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, Stansfield and Wright declared personal interests in agenda item 5 ‘Proposed Rent Review 2015/16’ as Council appointed directors of Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd.

Councillor Doherty declared a personal interest in agenda item 5 ‘Proposed Rent Review 2015/16’ as a Council Tenant.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 21 January 2015 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Council held on 21 January 2015 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To consider setting a Capital Programme for 2015/ 2016, 2016/ 2017 and 2017/ 2018.

The Council considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Capital Programme for 2015/16.  In doing so, it noted that the programme ran concurrently with the 2015/16 revenue budget, with schemes usually extending over a number of years, and for that reason, the programme projected forward indicative spending for a period of three years.  Members also noted that the 2016/17 and 2017/18 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 Jackson seconded): 

‘1.      To approve the recommendations of the Executive to Council from its meeting held on 9 February 2015, namely:

(i)            To approve the Capital Programme for 2015/2016 as set out at Appendices A and B, in the report to the Executive, including the contingency of £762,000. 

(ii)          To agree to continue the Single Capital Pot approach as outlined in Section 4 of the report to the Executive 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 in 9 February 2015, namely:

(iii)        To agree that individual Executive approvals will continue to be required for all Prudential borrowing schemes.

(iv)         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.

The Council will be asked to consider the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the Treasury Management Strategy for the financial year 2015/ 2016.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the proposed Treasury Management Strategy 2015/16 which set out treasury management activities for the year.

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

‘1.      To approve the recommendations of the Executive to Council from its meeting held on 9 February 2015, namely:

(i)            To adopt all the Elements of the Treasury Management Strategy 2015/ 2016 and to approve the Prudential Indicators and limits for 2015/2016 – 2017/2018 as set in Annex B to the report to the Executive.

(ii)          To approve the Prudential Indicators and Limits for 2015/ 2016 – 2017/ 2018 as set out in Annex C to the report to the Executive.

(iii)        To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2015/ 2016 as set out in Annex D to the report to the Executive.’

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

The Council will be asked to consider the levels of rents and service charges to be charged in connection with Housing Revenue Account dwellings during 2015/ 2016.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 23 February 2015, regarding the Housing Revenue Account budget and the levels of rents and service charges for Council housing dwellings to be applied to the 2015/16 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): 

‘1.      That a rent freeze is implemented in 2015/2016.

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

3.       That de-pooled services (as detailed in Appendix C to the Executive report) and that other service charges (as detailed in Appendix D and E to the Executive report) are charged as recommended.

4.       That the Leaseholder Management Charge is amended in line with the cost of managing the service.’

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 2015/ 2016 Financial Year.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive at its meeting on 9 February and 23 February 2015 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget for 2015/16, following consultation with the trade unions, business ratepayers and the Council’s Scrutiny Committee and Finance and Audit Committee and open access public consultation that been held over a period of weeks from January.  Members noted the precepts set by the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire.

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

‘The Council to agree the proposed recommendations outlined in Appendix 6(c) of the Council report, bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 9 February 2015 and 23 February 2015 into a summary document, set out in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011.  The recommendations being subject to the proposed saving for the ARC (Review of terms and conditions) in the sum of £70,000 (as set out in Appendix 2 of the General Fund Revenue report to the Executive on 9 February) being replaced with a saving of equal value being found by the statutory Director of Adult Services from the Adult Services budget and are as follows:

1.             To agree the level of net expenditure for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2015/2016 of £128,073,000 (ref. Paragraph 2.3 and 5.2 of the report to the Executive on 23 February 2015).

2.             To agree a level of budget savings of £25.2m (ref. paragraph 7.1 and 7.2 of the report and Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 9 February 2015).

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 9 February 2015).

4.             To agree that the target level of working balances remains at £6m (ref. paragraph 11.4 of the report to the Executive on 9 February 2015).

5.             To note the position regarding support to the voluntary sector (ref. paragraph 9.1 of the report to the Executive on 9 February 2015).

6.             To note the comments of the meeting of the Scrutiny Committee and the meetings of the Finance and Audit Committee with the Trade Unions and the non-domestic Ratepayers, as reported to the Executive and the responses given.

7.             To adopt the formal Council Tax Resolutions set out at Appendix 6 (c), in so doing agree a Council Tax Requirement of £45,535,000 and a Council Tax Base of 34,866.

8.             To note the calculation of Aggregate Amounts as directed by Section 31A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as set out at Appendix 6 (c).

9.             To approve an unchanged level of Council Tax for the financial year 2015/2016 of £1,306.00 at valuation band D equivalent (excluding the precepts for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority).

10.         To note that the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2015/16 is £64.86 for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.