Agenda item

To approve the Budget Strategy.

 

Appendix 2 will be published as soon as it is available.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy set out the recommendations from the Cabinet.

 

An amendment had been proposed from Cllr Ezzard which had been attached as a supplement to the agenda. Cllr Brenton seconded the amendment and noted that all councillors realised they needed to mitigate on climate change. To the residents of the Dorset it seemed all the action was being undertaken by volunteer groups. She felt Dorset Council needed to lead on this and this would show that the Council had a commitment to climate change.

 

There were a number of comments and questions relating to the amendment including:-

 

A small step to giving the climate emergency a proper place

The budget had not addressed the need to meet the needs of this area

£19m funding had been awarded to the Council to help with climate change

The work that Cllr Bryan had undertaken in respect of climate change

The effects of climate change

Assumptions in the budget made and decisions on this made by Town Councils

No wish to revisit the budget on member allowances

No wish to ask the Dorset tax-payer to pay anymore

Disappointment the amendment submitted so late following all the budget consultations that had taken place with members

Climate change costs were already in the budget

Procedural issue raised with the Monitoring Officer who responded that the amendment was procedurally valid.

.

In accordance with procedure rule 19.6 a recorded vote was taken. Those who voted in favour of the amendment: Cllrs Alex Brenton, Kelvin Clayton, Tim Cook. Janet Dover, Beryl Ezzard, Brian Heatley, Ryan Holloway, Ryan Hope, Nick Ireland, Paul Kimber, Robin Legg, David Morgan, Jon Orrell, Maria Roe, Andrew Starr, Clare Sutton, Gill Taylor and David Tooke.

 

Those who voted against the amendment: Cllrs Rod Adkins, Anthony Alford, Jon Andrews, Shane Bartlett, Pauline Batstone, David Bolwell, Cherry Brooks, Piers Brown, Ray Bryan, Graham Carr-Jones, Simon Christopher, Susan Cocking, Robin Cook, Toni Coombs, Jean Dunseith, Tony Ferrari, Spencer Flower, Les Fry, Simon Gibson, Barry Goringe, Paul Harrison, Rob Hughes, Sherry Jespersen, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Rebecca Knox, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Cathy Lugg, Laura Miller, Louie O’Leary, Emma Parker, Mike Parkes, Andrew Parry, Mary Penfold, Bill Pipe, Val Pothecary, Byron Quayle, Belinda Ridout, Mark Roberts, Julie Robinson, David Shortell, Jane Somper, Gary Suttle, William Trite, Daryl Turner, David Walsh, Peter Wharf, Kate Wheller and John Worth.

 

Abstentions: Cllrs Michael Barron, Peter Barrow, Derek Beer, Richard Biggs, David Gray, Matt Hall, Howard Legg, Stella Jones, Molly Rennie, Roland Tarr, David Taylor and Sarah Williams

 

Following a recorded vote, 18 for, 49 against and 12 abstentions the amendment was LOST. 

 

Group Leaders were initially invited to speak on the budget strategy.

 

Nick Ireland, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group read out a prepared statement.

 

Comments from members were also received including:-

 

Thanks and congratulations to all staff and volunteers for the past year especially in respect of the distribution of business grants

Consideration of a tax emergency in the future.

 

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy appreciated all the comments and undertook to continue to lobby the Dorset MPs.

 

The Leader of the Council advised that whilst this had been a challenging although balanced budget it was capable of meeting service delivery and would fulfil statutory obligations.  The Budget café and Scrutiny committees had been really helpful in the budget process. He also undertook to continue to lobby for a better deal for Dorset.

 

Proposed: Gary Suttle

Seconded: Spencer Flower

 

In accordance with procedure rule 19.6 a recorded vote was taken. Those who voted in favour of the recommendations:- Cllrs Rod Adkins, Anthony Alford, Jon Andrews, Michael Barron, Peter Barrow, Shane Bartlett, Pauline Batstone, Derek Beer, Richard Biggs, David Bolwell, Alex Brenton, Cherry Brooks, Piers Brown, Ray Bryan, Graham Carr-Jones, Simon Christopher, Kelvin Clayton, Susan Cocking, Tim Cook, Robin Cook, Toni Coombs, Jean Dunseith, Tony Ferrari, Spencer Flower, Les Fry, Simon Gibson, Barry Goringe, David Gray, Matt Hall, Paul Harrison, Jill Haynes, Brian Heatley, Ryan Holloway, Rob Hughes, Sherry Jespersen, Stella Jones, Carole Jones, Andrew Kerby, Paul Kimber, Rebecca Knox, Nocturin Lacey-Clarke, Robin Legg, Howard Legg, Cathy Lugg, Laura Miller, David Morgan, Louie O’Leary, Jon Orrell, Emma Parker, Mike Parkes, Andrew Parry, Mary Penfold, Bill Pipe, Val Pothecary, Byron Quayle, Molly Rennie, Belinda Ridout, Mark Roberts, Julie Robinson, David Shortell, Jane Somper, Andrew Starr, Gary Suttle, Clare Sutton, Roland Tarr, David Taylor, Gill Taylor, William Trite, Daryl Turner, David Walsh, Peter Wharf, Kate Wheller, Sarah Williams and John Worth.

 

Those who voted against: Cllrs Janet Dover, Beryl Ezzard, Ryan Hope and Maria Roe.

 

Abstentions: Cllrs Nick Ireland and David Tooke.

 

Following a recorded vote, 74 for, 4 against and 2 abstentions the recommendations were approved.

 

Decisions

1. That the revenue budget summarised in Appendix 1 of the report be approved;

2. That the increase in general council tax of 1.997% and to levy 2.995% (3%) as the social care precept, providing a band D council tax figure for Dorset Council of £1,779.39 be approved;

3. That the capital strategy set out in Appendix 3 and the capital programme set out in Appendix 4 be approved;

4. That the treasury management strategy set out in Appendix 5 be approved;

5. That the assumptions used to develop the budget strategy and Medium-Term Financial Plan (MTFP) as set out throughout this report and summarised in Appendix 6 be approved;

6. That the recommended balances on earmarked reserves and on general funds, including the minimum level of the general fund be approved;

7. That the responses to the recommendations and comments made as part of the budget scrutiny process (Appendix 7) be agreed.

 

Reasons for Decision

1. The Council is required to set a balanced revenue budget, and to approve a level of council tax as an integral part of this. A balanced budget is essentially one where expenditure is funded by income without unsustainable use of one-off, or short-term sources of finance.

2. The Council is also required to approve a capital strategy, a capital programme and budget, and a treasury management strategy, each of which are included with this report.

3. The draft budget proposals ehave been considered (and endorsed) by the Place and Resources Scrutiny Committee and by the People and Health Scrutiny Committee.