Agenda item

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 a level of Council Tax for the financial year 2023/24 of £1,837.23 at valuation Band D equivalent (a 4.99% 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).

13.     To confirm the aggregate levels of Council Tax for Valuation Bands A to H will be as set out in the updated Appendix 4h to the report and set out 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, Campbell, Collett, Critchley, Farrell, Hobson, Hugo, Hunter, Hutton,  Jackson, Kirkland, Matthews, O’Hara, Owen, Smith, Taylor, L Williams, Wright - Total 20.

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

Abstentions:  None

Motion carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note:  Councillor Cox left the meeting at the start of the item.