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 either a

(a)   personal interest

(b)   prejudicial interest

(c)    disclosable pecuniary interest (DPI)

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, Singleton, Stansfield and L Taylor declared personal interests in agenda item 5 ‘Proposed Rent Review’ as Council-appointed non-executive directors of Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd.

In relation to agenda item 7 ‘Council Tax 2019/20’:

·         Councillors Hutton, Singleton, Stansfield and L Taylor declared prejudicial interests in relation to income from Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd as Council-appointed non-executive directors

·         Councillors Hobson, Hunter, Robertson and Singleton declared prejudicial interests in relation to income from Blackpool Housing Company Ltd as Council-appointed non-executive directors

·         Councillors Blackburn, Jackson and T Williams declared personal interests as Council-appointed representatives on Lancashire Combined Fire Authority

·         Councillor Blackburn also declared a personal interest as a tenant of a property owned by Blackpool Housing Company Ltd.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 30 January 2019 as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 30 January 2019 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To consider the Executive’s recommendation from its meeting on the 4 February 2019 regarding the Capital Strategy for 2019/20 to 2021/22 which incorporates the Property Investment Strategy for 2019/20.

Councillors considered the recommendations from the Executive meeting of 4 February 2019 in relation to the proposed capital strategy which was intended to give an overview of how capital expenditure, capital financing and treasury management activities contribute to service provision, along with an overview of associated risks management activities and implications for future sustainability.

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

‘To approve the Capital Strategy 2019/20 to 2021/22 incorporating the Property Investment Strategy.’

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

Note:  Councillor D Coleman left the meeting following consideration of the item.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive on the 4 February 2019 regarding the 2019/20, 2020/21, 2021/22 Capital Programme – which have been circulated to members under separate cover.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Capital Programme for 2019/2020 and noted that the programme ran concurrently with the 2019/2020 revenue budget and projected forward indicative spending for three years.

Members also noted that the 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 in light of changing priorities.

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

‘To approve the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting held on 4 February 2019, namely:

1.             To approve of the Capital Programme for 2019/20 as set out at Appendices A and B to the Executive report.

2.             To adopt the Single Capital Pot approach as outlined in Section 4 of the Capital Programme report as circulated with the agenda for the Executive meeting with a top slice of 12.5% to allow for investment in key priority areas and overspends that are not otherwise fundable.

3.             To approve the Capital Prudential indicators as identified in Appendix C to the Executive report.

4.             That Executive approval continues to be required for all prudential borrowing schemes.’

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

To consider the recommendations of the Executive on 4 February 2019 regarding the level of rents and service charges to be charged in connection with Housing Revenue Account dwellings during 2019/2020.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 4 February 2019, regarding the levels of rents and service charges for Housing Revenue Account dwellings to be applied to the 2019/2020 financial year, as well as new charges for Housing Revenue Account Services and related Non-Housing Revenue Account properties.

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

‘To approve the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting held on 4 February 2019, namely:

1.             To agree that a rent reduction of a minimum of 1% is implemented for all Housing Revenue Account properties in 2019/2020.

2.             To agree that the level of Housing Revenue Account balances remains 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 Appendix 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 from its meeting on 4 February 2019 regarding the Treasury Management Strategy for the financial year 2019/2020.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the proposed Treasury Management Strategy 2019/2020, which incorporated an Investment Strategy and set out how the Council would manage its investments and cashflows over the forthcoming financial year.

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

‘To approve the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting held on 4 February 2019, namely:

1.             To approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2019/20 including both the Borrowing and Investment Strategies set out in Annex C and Annex D to the Executive report.

2.             To adopt the Treasury Management Policy Statement, the three key principles and four clauses taken from CIPFA’s Treasury Management in Public Services Code of Practice and Cross Sectoral Guidance Notes (2017 Edition) and set out in Annex B to the Executive report.

3.             To approve the revised Prudential Indicators and limits for 2018/19 and the new Prudential Indicators and limits for 2019/20 – 2021/22 set out in Annex E to the Executive report.

4.             To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2019/20, which will ensure a prudent Minimum Revenue Provision charge in the annual statement of accounts. The policy is set out within 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 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and the setting of a Council Tax for the 2019/2020 Financial Year.

Members considered the recommendations from the Executive at its meetings on 4 February and 25 February 2019 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and setting of Council Tax for 2019/2020.

Members firstly considered the proposed budget saving of as a result of the income from Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd in the sum of £500,000 and technical savings of £150,000 from the recovery of development fees from Blackpool Housing Company Ltd.

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

‘1.      To approve the income from Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd in the sum of £500,000 (line 4 of Section A, Appendix 2 Budget Savings of the report to the Executive on 4 February 2019)

2.       To approve the technical savings of £150,000 from the recovery of development fees in respect of Blackpool Housing Company Ltd (line 1.1 of Section B, Appendix 2 Budget Savings of the report to the Executive on 4 February 2019).’

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 Benson, Blackburn, Cain, Campbell, Collett, Critchley, Cross, Elmes, Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Rowson, Ryan, Smith, I Taylor, L Williams, Mrs Wright - Total 20.

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

Henderson, Roberts, Scott, Mrs Scott, T Williams – Total 10.

Abstentions:  Councillor G Coleman – Total 1.

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note:  Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Hobson, Hunter, Hutton, Robertson, Singleton, Stansfield and L Taylor 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 remaining recommendations outlined in Appendix 7(c), bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 4 February 2019 and 25 February 2019, into a summary document, set out in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.

1.             That the £1,544,000 Social Care Support Grant is allocated in full to Children’s Social Care (ref. paragraph 4.7 of the report to the Executive on 4 February 2019).

2.             To agree the level of net expenditure for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2019/20 of £124,073,000 (ref. paragraph 6.2 of the report to the Executive on 4 February 2019).

3.             To agree a level of budget savings of £8.35m (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 4 February 2019).

4.             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 on 4 February 2019).

5.             To agree that the Business Loans Fund is increased from £100m to £200m with immediate effect (ref. paragraph 8.3 of the report to the Executive on 4 February 2019).

6.             That the target level of working  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.