Issue - meetings

General Fund Budget 2022/23

(Report CAB3335 refers)

Extract of draft minute of Cabinet to follow

RECOMMENDED:

That Cabinet recommend that Council :-

4      Agree the level of General Fund Budget for 2022/23, and recommend the summary as shown in Appendix A.

5      That the additional year of New Homes Bonus Allocation be used to fund the following proposals:

a)    Increased provision for Local Council Tax Support, with £100,000 additional one off provision to the Council’s Hardship Fund

b)    £450k to fund essential maintenance work to Monuments and Historic Assets

c)    Low Carbon Transport - £250k to fund trials of low carbon bin lorries and/or buses operating existing Council services

d)    £40k to fund the installation of bike storage and other measures to support the promotion of cycling and walking

e)    £150k to fund feasibility work to prepare for the implementation of a food waste trial collection system in 2023.

f)     £185k to fund the cost of additional city and market town centre cleansing, the maintenance and replacement of street furniture (litter bins, seats, bollards bin stores etc) and also to fund an increased emphasis on fly tipping (additional clearance, surveillance and promotion)

g)    £25k to support work to embed the principles of the Council’s “City of Sanctuary” commitments and to review the diverse needs of communities across the district.

h)    £100k to fund fixed term IT staff to develop council systems to meet the requirements of flexible/agile working 

6      Support the investment proposals set out in section 13.4 of this report, including:

a)    To reinstate the annual contribution of £250k to the Asset and Property reserve to support future investment and maintenance of council assets

b)    To increase the annual revenue contribution to the Parking and Access reserve by £200k per annum to support the implementation works set out in the annual Parking investment programme

c)    Increasing the annual staffing budget by £175k per annum from 2022/23 to create additional capacity in the Legal Services, Communications and Economic Development teams

d)    Increasing the annual staffing budget by £60k per annum from 2023/24 to create additional capacity in the Strategic Planning team

e)    An increase in the budget for annual audit fees of £30,000

7      Approve the 2022 Council Tax Hardship Scheme allocation of £100,000 and the distribution of this funding as set out in Appendix F; to be administered by the Revenues & Benefits teams under the Service Lead for Revenues & Benefits.

8      That the sum of £1,061,591 be treated as Special Expenses under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in respect of the Winchester Town area as set out in section 16 and Appendix D.

9      That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester Town area at Band D for 2022/23 be increased by 4.5% to £76.71, an increase of £3.30.

10   That the surplus balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund for distribution to this Council, calculated in January 2022 of £24,315, be approved.

11   Recommend the level of Council Tax at  ...  view the full agenda text for item 7

1             That the level of General Fund Budget for 2022/23 be agreed, and the summary as shown in Appendix A of CAB3335 be approved.

2             That the additional year of New Homes Bonus Allocation be used to fund the following proposals:

a)            Increased provision for Local Council Tax Support, with £100,000 additional one off provision to the Council’s Hardship Fund

b)            £450k to fund essential maintenance work to Monuments and Historic Assets

c)            Low Carbon Transport - £250k to fund trials of low carbon bin lorries and/or buses operating existing Council services

d)            £40k to fund the installation of bike storage and other measures to support the promotion of cycling and walking

e)            £150k to fund feasibility work to prepare for the implementation of a food waste trial collection system in 2023.

f)             £185k to fund the cost of additional city and market town centre cleansing, the maintenance and replacement of street furniture (litter bins, seats, bollards bin stores etc) and also to fund an increased emphasis on fly tipping (additional clearance, surveillance and promotion)

g)            £25k to support work to embed the principles of the Council’s “City of Sanctuary” commitments and to review the diverse needs of communities across the district.

h)            £100k to fund fixed term IT staff to develop council systems to meet the requirements of flexible/agile working 

3             That the investment proposals set out in section 13.4 of report CAB3335 be supported, including:

a)           To reinstate the annual contribution of £250k to the Asset and Property reserve to support future investment and maintenance of council assets

b)           To increase the annual revenue contribution to the Parking and Access reserve by £200k per annum to support the implementation works set out in the annual Parking investment programme

c)            Increasing the annual staffing budget by £175k per annum from 2022/23 to create additional capacity in the Legal Services, Communications and Economic Development teams

d)           Increasing the annual staffing budget by £60k per annum from 2023/24 to create additional capacity in the Strategic Planning team

e)           An increase in the budget for annual audit fees of £30,000

4             That the 2022 Council Tax Hardship Scheme allocation of £100,000 and the distribution of this funding as set out in Appendix F be approved; to be administered by the Revenues & Benefits teams under the Service Lead for Revenues & Benefits.

5             That the sum of £1,061,591 be treated as Special Expenses under Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 in respect of the Winchester Town area as set out in section 16 and Appendix D.

6             That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester Town area at Band D for 2022/23 be increased by 4.5% to £76.71, an increase of £3.30.

7             That the surplus balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund for distribution to this Council, calculated in January 2022 of £24,315, be approved.

8                That the level of Council Tax at Band D for City Council services for 2022/23 be increased to £151.29, an  ...  view the full decision text for item 7

Councillor Cutler (Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Quality) moved that the recommended minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Learney (Cabinet Member for Housing and Asset Management).

Council noted that that the corresponding recommended minute of Cabinet held 17 February 2022 was included with the supplementary agenda after the statutory deadline. The Deputy Mayor agreed to accept the recommended minute onto the agenda, because of the urgent need for Council to consider this alongside Report CAB3335.

Council proceeded to ask questions on the matters in the recommended minute and the report.

AMENDMENT – Moved by Councillor Godfrey and seconded by Councillor Horrill: 

A. Delete Recommended Minute 5a-h and replace with:

5   That the additional year of New Homes Bonus Allocation be used to fund the following proposals:

a)            £250k to fund planting of trees in accordance with the Council’s Carbon Neutrality plans and as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy to mark Her Majesty’s Platinum Jubilee.

b)           £1,050k to the Major Investment Reserve.

B. Delete Recommended Minute 6a-e and replace with:

6      Support the following investment proposals:

a)    To remove charges for car parks after 6pm and on Sundays

 b)    Increasing the annual staffing budget by £250k per annum from 2022/23 to create additional capacity for planning and environmental enforcement

c)    Increasing the annual staffing budget by £175k per annum from 2022/23 to create additional capacity in the Legal Services, Communications and Economic Development teams as  set out in section 13.4 of this report

d)    Increasing the annual staffing budget by £60k per annum from 2023/24 to create additional capacity in the Strategic Planning team as set out in section 13.4 of this report.

e)   An increase in the budget for annual audit fees of £30,000 as set out in section 13.4 of this report.

C.  Delete Appendices A, B and C to Report CAB3335 and insert new Appendices A, B and C.

Subject to the approval of the amendment, an alternative Council Tax Resolution that takes account of these changes is also proposed.

The Deputy Mayor called for an adjournment to the meeting to allow for informal discussion of the Amendment to take place within the groups.

Upon its reconvening, Council proceeded to ask questions on the matters in the Amendment.

MOTION – Moved by Councillor Lumby and seconded by Councillor Tod

Council Procedure Rule 11 (15) – That the question now be put.

MOTION CARRIED

Councillor Cutler firstly exercised his right of reply and a recorded vote was then taken on the Amendment.

Division Lists

The following Members voted in favour of the amendment to the recommended minute of Cabinet:

Councillors: Brook, Clementson, Cook, Cunningham, Gemmell, Godfrey, Horrill, Isaacs, Kurn, Lumby, Miller, Pearson, Read, Ruffell, Warwick.

The following Members voted against the amendment to the recommended minute of Cabinet:

Councillors: Bentote, Bronk, Clear, Cramoysan, Craske, Cutler, Edwards, Evans, Fern, Gordon-Smith, Green, Laming, Learney, Power, Prince, Rutter, Thompson, Tippett-Cooper, Tod, Weir, Westwood, Williams.

The following Members abstained from  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7

1      That a contribution of £200k to the Community Grants Reserve be approved, funded from the forecast surplus in 2021/22, to reduce the immediate impact of planned grant reductions over the next three year period of the programme 2022/23 to 2024/25.

2      That the 2021/22 contributions of £250k to the Asset and Property reserve and £200k to the Parking and Access reserve be reinstated to support future investment and maintenance programmes, funded from the forecast surplus in 2021/22.

3      That an increase to fees and charges of 3% for sessions at the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park and Meadowside Centre be approved, as set out in Appendix F of CAB3335.

That it be recommended to Council*:

4      That the level of General Fund Budget for 2022/23 be agreed and the summary as shown in Appendix A be approved.

5      That the additional year of New Homes Bonus Allocation be used to fund the following proposals:

a)    Increased provision for Local Council Tax Support, with £100,000 additional one off provision to the Council’s Hardship Fund

b)    £450k to fund essential maintenance work to Monuments and Historic Assets

c)    Low Carbon Transport - £250k to fund trials of low carbon bin lorries and/or buses operating existing Council services

d)    £40k to fund the installation of bike storage and other measures to support the promotion of cycling and walking

e)    £150k to fund feasibility work to prepare for the implementation of a food waste trial collection system in 2023.

f)     £185k to fund the cost of additional city and market town centre cleansing, the maintenance and replacement of street furniture (litter bins, seats, bollards bin stores etc) and also to fund an increased emphasis on fly tipping (additional clearance, surveillance and promotion)

g)    £25k to support work to embed the principles of the Council’s “City of Sanctuary” commitments and to review the diverse needs of communities across the district.

h)    £100k to fund fixed term IT staff to develop council systems to meet the requirements of flexible/agile working 

6      That the investment proposals set out in section 13.4 of report CAB3335 be supported, including:

a)    To reinstate the annual contribution of £250k to the Asset and Property reserve to support future investment and maintenance of council assets

b)    To increase the annual revenue contribution to the Parking and Access reserve by £200k per annum to support the implementation works set out in the annual Parking investment programme

c)    Increasing the annual staffing budget by £175k per annum from 2022/23 to create additional capacity in the Legal Services, Communications and Economic Development teams

d)    Increasing the annual staffing budget by £60k per annum from 2023/24 to create additional capacity in the Strategic Planning team

e)    An increase in the budget for annual audit fees of £30,000

7      That the 2022 Council Tax Hardship Scheme allocation of £100,000 and the distribution of this funding as set out in Appendix F be approved; to be administered by the Revenues & Benefits teams under the  ...  view the full decision text for item 7

1           That a contribution of £200k to the Community Grants Reserve be approved, funded from the forecast surplus in 2021/22, to reduce the immediate impact of planned grant reductions over the next three year period of the programme 2022/23 to 2024/25.

2           That the 2021/22 contributions of £250k to the Asset and Property reserve and £200k to the Parking and Access reserve be reinstated to support future investment and maintenance programmes, funded from the forecast surplus in 2021/22.

3           That an increase to fees and charges of 3% for sessions at the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park and Meadowside Centre be approved, as set out in Appendix F of CAB3335.

RECOMMENDED (TO COUNCIL):

4           That the level of General Fund Budget for 2022/23 be agreed, and the summary as shown in Appendix A be approved.

5           That the additional year of New Homes Bonus Allocation be used to fund the following proposals:

a)            Increased provision for Local Council Tax Support, with £100,000 additional one off provision to the Council’s Hardship Fund  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7

Report Ref: SC062 and CAB3335

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that scrutiny committee comment on the proposals within the attached cabinet report, ref CAB3335 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 17 February 2022.

Report reference Report Ref: SC062 and CAB3335

Councillor Cutler, Cabinet Member for Finance and Service Quality and the Strategic Director introduced the report which set out the detailed general fund budget for 2022/23 and was available on the councils website here.

The report recommended that the committee comment on the proposals within the cabinet report, ref, CAB3335 which was to be considered by the cabinet at its meeting on 17 February 2022.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report and in summary, questions relating to the following matters were raised.

·       the halving of business rates

·       the timing of works to the historic assets  

·       the funding of trials of low carbon bin lorries and/or buses operating existing Council services

·       the funding of the feasibility work to prepare for the implementation of a food waste trial collection system in 2023. 

·       the timeline for the Strategic Budget review,

·       the effect of the 3% increase in charges to the operators of those facilities?  

·       the Local Council Tax Support, £100,000 additional one-off provision to the Council’s Hardship Fund and ensuring those potentially eligible were aware of it 

·       whether any of the additional proposals be funded through Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) 

·       the reasons for the relatively few respondents to the consultation

·       the impact of higher inflation on councils’ costs.  

·       Ensuring that the Guildhall is financially viable

·       the rationale of implementing a food waste trial in 2022

·       the unexpected New Homes Bonus money being spent on council services as opposed to one-off projects

·       the council's administration costs of the Council tax energy rebate

·       the transparency of the recharge of staffing costs for Winchester Town Forum 

These points were responded to by Councillor Cutler, Councillor Tod, and officers accordingly and  were noted by the cabinet members present at the meeting.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the report be noted

that the spend proposals in the section headed Additional New Homes Bonus in Appendix B– Spending Plans should read the same as the recommendations as to the table in 13.6 of the report, as follows:

·       Historic Asset Monuments - £450k

·       Promoting Cycling Walking - £40k

·       Fly-tipping/Street Scene - £185k

2.    that members be informed of proposals for promoting the availability of the Hardship Fund as recommended in the report

3.    that officers consider how the report could reflect staff costs recharged to Town Services.

4.    That cabinet consider all the committee’s comments raised during the discussion of the agenda item.