Councillor Cutler (Cabinet Member for Finance and Performance) moved that the recommended minute of Cabinet be approved and adopted (seconded by Councillor Tod, Leader and Cabinet Member for Asset Management).
By way of an update, the meeting had been provided with revised Council Tax Resolution information following review of the decisions made at the Hampshire County Council budget meeting of the same day – Thursday 22 February 2024. At Resolution 2 (a), the Council Tax Base was updated to £53,691.65 (was £53,691.67). This change had a consequential impact and reduction on each of the precepts for Hampshire County Council, Police and Crime Commissioner and Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority as set out at Resolution 5. These had been updated respectively to £82,322,185 (was £82,322.216), £14,038,219 (was £18,486,042) and £4,447,816 (was £4,447,818).
Council proceeded to ask questions and then debate the matters in the recommended minute and report.
AMENDMENT – Moved by Councillor Godfrey and seconded by Councillor Bolton:
Amend the recommended minutes by addition of a new recommendation 2e: The removal of overnight parking charges in city centre car parks, funded by the deletion of long-term vacant posts.
As the Mayor was satisfied that there had been adequate debate of the original motion, the Mayor called for a short adjournment to the meeting whilst the amendment was circulated in writing.
Upon its reconvening, Council proceeded to debate the matters in the Amendment. At conclusion of debate, Councillor Cutler was invited to exercise his right of reply before Council voted on the Amendment.
In accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget meetings, a recorded vote was taken on the Amendment before Council.
The following Members voted in favour of the Amendment before Council:
The following Members voted against the Amendment before Council:
AMENDMENT LOST.
Following summing up by the proposer of the substantive motion (which was the Recommended Minute of Cabinet) and the seconder exercising his right to speak, in accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget meetings, a recorded vote was first taken regarding Recommendations 1 – 9 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet.
The following Members voted in favour of Recommendations 1 – 9:
No Members voted against Recommendations 1 – 9 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet.
The following Members abstained from voting:
RESOLVED:
That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 8 February 2024 (Recommendations 1 – 9, as follows) be approved and adopted:
1. That the level of General Fund Budget for 2024/25 be agreed, as in the summary as shown in Appendix A of report CAB3444.
2. That the Greener Faster and carbon reduction investment proposals set out in section 14 of the report be approved, including:
a. £200,000 per annum for the carbon reduction measures on waste and recycling vehicles to enable the change to HVO fuel.
b. £1,400,000 per annum (less assumed 80% government funding) to expand recycling services to include food waste collections.
c. £400,000 per annum to implement other changes to the collection of recyclables.
d. £250,000 reduction in the annual waste income budget to reflect proposed changes to the Hampshire Inter Authority Agreement on waste.
3. That in relation to the Cost of Living focus of the Council Plan, the following be approved:
b. Extending the council tax Exceptional Financial Hardship Fund, with the remaining balance of 2023/24 funding (£38,000 as at Jan 2024), to 2024/25 to support any council tax payers experiencing exceptional hardship, regardless of whether they are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction.
c. A discretionary 7.7% cap for 2024/25 on the annual increase in rent for Partnered Home Purchase scheme property owners, in line with the increase in social and affordable rents to existing tenants and for shared owners in the HRA.
4. That in relation to the council’s Homes for All priority the following be approved:
a. an additional £20,000 per annum contribution to the New Burdens Reserve to support the Preventing Homelessness Strategy, including funding the increased costs of providing temporary accommodation for homeless households where required.
b. to reduce the long term empty property period from 2 years to 1 year, of the 100% council tax premium which applies to all unoccupied and unfurnished property.
5. That in relation to the council’s TC25 transformation programme the following be approved:
a. The £607,000 of immediately recognised TC25 savings set out in section 13 of the report be reassigned to contributions to the Transitional Reserve for 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support the delivery of the wider transformation programme.
b. A new budget of £100,000 per annum for the support and coordination of digital channel shift work across the council’s services.
c. The transfer of the £130,000 of additional 4% Funding Guarantee income to the transitional reserve to invest in the TC25 transformation programme.
6. That the unavoidable budget growth of £100,000 per annum to fund increased external audit fees be approved.
7. That savings in corporate property budgets for Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) of £177,000 to reflect reduced liabilities be approved.
8. That service income annual budgets be amended as follows, in response to revised estimates:
a.Building control fees reduced by £100,000
b.Land charges income reduced by £100,000
c.Legal services reduced by £50,000
d.Garden waste service income increased by £90,000
e.Car parking income increased by £100,000
9. That the sum of £1,273,758 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 of the report.
A recorded vote was then taken regarding Recommendations 10 – 13 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet.
The following Members voted in favour of Recommendations 10 – 13:
No Members voted against Recommendations 10 – 13 of the Recommended Minute of Cabinet, or abstained from voting.
RESOLVED:
That the recommended minute of Cabinet held 8 February 2024 (Recommendations 10 – 13, as follows) be approved and adopted:
10. That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester Town area at Band D for 2024/25 be increased by the maximum allowed under the referendum limit of 2.99% combined between the town and district.
11. That the surplus balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund for distribution to this Council, calculated in January 2024 of £118,152.14, be approved.
12. That the level of Council Tax at Band D for City Council services for 2024/25 be increased to £159.36, an increase of £4.07 reflecting an average Council tax increase of 2.6%.
13. That the new Council Tax Reduction scheme income bands (set out in appendix E of the report) that ensure claimants continue to receive the same level of support after the increase in Universal Credit from April 2024 be approved.
Council Tax for the City of Winchester for the year commencing 1 April 2024.
In accordance with legislative requirements on recorded votes at Budget Meetings, a recorded vote was then taken regarding the Council Tax Resolutions (1 – 7) (as set out on pages 85 – 91 of the agenda pack, as amended above and as set out below).
The following Members voted in favour of the Council Tax Resolutions (1 – 7, as amended above and set out below):
RESOLVED:
That the Council Tax for the City of Winchester for the year commencing 1 April 2024 (as follows) be approved and adopted:
1. That any expenses incurred by the Council in performing in a part of its area a function performed elsewhere in its area by a Parish Council/Town Council/Parish Meeting shall not be treated as special expenses for the purposes of Section 35 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, except in the case of the following special items relating to the non-parished area the aggregate amount of which is £1,273,758 (Appendix D to report CAB3444 refers) and which is shown within the total of special items at paragraph 4(e) below:-
(a) Magdalen Hill and West Hill Cemeteries;
(b) Allotments;
(c) Town centre Christmas lighting;
(d) Footway lighting;
(e) Bus shelter maintenance;
(f) Grants and Vision Delivery (“parish” element);
(g) Recreation Grounds & Open Spaces (except Abbey Gardens, Riverside Walks, the Weirs and St Giles Hill);
(h) Neighbourhood Services;
(i) Public Conveniences
(j) Maintenance work to Council Owned Bridges
(k) Night Bus Contribution
(l) Neighbourhood Plans
(m) Community Infrastructure
(n) Administration of the Town Forum
2. That it be noted that the Head of Revenues, in consultation with the Corporate Head of Finance calculated the Council Tax Base for 2024/25 at
(a) £53,691.65
being the amount calculated by the Council for the whole Council area, in accordance with Section 31B(1) (Item T) of the Local Government Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”), as its Council Tax base for the year.
(b) for dwellings in those parts of its area to which a Parish/Town precept relates as in Annex 1 on page 89 of the agenda pack.
3. Calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Council’s own purposes for 2024/25 (excluding Parish Precepts) is £9,830,059.
4. That the following amounts be now calculated by the Council for the year 2024/25 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:
(a) £135,046,027
being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(2) of the Act taking into account all precepts issued to it by Parish Councils.
(b) £120,812,925
being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A(3) of the Act.
(c) £14,233,102
being the amount by which the aggregate at 4(a) above exceeds the aggregate at 4(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act, as its Council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in Section 31B of the Act).
(d) £265.09
being the amount at 4(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (2(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 31B(1) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year (including Parish Precepts).
(e) £5,676,801
being the aggregate amount of all special items referred to in Section 34(1) of the Act (as per Annex 2 on page 91 of the agenda pack)
(f) £159.36
being the amount at 4(d) above less the result given by dividing the amount at 4(e) above by Item T (2(a) above), calculated by the Council, in accordance with Section 34(2) of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year for dwellings in those parts of its area to which no special item relates.
5. That it be noted for the year 2024/25, Hampshire County Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner - Hampshire have stated, and the Hampshire Fire and Rescue Authority has recommended the following amounts in precepts issued to the Council, in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, for each of the categories of dwellings shown below:
Precepting Precept
Authority Amount
Hampshire County
Council (HCC) £82,322,185
Police and Crime Commissioner
– Hampshire (PCCH) £14,038,219
Hampshire Fire and £4,447,816
Rescue Authority (HFRA)
Valuation HCC PCCH HFRA
Bands
|
A |
1,022.16 |
174.31 |
55.23 |
|
B |
1,192.52 |
203.36 |
64.43 |
|
C |
1,362.88 |
232.41 |
73.64 |
|
D |
1,533.24 |
261.46 |
82.84 |
|
E |
1,873.96 |
319.56 |
101.25 |
|
F |
2,214.68 |
377.66 |
119.66 |
|
G |
2,555.40 |
435.77 |
138.07 |
|
H |
3,066.48 |
522.92 |
165.68 |
6. That the Council, in accordance with Sections 30 and 36 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, hereby sets the aggregate amounts shown in columns 2-9 of Annex 2 on page 91 of the agenda pack as the amounts of Council Tax for 2024/25 for each part of its area and for each of the categories of dwellings shown.
7. That the Council determines that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2024/25 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB of the Local Government Finance Act 1992.
That Cabinet recommend to Council*:
1. That the level of General Fund Budget for 2024/25 be agreed, and recommend the summary as shown in Appendix A of report CAB3444.
2. That the Greener Faster and carbon reduction investment proposals set out in section 14 of the report be approved, including:
a. £200,000 per annum for the carbon reduction measures on waste and recycling vehicles to enable the change to HVO fuel.
b. £1,400,000 per annum (less assumed 80% government funding) to expand recycling services to include food waste collections.
c. £400,000 per annum to implement other changes to the collection of recyclables.
d. £250,000 reduction in the annual waste income budget to reflect proposed changes to the Hampshire Inter Authority Agreement on waste.
3. That in relation to the Cost of Living focus of the Council Plan, the following be approved:
a. In the absence of any government funded scheme, the allocation of up to £100,000 from the Cost of Living / Living Well reserve to wholly or partially fund a local Council Tax Support Fund for 2024/25 in accordance with section 19 of the report.
b. Extending the council tax Exceptional Financial Hardship Fund, with the remaining balance of 2023/24 funding (£38,000 as at Jan 2024), to 2024/25 to support any council tax payers experiencing exceptional hardship, regardless of whether they are in receipt of Council Tax Reduction.
c. A discretionary 7.7% cap for 2024/25 on the annual increase in rent for Partnered Home Purchase scheme property owners, in line with the increase in social and affordable rents to existing tenants and for shared owners in the HRA.
4. That in relation to the council’s Homes for All priority the following be approved:
a. an additional £20,000 per annum contribution to the New Burdens Reserve to support the Preventing Homelessness Strategy, including funding the increased costs of providing temporary accommodation for homeless households where required.
b. to reduce the long term empty property period from 2 years to 1 year, of the 100% council tax premium which applies to all unoccupied and unfurnished property.
5. That in relation to the council’s TC25 transformation programme the following be approved:
a. The £607,000 of immediately recognised TC25 savings set out in section 13 of the report be reassigned to contributions to the Transitional Reserve for 2024/25 and 2025/26 to support the delivery of the wider transformation programme.
b. A new budget of £100,000 per annum for the support and coordination of digital channel shift work across the council’s services.
c. The transfer of the £130,000 of additional 4% Funding Guarantee income to the transitional reserve to invest in the TC25 transformation programme.
6. That the unavoidable budget growth of £100,000 per annum to fund increased external audit fees be approved.
7. That savings in corporate property budgets for Non Domestic Rates (NNDR) of £177,000 to reflect reduced liabilities be approved.
8. That service income annual budgets be amended as follows, in response to revised estimates:
a. Building control fees reduced by £100,000
b. Land charges income reduced by £100,000
c. Legal services reduced by £50,000
d. Garden waste service income increased by £90,000
e. Car parking income increased by £100,000
9. That the sum of £1,273,758 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 of the report.
10. That the Council Tax for the Special Expenses in the Winchester Town area at Band D for 2024/25 be increased by the maximum allowed under the referendum limit of 2.99% combined between the town and district.
11. That the surplus balance on the Council Tax Collection Fund for distribution to this Council, calculated in January 2024 of £118,152.14, be approved.
12. That the level of Council Tax at Band D for City Council services for 2024/25 be increased to £159.36, an increase of £4.07 reflecting an average Council tax increase of 2.6%.
13. That the new Council Tax Reduction scheme income bands (set out in appendix E of the report) that ensure claimants continue to receive the same level of support after the increase in Universal Credit from April 2024 be approved.
*NB recommendations to Council are not subject to call-in.