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.

In relation to agenda item 7, Council Tax 2022/23 the following declarations of interest were made:

·         Councillors Cain, Critchley and Walsh declared prejudicial interests as Council-appointed non-executive directors of Blackpool Operating Company Ltd

·         Councillors Hutton, Kirkland and Stansfield declared prejudicial interests as Council-appointed non-executive directors of Blackpool Waste Services Limited (Enveco)

·         Councillors Burdess, Galley and Matthews declared personal interests as Council-appointed non-executive directors of Blackpool Transport Services Limited

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

·         Councillor Benson declared a personal interest as her spouse was employed by Blackpool Transport Services Limited

·         Councillor O’Hara declared a personal interest as his son was employed by Blackpool Transport Services Limited.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held informally on 8 February and the formal Council meeting on 9 February 2022 as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the informal Council meeting held on 8 February 2022 and the minutes of the formal Council meeting held on 9 February 2022 be signed by the Deputy Mayor as a correct record.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive at its meeting on 7 February 2022 on the Capital Strategy for 2022/23 to 2024/25, incorporating the Property Investment Strategy for 2022/23.

The Council considered the recommendations from the Executive meeting of 7 February 2022 in relation to the proposed capital strategy which incorporated the Property Investment Strategy for 2022/23.  Members noted that the proposed Capital Strategy aligned with the priorities set out in the Council Plan and Treasury Management Strategy.

Motion: Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘To approve the Capital Strategy 2022/2023 to 2024/2025 incorporating the Property Investment Strategy 2022/2023’.

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

To consider the recommendations of the Executive at its meeting on 7 February 2022 on the 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 Capital Programme.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive from 7 February 2022 regarding the Capital Programme for 2022/2023, 2023/2024 and 2024/2025.  It was  noted that the programme ran concurrently with the General Fund Revenue Budget and projected forward indicative spending for three years at an estimated value of £263.5 million.

Motion: Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘1.      To approve the Capital Programme for 2022/2023 as set out in the report and in Appendices 4a and 4b to the Executive report.

2.       To agree that Executive approval will continue to be required for all Prudential borrowing schemes (reference paragraph 6.10 of the report).

3.       To approve the Single Capital Pot approach as outlined with a top slice of 12.5% to allow for investment in key priority areas and overspends that are not otherwise fundable (reference paragraph 6.14 of the report).

4.       To agree the Capital Prudential Indicators as identified in Appendix 4c to the Executive report’.

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

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 7 February 2022 on the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the proposed Treasury Management Strategy 2022/2023, which set out how the Council would manage its investments and cashflows over the forthcoming financial year.

Motion: Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘1.       To approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2022/2023 including both the Borrowing and Investment Strategies set out in Appendix 5c and Appendix 5d 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 (2021 Edition) set out in Appendix 5b to the Executive report.

3.        To approve the revised Prudential Indicators and limits for 2022/2023 and the new Prudential Indicators and limits for 2022/2023 – 2024/2025 set out in Appendix 5e to the Executive report.

4.        To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2022/2023, which will ensure a prudent Minimum Revenue Provision charge in the annual statement of accounts. The policy is set out in Appendix 5f to the Executive report’.

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

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 24 February 2022 on the final draft of the update to the Council Plan 2019-24.

A report on the Council Plan was considered by members, along with the recommendations from the Executive on 24 February 2022 for its approval, following updates made in relation to the order of Council priorities, work to address the climate emergency and details of the Council’s pandemic response and approach to recovery.

Motion: Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘To approve the updated Council Plan as attached at Appendix 3a to the Executive report, with immediate effect until 31 December 2024’.

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 2022/2023 Financial Year.

The Council considered the recommendations from the Executive from the meetings on 7 February and 24 February 2022 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and setting of Council Tax for 2022/2023.

Members firstly considered the budget proposals in relation to Blackpool Operating Company Limited.

Motion 1:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘To agree a budget saving of £900,000 based on a dividend from Blackpool Operating Company Limited (ref. Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 7 February 2022’.

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, Brookes, Burdess, Campbell, Clapham, D Coleman, G Coleman, Collett, Cox, Farrell, Galley, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Hutton,  Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, B Mitchell, M Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Roberts, Robertson, D Scott, Mrs Scott, R Scott, Sloman, Smith, Stansfield, Taylor, L Williams, T Williams, Wilshaw - Total 34.

Against the motion: Councillor Baker – Total 1.

Abstentions:  Councillor Mrs Callow – Total 1.

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note:  Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Cain, Critchley and Walsh left the meeting during consideration of the above part of the item.

Motion 2:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘To agree a budget saving of £250,000, as part of the identified total non-recurrent savings of £6.04m to replenish working balances, based on savings as a result of consolidation following the establishment of Blackpool Waste Services Limited trading as Enveco (ref. Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 7 February 2022)’.

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 Baker, Benson, Brookes, Burdess, Cain, Mrs Callow, Campbell, Clapham, D Coleman, G Coleman, Collett, Cox, Critchley, Farrell, Galley, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Jackson, Matthews, B Mitchell, M Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Roberts, Robertson, D Scott, Mrs Scott, R Scott, Sloman, Smith, Taylor, Walsh, L Williams, T Williams, Wilshaw - Total 36.

Against the motion: None

Abstentions:  None

Motion 2 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note:  Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Hutton, Kirkland and Stansfield left the meeting during consideration of the above part of the item.

Motion 3:  Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘The Council to agree the proposed the remaining recommendations 2c to 2k as outlined in Appendix 7(a) (and reproduced below), bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 7 February 2022 and 24 February 2022 into a summary document, set out in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011:

1.             To agree a level of budget savings of £7.7m (£8.6m minus £900,000 already approved in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the appointment of a local external auditor for the audit year 2023/24.

Members considered a report on proposals for the appointment of the Council’s auditor as the current contract expired in March 2023. 

The report outlined the options which included appointment on a stand-alone basis, collaboration on a local joint procurement arrangement or opting in to sector-led body.

Motion: Councillor L Williams proposed (and Councillor Galley seconded):

‘To opt-in to the Local Government Association (LGA)-endorsed sector-led body appointed by the Secretary of State, namely Public Sector Audit Appointments (PSAA), by the due deadline of 11 March 2022 for them to undertake the Council’s local auditor procurement and appointment process’.

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