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 Brookes, Hobson and Robertson declared personal interests in agenda item 3, ‘Proposed Rent Review and Housing Revenue Account 2023/24’ as Council appointed non-executive directors of Blackpool Coastal Housing Company Ltd. 

In relation to item 4 ‘General Fund Revenue Budget, Council Tax and Dedicated Schools Grant 2023/24’ the following declarations were made:

·        Councillors Hugo, Jackson and R Scott declared personal interests in relation to the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority (CFA) precept as Council-appointed representatives of Lancashire CFA

·         Councillors Burdess, Critchley and Galley declared personal interests in relation to the proposed concessionary fare saving as Council appointed non-executive directors on Blackpool Transport Services Ltd.  Councillor Benson also declared a personal interest as her spouse was an employee at Blackpool Transport Services Ltd.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 1 February 2023 as a true and correct record.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Council meeting held on 1 February 2023 be signed by the Mayor as a correct record.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 6 February 2023 in relation to the level of rents and service charges to be charged in connection with Housing Revenue Account dwellings during 2023/24 and the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2023/24.

Members considered the recommendations from the Executive meeting on 6 February 2023 on the level of rents and service charges to be charged in connection with Housing Revenue Account dwellings and the Housing Revenue Account budget for 2023/24.

Discussion took place on the proposed levels of rent and affordability as well the impact upon the Housing Revenue Account in the longer term.

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

‘1.        That rents for all Housing Revenue account properties are increased by 5% in 2023/2024.

2.         That the 2023/2024 Housing Revenue Account budget as set out in Appendix 3a to the report is approved.

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

4.         That Housing Revenue Account service charges (as detailed in Appendix 3b to the report) and that other General Fund service charges (as detailed in Appendix 3c) are charged as outlined’.

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 budget. The voting was as follows:

For the motion: Councillors Benson, Brookes, Burdess, Campbell, Collett, Critchley, Farrell, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Hutton,  Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, M Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Smith, Taylor, L Williams, Wright - Total 21.

Against the motion: Councillors Baker, Cain, Mrs Callow, Clapham, Cox, Galley, B Mitchell, Robertson, D Scott, R Scott, Sloman, Stansfield, Walsh, Wilshaw - Total 14.

Abstentions:  None

Motion carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Notes:

1.             A short adjournment took place after the debate on the item.

2.             Councillors D Coleman and G Coleman left the meeting before the vote was taken.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 6 February 2023 and updated information in relation to the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2023/24, the setting of Council Tax, the proposals for the use of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the allocation of schools funding for 2023/24.

The Council considered the recommendations from the Executive from its meeting on 6 February 2023 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget for 2023/24, setting of Council Tax and proposals for the use of the Dedicated Schools Grant.

Members noted the level of precepts that had been set by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority for the forthcoming financial year at the meetings on 15 February 2023 and 21 February 2023 respectively.

Debate took place on the level of proposed Council tax and a range of views were expressed.

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

‘1.      To note the recommendations from the Executive at its meeting on 6 February 2023 and updated information contained in the report.

2.       To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2023/24 is £251.45 (a £15.00 increase, equivalent to 6.34%) for a Band D Tax equivalent and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2023/24 is £82.27 (a £5.00 increase, equivalent to 6.47% increase) for a Band D Tax equivalent.

3.       To agree a level of budget savings of £23.4m (ref. paragraphs 10.1 and 10.3 of the report and Appendix 4b) incorporating a Council Tax increase of 4.99% made up of 2.99% plus 2% Adult Social Care precept.

4.       To agree the level of net expenditure for the General Fund Revenue Budget 2023/2024 of £176,218,000 (ref. paragraph 9.2 of the report and Appendix 4a).

5.       To note that on 31 January 2023, the National Non-Domestic Rate Return 1 for 2023/2024 was formally approved by the Leader of the Council and this has been reflected in Appendix 4a to the report for the financial year 2023/24 and Appendix 4h (Annexes 1 and 2).

6.       To agree that the Chief Executive be authorised to take any necessary steps to ensure any staffing savings are achieved (ref. paragraph 11.1 of the report).

7.       To agree that the Chief Executive be authorised to take any necessary steps to ensure any staffing savings are achieved (ref. paragraph 11.1 of the report).

8.       To agree the allocation of schools funding for 2023/24 (ref. paragraph 7.8 and Appendix 4c of the report).

9.       To agree that a target level of working balances of £6m by 31 March 2024 rising to £8m by 31 March 2025 and that due regard is given to the robustness of the estimates and the adequacy of reserves in the budget proposals for 2023/2024 (ref. section 13 of the report and Appendix 4g).

10.     To adopt the formal Council Tax Resolutions set out at Appendix 4h to the report (Annex 1), in so doing agree a Council Tax Requirement of £69,502,000and a Council Tax Base of 37,830 properties.

11.     To note the calculation of Aggregate Amounts as directed by Section 31A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as set out at Appendix 4h to the report(Annexes 1 and 2).

12.     To approve  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 6 February 2023 to Council on the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/24.

Members considered the recommendations of the Executive in relation to the proposed Treasury Management Strategy 2023/2024, which set out an annual plan of how the Council would manage its investments and cashflows.

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

‘1.      To approve the Treasury Management Strategy 2023/2043 including both the Borrowing and Investment Strategies set out in Appendix 5c and Appendix 5d to the 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 report.

3.       To approve the revised Prudential Indicators and limits for 2023/2024 and the new Prudential Indicators and limits for 2023/2024 – 2025/2026 set out in Appendix 5e to the report.

4.       To approve the Minimum Revenue Provision Policy Statement for 2023/2024, 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 report’.

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

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting of 6 February 2023 on the Capital Strategy for 2023/24 to 2025/26 and its complimentary document the Property Investment Strategy for 2023/24.

The Council considered the recommendations from the Executive meeting of 6 February 2023 in relation to the proposed capital strategy and its complimentary document the Property Investment Strategy for 2023/24. 

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):

‘1.      To approve the Capital Strategy 2023/2024 to 2025/2026 attached at Appendix 6a to the report.

2.       To approve the Property Investment Strategy for 2023/2024 attached at Appendix 6b to the report’.

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

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 6 February 2023 on the 2023/24, 2024/25 and 2025/26 Capital Programme.

The Council considered a report and recommendations of the Executive from 6 February 2023 regarding the Capital Programme for 2023/2024, 2024/2025 and 2025/26 and in doing so 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 £125.8 million.

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

‘1.      To approve the Capital Programme for 2023/2024 as set out in the report and in Appendices 7a and 7b.

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 6.11 of the report).

4.       To agree the Capital Prudential Indicators as identified in Appendix 7c to the report’.

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

The Council to consider the recommendations of the Executive from its meeting on 23 January 2023 to adopt the Blackpool Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policies.

Members were aware that the item on the proposed Local Plan Part 2 had been deferred at the last meeting in order to allow further engagement with elected members. A briefing had subsequently been held on 15 February 2023.

The Council considered the report and noted that the Local Plan was a key document that formed part of the Council’s statutory planning framework. 

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

‘1.       To accept the Inspector’s findings and his recommendations including the Main Modifications as set out in Appendix 8a to the report; accept the additional (minor) modifications to the Local Plan Part Two as set out in Appendix 8b and adopt the Blackpool Local Plan Part 2: Site Allocations and Development Management Policieswith the Main Modifications and additional (minor) modifications and the amended Policies Maps at Appendix 8c to the report.

2.        To authorise the Director of Communications and Regeneration to undertake the necessary steps for the adoption process to be completed and that delegated powers be given to Head of Planning Strategy to make any final modifications to improve readability; correct any factual matters or typographical errors; and the final presentation of the document.

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

To consider the recommendation of the Chief Officers’ Employment Committee from its meeting on 6 February 2023 to approve the Proposed Pay Policy Statement which incorporates the annual Gender Pay Gap data.

Members considered the recommendation from the Chief Officer’s Employment Committee in relation to the Pay Policy Statement for 2023/2024 which incorporated the annual gender pay gap data. 

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

‘To approve the Proposed Pay Policy Statement, as attached at Appendix 9(a) to the report’.

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