Agenda item

To consider the recommendations of the Executive from the meeting on 5 February 2024 and updated information in relation to the General Fund Revenue Budget for 2024/25, the setting of Council Tax, the proposals for the use of the Dedicated Schools Grant and the allocation of schools funding for 2024/25.

Members considered the recommendations from the Executive from its meeting on 5 February 2024 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget for 2024/25, 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.

Members firstly considered the budget proposals in relation to Housing Company recharges and review of company overheads for Blackpool Housing Company Limited and Blackpool Coastal Housing Limited.

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

‘To agree a budget saving of £422,000 based on recharges and a review of company overheads for Blackpool Coastal Housing Ltd and Blackpool Housing Company Ltd (ref. Appendix 4b of 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 Bamborough, Benson, Boughton, P Brookes, S Brookes, Burdess, Campbell, Cartmell, Critchley, Farrell, Flanagan, Hoyle, Hugo, Humphreys, Hunter, Jackson, Jones, Marshall, Roe, M Smith, Taylor, Thomas, Williams - Total 23.

Against the motion: Councillors Baker, Cooper, Ellison, Galley, C Mitchell, D Mitchell, Roberts, D Scott, M Scott, Walsh, Warne, Wilshaw – Total 12.

Abstentions:  None

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note:  Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors N Brookes, Hobson and Sloman left the meeting during consideration of the above part of the item.

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

‘To agree a level of budget savings of £1.578 million made up by:

·      £427,000 for new rent at the Tram Depot from Blackpool Transport Services Ltd

·      £500,000 from improved performance from the Sandcastle Waterpark (Blackpool Operating Company Limited) and Winter Gardens (Blackpool Entertainment Company Limited

·      £500,000 from an Enveco dividend (Blackpool Waste Services Limited) and

·      £151,000 from a Sandcastle Waterpark rent increase (Blackpool Operating Company Limited)

(ref. Appendix 4b of 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 N Brookes, P Brookes, S Brookes, Burdess, Campbell, Cartmell, Critchley, Flanagan, Hobson, Hugo, Humphreys, Hunter, Jackson, Marshall, Roe, Taylor, Williams - Total 17.

Against the motion: Councillors Baker, Cooper, Ellison, Galley, D Mitchell, Roberts, D Scott, M Scott, Sloman, Warne – Total 10.

Abstentions:  None

Motion 2 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.

Note:  Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Bamborough, Boughton, M Smith, C Mitchell, Farrell, Walsh, Hoyle, Jones and Wilshaw left the meeting during consideration of the above part of the item.

Motion 3:  Councillor Williams proposed (and Councillor Taylor seconded):

‘The Council to agree the proposed the remaining recommendations numbered 2.1 to 2.13 as outlined in Agenda Item 4 and updated in the Order of Proceedings (and reproduced below) to reflect decisions taken above and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire precept and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2024/25:

1.             To note the recommendations from the Executive at its meeting on 5 February 2024 and updated information as reported to Council.

2.             To note the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire precept for the financial year 2024/25 for a Band D Tax equivalent and the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2024/25 for a Band D Tax equivalent.

3.             To agree a level of budget savings of £14.3m (£16.3m less the £2m already approved) (ref. paragraphs 10.1 and Appendix 4b of the Council report) 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 2024/2025 of £194,762,000 (ref. paragraph 9.2 and Appendix 4a of the Council report).

5.             To note that on 31 January 2024, the National Non-Domestic Rate Return 1 for 2024/25 was formally approved by the Leader of the Council and this has been reflected in Appendix 4a for the financial year 2024/25 and the updated Appendix 4g (Annexes 1 and 2) of the Council report.

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 Council report).

7.             To agree the proposed use of the Dedicated Schools Grant Budget for 2024/25 (ref. paragraph 7.8 and Appendix 4c of the Council report).

8.             To agree the allocation of schools funding for 2024/25 (ref. paragraph 7.8 and Appendix 4c of the Council report).

9.             To agree that a target level of working balances of £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 2024/2025 (ref. section 13 of the Council report).

10.         To adopt the formal Council Tax Resolutions set out in the updated Appendix 4g (Annex 1) of the Council report, in so doing agree a Council Tax Requirement of £74,755,000 and a Council Tax Base of 38,756 properties.

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

12.         To approve a level of Council Tax for the financial year 2024/25 of £1,928.87 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 that the aggregate levels of Council Tax for Valuation Bands A to H will be as set out in the updated Appendix 4g of the Council report and set out below’:

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

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 Bamborough, Benson, Boughton, N Brookes, P Brookes, S Brookes, Burdess, Campbell, Cartmell, Critchley, Farrell, Flanagan, Hobson, Hoyle, Hugo, Humphreys, Hunter, Jackson, Jones, Marshall, Roe, M Smith, Taylor, Thomas, Williams - Total 25.

Against the motion: Councillors Baker, Cooper, Ellison, Galley, C Mitchell, D Mitchell, Roberts, D Scott, M Scott, Sloman, Walsh, Warne, Wilshaw – Total 13.

Abstentions:  None

Motion 3 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.