Agenda item

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 on 5 February 2018)

6.             To note the comments of the meeting of the Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee with the Trade Unions and Business Ratepayers, as reported to the Executive on 19 February 2018 and the responses given.

7.             To note the report of the Budget Scrutiny Panel and the responses of the Executive (ref Appendix 3 of the report to the Executive 5 February 2018)

8.             To adopt the formal Council Tax Resolutions set out at Appendix 6 (c) (Annex 1), in so doing agree a Council Tax Requirement of £54,732,000 and a Council Tax Base of 36,219.

9.             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) (Annex1 and 2).

10.         To approve a level of Council Tax for the financial year 2018/2019 of £1,511.14 at valuation Band D equivalent (a 5.99% increase including the 3% Adult Social Care Precept but excluding the precepts for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority).

11.         To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2018/2019 is £177.45 (a 7.25 % increase) for a Band D Tax equivalent and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2018/2019 is £67.46 for a Band D Tax equivalent (a 2.99% increase).

12.         To confirm that the aggregate levels of Council Tax for Valuation Bands A to H will be as below:

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, D Coleman, G Coleman, Collett, Critchley, Cross, Hobson, Humphreys, Hunter, Hutton, Kirkland, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Ryan, Singleton, Smith, I Taylor, L Taylor, L Williams, Mrs Wright - Total 25.

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

Henderson, Roberts, Robertson, Scott, Mrs Scott, Stansfield, T Williams – Total 12.

Abstentions: Councillor I Coleman – Total 1.

Motion 2 carried: The motion was therefore carried