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 2021/ 2022 Financial Year.

The Council considered the recommendations from the Executive at its meetings on 8 February and 25 February 2021 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget and setting of Council Tax for 2021/2022.

Members firstly considered the budget proposals in relation to Blackpool Waste Services Limited trading as Enveco.

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

‘To agree the savings of £350,000 through service improvements and efficiencies by the integration of Environmental and Cleansing services into Blackpool Waste Services Limited trading as Enveco.” (ref: Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 8 February 2021)’.

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, Cain, Campbell, Clapham, D Coleman, G Coleman, Collett, Cox, Critchley, Cross, Farrell, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Jackson, Matthews, Mitchell, O’Hara, Owen, Roberts, Robertson, D Scott, Mrs Scott, R Scott, Smith, Taylor, Walsh, L Williams, T Williams, Wilshaw, Wing - Total 33.

Against the motion: Councillors Baker, Mrs Callow, Galley – Total 3.

Abstentions:  None.

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

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

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

‘To agree the proposed the remaining recommendations 2b to 2j as outlined in Appendix 8(c), bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 8 February 2021 and 25 February 2021 into a summary document, set out in accordance with the requirements of the Localism Act 2011:

1.             To agree a remaining level of budget savings of £19.95m (£20.3m minus the £350,000 already approved in a) (ref. paragraphs 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendix 2 of the report to the Executive on 8 February 2021).

2.             To agree the level of net expenditure for the draft General Fund Revenue Budget 2021/22 of £149,062,000 (ref. paragraph 6.2 of the report to the Executive on 8 February 2021).

3.             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 8 February 2021).

4.             That the target level of working balances remains at £6m (ref. paragraph 10.4 of the report to the Executive on 8 February 2021).

5.             To adopt the formal Council Tax Resolutions set out at Appendix 8 (c) (Annex 1), in so doing agree a Council Tax Requirement of £62,618,000 and a Council Tax Base of 36,853.

6.             To note the calculation of Aggregate Amounts as directed by Section 31A of the Local Government Finance Act 1992 as set out at Appendix 8 (c) (Annex 1 and 2).

7.             To approve a level of Council Tax for the financial year 2021/22 of £1,699.13 at valuation Band D equivalent (a 4.99% 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).

8.             To note that the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2021/22 is £226.45 (a £15.00 increase, equivalent to 7.09%) for a Band D Tax equivalent and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2021/22 is £72.27 for a Band D Tax equivalent (a 1.99% increase).

9.             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, Brookes, Burdess, Cain, Campbell, D Coleman, 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 Baker, Mrs Callow, Clapham, G Coleman, Cox, Galley Roberts, Robertson, D Scott, Mrs Scott, R Scott, Stansfield, Walsh, T Williams, Wilshaw, Wing – Total 16.

Abstentions:  None.

Against the motion:

Abstentions:

Motion 2 carried: The motion was therefore carried.