Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that Council (1) undertakes a recorded vote in relation to the following items as required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2014.

(a)       agrees that a net budget of £308.831m, resulting in a total council tax requirement of £243.797m, is set for 2023/24 based on the draft local government settlement figures published by government in December 2022;

(b)       agrees an increase in council tax of 2.99% for 2023/24 in respect of the basic annual threshold and the collection of the additional social care precept of 2%;

(c)       confirms the key assumptions and provisions made in the budget as proposed and set out in paragraphs 48 to 65;

(d)       approves the 2022/23 capital budget virement to accept the £18.2m Levelling Up Fund (Round 2) capital grant as set out in Appendix 5;

(e)       agrees the allocations to service areas in the budget as set out in Appendix 6;

(f)         agrees the implementation of £32.9m of List 1 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 April 2023;

(g)       agrees the implementation of £2.2m in annualised List 2 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 July 2023;

(h)       approves the continuation of the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS) into 2023/24 as set out in sections 64;

(i)         continues the discretionary local scheme for war pensioners in which the Council disregards all prescribed War Disablement Pension or prescribed War Widow’s/War Widower’s Pensions income over and above the statutory limits for both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support;

(j)         recognises that via the governments Council Tax Support Fund, and for 2023/24 only, LCTSS claimants’ bills will be reduced by up to £25;

(k)       implements a control to strengthen commissioning, procurement, and contract management arrangements in support of the delivery third party spend transformation savings;

(l)         approves the flexible use of capital receipts efficiency strategy as set out in paragraphs 75 to 83;

(m)     approves the capital investment programme (CIP) as set out in paragraphs 116 to 142 and Appendix 7;

(n)       approves the capitalisation of £0.9m of highway neighbourhood expenditure each year for the period of the MTFP, funded from prudential borrowing;

(o)       agrees capital investment of £5m in seafront infrastructure assets funded by borrowing supported by revisions to beach hut fees;

(p)       agrees capital investment of £0.3m in the council’s IT & IS capital infrastructure investment plan as set out in Appendix 7c and as funded from borrowing;

(q)       confirms the previously approved budget of £12.5 million for Roeshot Hill and Crescent Road to be repurposed and used under the CNHAS Programme;

(r)        agrees the capitalisation of the council’s waste bin replacement strategy at £0.4 million per annum funded by borrowing;

(s)       approves Cabinet’s recommendation 7 September 2022 to increase the acquisition programme 4a (street acquisitions) budget originally approved by Council in February 2022 from £47.9 million to £68.8 million;

(t)         approves the asset management plan as set out as Appendix 8;

(u)       agrees the treasury management strategy (TMS) and prudential  ...  view the full agenda text for item 10

The Chief Executive reminded Council of the earlier circulation of a final paper on behalf of the Director of Finance, which included alterations to recommendations (d) and (j) and a new recommendation (y) as set out in the published supplementary papers and appended to these minutes in the Minute Book.

A transposed typographical error on the Unity Alliance’s saving item no. 98 was corrected to read £109,000, not £49,000 as set out within the paper. This error did not affect the savings figure of £441,000, which was confirmed as accurate.

The Chair set out the times allowed for those Councillors speaking on the item.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Philip Broadhead, presented an alteration to the motion arising from Cabinet which had been informed following collaboration between all political groups. A copy of the alteration to the motion had been circulated to all Members of the Council and was set out in the published supplementary paper referred to above. The proposal was seconded by Councillor N Greene.

The Chair sought Council’s consent to the alteration under procedure rule 14.12 of Part 4(D) of the Constitution. Council unanimously agreed to the proposal.

The Chair reminded Council that in respect of the recommendations (subject to all amendments), including the Council Tax Resolution and Council Tax levels for 2023/24, all votes on the item would be the subject of a recorded vote for each Councillor present, in accordance with the Local Authorities (Standing Orders)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2014.

Councillor P Broadhead then introduced the substantive motion and the recommendations as set out in the report and supplementary papers.

In doing so, points raised included:

·     The proposed balanced budget protected vulnerable residents, improved BCP’s long-term finances, and despite inflationary pressures, avoided widespread cuts to services;

·     Savings identified were pragmatic and deliverable;

·     Newly identified income schemes had resulted in a £2m surplus for the year ahead;

·     The budget provided an additional £14.6m in funding for Children’s Services, together with provision for the elderly, investment in regeneration, new Council homes, and the ‘Cleaner, Greener, Safer’ programme;

·     The budget included the sale of non-strategic assets;

·     Concerns raised recently by the Council’s external auditor had been reviewed through the Audit and Governance Committee. The concerns outlined were linked to perceived unidentified income streams. However, the budget had always been based on a sound financial basis;

·     Cross-party discussions had been held, and had resulted in the substantive budget as presented, which incorporated changes as suggested through those discussions;

·     The substantive budget was supported by Chief Financial Officer;

·     The budget did not present a removal or reduction in funding for the Bournemouth Air Festival, which contributed circa £30m income to the BCP area.

The proposal was seconded by Councillor N Greene. In doing so, points raised included:

·     The budget included amendments in response to the late decision by Central Government to allocate additional funding;

·     The budget set out changes to parking charges and funding for investment in community safety, High Streets, and libraries.

Councillor Mellor arrived at 8.21pm.

Councillor M Cox  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10

To set out for Cabinet consideration and recommendation to Council the proposed 2023/24 budget and council tax based on.

·      Increasing Council Tax by 2.99% in 2023/24 in line with the government’s annual basic threshold.

·      Collecting the full additional 2% Adult Social Care (ASC) precept in 2023/24.

·      The implementation of £32.9m of savings and efficiencies from 1 April 2023 onwards (List 1).

The implementation of £2.2m of additional savings and efficiencies from 1 July 2023 onwards (List 2).

RECOMMENDED that Council: -

1) undertakes a recorded vote in relation to the following items as required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2014.

a) agrees that a net budget of £308.831m, resulting in a total council tax requirement of £243.797m, is set for 2023/24 based on the draft local government settlement figures published by government in December 2022.

b) agrees an increase in council tax of 2.99% for 2023/24 in respect of the basic annual threshold and the collection of the additional social care precept of 2%.

c) confirms the key assumptions and provisions made in the budget as proposed and set out in paragraph 48 to 65.

d) approves the 2022/23 capital budget virement to accept the £18.2m Levelling Up Fund (Round 2) capital grant as set out in Appendix 5

e) agrees the allocations to service areas in the budget as set out in Appendix 6.

f) agrees the implementation of £32.9m of List 1 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 April 2023.

g) agrees the implementation of £2.2m in annualised List 2 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 July 2023.

h) approves the continuation of the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS) into 2023/24 as set out in sections 64.

i) continues the discretionary local scheme for war pensioners in which the Council disregards all prescribed War Disablement Pension or prescribed War Widow’s/War Widower’s Pensions income over and above the statutory limits for both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

j) recognises that via the governments Council Tax Support Fund, and for 2023/24 only, LCTSS claimants’ bills will be reduced by up to £25.

k) implements a control to strengthen commissioning, procurement, and contract management arrangements in support of the delivery third party spend transformation savings.

l)  approves the flexible use of capital receipts efficiency strategy as set out in paragraphs 75 to 83.

m) approves the capital investment programme (CIP) as set out in paragraphs 116 to 142 and Appendix 7.

n) approves the capitalisation of £0.9m of highway neighbourhood expenditure each year for the period of the MTFP, funded from prudential borrowing.

o) agrees capital investment of £5m in seafront infrastructure assets funded by borrowing supported by revisions to beach hut fees.

p) agrees capital investment of £0.3m in the council’s IT & IS capital infrastructure investment plan as set out in Appendix 7c and as funded from borrowing.

q) confirms the previously approved budget of £12.5 million for Roeshot Hill and Crescent Road to be repurposed and used under the CNHAS Programme.

r) agrees the capitalisation of the council’s waste bin replacement strategy at £0.4 million per annum funded by borrowing.

s) approves Cabinet’s recommendation 7 September 2022 to increase the acquisition programme 4a (street acquisitions) budget originally approved by Council in February 2022 from £47.9 million to £68.8 million.

t) approves the asset management plan as set out as Appendix 8.

u) agrees the treasury management strategy (TMS) and prudential indicators  ...  view the full decision text for item 117

The Leader of the Council and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Transformation presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'C' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Leader advised that the report requested that Cabinet consider and recommend to Council the proposed 2023/24 budget and council tax based on.

·     Increasing Council Tax by 2.99% in 2023/24 in line with the government’s annual basic threshold.

·     Collecting the full additional 2% Adult Social Care (ASC) precept in 2023/24.

·     The implementation of £32.9m of savings and efficiencies from 1 April 2023 onwards (List 1).

·     The implementation of £2.2m of additional savings and efficiencies from 1 July 2023 onwards (List 2).

The Chairman of the Corporate and Community Overview and Scrutiny Committee addressed the Cabinet advising that at their recent meeting their had been a lengthy debate on the report but that no formal recommendations had been made.

RECOMMENDED that:-

1) undertakes a recorded vote in relation to the following items as required by the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendments) Regulations 2014.

a)      agrees that a net budget of £308.831m, resulting in a total council tax requirement of £243.797m, is set for 2023/24 based on the draft local government settlement figures published by government in December 2022.

b)      agrees an increase in council tax of 2.99% for 2023/24 in respect of the basic annual threshold and the collection of the additional social care precept of 2%.

c)      confirms the key assumptions and provisions made in the budget as proposed and set out in paragraph 48 to 65.

d)      approves the 2022/23 capital budget virement to accept the £18.2m Levelling Up Fund (Round 2) capital grant as set out in Appendix 5

e)      agrees the allocations to service areas in the budget as set out in Appendix 6.

f)       agrees the implementation of £32.9m of List 1 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 April 2023.

g)      agrees the implementation of £2.2m in annualised List 2 savings as set out at Appendix 6a from 1 July 2023.

h)      approves the continuation of the current Local Council Tax Support Scheme (LCTSS) into 2023/24 as set out in sections 64.

i)        continues the discretionary local scheme for war pensioners in which the Council disregards all prescribed War Disablement Pension or prescribed War Widow’s/War Widower’s Pensions income over and above the statutory limits for both Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support.

j)        recognises that via the governments Council Tax Support Fund, and for 2023/24 only, LCTSS claimants’ bills will be reduced by up to £25.

k)      implements a control to strengthen commissioning, procurement, and contract management arrangements in support of the delivery third party spend transformation savings.

l)        approves the flexible use of capital receipts efficiency strategy as set out in paragraphs 75 to 83.

m)  approves the capital investment programme (CIP) as set out in paragraphs 116 to 142 and Appendix 7.

n)    approves the capitalisation of £0.9m of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 117