To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2022 as a correct record.

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 January 2022 were agreed as an accurate record.

Ross Jago, Head of Governance, Performance and Risk, advised Members that the Monitoring Officer had agreed a dispensation in respect of the agenda item Revenue and Capital Budget and Proposed Council Tax Levels For 2022/23

No declarations of interest were made by Members.

The Assistant Chief Executive will submit a schedule of vacancies on committees, outside bodies etc and of changes notified to us.  

The Lord Mayor proposed that Members approve the new political proportionality as detailed in the report as a result of changes reported to Council. Councillor Mrs Bridgeman, Deputy Lord Mayor, seconded this motion.

Following a vote, Ross Jago, Head of Governance, Performance and Risk, advised Members that the vote was deemed lost as one Member had voted against the motion therefore the previous seat allocation would have to stand until the next time a review could be undertaken in advance of the 21 March 2022.

For (55) Councillors Allen, Mrs Aspinall, Bingley, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman (DLM), Dr Buchan, Burden, Carlyle, Churchill, Coker, Collins, Corvid, Dr Cree, Cresswell, Dann, Deacon, Derrick, Drean, Evans OBE, Goslin, Harrison, Haydon, Hendy, Hulme, Mrs Johnson, Jordan, Kelly, Laing, Loveridge, Lowry, Dr Mahony, McDonald, Morris, Murphy, Neil, Nicholson, Partridge, Patel, Penberthy, Mrs Pengelly, Rennie, Riley, Salmon, Shayer, Singh, Smith, Stevens, Stoneman, Tuffin, Vincent, Wakeham, Ms Watkin, Wheeler and Councillor Mrs Beer (LM).

Against (1) Councillor Downie.

Absent (1) Councillor James

The motion was lost.

The Lord Mayor proposed and the Deputy Lord Mayor seconded a motion to suspend standing orders under the Plymouth City Council Constitution Part B, 4.23 to –

1.    suspend Part B 4.6 of the constitution to enable agenda item 4 to be considered by Council;

2.    suspend Appendix 1 (rules of debate), 4.2 of the constitution, to remove the limit on length of speeches of the Leader and Leader of the opposition in respect of the substantive motion in relation to item 7 Revenue And Capital Budget And Proposed Council Tax Levels For 2022/23

Following a vote the motion was agreed.

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 was one question from a member of the public:

(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.

The Lord Mayor made the following announcements:

Councillor Kelly, Leader of the Council, made the following announcements:

Councillor Kelly, Leader, advised Members of an alteration to appendix 9 to the report relating to the council tax for the forthcoming year as follows:

“The budget papers published for this meeting of Full Council 28 February 2022 set out estimated revenue resources from Business Rates and assumed modelling of Council Tax to reflect a rise of 1.99% for council tax in 2022/23 and 1.00% for the Adult Social Care precept.

The Leader proposes an amendment to Recommendation 2 of the Revenue and Capital Budget 2022/23 report:

2.  To approve an increase to the council tax levels for 2022/23 by one point seven four percent (1.74%)

2a. To approve an increase to the Adult Social Care precept for 2022/23 by one percent (1.00%)

The result from this amendment is:

1. An increase in overall revenue resources of £3.345m comprising an increase of £2.124m for Council Tax and £1.221m for the Adult Social Care precept.
2. Final total resources for 2022/23 of £199.874m comprising Council Tax of £125.411m; Business Rates £65.130m; Revenue Support Grant £10.045m.
3. Reduce the 2022/23 general contingency by £0.305m.
4. A total net revenue budget for 2022/23 of £199.874m.

Members agreed to adjourn for 30 minutes to consider the amendment.

Councillor Kelly, Leader, introduced the Revenue and Capital Budget and Proposed Council Tax Levels for 2022/23 report as amended, this was seconded by Councillor Nicholson, Deputy Leader. 

Councillor Evans OBE (Leader of the Opposition) spoke to the motion and proposed an amendment, this was seconded by Councillor Lowry, and was as follows:

Labour Amendment to the Leader’s Recommendation 2:

Revenue Resources and Council Tax 2022/23 and Recommendation 3 to approve the Capital Budget

The budget papers published for this meeting of Full Council 28 February 2022 including the Leader’s Alteration set out estimated revenue resources from Business Rates and assumed modelling of Council Tax to reflect a rise of 1.00% for the Adult Social Care precept and 1.74% for council tax in 2022/23.

The Leader of the Labour Group proposes an amendment to Recommendation 2 of the Revenue and Capital Budget 2022/23 report:

2.  To approve a Council Tax freeze at the 2021/22 levels for 2022/23 (0% increase)

To note: This is in addition to the 1% Adult Social Care Precept as set out in the Leader’s Alteration

The result from this amendment is:

1. Final total resources for 2022/23 of £197.750m comprising Council Tax of £122.575m; Business Rates £65.130m; Revenue Support Grant £10.045m.
2. A total net revenue budget for 2022/23 of £197.750m.
3. We propose to fund the resultant budget shortfall of £2.124m: