To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 27 January 2020 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meetings held on the 27 January 2020 were agreed subject to the following amendment:

Minute 18 – Councillor Tuffin replaces Councillor Corvid on Performance, Finance and Customer Focus Overview and Scrutiny Committee and not Councillor Lowry as stated.

Members will be asked to make any Declarations of Interest in respect of items on this agenda. A flow chart providing guidance on interests is attached to assist councillors.

The following declarations of interest were made by councillors in accordance with the code of conduct in respect of items under consideration at the meeting -

(a)        To receive announcements from the Lord Mayor, Chief Executive, Service Director for Finance or Head of Legal Services;

(b)        To receive announcements from the Leader, Cabinet Members or Committee Chairs.

Tracey Lee, Chief Executive

·       Election Select Committee and progress update following the May 2020 elections.

To receive questions from and provide answers to the public in relation to matters which are about something the council is responsible for or something that directly affects people in the city, in accordance with Part B, paragraph 11 of the Constitution.

Questions, of no longer than 50 words, can be submitted to the Democratic Support Unit, Plymouth City Council, Ballard House, West Hoe Road, Plymouth, PL1 3BJ, or email to democraticsupport@plymouth.gov.uk. Any questions must be received at least five complete working days before the meeting.

There were no questions from members of the public.

At the start of the debate Councillor Evans (Leader) proposed, Councillor Bowyer seconded and Council agreed that in accordance with Part B, Council Procedure Rule 14.6 of the Constitution, Rule of Debate 4.2 (in Appendix one) (which limits speeches to five minutes) is suspended for this item in relation to the speeches by the Leader and the Leader of the Opposition.

Councillor Evans (Leader) proposed and Councillor Lowry seconded an amendment to Recommendation 2 to the Revenue and Capital Budget 2020/21 report from ‘To consider council tax levels for 2020/21’ to read:

1.        To approve an increase to the council tax levels for 2020/21 by one point nine nine percent (1.99%)

2.        To approve an increase to the Adult Social Care precept for 2020/21 by two percent (2.00%)

Which are within the parameters recommended by budget scrutiny.

The result from this amendment is:

1.        An increase in overall revenue resources of £4.508m

2.        Final total resources 2020/21 of £193.677m

An amended Appendix 1 detailing the impact of the proposed 2020/21 council tax for each band of property.

Councillor Bowyer requested a 10 minute adjournment to consider the amendment.

Following a debate on the budget Council agreed the motion as amended -

1.        To approve the proposed net revenue budget requirement for 2020/21 of £193.677m;

2.        To consider council tax levels for 2020/21;

3.        To approve the capital budget of £892.911m for 2019/20 to 2023/24 (Appendix 3);

4.        To note that the Office of the Devon and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Police Commissioner precepts to the Council in accordance with Section 40 of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 for each category of dwellings in the Council’s area, will be confirmed at the meeting;

5.        To note that the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority precepts will be confirmed for 2020/21 at the meeting;

6.        To note the Section 151 Officer’s statement on the Budget Robustness Statement as set out in section 2 of this report;

7.        To approve the annual Treasury Management Strategy and Capital Financing Strategy 2020/21 (incorporating the authorised limits, operational boundaries and prudential indicators) as submitted (Appendix 5);

8.        To note the Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report Quarter Three 2019/20 (Appendix 6);

9.        To note the response to the recommendations made by the Budget Scrutiny Select Committee and the Cabinet response to those recommendations (Appendix 7);

10.      If required approve the use of flexible capital receipts to fund The Way We Work Programme.

11.      To delegate responsibility for any technical accounting changes which may arise after the budget to the Section 151 Officer in consultation with the Leader and Portfolio Holder for Finance.

For the motion (30) –

Cllr Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Cllr Buchan, Cllr Coker, Cllr Corvid, Cllr Dann, Cllr Derrick, Cllr Evans, Cllr Goslin, Cllr Haydon, Cllr Hendy, Cllr Laing, Cllr Lowry, Cllr Mavin, Cllr McDonald, Cllr Morris, Cllr Murphy, Cllr Neil, Cllr Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Cllr Penberthy, Cllr Rennie, Cllr Pete Smith, Cllr Stevens, Cllr Jon Taylor, Cllr Kate Taylor, Cllr Tuffin, Cllr Tuohy,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.