Agenda and minutes

Resolved:  That dispensation from Procedural Standing Order 17.2 is agreed to allow Councillor Ryan to sit in a seat other than the one assigned to him.

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 as non-executive directors of the Blackpool Coastal Housing Company Ltd declared:

·      personal interests in agenda item 5 ‘Proposed Rent Review 2018/19’

·      prejudicial interests in agenda item 6 ‘Council Tax 2018/19’ 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 Cain, D Coleman, Cox and Smith declared prejudicial interests in the proposed budget savings in relation to income from Blackpool Operating Company Ltd within agenda item 6 ‘Council Tax 2018/19’, as non-executive directors of the company.  Accordingly they left the room prior to consideration of that part of the item.

Councillors G Coleman, Galley and L Williams declared personal interests in the proposed budget savings in reference to cultural exemption contained within agenda item 6 ‘Council Tax 2018/19’, as non-executive directors of Blackpool Entertainment Company Ltd.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 31 January 2018 as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 31 January 2018 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To consider setting a Capital Programme  for 2018/19, 2019/20 and 2020/21.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Capital Programme for 2018/2019 and noted that the programme ran concurrently with the 2018/2019 revenue budget and  projected forward indicative spending for three years.

Members also noted that the 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 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 5 February 2018, namely:

1.             To approve of the Capital Programme for 2018/19 as set out at Appendices A and B to the Executive report, including the in-year contingency of £1,076,000.

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.’

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 2018/ 2019.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the proposed Treasury Management Strategy 2018/2019, which incorporated an Investment Strategy and set out how the Council would manage its investments and cashflows over the financial year.

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

‘To approve the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting held on 5 February 2018, namely:

1.      To adopt all the Elements of the Treasury Management Strategy 2018/19 and to approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2018/19 to 2020/21 as set out in Annex B to the report to the Executive.

2.      To approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2018/19 to 2019/20 as set out in Annex C to the report to the Executive.

3.      To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2018/19, 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 level of rents and service charges to be charged in connection with Housing Revenue Account dwellings during 2018/19.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 5 February 2018, regarding the levels of rents and service charges for Housing Revenue Account dwellings to be applied to the 2018/2019 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 5 February 2018, namely:

1.      To agree that a rent reduction of a minimum of 1% is implemented for all Housing Revenue Account properties in 2018/2019.

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 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 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and the setting of a Council Tax for the 2018/2019 Financial Year.

The Council received the report on the recommendations from the Executive at its meetings on 5 February and 19 February 2018 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget for 2018/2019 and to identify a budget savings plan that would ensure a balanced budget.

The report highlighted that consultation had taken place with representatives from the Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee trade unions and non-domestic ratepayers on 9 February.

Members firstly considered the proposed budget saving of as a result of the income generation of £150,000 from car parks and Blackpool Operating Company and income from Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd in the sum of £500,000.

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

‘To approve the income generation of £150,000 from car parks and Blackpool Operating Company (recommendation 2b of, Appendix 6c) and income from Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd in the sum of £500,000 (recommendation 2b of Appendix 6c).’

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, Campbell, G Coleman, Collett, Critchley, Cross, Hobson, Humphreys, Hunter, Kirkland, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Ryan, I Taylor, L Williams, Mrs Wright - Total 19.

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

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

Abstentions:  Councillor I Coleman – Total 1.

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note: Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Hutton, Singleton, Stansfield, L Taylor, Cain, D Coleman, Cox and Smith 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 6 (c), bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 5 February 2018 and 19 February 2018, 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 2018/2019 of £124,365,000 (ref. Paragraph 6.2 of the report to the Executive on 5 February 2018).

2.             To agree a level of budget savings of £5.5m (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 5 February 2018).

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 on 5 February 2018).

4.             To agree that the target level of working balances remains at £6m (ref. paragraph 10.4 of the report to the Executive on 5 February 2018).

5.             To recommend a detailed review of earmarked reserves takes place at Provisional Outturn 2017/18 to reprioritise and unearmark funds to replenish working balances to their target level in 2018/19 (ref. paragraph 10.4 of the report to the Executive  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.