

 

The Executive Member for Corporate Resources referred to the outcome of the consultation on the draft budget proposals and commented on the impact of Council tax rises particularly for those on low or fixed incomes. In view of this, the Executive had decided to recommend to Council a lower rate of Council tax increase than envisaged originally.

 

The other Group Leaders commented on the proposed budget.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.         that the Revenue Budget for 2017/18 and the Medium Term Financial Plan for 2017/18 to 2020/21, be approved;

 

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

 

(a)       a Band D increase of £21.07, representing a 1.549% increase on the charge for 2016/17; and

 

(b)       a Band D increase of £40.80, representing a 3.0% increase on the charge for 2016/17, reflecting a precept of this amount to help fund adult social care costs.

 

In total the Band D increase would be £61.87, representing a 4.549% increase on the charge for 2016/17.  The CBC element of Band D Council tax for 2017/18 would therefore be £1,421.88.

 

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: Berry, Blair, Bowater, Brown, chapman, Chatterley, Clark, Collins, Dalgarno, Dixon, Dodwell, Duckett, Firth, Freeman, Ghent, Gomm, Goodchild, Graham, Hegley, Jamieson, Johnstone, Jones, Kane, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, Morris, Nicols, Shelvey, Smith, Spurr, Stay, Stock, Tubb, Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wells, Wenham, Woodward and Young.

 

Those who voted against the resolutions were:

 

Councillors: Ryan, Swain and Zerny.

 

Councillor Shingler abstained from voting.

 

(Councillor Johnstone left the meeting at this point)

 

(b) Capital Programme

 

The Council considered the recommendations from a meeting of the Executive held on 7 February 2017 in respect of the proposed Capital Programme for 2017/18 – 2020/21.

 

RESOLVED

 

That the Capital Programme for 2017/18 – 2020/21 be approved.

 

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

 

Those in favour of the resolution were:

 

Councillors: Berry, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, Chatterley, Clark, Collins, Dalgarno, Dixon, Dodwell, Duckett, Firth, Freeman, Ghent, Gomm, Goodchild, Graham, Hegley, Jamieson, Janes, Jones, Kane, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, Morris, Nicols, Ryan, B Saunders, Shelvey, Shingler, Smith, Spurr, Stay, Stock, Swain, Tubb, Turnert, Versallion, Warren, Wells, Wenham, Woodward, Young and Zerny.

 

No councillor voted against the resolution.

 

No Councillor abstained from voting.

 

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

 

The Council considered recommendations from the meeting of the Executive held on 7 February 2017 in respect of the Housing Revenue Account (Landlord Business Plan).

 

RESOLVED

 

1.      that the recent legislative changes relating to Housing Finance and their impact on the Landlord Business Plan, be noted;

 

2.      that the HRA’s debt portfolio and interest payments due in 2016/17, be noted;

 

3.      that the intention to commence principal debt repayments from 2017/18, as approved previously by Council in February 2016, be noted;

 

4.      that the Landlord Business Investment Plan, which proposes HRA investment throughout the Council area, be approved;

 

5.      that the HRA Revenue Budget for 2017/18 and the Landlord Business Plan summary at Appendices A and B to the Executive report, be approved;

 

6.      that the 2017/18 to 2020/21 HRA Capital Programme at Appendix C to the Executive report, be approved; and

 

7.      that the average rent decrease of 1% for Council tenancies for 2017/18 in line with the national rental decrease as per Government direction, be approved.

 

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

 

Those in favour were:

 

Councillors Berry, Blair, Bowater, brown, Chapman, Chatterley, Clark, Collins, Dalgarno, Dixon, Dodwell, Duckett, Firth, Freeman, Ghent, Gomm, Goodchild, Graham, Hegley, Jamieson, Janes, Jones, Kane, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, Morris, Nicols, Ryan, B Saunders, Shelvey, Shingler, Smith, Spurr, Stay, Stock, Swain, Tubb, Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wells, Wenham, Woodward, Young and Zerny.

 

No Councillors voted against the recommendation.

 

No Councillors abstained from voting.

 

(d) Social Care Health and Housing Fees and Charges 2017/18

 

The Council considered recommendations from a meeting of the Executive held on 7 February 2017 proposing revised Social Care, Health and Housing fees and charges for 2017/18.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.         that the prices of the fees and charges for 2017/18 (Appendices A and B to the Executive report), be approved;

 

2.         that the new fees and charges to be introduced for 2017/18 (Appendix C to the Executive report), be approved subject to the Director of Social Care, Health and Housing and the Director of Resources, in consultation with the Executive Members for Social Care and Housing and Resources, being authorised to determine the fees and charges for the hire of guest rooms and meeting space at Priory View, Dunstable, including arrangements for a ‘Friends of Priory View’ association to be established, prior to 1 April 2017; and

 

3.         that the comments from the Overview and Scrutiny Committees (Appendix D to the Executive report), be noted.

 

(e)  Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Policy

 

The Council considered recommendations from  a meeting of the Executive held on 7 February 2017 in respect of the Treasury Management Strategy and Treasury Policy.

 

RESOLVED

 

1.    to approve the Treasury Management Policy, Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Prudential Indicators for 2017/18;

 

2.    that subject to the Council’s external auditor’s opinion the MRP policy, as set out at Appendix D (Option 4) to the Executive report, be approved to replace the policy approved by Council on 25February 2016, in order to allow the change in approach to MRP to be applied with effect from the financial year ending 31 March 2017; and

 

3.    that the MRP policy, as outlined in Appendix D (Option 4), be adopted in respect of the Council’s financial year ending 31 March2018, subject to the Council’s external auditor’s opinion.

 

 

(f) Council Tax Resolution

 

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

 

RESOLVED

 

to approve the Council Tax Resolution as set out in Appendix A.

 

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

 

 

Those in favour of the resolution were:

 

Councillors: Berry, Blair, Bowater, Brown, Chapman, Chatterley, Clark, Collins, Dalgarno, Dixon, Dodwell, Duckett, firth, Freeman, Ghent, Gomm, Goodchild, Graham, Hegley, Jamieson, Janes, Jones, Kane, D Lawrence, J Lawrence, Matthews, Maudlin, Morris, Nicols, B Saunders, Shelvey, Shingler, Smith, Spurr, Stay, Stock, , Tubb, Turner, Versallion, Warren, Wells, Wenham, Woodward and Young.

 

Councillors Swain, Ryan and Zerny voted against the resolution.

 

No Councillor abstained from voting.