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 2020/ 2021 Financial Year.

NOTE:  Appendix 6(c) and an Extended Order of Proceedings for this item will be circulated on Thursday 5 March 2020.

The Council considered the recommendations from the Executive at its meetings on 10 February and 4 March 2020 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and setting of Council Tax for 2020/2021.

Members firstly considered the proposed budget saving of as a result of the income from Blackpool Waste Services Limited (trading as Enveco) in the sum of £200,000 in respect of joint working.

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

‘To approve the income generation of £200,000 in respect of joint working with Blackpool Waste Services Limited trading as Enveco (recommendation 2a of Appendix 6c to the Council report)’.

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, Brookes, Burdess, Cain, Campbell, G Coleman, Collett, Critchley, Cross, Farrell, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Jackson, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Smith, Taylor, L Williams - Total 22.

Against the motion:

Councillors Mrs Callow, Callow, Clapham, Galley, Robertson, D Scott, M Scott, R Scott, T Williams, Wilshaw, Wing – Total 11.

Abstentions:  None

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

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

Motion 2:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded):

‘To agree the remaining recommendations 2b to 2k as outlined in Appendix 6(c) of the Council report, bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 10 February 2020 and 4 March 2020 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 £19.45m (£19.65m excluding £200,000 approved above)

2.           That the £5,922,000 Social Care Grant is allocated in full to Children’s Social Care.

3.           To agree the level of net expenditure for the draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2020/21 of £142,084,000.

4.           That the Chief Executive be authorised to take any necessary steps to ensure all staffing savings are achieved.

5.           That the target level of working balances remains at £6m.

6.           To adopt the formal Council Tax Resolutions set out at Appendix 6 (c) (Annex 1) of the Council report, in so doing agree a Council Tax Requirement of £60,134,500 and a Council Tax Base of 37,157.

7.           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) (Annex 1 and 2) of the Council report.

8.           To approve a level of Council Tax for the financial year 2020/21 of £1,618.39 at valuation Band D equivalent (a 3.99% increase including the 2% Adult Social Care Precept but excluding the precepts for the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority).

9.           To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2020/21 is £211.45 (a £10.00 increase, equivalent to 4.96%) for a Band D Tax equivalent and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2020/21 is £70.86 for a Band D Tax equivalent (a 1.99% increase).

10.        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, Brookes, Burdess, Cain, Campbell, Collett, Critchley, Cross, Farrell, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Hutton, Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Smith, Taylor, L Williams - Total 23.

Against the motion:  Councillors Mrs Callow, Callow, Clapham, G Coleman, Galley, Robertson, D Scott, M Scott, R Scott, Stansfield, T Williams, Wilshaw, Wing – Total 13.

Abstentions: None.

Motion 2 carried: The motion was therefore carried.