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 2016/ 2017 Financial Year.

The Council received the report on the recommendations from the Executive at its meetings on 8 February and 22 February 2016 in relation to the draft General Fund Revenue Budget for 2016/17.  The report highlighted that consultation had taken place with representatives from the trade unions, business ratepayers and the Council’s Tourism, Economy and Resources Scrutiny Committee as well as range of consultation activities held over the course of the previous months. 

Members also noted that as the Provisional and Final Local Government Finance Settlements had required a further £5.1m of budget savings to that previously consulted upon, a further three month consultation process was also being proposed, in relation to additional items put forward for savings in Appendix 2b of the report to the Executive.

Members firstly considered the proposed budget saving of £200,000 in relation to Housing Related Support.

Motion 1:  Councillor Cain proposed (and Councillor Jackson seconded):

To approve the savings of £200,000 from Housing Related Support as part of the second tranche of budget saving proposals and to note that formal consultation on this proposal will take place over the next three months (as set out in paragraph 7.2 and Appendix 2b of the report to the Executive on 8 February 2016).

Motion 1 carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

Note:  Having declared disclosable pecuniary interests, Councillors Blackburn and Campbell left the meeting during consideration of the above part of the item.

Members then considered the savings in relation to additional income from Blackpool Operating Company Ltd. 

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

To approve the additional income of £100,000 from Blackpool Operating Company Ltd as part of the second tranche of budget saving proposals and to note that formal consultation on this proposal will take place over the next three months (as set out in paragraph 7.2 and Appendix 2b of the report to the Executive on 8 February 2016).

Motion 2 carried:  The motion was submitted to the Council and carried.

Note:  Having declared prejudicial interests, Councillors Cain, D Coleman, Cox and Smith left the meeting during consideration of the above part of the item.

The Council then went on to consider the remainder of the budget proposals and proposed Council tax levels and noted the precepts set by the Police and Crime Commissioner and Lancashire Combined Fire Authority.

Motion 3:  Councillor Blackburn proposed (and Councillor Campbell seconded): 

The Council to agree the following proposed remaining recommendations, bringing together the recommendations from the Executive meetings on 8 February 2016 and 22 February 2016 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 2016/2017 of £122,999,000 (ref. Paragraph 2.3 of the report to the Executive on 22 February 2016).

2.                       To approve a level of budget savings of £25.1m (reference paragraph 7.1 and 7.2 and Appendices 2, 2a and 2b of the report to the Executive on 8 February 2016).

3.                       To agree the savings listed in the second tranche of budget saving proposals that total £4.8m (excluding the £200,000 for Housing Related Support already approved at Motion  1 and the £100,000 additional income from Blackpool Operating Company Ltd already approved at Motion 2) and to note that formal consultation will take place over the next three months (reference paragraph 7.2 and Appendix 2b the report to the Executive on 8February 2016).

4.                       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 8 February 2016).

5.                       To agree that the Business Loans Fund is increased from £8m to £10m (ref. paragraph 8.3 of the report to the Executive on 8February 2016).

6.                       To agree that the target level of working balances remains at £6m (ref. paragraph 10.4 of the report to the Executive on 8February 2016).

7.                       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 22February 2016 and the responses given.

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 £48,295,000 and a Council Tax Base of 35,562.

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 2016/2017 of £1,358.05 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).

11.                   To note that the Lancashire Combined Fire Authority precept for the financial year 2016/2017 is £65.50 for a Band D Tax equivalent (a 0.99% increase) and the Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire’s precept for the financial year 2016/2017 is £162.22 (a 1.99% increase) for a Band D Tax equivalent.

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

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, I Coleman, Collett, Cross, Elmes, Humphreys, Hunter, Hutton, Jackson, Kirkland, O’Hara, Owen, Rowson, Ryan, Singleton, Smith, I Taylor, Wright - Total 23.

Against the motion:  Councillors Brown, Mrs Callow, Clapham, Cox, Galley, Mrs Henderson, Maycock, Roberts, Robertson, Scott, Stansfield, T Williams – Total 12.

Abstentions:  Councillor Callow – Total 1.

Motion 3 carried:  The motion was therefore carried.