Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

Councillors Hutton, Critchley, Stansfield and L Taylor as Directors of Blackpool Coastal Housing Company Limited declared personal interests in agenda item 5 (Proposed Rent Review 2017/ 2018) and prejudicial interests in agenda item 6(1) (Council Tax 2017/ 2018) and left the room prior to consideration of that part of the item relating to the proposed income from Blackpool Coastal Housing Company Limited.

Councillors Mrs Wright, Elmes and Galley as Directors of Blackpool Transport Services Limited declared prejudicial interests in agenda item 6(1) (Council Tax 2017/ 2018) in respect of the proposed savings relating to the bus route subsidy and left the room prior to consideration of the item.  Councillor Benson also declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in the item and Councillors D Coleman, G Coleman and O’Hara declared prejudicial interests as a member of their families were employed by Blackpool Transport Services Limited. Accordingly, those councillors also left the room during discussion on that part of the item.

Councillors G Coleman, Jackson, Galley, L Williams and Cox declared personal interests in agenda item 6(2) (Council Tax 2017/ 2018) as Directors of Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 25 January 2017 as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 25 January 2017 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Capital Programme for 2017/18 to 2019/20.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Capital Programme for 2017/ 2018 and noted that the programme ran concurrently with the 2017/ 2018 revenue budget.

It was reported that the schemes usually extended over a number of years and for that reason, the programme projected forward indicative spending for three years.

Members also noted that the 2018/ 2019 and 2019/ 2020 programmes had been drawn up based upon individual allocations and current proposals and would be reviewed as part of the budget processes for those years.

Motion: Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘1.      To approve the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting held on 6 February 2017, namely:

1.1.       To approve the Capital Programme for 2017/ 2018 as set out at Appendices A and B in the report to the Executive, including the in- year contingency of £600,000.

1.2.       To agree to adopt the Single Capital Pot approach, as outlined in Section 4 of the report to the Executive (reference paragraph 4.2) and to approve a top slice of 12.5%, to allow for investment in key priority areas and overspends that are not otherwise fundable.

2.             To note the following decisions of the Executive in relation to the Capital Programme from its meeting on 6 February 2017, namely:

2.1.       To agree that individual Executive approvals will continue to be required for all Prudential borrowing schemes (reference paragraph 3.1 of the report to the Executive).

2.2.       To agree the Capital Prudential Indicators as identified in Appendix C of the report to the Executive.’

Motion carried: The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Treasury Management Strategy for the financial year 2017/18.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the proposed Treasury Management Strategy 2017/2018, which set out treasury management activities for the year and incorporated an Investment Strategy.

Motion: Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘To approve the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting held on 6 February 2017, namely:

1.             To adopt all the Elements of the Treasury Management Strategy 2017/2018 and to approve the Prudential Indicators and limits for 2017/2018 to 2019/2020 as set in Annex B to the report to the Executive.

2.             To approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2017/2018 to 2019/2020 as set out in Annex C to the report to the Executive.

3.             To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2017/2018, which will ensure a more prudent Minimum Revenue Provision charge in the annual statement of accounts as set out in Annex D to the report to the Executive.’

Motion carried: The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive on the levels of rents and service charges to be charged in connection with Housing Revenue Account dwellings during 2017/18.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 6 February 2017, regarding the levels of rents and service charges for Housing Revenue Account dwellings to be applied to the 2017/2018 financial year, as well as new charges for Housing Revenue Account Services and related Non-Housing Revenue Account properties.

Motion:  Councillor Mrs Wright proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘To approve the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting held on 6 February 2017, namely:

1.             To agree that a rent reduction of a minimum of 1% is implemented for all Housing Revenue Account properties in 2017/2018.

2.             To  agree that the level of Housing Revenue Account balances remain protected at £1 million, as previously agreed.

3.             To agree that the de-pooled services (as detailed in Appendix C to the report to the Executive) and that other service charges (as detailed in Appendices D and E to that report) are charged as outlined.’

Motion carried: The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and the setting of a Council Tax for the 2017/18 financial year.

Members received the report on the recommendations from the Executive at its

meetings on 6 February and 20 February 2017 in relation to the draft General Fund

Revenue Budget for 2017/2018.  The report highlighted that consultation had taken place with representatives from the Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee trade unions and business ratepayers on 10 February along with a range of targeted focus groups and partners throughout the autumn.

Members firstly considered the proposed budget saving of £500,000 in relation to income from Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited and £63,000 in relation to reduced bus route subsidies.

Motion 1:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘To approve the income of £500,000 from Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited as set out in recommendation 2b, Appendix 6(c) and the savings as a result of the reduced bus route subsidies in the sum of £63,000 as set out in recommendation 2b, Appendix 6(c) of the report to the Executive on 20 February 2017.’

Recorded vote: The Council noted that under the Local Authorities (Standing Order) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014, there was a requirement for a recorded vote on setting the Council tax and budget. The voting was as follows:

For the motion: Councillors Blackburn, Cain, Campbell, I Coleman, Collett, Cross, Hobson, Hunter, Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, Mitchell, Owen, Ryan, Smith, I Taylor, L Williams - Total 17.

Against the motion: Councillors Mrs Callow, Callow, Clapham, Cox, Mrs

Henderson, Maycock, Roberts, Robertson, Scott, T Williams – Total 10.

Abstentions:  Councillor Mrs Rowson – Total 1.

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note: Having declared relevant interests Councillors Benson, D Coleman, G Coleman, Critchley, Elmes, Galley, Hutton, O’Hara, Stansfield, L Taylor and Mrs Wright left the meeting during consideration of the above part of the item.

Motion 2:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘To approve the following proposed remaining recommendations, bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 6 February 2017 and

20 February 2017 into a summary document, set out in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

1.             To agree the level of net expenditure for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2017/2018 of £120,248,000 (ref. Paragraph 6.2 of the report to the Executive on 6 February 2017).

2.             To approve a level of budget savings of £18.7m (reference paragraph 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 6 February 2017), with the exception of the following:

2.1.       Remove the saving of £250,000 identified at line B4.2, which proposed the introduction of a charge for concessionary fares on the tramway.

2.2.       Remove the saving of £26,000 contained within line B5.3 in relation to ending community based stroke service funding.

2.3.       Increase the saving at line B5.8 (Residual target to be allocated to services) by £276,000.

3.             To agree that the Chief Executive be authorised to take any necessary steps to ensure all staffing savings are achieved (ref. paragraph 8.1 of the report to the Executive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.