The City Council will be asked to consider recommendations in the updated report of the Interim Strategic Director for Transformation and Change regarding the Revenue and Capital Budget and Proposed Council Tax levels for 2017/18.

A background paper (the equality impact assessment) can be accessed at the Council’s website Councillors, Committees and meetings/Committee Meetings/Library/Cabinet background papers 201617 or using the following link - http://tinyurl.com/zneeezz

At the start of the debate Councillor Bowyer proposed, Councillor Evans 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 Bowyer (Leader) proposed and Councillor Darcy (Cabinet Member for Finance) seconded a report and the amended recommendations on the Revenue and Capital Budget and Proposed Council Tax Levels for 2017/18.

During the debate, Councillor Evans proposed and Councillor McDonald seconded an amendment for an additional recommendation on fees and charges for bereavement services.

Following a vote, Council agreed the amendment.

During the debate Councillor Evans moved a procedural motion under the Constitution, Appendix One (2) Rules of Debate (11.1) for the meeting to be adjourned, Councillor Lowry seconded the motion.

Following a request from ten councillors for a recorded vote, the motion was lost.

For the motion (26) –

Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Bowie, Coker, Dann, P Davey, S Davey, Evans, Hendy, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Morris, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Rennie, Singh, Smith, Sparling, Stevens, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler and Winter.

Against the motion (29)

Councillors Ball, Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Carson, Cook, Churchill, Darcy, Deacon, Downie, Drean, Fletcher, Foster, Mrs Foster, Fry,  Jordan, Kelly, Martin Leaves, Mike Leaves, Sam Leaves, Loveridge, Dr Mahony, Nicholson, Mrs Pengelly, Ricketts, Riley, Storer and Wigens.

Abstained (1) –

Lord Mayor

Absent (1) –

Councillor James

During the debate, Councillor Darcy moved a procedural motion under the Constitution, Appendix One (2) Rules of Debate (11.1) to move to the vote, Councillor Fry seconded the motion.

Following a vote, the motion was carried.

Following a request from ten councillors for a recorded vote Council agreed -

1.            To approve the proposed net revenue budget requirement for 2017/18 of £183.683m;

2.            To approve the total capital budget of £895.4m to 2021/22 (Appendix 4);

3.            To approve - 

a.   Increase to the Council Tax by one point four nine percent (1.49%);

b.   Increase to the Council Tax Adult Social Care precept of three percent (3%);

c.   the drawdown of £0.192m from the Council Tax Collection Fund;

d.   the amended appendix three, detailing the proposed 2017/18 Council Tax for each band of property.

4.               To use the Council Tax base for 2017/18 as 70,775 [Item T in the formula in Section 31B of the Local Government Finance Act 1992, as amended (the “Act”)]; calculate that the Council Tax requirement for the Councils own purposes for 2017/18 is £99,610,438.

5.               To agree that the following amounts are calculated for the year 2017/18 in accordance with Sections 31 to 36 of the Act:

a.   £531,521,693 being the aggregate of the amounts which the Council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act (Gross Expenditure and Transfers to Reserves).

b.   £431,911,255 being the aggregate of the amounts which the council estimates for the items set out in Section 31A (3) of the Act (Gross Expenditure and Transfers to Reserves).

c.   £99,610,438  being the amount by which the aggregate at 9.5(a) above exceeds the aggregate amount at 9.5(b) above, calculated by the Council in accordance with Section 31A(4) of the Act as it’s council Tax requirement for the year. (Item R in the formula in section 31B of the Act).

d.   £1,407.42 being the amount at 9.5(c) above (Item R), all divided by Item T (9.4 above), calculated by the council, in accordance with Section 31B of the Act, as the basic amount of its Council Tax for the year. 

6.              To note that the Office of the Devon and Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Police Commissioner has issued 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, reflecting a one point nine nine per cent (1.99%) increase for 2017/18;

7.            To note that the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Authority precepts have been confirmed reflecting a one point nine nine per cent (1.99%) increase for 2017/18;

8.            To approve the 2017/18 Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy;

9.            To note the Section 151 Officer’s statement on the Budget Robustness Statement (Appendix 5);  

10.          To approve the annual Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 2017/18 (incorporating the authorised limits, operational boundaries and prudential indicators) as submitted (Appendix 7);

11.          To note the Revenue and Capital Monitoring Report Quarter Three 2016/17 (Appendix 8);

12.          To note the response to the recommendations made by the Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Place and Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Appendix 9);

13.          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 and IT.

14.          That the Cremations and burials charges for children under the age of 15 years under the council’s Fees and Charges Policy (Bereavement and Registration) be nil pounds.

For the motion (29)

Councillors Ball, Mrs Beer, Bowyer, Mrs Bowyer, Mrs Bridgeman, Carson, Cook, Churchill, Darcy, Deacon, Downie, Drean, Fletcher, Foster, Mrs Foster, Fry,  Jordan, Kelly, Martin Leaves, Mike Leaves, Sam Leaves, Loveridge, Dr Mahony, Nicholson, Mrs Pengelly, Ricketts, Riley, Storer and Wigens

Against the motion (26) – Councillors Mrs Aspinall, Bowie, Coker, Dann, P Davey, S Davey, Evans, Hendy, Lowry, Mavin, McDonald, Morris, Parker-Delaz-Ajete, Penberthy, Rennie, Singh, Smith, Sparling, Stevens, Jon Taylor, Kate Taylor, Tuffin, Tuohy, Vincent, Wheeler and Winter.

.

Abstained (1) –

Lord Mayor

Absent (1) –

Councillor James