Agenda item

To consider the Medium Financial Strategy 2018/19 and 2021/22 incorporating the Reserves Strategy.

(report and relevant minute enclosed)

Consideration was given to the Revenue and Capital Budgets and Council Tax for 2018/19:

It was moved by Councillor Mark Townsend and seconded by Councillor John Harbour:

“That the Council approves the proposals contained in items 5(d) to 5 (i) on the agenda and adopts the relevant minutes of the Executive.  These relate to the approval of the Council’s revenue and capital budgets and setting the rate of Council Tax for 2018/19.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Gordon Birtwistle and seconded by Councillor Sumner as follows;

“£100,000 into the Capital Budget for the retention of the Ward Opportunities Fund for 2018/19, funded by utilisation of reserves”.

In accordance with Council procedure rule 16.7 a recorded vote was taken on the amendment.

For the Motion

Councillors Gordon Birtwistle, Ida Carmichael, Roger Frost, Alan Hosker, Anne Kelly, Neil Mottershead, Mark Payne, Tom Porter, David Roper, Jeff Summer and Christine White

Against the motion

Councillors Bill Brindle, Margaret Brindle, Frank Cant,  Saeed Chaudhary Jean Cunningham, Danny Fleming, Bea Foster, Sue Graham, Joanne Greenwood, John Harbour, Tony Harrison,  David Heginbotham, Mohammed Ishtiaq, Marcus Johnstone, Arif Khan, Lubna Khan, Wajid Khan, Sobia Malik, Tony Martin, Elizabeth Monk, Andrew Newhouse, Lian Pate, Asif Raja  Paul Reynolds, Ann Royle, Andrew Tatchell, Cosima Towneley and Mark Townsend

Abstained from the motion

Councillors Howard Baker and Charlie Briggs

Accordingly, the amendment was declared to be lost.

In accordance with Council procedure rule 16.7 a recorded vote was taken on the motion;

For the motion

Councillors Howard Baker, Charlie Briggs, Bill Brindle, Margaret Brindle, Frank Cant, Saeed Chaudhary, Jean Cunningham, Danny Fleming, Bea Foster, Sue Graham, Joanne Greenwood, John Harbour, Tony Harrison, Mohammed Ishtiaq, Marcus Johnstone, Arif Khan, Lubna Khan, Wajid Khan, Sobia Malik, Tony Martin, Elizabeth Monk, Neil Mottershead, Lian Pate, Mark Payne, Asif Raja  Paul Reynolds, David Roper, Ann Royle, Andrew Tatchell  Mark Townsend and Christine White

Against the Motion

Councillors Gordon Birtwistle, Roger Frost, Alan Hosker, Anne Kelly, Tom Porter, and Jeff Summer

Abstained from the Motion

Councillors Ida Carmichael, David Heginbotham, Andrew Newhouse and Cosima Towneley

Accordingly, the motion was declared to be carried and it was RESOLVED:

1)        That the latest Medium-Term Financial Strategy be approved;

2)        That the Reserves Strategy, as appended to the Medium-Term Financial Strategy be approved;

3)        That it be noted that a refreshed document will be provided regularly when required as an aid to monitoring the continued delivery of an annually balanced budget;

4)        That  the approach that has been adopted in developing budget proposals that reflect the Council’s Strategic Objectives for 2018/19 be endorsed;

5)        That the proposals contained in the revenue budget 2018/19 report be approved;

6)        That the setting of a Council Tax Requirement of £6,738,897 for the financial year 2018/19 be approved;

7)        That  the setting of a Net Budget Requirement of £15,089,625 for 2018/19 be approved;

8)        That the statutory report issued by the Chief Finance Officer under the Local Government Act 2003 be received;

9)        That the Chief Operating Officer/Heads of Service be authorised to progress action plans to deliver the 2018/19 budget;

10)     That approval be given to a Council Tax (Band D) figure of £291.50 for this Council for the year commencing 1^st April 2018 and adopt the statutory resolution to set the full Council Tax for the year. This is equivalent to a 2.99% Council tax increase;

11)     That the Statutory report of the Chief Finance Officer for the Revenue Budget 2018/19 be noted and that regard was had to its contents when setting the Revenue Budget for 2018/19;

12)     That the treasury management strategy statement for 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 1 to the report be approved;

13)     That the prudential and treasury indicators for 2018/19 to 2020/21 as per Appendix 2 to the report,  including the authorised limit for external debt of £33.817m in 2018/19 be approved;

14)     That the list of Counterparties for Deposits outlined within Appendix 3 to the report be approved

15)     That the Council’s Medium Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement for 2018/19 as set out in Appendix 4 to the report be approved;

16)     That the 2018/19 Capital Budget totalling £10,140,512 as set out in Appendix 1 be approved;

17)     That the 2018-21 Capital Investment Programme as set out in Appendix 1 be noted;

18)     That the estimated position on capital resources as set out in Appendix 2 be noted;

19)     That it be noted that on 16^th January 2018 the Council calculated the Council tax base 2018/19;

24)   That it be determined that the Council’s basic amount of Council Tax for 2018/19 is not excessive in accordance with principles approved under Section 52ZB Local Government Finance Act 1992.